Journal Chretien reported on Wednesday that in Iraq, an undated letter from Muqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi army orders Christian women in Baghdad to wear veils. The letter says that the Virgin Mary was veiled, so Christian women should be too. Those who refuse must be educated by their father, husband or guardian, and then be forced to stay at home so they do not interact with men if they still will not wear a veil. The letter concludes by saying that "special committees have been established to follow up on this matter."
The Journal also reports that last month in Baghdad, al-Qaeda moved into the predominantly Assyrian Dora neighborhood and demanded payment of the jizya, the tax that the Quran says all Christians and Jews must pay. Those who did not pay were told to give a daughter or sister in marriage to a Muslim.
