(AINA) -- On 3-18-2007 AINA reported that Muslims were forcing the Christian Assyrians in the Dora Neighborhood of Baghdad to Pay the jizya, the 'Protection Tax' demanded from Christians and Jews by Islamic law. AINA has obtained testimony from two residents of Dora and an observer. All names are withheld to protect the safety of the individuals.

Baghdad Observer:

Elements of Al-Qaeda have moved into Dora from Anbar. No security forces are to be seen there, it seems to be abandoned by both Iraqi and Coalition. In Hay Al-Mechaneek (which is in Dora across the bridge) people have been warned by these insurgents to uninstall the satellite dishes since this is "Haram" (forbidden) in Islam. In Dora where Christians live in Hay Al-Mualimeen [Teachers quarter] and Hay Al-Athorieen [Assyrian quarter] is where they are telling people to convert, leave, pay "Jizya" taxation.

Email From Dora Resident:

This has been going on for the past week, and it started even before Easter. We talked to many people within the American Embassy and Iraqi Government, but it seems no body really cares, because they have done nothing, or sometimes I wonder if they care at all. Neither the Iraqi nor the US army have any activity there, and they have delivered Dora to insurgents; and above all the US army went and put a camp in the Chaldean church (Babylon Theology College) to raise the hate among those Muslims toward Christians, as they are seeing them allies for Americans, and that worsen things more.

Testimony of Dora Resident, Currently A Refugee In Syria:

Yes it is true, today a family [name withheld] arrived from Dora/Mualimeen street, and they said some terrorists knocked on their door and when they opened the door they were told to either pay money (jizya) to support the insurgents or convert to Islam, or leave the house within 24 hours or else be killed.