WARNING: There are some images of purported atrocities against children at the end of this article. They are extremely graphic. Please exercise extreme caution.

The images of atrocities by Muslim fighters in Iraq – and Syria – against their soldier and civilian enemies have been have circulating for some time already. There have been reports, many documented in images and even videos, of ISIS crucifixions, executions, mass burials and worse.

But now Americans collectively are being left gasping by a flood of new reports and photographs depicting such horrors being inflicted on children.

One such report came recently from the  Anglican Communion News Service, which said the son, age 5, of a founder of Baghdad’s Anglican church was “cut in half during an attack by the Islamic State,” a name by which ISIS also is known.

“An emotional Canon Andrew White told ACNS that he christened the boy several years ago, and that the child’s parents had named the lad Andrew after him,” the report said.

“I’m almost in tears because I’ve just had somebody in my room whose little child was cut in half,” he said. “I baptized his child in my church in Baghdad. This little boy, they named him after me – he was called Andrew,” White told the agency.

The report said it happened in the Christian village of Qaraqosh after Kurdish forces left and ISIS Muslims arrived.

Also appearing online was a Catholic.org report that quoted a source, Mark Arabo, a Chaldean-American businessman, confirming the beheading of children by ISIS fighters, who then “put their heads on a stick and have them in the park.”

“The world hasn’t seen this kind of atrocity in generations,” he told CNN.

The report, which included images, said, “The terrorists who have invaded Mosul and other ancient Christian communities in Syria and Iraq have made music videos of themselves murdering civilians and captured soldiers. They are literally enjoying the act of killing and the fear and suffering experienced by others. This sadism may be the purest manifestation of evil witnessed since the Rape of Nanking during WWII.”

Jeff King, who is the chief of International Christian Concern, has staff members traveling into and through Iraq, tracking down information and pursuing ministry goals.

He has evaluated many of the reports and images, and finds that the level of violence “is completely consistent with who these guys are. … They’re absolute barbarians. We’re at a loss of words to describe who these guys are.”

He said agencies and readers always should be a little skeptical of random images being posted online, because there’s likely an element of propaganda in such disputes.

Some of the recent images appear that they may have been staged, he said. But others appear genuine.

The Anglican report quoted Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby saying, “The horrific events in Iraq rightly call our attention and sorrow yet again. Christians and other religious minorities are being killed and face terrible suffering.

“What we are seeing in Iraq violates brutally people’s right to freedom of religion and belief, as set out under Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is extremely important that aid efforts are supported and that those who have been displaced are able to find safety. I believe that, like France, the United Kingdom’s doors should be open to refugees, as they have been throughout history.”

Officials with Barnabas Aid, which also is involved in providing assistance to the persecuted church worldwide, reported recently that “hundreds of thousands” of Iraqi Christians are facing a “humanitarian crisis” while fleeing from the terror of ISIS Muslims.

“At least 200,000 Christians are now thought to be fleeing towards the Iraqi Kurdistan region. Some of the displaced had already fled to the Nineveh plain from Mosul, which was taken by ISIS. … A number of towns have reportedly been completely emptied of their Christian populations,” the report said.

The Catholic.org report, which included multiple images, simply explained, “Islamic State terrorists have begun their promised killing of Christians in Mosul, and they have started with the children.”

It continued, “Several images have emerged of Christian children beheaded by ISIS, merely for being Christian.”

It described how men were carrying away the bodies of children who died. ISIS fighters would crucify victims “because to them crucifixion is especially humiliating due to its Christian implications.”

The images show children lying in rocky fields where they died, a woman whose throat was cut, the decapitated bodies of children.

A Gospel Coalition “Factchecker” is warning that one of the images reportedly goes back to 2013 when it was claimed she was a Muslim Syrian girl named Fatima Meghlaj who was decapitated when Syrian forces shelled her home.

“ISIS is an organization that has committed heinous acts of violence and violated the human rights of many of our fellow believers,” the organization said. “But we must not partake in the spreading of lies, even if it is against our enemies.”

The report continued, “While it is possible that children are being beheaded by ISIS in Iraq, there is currently no credible evidence to support that claim. We should pray this report turn[s] out to be just rumor and that whatever other crimes are being committed, that God is sparing the children of Iraq from ‘systematic beheading.’”

Bishop Julian Dobbs of Barnabas Aid told WND that he’s heard multiple accounts of “atrocities against all Christians, adult and children.”

“This is a disaster of almost unparalleled proportions for Christians,” he said.

Targeting innocents just because of their faith, he said, is unacceptable.

The Catholic.org report said the images, and even videos, are made and distributed “to intimidate others.”

For example, one image revealed blood gushing from a woman whose throat was slit. Or a “distraught father is Syria” holding the body of his decapitated daughter, “executed by militants because [she] was of a Christian family.”

WARNING: Following this are some images of purported atrocities against children at the end of this article. These are extremely graphic. Please exercise extreme caution.

Read more at http://mobile.wnd.com/2014/08/5-year-old-christian-boy-cut-in-half-by-isis/#vtb5aCwKm4sJbO5V.99

 

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