A new Islamic State (ISIS) video reportedly proclaims jihadist militants gave Christians in one captured Syrian town the cruel choice to either pledge loyalty to Muslim rule or be killed — and delivers a chilling extortionist threat to U.S. Christians.
The Middle East Media Research Institute reports the 5-minute video of the terror imposed on Christians in Qaryatayn, which was seized in August, takes its title from the Koran about imposing a "jizyra" tax on non-Muslims "while they are humbled" — and includes shocking images of jihadist fighters tossing a cross off the roof of a church and of a church hall being destroyed.
MEMRI reports the film concludes with this ominous warning:
"This is a message to all Christians in the East and West, and to the defender of the Cross – America: Convert to Islam and no harm will come to you. If you obey, you will have to pay the jizya poll tax."
The video claims some Christians in the captured town signed a "dhimma contract" — which
MEMRI has translated as forcing Christians to agree to curbs on their faith and self-defense — and to pay a tax that would let them live under the terrorists' self-proclaimed Islamic caliphate.
According to MEMRI, an ISIS fighter says on the video Christians who stayed in Qaryatayn had four options: The men could be killed and the women and children could be enslaved; they could be exchanged for prisoners, money, or booty; they could be pardoned provided they leave; or they could sign the dhimma contract and pay the tax.
"[T]he caliph of Muslims [Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi] displayed kindness and generosity [to the Christians] and agreed to receive their jizya tax and allow them to live under caliphate rule as part of the dhimma contract," the narrator intones.
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