Mosul (AsiaNews) – Violence against women and Christians and threats of forced islamisation are growing in Mosul. At the beginning of Ramadan, a flyer started appearing at Mosul University promising "death to all Iraqi women who did not cover their heads". It was signed by a shadowy group calling itself the Mujahideen Parliament representing six armed groups: 'Monotheism and martyrs', the 'Army of Sunnah members', 'Mujahideen Squads', the 'Islamic army', the 'Secret Islamic army' and the 'Sunnah members group'. It warned women against wearing make-up and Western-style clothes. "We will follow transgressors to their homes," it said, "and shall not hesitate from striking you".

A few days ago, two young women were attacked for not wearing a head cover in a Mosul market. A syringe containing nitric acid—a corrosive liquid inorganic acid— was sprayed onto their faces.

A process of islamisation of cultural and social mores similar to that imposed by the Talebans in Afghanistan or Khomeiny's pasdarans in Iran is underway and its main targets are university students. Young Christian female students are especially singled out. In another flyer signed by a group calling itself the "phalanxes to settle scores with collaborators and spies", Christians are accused of spreading "corruption and shamelessness in the streets". They will "suffer violence and persecution in their homes and their churches" if they do not stop "cooperating with the infidel invader".

The continued threats have hit home. Despite its deep historical roots in the area and its cultural and economic prominence, the 100,000 strong Christian community of Mosul is scared.

Local churches initially responded to the threats by organising a bus shuttle to and fro the university, but in the last two weeks students have stopped going to class after threats were made against the buses.

Khalila (who declined to give her real name for security reasons) attends Mosul University. She claims that "Christian students can no longer attend classes and female students are humiliated by the inhumane behaviour of fundamentalits".

According to Father Joseph, a priest in Mosul, the anti-Christian fury stems from the fact that although Christians are just "3 per cent of the population they represent around 40 per cent of the professional class: university professors, doctors, engineers. By striking at them, the terrorists are striking at the country's culture and economy in order to weaken it and thus more easily subjugate it".

Father Joseph adds however that even though "violent acts against Christians are on the rise, they do not constitute persecution or a religious war". Violence is largely caused by armed gangs. "Two or three people with guns can spread fear in a whole neighbourhood", he said. Some of these gangs are made up of people belonging to the so-called resistance; its goal is to punish the occupation forces and its "collaborators". Others are Islamic fundamentalists who want to impose their version of Islam. Finally, there are the thugs and common criminals who were freed just before the fall of Saddam's regime. (FM)