Radical Islamist rebels in the Syrian city of Raqqa are forcing Christians to pay for protection.
Christians must pay over $600 twice a year for the protection, convert to Islam, or "face the sword," the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria said in a statement posted online.
The statement referred to the "dhimmi pact," an ancient law allowing Christians and Jews to live in Islamic kingdoms if they paid a tax. Christians under protection will be allowed to worship privately, keep their own cemeteries and have their own clergy.
However, Christians must keep their religious items out of public sight. They are also not allowed to evangelize, bear arms, or pray where Muslims might hear them.
The ISIS terrorist group grew out of al Qaeda in Iraq and has become the most feared militia in Syria. Raqqa has been under rebel control since May 2013.
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