ISIS Destroys Oldest Christian Monastery in Iraq

Fighters from the group known as the Islamic State (ISIS) have destroyed the oldest Christian monastery in Iraq on the outskirts of the city of Mosul.

Experts say that after Mosul fell to ISIS in 2014, the monastery was either leveled with bulldozers or destroyed by ISIS fighters through explosions.

Satellite images show the complete destruction of the Monastery of St. Elijah (Mar Elias), which dates back to the sixth century AD.

The destruction of this monastery had remained hidden from public view until recently.

ISIS fighters and affiliated groups have destroyed many Christian religious sites in areas under their control.

Last summer, the group destroyed the Mar Elian monastery in the city of Al-Qaryatayn in Homs Province, Syria.

‘Erasing Christianity’

Image copyrightAPImage captionThe Monastery of St. Elijah before its destruction

A Catholic priest from the city of Mosul said that Christian history had been “barbarically destroyed.”

Father Paul Tabet, who now lives in Erbil, said “We see this as an attempt to expel us from Iraq, an attempt to erase us from this land.”

The Monastery of St. Elijah is said to have been built by Assyrian monks in the late sixth century AD.

The monastery was later administered by Chaldean Catholics.

In 1743, forces under Nader Shah demanded that the monks of this monastery convert to Islam, and when they refused, nearly 150 of them were killed.