ISIS Begins Imposing Poll Tax on Christians in Mosul - AINA

2014-06-21

Baghdad (AINA) -- According to Alsumaria News, an Arabic language website, the High Commission for Human Rights in Iraq has confirmed that ISIS has begun imposing the jizya, a poll tax, on Christian citizens in Mosul in an attempt to put pressure on them and displace them from the city. The Commission denounced this and called on the government and the international community to put an end to it.

A member of the Council of High Commission for Human Rights in Iraq, Salama AlKhafaji, stated in an interview that ISIS "is imposing on Christians a minimum payment of $250, with amount varying depending on the type of work/profession performed by Christian citizens." She further said that "the economic situation in Mosul is extremely difficult, and there are no financial resources or job opportunities except for vegetable shops, any other businesses are non-existent. Citizens are at a loss now as to how to make ends meet; how can they pay those amounts to ISIS?"

Ms. AlKhafaji denounced "this work", calling on the Iraqi government and the international community to "put an end to this matter."

Sources in the Nineveh province confirmed on Friday that ISIS has begun imposing jizya on Christians in Mosul, so as not to kill them or seize their property.

ISIS Begins Imposing Poll Tax on Christians in Mosul