SYRIA: U.K. and U.S. media are obsessing over ISIS brides who voluntarily joined the jihadists and now say they want to come home.

ERBIL, Iraq—Like many living in northern Iraq, Nour Adil watched helplessly as her city filled with Syrian War refugees and Iraqis when ISIS took over and destroyed nearby cities. 

“We saw lots of ladies looking for jobs but having a hard time finding them,” Nour recalls. Her mother was skilled at sewing, and Nour had management skills from years in banking. Hopeful Hands was born. 

SYRIA: On Tuesday, more than 1,300 presumed ISIS family members fled Baghuz, where many say ISIS is fighting its last battle in Syria.

IRAN: Today marks the 40th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution that ushered in Tehran’s theocracy under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. The tumultuous events (timeline here) led to the hostage-taking of 52 Americans from the U.S.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: The West should be wary of the tolerance agenda surrounding the historic visit of Pope Francis to the Abu Dhabi this week, writes Hudson fellow and religious freedom expert Nina Shea. “I see this as a process of responding to religious extremism in the region that follows up on the Marrakesh Declaration led by moderate Sunnis,” said Thomas K.

SYRIA: A joint letter to U.S. President Donald Trump from the coalition of Christians, Arabs, and Kurds controlling part of northern Syria says the unexpected plans for U.S. withdrawal have “severely undercut” efforts to install non-sectarian democracy in a region where 21,000 new Muslim converts to Christianity—together with 100,000 ethnic Christians—reside.

The persecution index is rising. If someone launched a futures market based on Christian believers getting killed and took a “long” position, they’d have a safe prospect of a return.