ISIS forces Iraqi Christians to convert to Islam, pay protection tax or die

Islamist militants are reportedly forcing Iraqi Christians in Mosul to convert to Islam or pay 'protection tax' to save their lives.

Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) announced in city mosques that called on Christians to comply by midday on Saturday or face death if they did not leave the northern city.

Isis has control of large parts of Syria and Iraq and said last month it was creating an Islamic caliphate.The ultimatum cited a historic contract known as 'dhimma,' under which non-Muslims in Islamic societies who refuse to convert are offered protection if they pay a fee, called a 'jizya', the BBC reported.

ISIS said that they are offering Christians three choices: Islam; the dhimma contract - involving payment of jizya; if they refuse this they will have nothing but the sword, the report said.