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France condemns "revolting" abuses by ISIS in northern Iraq

PARIS, July 28 (KUNA) -- France on Monday condemned in the strongest manner the abuses being carried out in Northern Iraq by the radical Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), in particular the assaults on the Christian community in the city of Mossul.
ISIL has told Christians that they should leave Mossul or convert to Islam and they have been given an ultimatum to make their choice.
"The ultimatum given these communities in Mossul by ISIL is the latest tragic example of the terrible threat that Jihadist groups in Iraq wield over populations that are historically an integral part of this region," Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius and Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said in a joint statement on Monday.
"France is revolted by these abuses which it condemns in the firmest possible way," the statement added.
France has already seized the UN Security Council on this issue and secured a condemnation of ISIL activities. Paris has also been funding programmes to help those being persecuted when they manage to escape the ISIL-controlled areas.
Programmes to assist the communities in the region will continue as France feels the protection of minority communities is a necessity for stability in the area.
But France also said it would be willing to welcome and grant asylum to those who cannot remain in Iraq, or Syria or elsewhere.
The two ministers said they would be in contact with representatives of the Christian community in Iraq in the coming days. (End) jk.ajs