[Episcopal News Service] ENS produced the following video in June 2013 about the persecution of Iraqi Christians and the Episcopal Church’s role in helping them to resettle in France. Although at the time the French government had closed its doors to Iraqi refugees, it has recently announced it is ready to offer asylum again to those escaping persecution from Islamist militants.

The Association d’entraide aux minorités d’Orient, of which Bishop Pierre Whalon has been president since 2008, welcomes the refugees at the airport, takes them to the transit centers for asylum seekers, and helps see them through the process until they are settled. This is the second round of AEMO’s work. Between 2008 and 2012, AEMO facilitated the resettlement of 1300 refugees in France.