The Story unfolding in Syria is an all so familiar tale to many of us from the region. The Authoritarian regime is faced with a rebellion of loosely united Liberals and Islamists, which fight to over throw the government and give freedom to the people. However, what often happens, as seen as recently as in Iraq or historically as in the Young Turk Revolution of the Ottoman Empire, is that these “democratic revolutions” soon enough turn violent, and those that suffer are always the minorities.
As the Arab Spring spreads across the region, numerous Islamist-dominated governments have emerged, which have shown less tolerance towards local Christians [1]. It is logical to conclude that the recent experiences in Iraq and Egypt will also occur in Syria if the current Ba’athist government is overthrown [2]. In fact, many claims are already reporting an “ongoing ethnic cleansing of Christians” within the greater humanitarian crisis underway in Syria. From the beginning of the conflict in 2011, Christians have been targeted by the opposition for not joining the original protests [3], which sparked the armed uprising. As the armed conflict has spread across the country, Christians now find themselves targets for their decision to choose not to take up arms for either the regime or the opposition [4].
In “Liberated” parts of Syria, Christian face difficult times as Foreign Jihadist have imposed strict Islamic law [5]. Often Rebel leaders offer native Christians four choices: Denounce their faith and convert to Islam, Pay Tribute to Foreign Jihadist for remaining Christians, Death, or Expulsion [5]. In places like Qusair, Churches have been vandalized with graffiti reading “infidels” [6], while, in Homs, 90% of the native Christian population has been expelled by the Farouq Brigades [7], one of the largest and well-known units of the Free Syrian Army [8]. The very same unit, which was committing, numerous war crimes against Alawites, such as the raping women [9], mutilation of bodies, and killing civilians, including children [10].
In reports by such groups as Amnesty International, armed opposition groups have become notorious for using child soldiers, hostage taking, torture, and numerous other war crimes [11]. In places like southern Damascus, witnesses have begun describing a “hole of death”, where opposition forces dump executed bodies [11]. Often, activists and supporters of the opposition attempted to justify such claims to Amnesty by making derogatory statements about minorities or claiming them to be Assad Sympathizers [11].
The question before us is, are we willing to sacrifice an entire indigenous population in the name of a strategy, which has proven to be a failure yet again? Should the same victims of the Ottoman Genocides, i.e. the Greeks, Armenians, and Assyrians be offered yet again for slaughter in the name of American interests? The signs of a looming Genocide at the hands of opposition forces are all present in Syria. In fact, some analysts have even gone as far as to claim that the civil war is nothing more than a clever cover to commit atrocities on the Christian population [12].
According to Patriarch Gregorios III of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, over 1,000 Christians have been killed since 2011. While more than 40 churches and other Christian run institutions have been damaged or destroyed. It is also estimated that over 300,000 Christians have fled Syria since the war began [13].
Incomplete list of atrocities
committed by Jihadist Opposition forces on Christian civilians
Last updated 9/24/15
Last updated 9/24/15
If
you have any events not list on this timeline. Please email us
NOTE: Victims are listed below based on ethnic affiliation NOT
religious denomination. Those whose ethnic identities could not be verified are
listed as simply “Christian”.
-All Greek Orthodox & Greek
Catholic-Melkites are listed as ethnic Rûm
-All Syriac Christian denominations are listed as ethnic Assyrians (Arameans)
-All Syriac Christian denominations are listed as ethnic Assyrians (Arameans)
2011
November
26, 2011 in the city of Homs (Ἔμεσα/Emesa)
According to numerous reports, a 9-year-old Rûmi boy named Sari Saoud was murdered by a FSA sniper. His body was then stolen, and used for propaganda purposes in which the Ba’athist regime was blamed for his death.
According to numerous reports, a 9-year-old Rûmi boy named Sari Saoud was murdered by a FSA sniper. His body was then stolen, and used for propaganda purposes in which the Ba’athist regime was blamed for his death.
2012
January
16th, 2012 in the city of Homs (Ἔμεσα/Emesa)
According to numerous reports, 3
Christians, a man and his two children, were massacred in a bakery of the
Ashira neighborhood of Homs.
January
26, 2012 in the city of Hama (Επιφανεία/Epiphania)
According to New York Times and
other sources, Rûmi Priest Basilious Nasser was murdered while giving first aid
to a wounded man.
February
4, 2012 in the city of Homs (Ἔμεσα/Emesa)
According
to reports by Mother Agnes-Mariam de la Croix of the St. James Monastery 163
Christians and Alawi hostages were crowded into a building in the Khalidiya
District by FSA rebels, which then proceeded to blow up the structure with
dynamite.
March
21, 2012
According to Agenzia Fides, “Human
Rights Watch” released a report finding the Syrian opposition guilty of
violence, abuse, and torture. In the city of Homs, “an ongoing ethnic cleansing
of Christians” is reportedly being carried out by members of the Islamist group
“Brigade Faruq”. It is estimated that 90% of the Christians of Homs have been
expelled, and their properties confiscated by Islamists. According to Orthodox
Metropolitan sources, the Islamists have gone door to door in the neighborhoods
of Hamidiya and Bustan al-Diwan expelling Christians.
March
30, 2012 in the city of Qusayr
According to Agenzia Fides, despite reassurances from the Revolutionary Council of Homs, and the Syrian National Council that there is not a war against Christians, Fides News Agency continues to receive stories and testimonies that say otherwise. It is believed that over 10,000 Christians have fled the town of Qusayr, on the border with Lebanon, following pressure from Sunni Islamist groups.
According to Agenzia Fides, despite reassurances from the Revolutionary Council of Homs, and the Syrian National Council that there is not a war against Christians, Fides News Agency continues to receive stories and testimonies that say otherwise. It is believed that over 10,000 Christians have fled the town of Qusayr, on the border with Lebanon, following pressure from Sunni Islamist groups.
May
10, 2012 in the village of Qastal al-Burj
According to Agenzia Fides & the
AINA, FSA militants have expelled 10 Christian families from the village of
Qastal al-Burj, which is located in the province of Hama.
