Following a meeting to discuss the situation of Christians in Iraq, Patriarch Ephrem said that some Christian families refused to leave Mosul; however, pointed out that contacts were lost with them.
The Patriarch also noted that he will contact human rights groups to urge them to defend Christians in Mosul, stressing that incidents taking place in Iraq are considered as crimes against humanity.
The Islamic State, which last month declared a “caliphate” straddling large swathes of northern Iraq and Syria, has threatened a Christian presence in the region spanning close to two millennia.
Over the weekend, hundreds of families fled Mosul, a once-cosmopolitan city that is the country’s second largest. For more details, watch Maroun Nassif's full report in the video above