Iraqi Christians gathered for church services in Qaraqosh and Bashiqa, near Mosul in Niveneh province, for church services on 25 December.<br /><br /> These areas were recently retaken by the Iraqi army from Islamic State group (ISIL) control.<br /><br /> Many of those present were celebrating Christmas for the first time since 2013. <br /><br /> Practising Christianity was strictly forbidden for more than two years and most Christians fled the area when the militants seized power in 2014.<br /><br /> Meanwhile in Mosul itself, which remains partly under ISIL control, civilians continued to flee areas in the east of the city recaptured from ISIL, following counter-attacks from the militants.<br /><br /> Ten weeks into the #Mosul operation, over 110K Iraqis have been displaced. Most are in desperate need of assistance. pic.twitter.com/CHZMDfDQHg— IOM (@UNmigration) December 24, 2016<br /><br /> Nearly 100,000 people have fled the city, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).<br />
