“The Assad regime made no effort to protect the al-Hasakeh province … [the Islamic State] launched a surprise attack … along the Khabor on February 23 … kidnapped 265 men, women, and children, sold 30 young women as sex slaves, and executed all captured Syriac defense forces … Upon securing control of …Tel Hormizd, [the Islamic State] informed [the elders] that all crosses must be removed … In fighting for control of Tel Tamr, they seized the Saint Circis Church and burned its Bibles and broke its cross …”

This chilling testimony, given in March of this year by Bassam Ishak of the Syriac National Council of Syria before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission of the U.S. House of Representatives, provides a horrifying snapshot of persecuted Middle East religious minorities, including Christians. Violent religious extremist forces like the Islamic State have repeatedly assaulted these communities, some of which now face the threat of extinction. Too often, governments don’t protect religious minorities’ fundamental right to practice their faith without forfeiting their lives or their freedom; some governments even may fuel extremism through their repressive ways.