DEARBORN — On Tuesday, July 29 local Muslim American activists met at the Lebanese American Heritage Club in Dearborn to plan a rally in support of Iraqi Christians. 

“We want to express solidarity with our Iraqi Chaldean, Assyrian and Syriac brothers and sisters,” said Osama Siblani, publisher of The Arab American News. 

While the rally was initially expected to take place in Dearborn, activists decided instead to participate in two demonstrations organized by members of metro Detroit’s Chaldean American community. At press time, they were scheduled for Friday, Aug. 1 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in front of the McNamara Federal Building in Detroit and at Mother of God Chaldean Catholic Church in Southfield at 7 p.m.

Similar protests have been held in different states and countries to denounce the militant group ISIS and its atrocities against Christians, and to demand that the United States step up efforts to provide protection to displaced religious minorities in Iraq. 

Iraqi Christians have a deep-rooted history in Mosul. They have lived in the city for almost 2,000 years, but today Mosul has no Christian residents. ISIS has forced the last Christians in northern Iraq to convert to Islam, pay a special tax or be killed. Many have expressed concern that Iraqi Christians are facing a genocide and are on the verge of extinction.