The first pope ever to visit Iraq, Francis voiced sorrow and hope for a shrunken Christian community that has suffered persecution, and preached fellowship among religions.
Tag: Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS)
Pope Francis Begins Visit to Iraq
The pope’s four-day trip is intended to nurture ties with Shiite Muslims and encourage a Christian population decimated by years of strife.
They Were Journalists, and Women, and Targeted for Both
As Afghanistan enters a desperate chapter, with U.S. troops potentially on the way out, insurgents are pressing a deadly campaign to silence the media and keep women home.
In Iraq’s Christian Heartland, a Feud Over a Town’s Identity
Pope Francis will arrive in a country whose ancient Christian towns are in danger of disappearing. In one, a Christian community’s survival may come at the expense of another minority group.
Biden Secretly Limits Counterterrorism Drone Strikes Away From War Zones
Requiring higher-level approval is a stopgap measure as officials review whether to tighten Trump-era targeting rules and civilian safeguards.
In Afghanistan, Three Women Working in Media Are Gunned Down
The women, the latest victims in a wave of targeted attacks, were killed on their way home from their jobs at Enikass Radio and TV in Jalalabad.
Shamima Begum Loses Effort to Return to U.K. in Fight for Citizenship
The British woman, 21, who joined the Islamic State when she was 15, has sought her release from a detention camp in Syria to challenge a decision to strip her of her citizenship.
Afghan Civilian Casualties Soared After Peace Talks’ Start
Fighting intensified in the last quarter of 2020, after talks between the Afghan government and Taliban began. Before then, it had been a less deadly year than before.
They Built Libraries to Honor Loved Ones, Women Felled by Bombings
As negotiations push forward, it is unclear whether Afghanistan can achieve peace with the Taliban while preserving gains made on women’s rights and education.
Pressuring France to Bring Them Home, Women Who Joined ISIS Stage Hunger Strike
Frenchwomen who joined the Islamic State and are now held in squalid detention camps in Syria have gone on a hunger strike to protest France’s refusal to bring them back.