May 30, 2012
According
to Agenzia Fides, a Rûm family that recently arrived in Lebanon from the city of
Qusayr, claims that Christians are plagued by kidnappings by Rebels, and in
some cases even torture and death.
June
9, 2012 in the city of Qusayr
According
to Agenzia Fides, the Christian population of the town of Qusayr, near Homs,
has left following an ultimatum from the military chief of the armed
opposition, Abdel Salam Harba.
June 12th, 2012 in the city of
Qusayr
According
to Agenzia Fides, a Christian by the name of Maurice Bitar was murdered in
Qusayr, after an ultimatum by General Abdel Salam Harba for all Christians to
leave the town. According to local sources, Christians have suffered harassment
by Opposition forces “as in the days of the Ottoman caliphate”.
June 13th, 2012 in the city of
Homs (Ἔμεσα/Emesa)
According
to Agenzia Fides, 400 Christians are trapped in the historical center of Homs, in
the neighborhoods of Bustan Diwan and Hamidiye.
June 13th, 2012 in the city of
Qusayr
According
to Agenzia Fides [1] [2], Islamists have desecrated the Rûm Church of Saint Elias in
Qusayr, near Homs.
July 23, 2012
According to the European Parliament Web Site, Polish MEPs Zbigniew Ziobr, and Jacek Włosowicz raised the question of the Situation of Christians in Syria
July 27, 2012
According to Haaretz, Turkey has set up a secret base with Saudi Arabia & Qatar to aid Syria's Rebels.
August 3, 2012
As shown on YouTube, Golden Dawn MP Chris Pappas raises the question of the protection of the Syrian Rûm in the Greek Parliament. (Video in Greek)
July 23, 2012
According to the European Parliament Web Site, Polish MEPs Zbigniew Ziobr, and Jacek Włosowicz raised the question of the Situation of Christians in Syria
July 27, 2012
According to Haaretz, Turkey has set up a secret base with Saudi Arabia & Qatar to aid Syria's Rebels.
August 3, 2012
As shown on YouTube, Golden Dawn MP Chris Pappas raises the question of the protection of the Syrian Rûm in the Greek Parliament. (Video in Greek)
August
7, 2012 in the village of Jandar
According to numerous sources [1] [2] [3], 16
Alawites and Christians were brutally massacred by opposition forces at the largest
resort in the country. Amongst the victims was a Christian family of 10 from
the village of al-Alyat near Homs.
August 27, 2012 in the city of Aleppo (Βέροια/
Beroea)
According
to Agenzia Fides, unknown militants broke into the residence of the
Rûm-Catholic
Metropolitan
Archbishop of Aleppo, His Exc. Mgr. Jean-Clement Jeanbart and looted it.
Militants also looted the Byzantine Christian Museum “Maarrat Nahman”, where
artifacts and icons were damaged.
August 28, 2012 in the city of Damascus
(Δημητριας/Demetrias)
According
to Agenzia Fides, A car bomb was detonated in the area of Jaramana, a suburb of
Damascus, killing 12 and injuring more than 50 Christians and Druzes. The bomb
was set off while a crowd of civilians were heading to the cemetery to bury two
young people who had died the day before from an IED.
August 29, 2012 in the city of Damascus
(Δημητριας/Demetrias)
According
to Agenzia Fides and other sources, an Armenian family of 7 was found decapitated in the Zamalka
suburb of Damascus by “Liua Islam”.
September 7, 2012
According to the European Parliament Web Site, Greek MEP Nikolaos Salavrakos of the Popular Orthodox Rally Party (LA.O.S.) raised the question of the Christian communities in the Middle East and Syria
September 7, 2012
According to the European Parliament Web Site, Greek MEP Nikolaos Salavrakos of the Popular Orthodox Rally Party (LA.O.S.) raised the question of the Christian communities in the Middle East and Syria
September 24th, 2012 in the
village of Rableh
According
to Agenzia Fides, 150 Rûm from the village of Rableh, between the Lebanese
border and the city of Qusayr, in the province of Homs were kidnapped.
September 24th, 2012 in
Saidnaya
According
to Agenzia Fides, 3 Christians from Saidnaya, that had been kidnapped several
days earlier, were found murdered on the road side.
September 25th, 2012 in the
village of Rableh
According
to Agenzia Fides, another 130 Rûm from the village of Rableh were kidnapped
today. Bringing the total of Rûm from Rableh kidnapped to 280 in just two days.
The hostages are said to be in a school in the village of Gousseh. Where the
kidnappers are discussing ransom.
October 15, 2012
According to the European Parliament Web Site, Italian MEP Barbara Matera raised the question of the ongoing Persecution of the Christian minority in Syria
October 15, 2012
According to the European Parliament Web Site, Italian MEP Barbara Matera raised the question of the ongoing Persecution of the Christian minority in Syria
October 19th, 2012 in the city
of Jaramana
According
to Agenzia Fides, Rûmi priest Fr. Fadi Jamil Haddad, pastor of the Rûm-Orthodox
Church of St. Elias in Qatana was kidnapped by unidentified armed militants.
October 19th, 2012 in the city
of Aleppo (Βέροια/ Beroea)
According
to Agenzia Fides, a Rûmi priest sent a heartfelt message to Fides
entitled “Living as a Christian in the hell of Aleppo”. In the message, the
priest describes life in the neighborhoods of Sulaymaniyah, Aziziyah, Villas,
Telefon Hawaii, Al Jabiriyah, Al Maydan, Al Surian, and Al Tilal. Also in the
message was a list of latest deaths in the community: Fadi Samir Haddad, Elias
Abdel Nour, Nichan Vartanian, Vartan Karbedjian, Maria Fehmed, and the young
Joelle Fahmeh. Further, the priest listed community structures damaged by the
war. The Rûm-Catholic Archbishopric in Tilal was severely damaged, during which
Fr. Imad Daher was injured; The Church of San Michele Arcangelo, and a
monastery in Aziziyya were also damaged; a pastoral building of the Rûm
community called “The Hope” was hit killing 3. Also mentioned, are attacks on
Almidan, an Armenian suburb, which have resulted in several deaths.
