So the Christian leaders in a city in northern Syria made an EPIC mistake this week by signing an agreement with a splinter group formerly (wink, wink) affiliated with al-Queda which outlines their official submission to Islam in return for the protection of their city. Here we go again! So basically these folks have allowed the continued trend established over centuries of Islamists wiping out the ethnic histories of conquered people. Awesome.

So what can the people of the city of Raqqa expect going forward under this new “ownership” of their city? For that, I turn to writer Samuel Shahid, author of Rights of Non-Muslims in an Islamic State since he outlines the whole concept so beautifully.

1) Zimmis (those in custody) are non-Muslim subjects who live in Muslim countries and agree to pay the Jizya (tribute) in exchange for protection and safety, and to be subject to Islamic law. These enjoy a permanent covenant.

2) People of the Hudna (truce) are those who sign a peace treaty with Muslims after being defeated in war. They agree to reside in their own land, yet to be subject to the legal jurisprudence of Islam like Zimmis, provided they do not wage war against Muslims.