Nazarene T-Shirt in Support of Iraqi Christians
In support and solidarity with Iraqi Christians, our Parish has released an StJW Special Edition T-Shirt showcasing the 'N' (Nazarene) logo at the front and a description at the back.
Each t-shirt is $20.00 and all proceeds will go towards 'Aid to the Church in Need', the Catholic Church's humanitarian arm currently in Kurdistan, Iraq providing material and spiritual support to exiled Iraqi Christians.
Visit the Parish Office or call (905) 660-1253 to pre-order your t-shirt.
NAZARENE T-SHIRT FAQs
QUESTION: What does this T-shirt mean?
ANSWER: This T-shirt is in solidarity with Iraqi Christians.
QUESTION: What is happening in Iraq?
ANSWER: In June 2014, the Islamic State (IS), formerly called ISIS - Islamic State of Iraq and Syria or ISIL Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, had seized a large section of the country’s northern region including the city of Mosul, the second largest city in Iraq. Since the takeover, the militant group has given given Christians an ultimatum: Convert, Pay a heavy tax, Flee, or Die. Christians were given up to July 19, 2014 deadline to choose. For those Christians who did not comply with the decree by 19 July, Isis warned that "there is nothing to give them but the sword.”
QUESTION: How is this related to the symbol ??
ANSWER: This symbol ? is the letter ’N’ in Arabic, used by the Islamic State (IS or ISIS) to identify who is a Nazarene - a Christian. It has been drawn on doorways and in front of houses in captured Iraqi cities, allowing militants to quickly assert where the loyalties of the inhabitants lie.
QUESTION: Who is the Islamic State?
ANSWER: The Islamic State is the group that during the Iraq War was often referred to as “Al-Qaeda in Iraq.” The group claims it is an independent state with claims to Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon. It was established in the early years of the Iraq War and pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda in 2004. The group has targeted military and governments of Iraq and Syria but has also claimed responsibility for attacks that have killed thousands of Iraqi civilians. According to a study compiled by U.S. intelligence agencies, the Islamic State has plans to seize power and turn the country into an fundamentalist Islamic state.
QUESTION: How many Christians live in the Mosul?
ANSWER: As of July 2003, about 35,000 Christians lived in the city of 2 million people. But that number had dwindled to approximately 3,000 by the time of the Islamic State takeover, and only few hundred Christian families remained in the city until recently.
QUESTION: What is the significance of Mosul?
ANSWER: Mosul is the ancient city of Niniveh, one of the holiest cities for Middle Eastern Christian groups. The city of Nineveh is mentioned in the Bible in Genesis, 2 Kings, Isaiah, Jonah, Nahum, Zephaniah, and Matthew. Along with its Biblical connection, the city reportedly contains the tomb of the Old Testament prophet Jonah. A mosque built upon the burial site was blown up by the Islamic State on July 24 because the militants claimed the mosque had become a place for apostasy.
QUESTION: How did the Islamic State take control of Mosul?
ANSWER: The short answer: the Iraqi army ran away. Iraqi officials told the Guardian two divisions of Iraqi soldiers – roughly 30,000 men – simply turned and ran in the face of the assault by an insurgent force of just 800 fighters. Senior government officials in Baghdad were equally shocked, accusing the army of betrayal and claiming the sacking of the city was a strategic disaster that would imperil Iraq’s borders.
QUESTION: What does this have to do with, "Truth gets you Crucified"?
ANSWER: In Mosul, Iraq as in other parts of the Middle East, to be a Christian is to suffer persecution. Under the rule of the Islamic State, Iraqi Christians either had to flee their homes, pay a heavy tax, convert to Islam, or be killed.
QUESTION: Where are the Christians now?
ANSWER: Most Christians in Mosul have fled 55 miles to the east, to the city of Erbil, the capital and largest city of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Erbil’s governor, Nawzad Hadi, has pledged to protect fleeing Christians and other minority groups. According to the United Nations, the territory is currently home to more than 2 million refugees and internally displaced people from Iraq and Syria.
QUESTION: How does the T-Shirt help the Iraqi Christians?
ANSWER: The T-shirts helps in two ways:
1) It raises awareness of the plight of the Iraqi Christians, especially since Western Media is rarely paying attention to it.
2) 100% of the funds raised from the t-shirt sales will be sent through Aid to the Church in Need, the humanitarian arm of the Catholic Church, to help Iraqi Christians from Mosul who are now refugees.
QUESTION: What does the hashtag "#WeAreN" mean?
ANSWER: A campaign has been mounting in the global twitter sphere to stand with persecuted Christians in Iraq, using the #WeAreN. It is intended to raise awareness about the plight of Christians in Iraq.
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