October 21st, 2012 in the city
of Damascus (Δημητριας/Demetrias)
According
to Agenzia Fides, 13 people were killed and dozens wounded when a car bomb went
off in the Christian neighborhood of Bab Touma.
October
21st, 2012 in the city of Aleppo (Βέροια/ Beroea)
According
to the AINA, a suicide car bomber detonated in front of an Assyrian charity
complex in Aleppo. No one was hurt, but there was heavy damage to the complex,
which includes an old age home, a hospital, and a grammar school.
October 22nd, 2012 in the city
of Damascus (Δημητριας/Demetrias)
According
to Agenzia Fides, two Rûm were kidnapped and murdered yesterday, while a car
bomb exploded later that night near the Rûm-Catholic Church of St. Abramo, in
the area of Jaramana, in the north of Damascus. The two killed were Fr.
Salami’s brother, and cousin, Fr. Salami. The two were traveling from Qusair to
Damascus, when armed men stopped and seized them. There was a ransom demand
made to their family for $30,000 U.S., but after two hours the kidnappers
announced they had killed both men.
October
25, 2012 in Jaramana
According to Agenzia Fides, the body of Rûmi priest Fr. Fadi JamilHaddad, paster of the Rûm-Orthodox Church of St. Elias in Qatana, was found today in the Jaramana neighborhood (north of Damascus) not far from where he was kidnapped on October 19th.His body showed signs of tortured, and his eyes were gouged out.
According to Agenzia Fides, the body of Rûmi priest Fr. Fadi JamilHaddad, paster of the Rûm-Orthodox Church of St. Elias in Qatana, was found today in the Jaramana neighborhood (north of Damascus) not far from where he was kidnapped on October 19th.His body showed signs of tortured, and his eyes were gouged out.
October 26th, 2012 in the city
of Qatana
According
to Agenzia Fides, a bomb exploded at the funeral of Rûmi priest Fr. Fadi Jamil
Haddad killing two civilians and some soldiers.
October
26th, 2012 in the city of Aleppo (Βέροια/ Beroea)
According
to the AINA, the Assyrian Quarter of Aleppo has come under attack for the
second time in five days. Today, the al-Qaida affiliated al-Tawhid Brigade
attacked the quarter killing one resident, and causing others to flee in
terror.
October 27th, 2012 in Deir Ezzor
According
to Agenzia Fides, a car bomb explored in front of the only Assyrian/Aramean
Church in the town of Deir Ezzor, in eastern Syria.
October 30th, 2012 in the city
of Homs (Ἔμεσα/Emesa)
According
to Agenzia Fides, the last surviving Christian still living in Homs was killed.
Elias Mansour, an 84-year-old Rûm Christian refused to leave his home in the
Wadi Sayeh area.
November 8th, 2012
According
to Agenzia Fides, efforts are underway to try and free 10 Christians who were
kidnapped recently by militants from a bus traveling from Aleppo to Beirut.
Seven of the ten are said to be Armenians.
November 8th, 2012 in the city
of Aleppo (Βέροια/ Beroea)
According
to Agenzia Fides, the historical Evangelical Church of Aleppo, in the Jdeideh
district was destroyed by explosives by armed militants.
November 14th, 2012 in the city
of Raqqah (Νικηφόριον/ Nikephorion)
According
to Agenzia Fides, a car bomb exploded outside the Orthodox Church of the
Annunciation, in the city of Raqqah, in northeastern Syria, causing two deaths
and injuring a woman.
November 15, 2012
According to the New York Times, Turkey officially recognizes the Syrian "Opposition" as the legitimate leaders of Syria.
November 15, 2012
According to the New York Times, Turkey officially recognizes the Syrian "Opposition" as the legitimate leaders of Syria.
November
16th, 2012 in the city of Aleppo (Βέροια/ Beroea)
According
to the AINA, a bomb exploded near an Assyrian/Aramean Church injuring scores of
people. Estimates put the number dead between 20 and 80. The bomb damaged the
Al-Kalima School, and the Syrian French Hospital.
November 19th, 2012 in the city
of Qara
According
to Agenzia Fides, the ancient 6th century Rûm Catholic Church of
Saints Sergius and Bacchus was desecrated by vandals in Qara, which is part of
the diocese of Homs (Western Syria). The vandals stole over 20 icons (of the 18th
& 19th century), manuscripts, and vestments.
November 28th, 2012 in the city
of Damascus (Δημητριας/Demetrias)
According
to Agenzia Fides, 8 Rûm were among 50 people to die in the Damascus suburb of
Jaramana when two car bombs exploded. Among the more than 100 people also
wounded by the attacks were at least ten Christians.
December 13th, 2012 in Wadi-al
Nasara (Κοιλάδα των Χριστιανών/Valley of Christians)
According
to Agenzia Fides, 150,000 Rûm in the more than 40 villages, which make up to
so-called “Valley of the Christians” (Wadi-al Nasara), have received thousands
of refugees from Homs and other cities. Islamists have begun shelling the
Christian stronghold nonstop. In recent days, the village of Howache, witnessed
the destruction of several houses, and the death of 3 young villagers. This
comes just weeks after reports of 9 others from the region who have been
killed.
December 13th, 2012
According
to Agenzia Fides, His Exc. Mgr. Elias Sleiman, an Assyrian/Aramean Bishop of
Latakia, publically expressed his concerns about Islamist hate-crimes against
Christians in the areas of Latakia, Tartus, Tal Khalakh, and Wadi-al Nasara.
December 19, 2012
According to the European Parliament Web Site, UK MEP Diane Dodds raised the question of Christian persecution inside the Syrian conflict
December 19, 2012
According to the European Parliament Web Site, UK MEP Diane Dodds raised the question of Christian persecution inside the Syrian conflict
December
30, 2012 in the town of Ras al-Ayn
According to al-Arabiya News and the Huffington Post, a Christian man by the
name of Andrei Arbashe was beheaded and fed to dogs by Syrian Rebels in the
northern town of Ras al-Ayn on the Syrian-Turkish border.
