The mother of a three-year-old Assyrian girl reported to be kidnapped by ISIS militants in Iraq has pleaded for help from the international community.

She says her daughter, Christina Khader, Ebada, was taken by militants as the family tried to flee Baghdede.

The mother, who is not named in the AINA News report, described in an interview with Ishtar TV how she had just boarded the bus to leave the northern Iraqi town when a man took Christina from her arms and removed her from the bus.

She followed him and pleaded with him to give her daughter back, saying Christina would "die if she does not see me".

But she says she was told: "Shut up. If you speak another world I will let them slaughter you ... if you come close to this little girl you will be slaughtered, we shall slaughter you."

In the TV interview, Christina's mother appealed to the international community to help in Iraq.

"This thing that is taking place here in Iraq, to kidnap this little girl who is innocent, and these crimes they are committing, stealing money, they did not leave us anything, what is this?" she said.

"We appeal to human rights groups to help us, to look at us. This is not a humane situation. We can't live like this all our lives. We have not attacked them. What have we done to them?"

She added: "I want you to return my daughter to me."

The Islamic State has been established by militants across parts of Syria and northern Iraq, terrorising the local population and causing thousands of people to flee their homes.

There have been reports of horrific punishments for those who do not adhere to the strict Sharia code imposed in the areas where IS rules. These have included rape, crucifixion and beheadings.

Christian Aid's consultant in Iraq, Ann Ward, told Christian Today: "IS is so well mobilised, so entrenched. We don't anticipate them going anywhere quickly."