Assyrian Family Flees Islamic State for a Festive Reunion

Ramzi Naeem, back, third from left, and his extended clan. ( Kym Smith) Peace and joy at Christmas: those greeting-card words will have true meaning this year for four generations of the Naeem family, Iraqi Assyrian Christians who will celebrate together in Canberra after fleeing first Islamic State in Baghdad and then exile in Beirut. The nine members of the family, including Ramzi Naeem's aged parents, his children, son-in-law and baby Alan have benefited three times over from a series of extraordinary connections with Australia and New Zealand stretching back almost a century to World War I. Grandfather Jameel, 77, well remembers when the family could mark Christmas at their home in Iraq. Four-year-old Alan's only memories are of the past 2