The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) gained international attention in 2014 as it rapidly expanded its territory across Iraq and Syria. On July 18 of that year, a new level of persecution was demonstrated when ISIL issued an ultimatum to the Christian population in Mosul, one of Iraq's largest cities. The group demanded that Christians either convert to Islam, pay a poll tax known as jizya, or face execution if they refused. This decree was not merely an enforcement of Islamic law but represented the culmination of months of militant aggression towards religious minorities, particularly targeted since ISIL's sweeping advances in the region. The imposition of dhimmi status historically allowed non-Muslims to practice their faiths under certain conditions, but under ISIL's rule, these terms were harsh and punitive, stripping away the safety that such status traditionally entailed.

In the face of this ultimatum, many Christians found themselves with no choice but to flee Mosul and seek refuge elsewhere, often at great personal peril and loss. The Christian community, which had existed in Mosul for nearly two millennia, saw churches and properties abandoned or overtaken, while families hurriedly gathered their belongings, abandoning homes and memories to escape the impending violence. Reports from various humanitarian organizations highlighted the plight of these refugees, many of whom experienced trauma and loss as they navigated away from ISIL-controlled territories.

This event symbolized a significant shift in the landscape of religious tolerance in the region, as ISIL's actions were not only a direct challenge to the Christian population but also to international norms regarding human rights and religious freedoms. The ultimatum served as a rallying point for international condemnation of ISIL, revealing the deep-seated sectarian divides that have plagued Iraq and the larger Middle Eastern context.