Christian families who were unable to flee Raqqa when the terrorist group ISIS overran the city and made it their base are being subjected to violence and excessive “protection taxes”.

Fides News Agency reports that the 23 families have been routinely harassed and beaten by the terrorists.  They have been told that unless they pay “jizya”, or tax, they will be forced out of their homes on Sunday.

The tax amounts to $535 American dollars and Fides reports the families will be unable to pay because of the restrictions upon them by ISIS.

“In my opinion this is a very grave situation. No western leader is moving to stop such a tragedy but they offer only empty words with no actions,” Munir S. Kakish, chairman of the Council of Local Evangelical Churches in the Holy Land, told The Christian Post.

The churches within the city have been converted to offices for terrorist officials and Bibles and Christian materials are routinely burned by the terrorists.