2013
January 14, 2013
According to the European Parliament Web Site, Polish MEP Zbigniew Ziobro raised the question of the Situation of Christians in Syria. After reports that on December 30, 2012 100 Christians murdered, used by FSA units as human shields in the village of Zaghbat
January 30th, 2013 in the city of Aleppo (Βέροια/ Beroea)
According to the European Parliament Web Site, Polish MEP Zbigniew Ziobro raised the question of the Situation of Christians in Syria. After reports that on December 30, 2012 100 Christians murdered, used by FSA units as human shields in the village of Zaghbat
January 30th, 2013 in the city of Aleppo (Βέροια/ Beroea)
According
to Agenzia Fides, the Armenian Catholic Archbishop of Aleppo, Boutros Marayati
publically described the conditions civilians face still living in Aleppo.
According to the Archbishop, "There is “always new news of massacres,
there is the constant noise of bombing, one lives in a state of tension and
fear day and night, there is a struggle to survive in a daily life in which
there is not even water to drink and fuel to heat homes”.
January 31st, 2013
According to the AINA, a bus from the Assyrian owned Ezla Bus Company
was attacked near the Syrian capital of Damascus. The bus was on route from
Qamishli to Beirut. Several passengers were killed, including a young Assyrian
girl named Nina Jamil Oshana.
February 9th, 2013 in the city
of Aleppo (Βέροια/ Beroea)
According
to Agenzia Fides, two priests, Armenian Catholic Michel Kayyal, and Rûm-Orthodox
Maher Mahfouz were kidnapped by armed rebels on the road leading from Aleppo to
Damascus. The two priests were on a public bus together with Salesian priest
Fr. Charbel on their way to the Salesian house in Kafrun.
February 20th, 2013 outside the
city of Aleppo (Βέροια/ Beroea)
According
to Agenzia Fides, an Armenian man named Yohannes A. was murdered by Islamic
Fundamentalists outside of Aleppo. The group of Islamists stopped a minibus,
and conducted an illegal search of the vehicle. Demanding the passengers’
identity papers. Once Yohannes was identified as an Armenian he was shot point
blank in the chest.
April 4th, 2013
According
to Agenzia Fides, a fatwa was issued via YouTube by Yasir al-Ajlawni, a
Jordanian Salafi Sheikh who resides in Damascus. The fatwa declares it lawful
for rebels to commit rape against “any Syrian woman not Sunni”.
April 5th, 2013 in the city of
Aleppo (Βέροια/ Beroea)
According
to Agenzia Fides, anti-Ba’athist militas have conquered the district of Cheikh
Maksoud, which overlooks Aleppo, causing more than 300 Christian families to
flee the area. Many bring with them reports of murders and rapes of women
perpetrated by rebels.
April 9th, 2013
According
to Agenzia Fides & AINA, over the last 3 days more than 500 Assyrian
Christians have fled Syria, crossing the Turkish border to seek safety from the
tragic events of the Syria Civil War. The refugees are now said to be in
Gaziantep, in the southeastern Anatolia region, 50 kilometers from the border
with Syria.
April
22, 2013 in the village of Kfar Dael
According to numerous sources [1] [2] [3] [4], Rûm-Orthodox Archbishop of Aleppo Boulos Yazjic and Syriac Orthodox Archbishop of Aleppo Yohanna Ibrahim were kidnapped by a terrorist group while on a humanitarian mission.
April 23, 2013
According to the European Parliament Web Site, Dutch MEP Peter van Dalen raised the question of the Two bishops kidnapped in Syria
According to numerous sources [1] [2] [3] [4], Rûm-Orthodox Archbishop of Aleppo Boulos Yazjic and Syriac Orthodox Archbishop of Aleppo Yohanna Ibrahim were kidnapped by a terrorist group while on a humanitarian mission.
April 23, 2013
According to the European Parliament Web Site, Dutch MEP Peter van Dalen raised the question of the Two bishops kidnapped in Syria
May
2013
Christian Solidarity International
has issued a Genocide Alert for religious minorities in the Syrian Arab
Republic, specifically Alawites, Shia Muslims, Druze, Christians, Yezidis and
Jews. Conditions currently exist for a
genocide of these groups by armed non-state actors fighting against the Bashar
al-Assad regime, particularly Jabhat al-Nusra and other Islamist groups
fighting under a wide and ever-shifting collection of names.
May 7, 2013
According to the European Parliament Web Site, Portugese MEP Diogo Feio raised the question of the kidnapped Orthodox Bishops of Aleppo
May 13, 2013
According to the European Parliament Web Site, Cypriot MEP Antigoni Papadopoulou raised the question of the Kidnapping of Orthodox Bishops in Syria
May 21, 2013
As shown on YouTube, Golden Dawn MP Elias Panayiotarou raises the question of the War in Syria, and the plight of the Syrian Rûm inside the Greek parliament. (Video in Greek)
May 7, 2013
According to the European Parliament Web Site, Portugese MEP Diogo Feio raised the question of the kidnapped Orthodox Bishops of Aleppo
May 13, 2013
According to the European Parliament Web Site, Cypriot MEP Antigoni Papadopoulou raised the question of the Kidnapping of Orthodox Bishops in Syria
May 21, 2013
As shown on YouTube, Golden Dawn MP Elias Panayiotarou raises the question of the War in Syria, and the plight of the Syrian Rûm inside the Greek parliament. (Video in Greek)
May
25th, 2013 in the village of Oum Sharshouh
According to sources, Islamic
militants reportedly invaded the village of Oum Sharshouh in Homs province,
where eyewitnesses claim Islamists burn down houses forcing 250 Christian
families to flee.
May
27, 2013 in the village of al-Duvair
According to sources [1] [2] [3], Turkish and Chechen extremists affiliated with the Free Syrian Army raided the Christian-populated al-Duvair village near Homs, on the border with Lebanon, and massacred all its inhabitants. Sources
According to sources [1] [2] [3], Turkish and Chechen extremists affiliated with the Free Syrian Army raided the Christian-populated al-Duvair village near Homs, on the border with Lebanon, and massacred all its inhabitants. Sources
June 23rd, 2013 in the village
of Gassanieh
According
to numerous sources [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6], Assyrian/Aramean priest Francois Murad was murdered in
Gassanieh, in northern Syria. According to local sources, the monastery where
Fr. Murad was staying was attack by Islamists linked to Jabhat al-Nusra.
