She was not killed, but left in the desert to walk to Erbil. Her resistance saved many people, refugees reported.
"We know that ISIS has killed thousands of Christians in Iraq, Syria, and Libya," Anderson continued. "Mass graves have been reported in Syria, and the desert between Mosul and Erbil was littered with bodies as Christians there fled too quickly to bury neighbors and family members."
He said Christians in Iraq numbered 1.5 million in early 2000s, and now are as few as 200,000 due to war and immigration. The Christian population in Syria has fallen from 1.5 million to 500,000. Indigenous Christian communities are "vulnerable and fragile" and at risk of disappearing entirely.
"The world stands at a crossroads. The rich tapestry of religious pluralism in the region must be preserved now or it will be lost forever," Anderson said. "If Christianity disappears in this region, so does the opportunity for pluralism there; and the likelihood of majoritarian theocracy, or something worse, is increased. The threats from such an outcome to peace, stability and security – in the region and beyond – are substantial."
He recommended four forms of action for the United Nations.
These include Security Council referral of perpetrators of genocide to the International Criminal Court; provision for locating and providing relief for Yazidis, Christians and other minorities targeted for genocide; advocacy for full rights for religious minorities; and preparation for the liberation of Islamic State group-controlled territory and restoration of the property of attempted genocide victims.
He noted that many refugees fear going into official U.N. refugee camps. They are overlooked and face difficulty in acquiring official refugee status or in emigrating.
"If displaced persons want to return home, they should be supported – legally and actually – in that choice," Anderson said. "For those who have suffered too much to return to their homes-refugees who have decided to remain in the places to which they fled, they should be allowed to do so. "The support of the international community will be critical on both counts."