Thousands of Iraqi Christians are homeless after fleeing their native Mosul, home to the largest Christian community in Iraq, after Baghdad.

Over a dozen Iraqi Christians have been murdered in recent months, and the Christian Post reports leaflets have been circulated threatening Christians with death unless they convert to Islam. Many who have fled are staying in churches in nearby provinces.

Dr Patrick Sookhdeo of Barnabas Fund believes the recent violence is part of a wave that has travelled from the south covering Basra and Baghdad.

Only weeks earlier, many Christians were reportedly devastated after the Iraqi parliament dropped a provision in its electoral laws for seats to be reserved for Christians and other minorities on Provincial Councils. With provincial elections early next year, Christians fear they will be left with no political voice.

Since war began in 2003, over 200 Iraqi Christians have been killed and several churches bombed, forcing over half the Christian population to leave Iraq.