June
27, 2013 in the city of Idib
According to the Washington Times,
two Christians were kidnapped and beheaded on video by Syrian opposition.
June
27, 2013 in the city of
Damascus (Δημητριας/Demetrias)
According to the BBC, a Suicide bomber detonates himself outside the Virgin Mary Rûm-Orthodox Church in the Christian quarter of the city, killing 4 people
According to the BBC, a Suicide bomber detonates himself outside the Virgin Mary Rûm-Orthodox Church in the Christian quarter of the city, killing 4 people
July 2nd, 2013 in the city of
Qusair
According
to Agenzia Fides, reports are surfacing of the rape and murder of a 15-year-old
Rûmi girl named Mariam from Qusair, located in the governorate of Homs.
According to two Rûmi priests the girl was kidnapped and forced into 15
different marriages with members of Jabhat al-Nusra over a period of 15 days.
July 2, 2013
According to the European Parliament Web Site, Italian MEP Lorenzo Fontana raised the question of the murder of a hermit monk in Ghassanieh, Syria
July 2, 2013
According to the European Parliament Web Site, Italian MEP Lorenzo Fontana raised the question of the murder of a hermit monk in Ghassanieh, Syria
July 27th, 2013 in the village of Tel Hormizd
According to the AINA, the Assyrian village of Tel Hormizd was attack
by 50 Arab Muslims who entered the village, and began shooting
indiscriminately. According to residents two Assyrians were wounded.
August 4th, 2013 in the village of al-Thawrah
According to the AINA, Assyrian refugees from al-Nusra occupied
al-Thawrah (also known as al Tabqah) are reporting what life under Islamic Law
was like in the village. Refugees report their property being stolen, their
homes confiscated, and their possessions taken to be sold on the black market
in order to buy weapons and ammunition.
August 4, 2013
According to Today's Zaman, Saleh Muslim, leader of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) in Turkey publically stated that Turkey is providing support for al-Qaeda linked groups in Syria.
August 7, 2013
According to the European Parliament Web Site, Cypriot MEP Antigoni Papadopoulou raised the question of the Abduction of Orthodox Metropolitans in Syria for a second time
August 4, 2013
According to Today's Zaman, Saleh Muslim, leader of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) in Turkey publically stated that Turkey is providing support for al-Qaeda linked groups in Syria.
August 7, 2013
According to the European Parliament Web Site, Cypriot MEP Antigoni Papadopoulou raised the question of the Abduction of Orthodox Metropolitans in Syria for a second time
August 9th, 2013 in the village of al-Thawrah
According to the AINA, the Rûm-Orthodox Church of Sts. Sergius and
Bacchus, a landmark of al-Thawrah (al-Tabqah) was destroyed by the Free Syrian
Army.
August
17, 2013 in the villages of Al-Hasn and Marmarita
According to Syria News, a group of foreign-back terrorists, either affiliated with the Free Syrian Army or Jabhat al-Nusra have committed gruesome atrocities in the two Rûm villages of al-Hasn and Marmarita, resulting in the deaths of 15 Rûm.
According to Syria News, a group of foreign-back terrorists, either affiliated with the Free Syrian Army or Jabhat al-Nusra have committed gruesome atrocities in the two Rûm villages of al-Hasn and Marmarita, resulting in the deaths of 15 Rûm.
September 5th, 2013 in the
village of Maaloula
According
to Agenzia Fides, Syrian opposition forces have appeared to have taken over
positions above the famous Christian village of Maaloula. Alarming residents
that the peace place of pray and pilgrimage maybe threatened.
September 5th, 2013
According
to Agenzia, Fides, a Syrian- Rûm MP by the name of Maria Saadeh publicly called for
peace and an end to violence.
September 7th, 2013 in the
village of Maaloula
According
to Agenzia Fides and Lebanonwire, 3 Rûm were murdered after Islamic
militants from Jabhat al-Nusra, Ahrar al-Sham, the Bab Amr Brigade, and the
Free Syrian Army entered the village and began terrorizing its
inhabitants. The militants entered one
home in which the three men were, as well as one woman. The men are identified
as, Mikhael Taalab, Antoun Taalab, and Sarkis el Zakhm (Mikhael’s grandson).
It’s reported that the Islamists warned everyone present to convert to Islam,
in which Sarkis replied, “I am a Christian, and if you want to kill me because
I am a Christian, do it”.
September 10, 2013
According to the European Parliament Web Site, Polish MEP Adam Bielan raised the question of the Islamist capture of the Christian town of Maaloula in Syria
September 10, 2013
According to the European Parliament Web Site, Polish MEP Adam Bielan raised the question of the Islamist capture of the Christian town of Maaloula in Syria
September
25th, 2013 in the village of Maaloula
According
to The Independent, local Christians are reporting that local Muslims from Maaloula
aided al-Nusra rebels with their attack on the village. Showing the Islamists
exactly which homes were inhabited by Christians. According to locals 10
Christians have been murdered since al-Nusra began its attacks on the village,
which has forced all 5,000 Christians to flee, turning Maaloula into a ghost
town.
September 26th, 2013
According
to Agenzia Fides, 36 Ulemas (Muslim religious leaders) of Douma, one of the
largest suburbs of Damascus, have issued a fatwa (legal decree) that
legitimizes seizure of homes and property belonging to Christians, Druze, and
Alawites by Sunni Muslims.
October 1st, 2013 in the
village of Sednaya (Saidnaya)
According
to Agenzia Fides, the Christian village of Sednaya, north of Damascus, is under
constant threat of Islamist militias from Yabroud, and the Lebanese Mountain.
The militias have been organizing raids, and blitz to terrorize the civilian
population. So far at least two inhabitants have been killed and one wounded.
