'They kill all Christians': Saskatoon man speaks to Iraq's turmoil

On most days a group of Iraqi men gather together for a coffee at a Tim Hortons on 8th Street in Saskatoon. The friendshave a lot in common. They are from the same country, and they are Christians.

Since Waad Esho immigrated to Canada in 2007, he has spent much of his free time with the group. He says havingfriends who share the same faith, and the abilitytopractice it together without fear, is something relatively new for him.

The 32-year-old is from Mosul, Iraq,a city that has been taken over by Islamic militants. Hesaidhe came to Canada to escape being killed because of his faith.

If they see a Christian, they kill him, no matter what- WaadEsho

Esho was raised by a Christian family in the city. He explained faith-based persecution has always beenbad in Iraq, but nowit isworsening as the violence intensifies.

"I'm a Christian, nobody likeme," Esho said of his time in Iraq. "Now it is bad for Christianstoo, for all Christians, they kill all Christians."

Esho has Christian friends and family who are living in Iraq now. He said they all have been driven from their homes in Mosul by an Islamic militant group who he referredto as 'the daj'and are seeking refuge in northern Iraq near the country's border withKurdistan.

He said the Kurds'army, known as the Peshmerga, is offering some protection for the displaced people, but many were not able to flee in time.

"It's a lotof Christian we have in Iraq. They [are] scared because those daj, if they see any Christian, they kill him, no matter what."

Esho said he and other Iraqi Christians in Saskatoon pray for persecuted Christians in Iraq, although he admitted it is hard to think about their situation while enjoying a free life inCanada.

"There's nothing we can do," Esho said.

Thousands of Iraqi Christians have fled cities in Iraqto escape the growing violence.

Currently, Iraq is entangled in a violent civil war that has created the worst crisis the country hasseensince the last Americantroops withdrew in December 2011.