An al-Qaeda splinter group in Syria has demanded that Christians pay a tax in gold and curb any displays of faith or face the sword, it was reported in late February.
The edict from the group emerged as its fighters retreated in response to an ultimatum from rival Islamist groups to leave the Syrian battlefield. One source of tension is its attempt to establish an Islamic caliphate, centred on Raqqa, where it has imposed harsh sanctions on anyone falling foul of its restrictive version of Islamic law. In a statement posted on jihadist websites, the group’s leader ordered Christians in the city to pay a tax in gold if they wished to continue living under the group’s ‘protection’.
No crosses
The leader of the group ordered Christians not to renovate churches, or display crosses, nor use loudspeakers in prayer or read Scripture inside that is loud enough to hear outside. They cannot criticise Islam.
Christians must dress modestly and are barred from drinking alcohol in public. Failure to do so will result in execution or forced conversion to Islam. A claim – met by scepticism – stated that 20 Christian leaders had already agreed to these terms.