October 21st, 2013 in the city
of Sadad
According
to Agenzia Fides, Islamist militias attacked the Christian city of Sadad in an
eerily similar way as the recent attack on Maaloula. Several hundred men from
the brigades al-Faruk, al-Nusra, and ISIS entered Sadad from three directions.
On the 22nd, Ba’athist forces began a counteroffensive. Meanwhile,
some of the 15,000 inhabitants began an exodus in the direction of Ba’athist
control territory.
October 25th, 2013 in the city
of Raqqa (Nikephorion/Νικηφόριον)
According
to Agenzia Fides, ISIL has in recent days organized book burnings of Bibles and
other Christian books in front of the Rûm-Catholic Church of Our Lady of the
Annunciation in Raqqa.
October 31st, 2013 in the city
of Sadad
According
to Agenzia Fides, two mass graves totally 45 men, women, and children were
discovered in the Christian city of Sadad. According to eyewitnesses, the
civilians were murdered by members of the FSA, al-Nusra and ISIL. The city has
been completely destroyed and looted.
November 16th, 2013 in the
village of Qara
According
to Agenzia Fides, the Rûm village of Qara was invaded by more than 3,000
Islamists that turned the peaceful village into a battlefield. According to Fr.
George Louis, a Rûm-Catholic priest of the Church of San Michele, which was
also ravaged and destroyed, 6,000 civilians fled immediately to places like the
village of Der Atieh.
November 22nd, 2013
According
to Agenzia Fides, seven anti-Ba’athist Islamist militias have announced, their
fusion and creation of the “Islamic Front”, which aims to build an Islamic
State in the region of Syria. Joining this new “Islamic Front” organization
include Liwa al-Tawid and Ahrar al-Sham. In a statement the Patriarch of
Antioch of the Rûm-Catholic Church, Gregorios III Laham said, “These groups,
even when they divide and fight with one another, they respond to the same
logic. Logics that have nothing to do with democracy and freedom”.
November 22nd, 2013 in the town
of Deir Atieh
According
to Agenzia Fides, Islamist militias have invaded the town of Deir Atieh, north
of Damascus. Islamists devastated the Museum of Deir Atieh, and looted numerous
homes. Reports are also circulating that they used captured civilians as ‘human
shields’, and also entered the municipal hospital to take hostages. Local
sources are claiming that the town’s inhabitants have begun to flee, however,
Islamists perform illegal check points where they examining people’s
identification documents. When they come along an individual with a Christian
name they are retained. It is said that the local Rûm-Orthodox priest was
forced to present himself as married in order to flee the town. He was allowed
passage because he had an Arab name, and was assumed to therefore have no
Christian ancestry.
November 26, 2013
According to the European Parliament Web Site, Polish MEP Zbigniew Ziobro raised the question of the Massacre of Christians in Sadad, Syria
November 26, 2013
According to the European Parliament Web Site, Polish MEP Zbigniew Ziobro raised the question of the Massacre of Christians in Sadad, Syria
November 30th, 2013 in the
village of Maaloula
According
to Agenzia Fides, the village of Maaloula was attacked again by Islamists of
Jabhat al-Nusra.
December
2, 2013 in the village of Maaloula
According to The Guardian, 12 Rûm-Orthodox nuns and 3 other women were kidnapped by Islamist Terrorists in the village of Maaloula.
December 10, 2013
According to the European Parliament Web Site, Italian MEP Mara Bizzotto raised the question of the Kidnapping of 12 nuns from a Christian convent in Syria
According to The Guardian, 12 Rûm-Orthodox nuns and 3 other women were kidnapped by Islamist Terrorists in the village of Maaloula.
December 10, 2013
According to the European Parliament Web Site, Italian MEP Mara Bizzotto raised the question of the Kidnapping of 12 nuns from a Christian convent in Syria
December 16th, 2013 in the
village of Kanaye
According
to Agenzia Fides, the Christian village of Kanaye, in the Governorate of Idlib,
has been invaded by Jabhat al-Nusra and have had Islamic Law imposed on them
under threat of massacre.
December
21, 2013 in the province of Daraa (Adraa/Ἀδράα)
According to Xinhua, Syrian Rebels fired multiple mortar shells on a Church in the province of Daraa killing 12 Christians.
According to Xinhua, Syrian Rebels fired multiple mortar shells on a Church in the province of Daraa killing 12 Christians.
2014
January 8th, 2014 in the
Diocese of Homs (Emesa/Ἔμεσα)
According
to Agenzia Fides, Islamists have beheaded a young Christian, and seriously
wounded another in the Diocese of Homs. The two, Firas Nader and Fadi Matanius
Mattah, were traveling by car from Homs to the Rûm village of Marmarita. Their
car was intercepted by 5 armed Islamists who opened fire on them. Upon reaching
the car, they noticed Fadi was wearing a cross, and beheaded him.
January
9, 2014 in an ISIL-occupied Aleppo Prison
According to PanARMENIAN.net, an Armenian man named Minas was murdered by ISIL militants for refusing to convert to Islam
According to PanARMENIAN.net, an Armenian man named Minas was murdered by ISIL militants for refusing to convert to Islam
January 16th, 2014
According
to Agenzia Fides, a statement was released by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN),
which claims more than 600,000 Christians – a third of their total population
in Syria – are internally displaced or living as refugees in neighboring
countries.
February 17, 2014
According to the European Parliament Web Site, Italian MEP Sergio Paolo Francesco Silvestris raised the question of Syria's cultural heritage, which is being threaten by Islamic Fundamentalists
February 17, 2014
According to the European Parliament Web Site, Italian MEP Sergio Paolo Francesco Silvestris raised the question of Syria's cultural heritage, which is being threaten by Islamic Fundamentalists
March 9th, 2014
According
to Agenzia Fides, Islamists’ released 13 Rûm-Orthodox nuns who went missing in
December of 2013 after Islamists took the ancient quarter of the Christian
village of Maaloula, north of Damascus. The nuns had been held hostage in the
city of Yabroud.
