Volunteers want Christians to return to Mosul, where Daesh once ruled

A group of young volunteers works to clean the Church of Saint Thomas, as they help Iraqi Christians in the Old City of Mosul, Iraq October 28, 2020. (Reuters)
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  • The Syriac Catholic church, dating from the mid-1800s, was looted by Daesh after it invaded Mosul in 2014
  • The militants were finally driven out of Iraq鈥檚 second largest city in 2017

MOSUL: Young volunteers have been clearing dust and debris from St. Thomas church in Mosul, as the Iraqi city occupied by Daesh militants seeks to sweep away the horrors of a brutal three-year rule and welcome back members of minority faiths.
The Syriac Catholic church, dating from the mid-1800s, was looted by the hard-line extremist movement after it invaded Mosul in 2014 and has been abandoned ever since. The militants were finally driven out of Iraq鈥檚 second largest city in 2017.


鈥淭his is a message to say 鈥楥ome back, Mosul is not complete without you鈥�,鈥� said Mohammed Essam, co-founder of a local volunteer group, after a day of cleaning rubble and dirt from the floors of the church and the courtyard outside.
There are still reminders of Daesh鈥檚 occupation.
The words 鈥淟and of the Caliphate鈥� are painted in Arabic script on one wall, a reference to the group鈥檚 ambition of carving out its own territory across the Middle East.
Until the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003, about 45,000 Christians lived in Mosul, Father Raed Adel, in charge of the city鈥檚 Syriac Catholic churches, told Reuters.
Their numbers kept dwindling, and the Christians who were left fled the area when Daesh fighters took over in June, 2014.
Essam remained and witnessed atrocities committed against religious minorities by the militants


鈥淲e want to change the perception people in the region and beyond have about Mosul,鈥� he explained. 鈥淲e want to say that Christians belong here. That they have a rich history here.鈥�
Since the liberation, the 鈥淪awaed Al-Museliya鈥� (Arms of Mosul) volunteer group has provided community services including emergency food support and raising funds for rebuilding homes belonging to the city鈥檚 poorest residents.
By clearing up the church, they want to support the local Christian community鈥檚 efforts to restore damaged properties and also reassure Christians who fled.
鈥淓ven though they left, we are committed to take care of them and of their places of worship,鈥� Essam said.
On the other side of the city, Father Adel holds a Sunday service in Mosul鈥檚 main operating church of Bishara.


鈥淪ince the city was liberated from Daesh, there is a new mentality among people originally from Mosul, including Muslims. This encourages the return of Christians, even though it is a modest return. But it is a first step along a long path.鈥�
Only about 50 Christian families have returned to live in the city so far, although more come to work or study each day, crossing from Iraq鈥檚 northern Kurdistan region where they found refuge in 2014, Father Adel said.
鈥淥ur youth are the hope of this city after it suffered so many difficulties and problems,鈥� Father Adel said. 鈥淚t was in a tunnel of darkness.鈥