Islamic State leader hands out 11 Commandments to Christians in Qaryatian

By Lorraine Caballero, Christian Post Contributor Saturday, September 05, 2015

Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has given Christians in Qaryatian a set of 11 commandments as part of a "safety agreement."

Last month, the terrorist group captured Christians when it attacked the town of Qaryatian in Syria. This week, ISIS gave the captives an ultimatum to either convert to Islam, pay taxes, or leave, according to the International Business Times (IBT).

UK-based group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that ISIS militants have been pressuring the Christians in Qaryatian to pay the jizyah tax that is levied on non-Muslims, or else, they have to leave their homes.

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For the Christians who chose to stay in Qaryatian, ISIS has handed them 11 commandments that they are supposed to follow. If they obey the "safety contract," Baghdadi promised to exempt them from the jizyah and from harm. They will also not be forced to convert to Islam if they abide by the given commandments, the report details.

The 11 commandments have been met with disappointment by the Christians in Qaryatian.

"Our entire ancestral homelands have been completely taken and now they won't even allow us to sustain our religious faith in one God and his son Jesus Christ, " IBT quotes Assyrian-American activist Nahren Anweya in an interview.

Based on the new rules, Christians in Qaryatian are not allowed to establish a church or a religious building and put up a cross where it is visible, including books, roads, and public places. When praying, they are not allowed to use amplifiers.

The Syrian Christians have also been commanded not to let Muslims see or hear their religious recitations, worship rituals, and bells. They were also told not to take any action deemed as an "aggressive stance" against ISIS.

Furthermore, the Christians there have to respect Islam and Muslims and not do anything that damages Islamic beliefs. Plus, they are commanded to dress modestly, the Gospel Herald reports.

Christians should pay four gold dinar every year. They cannot possess weapons and trade using pork or wine with Muslims. They are, however, allowed to have their own cemetery.

Assyrian Christians have been heavily persecuted by ISIS in the past few months. The Islamic extremist group has been known to kill anyone who refuses to bow to its standard of religious beliefs.