It has been reported that Iraqi Christians from northern Iraq have decided to arm themselves to fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Many persecuted Iraqi Christians have expressed that they are frustrated with the violence inflicted upon them by ISIS and being unable to defend themselves.
One such armed civilian is Henry Sarkis, an official from the Assyrian Patriotic Party, one of several Assyrian political organizations in Iraq. He told National Geographic that him and his party have armed around 40 of its members to join the Kurdistan forces to fight against the ISIS. "We keep talking about Jesus and peace, and now we've reached the point where it's not enough," Sarkis told National Geographic from his party's headquarters in Dahuk, Iraq. "The age of waiting for the Peshmerga to take back territory while we sit is over. We took the decision that, with our limited abilities, we will try to participate."
Sarkis explained that the party was able to acquire weapon with money donated to them from other members in the diaspora. They are hoping to raise more funds to obtain more weapons. Sarkis told the world that his party's main goal was to reconquer territory as the Peshmerga forces advance.
The Kurdish forces who are fighting against the ISIS are receiving support form the U.S. and other countries such as England. They are being supplied with weaponry by the U.S. government. America has also been continuously launching airstrikes against the ISIS, destroying a great deal of their heavy weaponry and personnel carriers.
However, many countries are expressing that nations such as the U.S. and U.K. must do more to support the persecuted minorities in Iraq and Syria than simply supplying weapons.