March 17, 2014
According to the European Parliament Web Site, Polish MEP Michał Tomasz Kamiński raised the question of the dangers facing the Orthodox Christian community in Syria
March 17, 2014
According to the European Parliament Web Site, Polish MEP Michał Tomasz Kamiński raised the question of the dangers facing the Orthodox Christian community in Syria
March
21st, 2014 in the village of Kessab
According
to Russian Today, Jabhat al-Nusra forces crossed into Syria from Turkey to
seize the ethnic Armenian town of Kessab, resulting in hundreds of residents
fleeing for their lives.
March 24th, 2014 in the village
of Kessab
According
to Asbarez, on March 21st when members of al-Nusra, Sham al-Islam,
and Ansar al-Sham crossed over the Turkish border. According to eyewitness
accounts, the Islamists openly passed through Turkish military barracks, and
even carried their injured back into Turkey for treatment in the town of
Yayladagi. Some 670 Armenian families, have been evacuated to safer areas in
neighboring Basit and Latakia. Islamists have desecrated the town’s three
Armenian churches and pillaged local residences.
Match 25, 2014
According to the European Parliament Web Site, Polish MEP Michał Tomasz Kamiński raised the question of Islamic Rebels destroying the Christian Heritage of Syria
March 26, 2014
According to the European Parliament Web Site, Italian MEP Matteo Salvini raised the question of Islamist reprisals taken against Armenian civilians in Syria, with possible Turkish involvement
March 28, 2014
According to the European Parliament Web Site, Italian MEP Mara Bizzotto rasied the question of the massacre of Christians in Syria
Match 25, 2014
According to the European Parliament Web Site, Polish MEP Michał Tomasz Kamiński raised the question of Islamic Rebels destroying the Christian Heritage of Syria
March 26, 2014
According to the European Parliament Web Site, Italian MEP Matteo Salvini raised the question of Islamist reprisals taken against Armenian civilians in Syria, with possible Turkish involvement
March 28, 2014
According to the European Parliament Web Site, Italian MEP Mara Bizzotto rasied the question of the massacre of Christians in Syria
March 29th, 2014
According
to One Europe, on March 24th, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
expressed his deep concern over the events in Kessab at The Hague during the
Nuclear Security Summit. During his speech, the Armenian President called on
the United Nations to intervene. While the Armenian National Committee of
America demanded that the U.S. President use his power to pressure Turkey to stop
the ethnic massacre of Kessab.
April 9, 2014
According to the European Parliament Web Site, Austrian MEP Franz Obermayr raised the question of Turkish involvement in the 2013 Sarin Gas attacks in Syria
April 9, 2014
According to the European Parliament Web Site, French MEP Gaston Franco raised the question of the attack on the Armenian village of Kessab in Syria
April 9, 2014
According to the European Parliament Web Site, Austrian MEP Franz Obermayr raised the question of Turkish involvement in the 2013 Sarin Gas attacks in Syria
April 9, 2014
According to the European Parliament Web Site, French MEP Gaston Franco raised the question of the attack on the Armenian village of Kessab in Syria
April 15th, 2014 in the village
of Maaloula
According
to Agenzia Fides, the Syrian Arab Army liberated the Christian village of
Maaloula, which is 55km northeast of Damascus. Government and Media sources are
confirming of reports of the destruction of Christian religious sites by
Islamists, which had occupied the village for months. One particular site
destroyed was the Rûm-Catholic shrine of Mar Sarkis.
April 29th, 2014
According
to a Croatian Catholic Site, reports are surfacing that in occupied towns and
villages Islamists are committing atrocities against Christians. The claims
come from Sister Raghida, former Head of the Christian School in Damascus in a recent
interview with Radio Vatican. In the interview, Sister Raghida went into detail
of how Christians are offered Sehadet (a sentence that expresses the Foundation
of Islamic skillsrovanja) or death. Citing one example from occupied Maaloula
were two young men were crucified because they refused to utter the sehadet.
Another horrific detail claimed in the interview is that Islamist playing
football with the heads of Christians they had murdered, as well as hanging the
dead babies of women from their umbilical cords from trees.
May 17th, 2014 at the
archaeological site of Tell Ajaja
According
to the AINA, ISIL militants have destroyed ancient Assyrian statues and
artifacts from Tell Ajaja, Syria, believed to be 3,000 years old.
June 1st, 2014 in the area of
Ein al-Issa
According
to Agenzia Fides, Islamists of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL)
confiscated houses and land belonging to Christian families in the area of Ein
al-Issa, the area in the province of Raqq inhabited mainly by Armenian
Christians.
June 27, 2014
Video surfaces on YouTube of the Grand Sunni Mufti of Syria, Ahmad Hassoun discussing Turkey's role in the abduction of the two Archbishops of Aleppo.
July 7, 2014
According to the European Parliament Web Site, French MEP Philippe Juvin raises the question of the Plight of Christians in Syria
June 27, 2014
Video surfaces on YouTube of the Grand Sunni Mufti of Syria, Ahmad Hassoun discussing Turkey's role in the abduction of the two Archbishops of Aleppo.
July 7, 2014
According to the European Parliament Web Site, French MEP Philippe Juvin raises the question of the Plight of Christians in Syria
July
31st, 2014 in the city of Hassakah
According
to the AINA, the Assyrian population of Hassakah, Syria is fleeing the region
because of threats from ISIL. Residents of Hassakah are urging the
International Community to take action against ISIL, which threatens the city’s
diverse ethnic and religious population and cultural heritage.
September 10th, 2014
The
United States’ House Foreign AffairsSubcommittees on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and InternationalOrganizations and the Middle East and North Africa holds a hearing on
ISIL’s persecution of religious minorities in Iraq and Syria.
September 12, 2014
According to the Telegraph, former American ambassador to Ankara, Francis Ricciardone, has publically said that Turkey has directly supported al-Qaeda's wing in Syria.
September 12, 2014
According to the Telegraph, former American ambassador to Ankara, Francis Ricciardone, has publically said that Turkey has directly supported al-Qaeda's wing in Syria.
