As fears grow for an estimated 200 Assyrian Christians still in the hands of ISIL after mass abductions in northeast Syria last week, worshippers near Damascus have been praying for their safe release.

Their mass on Sunday at the Ibrahim al-Khalil church in Jaraman came as activists reported that 19 captives had been freed – but only after handing over cash in the form of a tax on non-Muslims.

The group calling itself Islamic State has killed members of religious minorities and Sunni Muslims who do not swear allegiance to its self-declared “caliphate”.

Assyrians are one of the world’s oldest Christian communities.

Defending their heritage, some in Iraq say they have no intention of fleeing. But others acknowledge it is a difficult choice.

“No one wants to leave his country, but the situation is forcing people to do that,” said Manhal, a displaced Christian who fled to Kirkuk from Mosul, which is under ISIL control.

“There is no stability. Our children are afraid and so are