In 2004 , Sunni militants bombed churches and kidnapped Christians in the Baghdad district of Dora . The US military briefly ' cleared ' Dora in autumn 2006 , but militants tied to Al Qaeda in Iraq reestablished themselves in Dora in late 2006 and began harassing Christians . By January 2007 , ISI proclamations appeared on walls in Dora and leaflets were circulated : women should wear veils ; shorts and cellphones were prohibited . Christians were given the choice : either pay a tax , or become a Muslim , or leave the district . By May 2007 , 500 Christian families had left Dora . ISI also targeted Christians in the 2010 Baghdad church massacre.For continued persecution of ( Christian ) Assyrians in 2014 by ISIL , see : Persecution of Assyrians by ISIL
Sunni militants bombed churches
2004 Iraq churches attacks
Islamic State of Iraq