In 2008 , many Assyrian Christians ( about 12,000 ) fled the city , following a wave of murders and threats against their community . The murder of a dozen Assyrians , threats that others would be murdered unless they converted to Islam , and the destruction of their houses sparked a rapid exodus of the Christian population . Some families crossed the borders to Syria and Turkey while others were given shelter in churches and monasteries . Accusations were exchanged between Sunni fundamentalists and some Kurdish groups for being behind this new exodus . For the time being , the motivation of these acts is unclear , but some claims linked it to the imminent provincial elections which took place in January 2009 , and the related Assyrian Christians ' demands for broader representation in the provincial councils
a wave of murders and threats
2008 attacks on Christians in Mosul
Mosul