Christian Convert Killed In Iraq

Zakho (AsiaNews/MEC) – A Christian convert from Islam was killed for his faith. Ziwar Muhammad Isma’il, who worked as a taxi driver in Zakho in the autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq, was shot dead by Abd al-Karim Abd al-Salam at a taxi station early on the morning of February 17.

Abd al-Salam approached Ziwar and told him to return to Islam. When Ziwar refused he opened fire with an automatic rifle.

Abd al-Salam fled but was chased by other taxi drivers who, after apprehending him, turned him over to the police.

Abd al-Salam claims that the prophet Muhammad appeared to him in a dream and told him to kill the Christian.

Ziwar, who converted to Christianity seven years ago, leaves a widow and five children. He had been quite open about his faith even though he had been threatened by his relatives and other Muslims. He had been arrested twice but never charged.

In countries like Iran, Sudan and Saudi Arabia, where the Shariah (Islamic law) is the state law, Muslim men who convert from Islam can be put to death, their marriages annulled, and their property taken away.

Even under more moderate Muslim authorities, such as those in the Kurdish areas of northern Iraq, converts may still face widespread hostility and aggression from their own families and communities.

Author: Jimmy Akin

Jimmy was born in Texas, grew up nominally Protestant, but at age 20 experienced a profound conversion to Christ. Planning on becoming a Protestant seminary professor, he started an intensive study of the Bible. But the more he immersed himself in Scripture the more he found to support the Catholic faith, and in 1992 he entered the Catholic Church. His conversion story, "A Triumph and a Tragedy," is published in Surprised by Truth. Besides being an author, Jimmy is the Senior Apologist at Catholic Answers, a contributing editor to Catholic Answers Magazine, and a weekly guest on "Catholic Answers Live."

25 thoughts on “Christian Convert Killed In Iraq”

  2. And so do the Christians, if you followed the story of the death of Sr. Dorothy Stang. What’s our excuse?
    St. Ziwar the martyr, pray for us.

  3. : Pretty typical for muslims. The way they kill each
    : other, they must be on drugs or something!
    Um, this wasn’t Muslims killing each other. This was Muslims killing a Christian. That’s kind of the point.
    : St. Ziwar the martyr, pray for us.
    You beat me to it!

  4. I don’t know about this being typical of Moslems. Christians didn’t suffer much in the way of persecutions in the mean and horrible Bathist regime, which was primarily Moslem, although some leading Bathist were Christians.
    It is only since we improved things in Iraq that Christians have been persecuted

  7. “Abd al-Salam claims that the prophet Muhammad appeared to him in a dream and told him to kill the Christian.”
    No Mr. al-Salam, that was Shaitan who appeared in your dream.
    Welcome home Ziwar.

  8. As a former cabbie, I can completely understand the other cabbies going after the murderer. It is the most dangerous profession on earth. For those curious, yes I have had a gun pointed at me.

  9. Out of the depths I call to you, LORD;
    Lord, hear my cry! May your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.
    If you, LORD, mark our sins, Lord, who can stand?
    But with you is forgiveness and so you are revered.
    I wait with longing for the LORD, my soul waits for his word.
    My soul looks for the Lord more than sentinels for daybreak. More than sentinels for daybreak,
    let Israel look for the LORD, For with the LORD is kindness, with him is full redemption,
    And God will redeem Israel from all their sins.

  11. The Islamic term Religion of Peace describes a muslims relationship with allah. By submitting to allah, allah is at peace with that person. Religion of Peace does not describe a muslim’s relationship with non-muslims.

  12. Another demonstration that points out to those who wish to observe where peace, love and the Grace of God really resides.

  14. O please Marv, what you consider persecution only when some one is killed. Hey you could be a Christian under Sadam as long a you did nothing publicly espousing your faith. Give me a break!

  15. >>Why are so many on this board making excuses for muslims killing Christians?
    Don’t think anybody on this board is. One person killing another purely based upon the religion they adhere to is always inexcusable.
    >>Pretty typical for muslims. The way they kill each other, they must be on drugs or something!
    Don’t think it’s fair to make generalizing statements like that about Muslims. There are some Muslims who genuinely want peace, just as many Christians do also.

  16. O please Marv, what you consider persecution only when some one is killed. Hey you could be a Christian under Sadam as long a you did nothing publicly espousing your faith. Give me a break!
    This is not even remotely true. It is well-known that Hussein protected the Christian community in Iraq. That is why so many stayed in Iraq under the Ba’ath regime and why so many are now leaving for Syria. (The Ba’ath regime in Syria is also tolerant of Christians.)

  17. The Ba’ath regime in Syria is also tolerant of Christians.
    I have some beautful real estate property in Florida I’m looking to sell…you interested by any chance?

  19. i find many of the preceding comments narrow minded and offensive.
    “Pretty typical for muslims. The way they kill each other, they must be on drugs or something!”
    “No Mr. al-Salam, that was Shaitan who appeared in your dream.”
    “Why are so many on this board making excuses for muslims killing Christians?”
    “The Islamic term Religion of Peace describes a muslims relationship with allah. By submitting to allah, allah is at peace with that person. Religion of Peace does not describe a muslim’s relationship with non-muslims.”
    here’s what i have to say.
    a muslim killed a christian because he believed that was his religious duty. it is indeed tragic.
    I am not defending the actions of the muslim. however, you should all remember the following.
    – in most religions, the penalty for apostacy is death.
    – this man who left Islam apparently survived for 7 years in a place filled with muslims who _did not_ kill him; this demonstrates that most muslims generally would not kill so called ‘apostates’
    – finally, it should be recognized that there is no ‘vigilantism’ in Islam. That is, it is not acceptable for individuals to execute or kill another, even if Islamic law would otherwise justify such.

  20. Mohammad:
    I appreciate your comments. You seem to be a thoughtful man of conscience.
    I would point out, though, that it is not at all clear that the penalty for apostasy is execution in major world religions today. It is not the penalty in Christianity, or Judaism, or Hinduism, or Buddhism, or Shinto, or Taoism, or Confuscianism, or Jainism, or any other religion I can think of. Islam seems to be unique in this respect.
    While there are also many Muslims who are persons of conscience and who wish to lead peaceful lives with respect to followers of other religions, there are many also who do not. This also seems to be something that–while it is not unique to Islam–is characteristic of modern day Islam to a degree not shared by most other faiths.
    The Qur’an also contains explicit exhortations to violence against non-Muslims, and these exhortations are considered binding on contemporary Muslims in a way that parallel texts (for example, in the Old Testament) are *not* considered binding on Christians today.

  22. Islam is the religion where SATAN can have strong power and do what he likes. Prophet muhammed isnt real, and it also was Satan who appeared to him in the dream probably disguised as Prophet Muhammed in order for his task to be accomplished.
    Satan hates Christ and is Jealous of him. He hates Lord Jesus Christ, GOD and GOD’s people!!!!! (Christians) He seeks to destroy Christian faith and families as well as converts. Satan doesnt care about those who arent Christians because he already has accomplished his task in luring them to the pits of Hell and away from GOD
    http://www.WordsfromJesus.com/Archives.html this link is words of jesus since DEC2003
    http://www.johnleary.com/messages.asp another link of Jesus messages
    http://www.visionsofjesuschrist.com/ this link containes miracles and evidences for your benefit

  24. “in the land of the blind the one eyed man is king” open your eyes or you will be doomed for hell.

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