"The Bleeding of the Christians Over 4 Years": Infographic in the Islamic State's al-Naba' Newsletter

Besides the Islamic State’s very strong anti-Shi’a sentiment (as part of its wider railing against “apostates” from Islam), the group’s propaganda has also emphasised the targeting of Christians in its attacks. This is especially so in the group’s propaganda emanating from Africa, where the group regularly claims attacks targeting Christians and highlights the Christian identity of its victims in those claims. This highlights the group’s wider approach to dealing with Christians beyond the more well-known denunciations of “Crusaders”- a term often associated with Western powers fighting against the Islamic State, but is in fact applied to all Christians in general perceived to be at war with the Islamic State. Simply put, the Islamic State’s approach for Christians is three-fold: convert to Islam, submit to the authority of the Islamic State as dhimmis, or die. The only apparent exception is the aftermath of the group’s takeover of Mosul in 2014, in which an agreement was struck that allowed the Christians to depart for territory not controlled by the Islamic State while relinquishing their property.