A Christian music store owner, Farques Batool, was killed and his nephew injured when gunmen stormed into his store in the city of Mosul on the evening of October 11 and opened fire. The murder was the latest in a series of recent deadly attacks on Christians in the city (see the September 24 story and the October 8 story). Batool had reportedly refused to join other Christians who were fleeing the city under threat of violence from Islamist militants because he needed to care for his wife, daughter and mother, as well as the family of his dead brother. His family has since fled Mosul in fear for their lives, leaving his wounded nephew in the hospital.

Over the past week, approximately 325 Christian families have fled Mosul. Armed Muslims entered local churches and homes and told believers that they would be killed if they did not vacate the city. Several Christians have sought refuge in relatives' homes, churches and monasteries in the six Christian villages that make up Telkep County and in the predominantly Christian county of Mahmoudiya.

Pray that the Batool family will find strength and comfort in the refuge God provides (Psalm 127). Pray that the faithfulness of Iraqi Christians will be a light that draws others to Christ.

For more information on the difficulties facing Iraq's Christian community, go to the Iraq Country Report. A video about the current situation in Mosul can be viewed on YouTube (click here).