Language Matters

From Wikimedia Commons.

Many have read about the trials of Christians, Yezidis and other minorities in Iraq, Syria and other countries of the Middle East. The Norwegian journalist and editor Kari Fure has written a multitude of articles and also a book about the situation for the persecuted Christians from this area. She is, no doubt, one of the most well-informed journalists in Norway on these issues and her reports from encounters with both ordinary and outstanding people - the borderlines are often blurred - are unique at least in Norway. 

In one of her recent articles she tells the story of two old women who were left behind and taken as prisoners by Islamic State (IS) when the Christians fled the village of Karemlash near Mosul in Iraq three years ago. After a short while they were set free. I would like to quote a small passage from the interview with the two ladies since it shows how faith, courage - and language matters. The fighters from IS put pressure on the  women to persuade them to convert to Islam. However, Victoria (80) and Ghazhala (83) didn't give in:

"Once, however, she [Victoria] pretended she would convert but said that she would have to recite the Muslim creed in her own language. What she actually did, right in front of the islamists, was to pray aloud in Assyrian that Jesus and Virgin Mary must show her the way.

She recalls the incident with a satisfied smile.

- They were stupid jackasses, she concludes.

Says Ghazhala: - I answered that if their mothers would convert to Christianity I would convert to Islam."

The interview with the two old ladies is published in the Norwegian newspaper Dagen. The short passage above is translated from Norwegian (the article is also behind a pay-wall).