September 22nd, 2014 in the
city of Deir el Zor
According
to Agenzia Fides & Artnet News, Islamists of the Islamic State of Iraq and
the Levant (ISIL) have destroyed an Armenian Genocide Memorial and Museum in
Deir el Zor, which held the remains of victims of the Armenian Genocide. The
destruction was condemned by the Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian as
“horrific barbarity”. Originally a Church, the place of worship was consecrated
as a Memorial and Museum in 1991.
October 2, 2014
According to the European Parliament Web Site, Italian MEP Gianluca Buonanno, French MEP Marine Le Pen, and French MEP Aymeric Chauprade raised the question of Qatar and Saudi Arabia financing Islamic State of Iraq and Syria
October 2, 2014
According to the European Parliament Web Site, Italian MEP Gianluca Buonanno, French MEP Marine Le Pen, and French MEP Aymeric Chauprade raised the question of Qatar and Saudi Arabia financing Islamic State of Iraq and Syria
October 6th, 2014 in the
village of Knayeh
According
to Agenzia Fides, Father Hanna Jallouf OFM, a priest in the village of Knayeh
was kidnapped along with about twenty Christians.
October 8th, 2014
According
to Agenzia Fides, 4 women and Father Hanna Jallouf were released by their
kidnappers. Taken just days before from the village of Knayeh. It is believed
that the kidnappers were a brigade of Jabhat al-Nusra.
October 13th, 2014
According
to Agenzia Fides, 5 Christian men originally kidnapped from the village of
Knayeh days ago have been released by their kidnappers.
November 15th, 2014 in the city
of Raqqa (Nikephorion/Νικηφόριον)
According
to Agenzia Fides, in occupied-Raqqa ISIL has recently informed the remaining 23
Christian families of the once 1,500 community of Raqqa, the “parameters of the
jizya, or protection tax”, they must pay starting November 16th. The
remaining community is made up of Armenian Christians.
November
16th, 2014
According
to the Syrian Arab News Agency, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople
Bartholomew I released a statement on the ongoing conflicts of Terrorism in
Syria and Iraq. Originally quoted by the Austrian Der Standard newspaper, the Rûm-Orthodox
Patriarch said, “What is going on in Syria and Iraq is a process of eradication
of the roots of civilization and the cradle of religions”.
November 27, 2014
According to the European Parliament Web Site, French MEP Marine Le Pen raised the question of Turkey and its relationship with Islamic Terrorist organizations in Syria
December 11, 2014
According to the Clarion Project, a bipartisan group of two dozen members of Congress have written a letter to the U.S. Treasury Department asking for sanctions on Turkey and Qatar for their support of Islamist Terrorists.
November 27, 2014
According to the European Parliament Web Site, French MEP Marine Le Pen raised the question of Turkey and its relationship with Islamic Terrorist organizations in Syria
December 11, 2014
According to the Clarion Project, a bipartisan group of two dozen members of Congress have written a letter to the U.S. Treasury Department asking for sanctions on Turkey and Qatar for their support of Islamist Terrorists.
December
20th, 2014
According
to the Washington Post, a new report was released by the American Association
for the Advancement of Science, found evidence of ‘widespread looting’ at
historical sites in Syria that have been nominated as UNESCO World Heritage
Sites. The report identifies Dura-Europos, as the most affected site in Syria
by looting. It also reports that the damage found in Raqqa, Syria is not the
result of fighting or looting, but from ISIL’s policy of planned demolitions.
December 27th, 2014
According
to the Syrian Arab News Agency, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria “ISIL” is
turning Christian churches in Syria and Iraq into torture chambers, as well as
selling Christian artifacts on the black market. The story is also confirmed by
The Washington Times, in a report by
Douglas Ernest.
2015
January 7, 2015
According to the European Parliament Web Site, Italian MEP Isabella Adinolfi raised the question of Islamic Fundamentalists stealing and trafficking archaeological artifacts in Syria
February 3rd, 2015 in the region of Hasaka
According to the European Parliament Web Site, Italian MEP Isabella Adinolfi raised the question of Islamic Fundamentalists stealing and trafficking archaeological artifacts in Syria
February 3rd, 2015 in the region of Hasaka
According
to the AINA [1] [2], ISIL has released an order to Assyrians in the region of Hasaka to
remove their crosses from their churches, and pay jizya (Christian tax). In the
order, those who failed to comply are warned they will be forced to leave or be
punished by death.
February 9, 2015
The leading American journal on International Relations, Foreign Affairs, takes a look at Turkey's evolving strategy in the Syrian Conflict
February 9, 2015
The leading American journal on International Relations, Foreign Affairs, takes a look at Turkey's evolving strategy in the Syrian Conflict
February 23rd, 2015 in the
province of Hassaka
According to the AINA [1] [2], 35 Assyrian villages on the Khabur River, in the Hassaka province of Syria were attacked by ISIL militants. 373 Assyrians were kidnapped, while 3,000 fled to safe in Hasaka and Qamishli.
February 23, 2015
According to the EU Parliament Web Site, Greek MEP Lampros Fountoulis raises a question inside the EU Parliament on Turkish assistance of ISIL fighters.
According to the AINA [1] [2], 35 Assyrian villages on the Khabur River, in the Hassaka province of Syria were attacked by ISIL militants. 373 Assyrians were kidnapped, while 3,000 fled to safe in Hasaka and Qamishli.
February 23, 2015
According to the EU Parliament Web Site, Greek MEP Lampros Fountoulis raises a question inside the EU Parliament on Turkish assistance of ISIL fighters.
February 26th, 2015 in the
province of Hassaka
According
to Agenzia Fides, a number of Christian villages of the valley of Khabur have
been captured by Islamists of ISIL, in the northeastern province of Jazira. According
to local sources, more than 250 Assyrian inhabitants are being held hostage,
and deported to the Sheddadi area, 40 km south of Hassake.
March 3, 2015
According to the European Parliament Web Site, Greek MEP Lampros Fountoulis of the Golden Dawn Party raised the question of the destruction of ancient monuments by Islamic State militants
March 3, 2015
According to the European Parliament Web Site, Greek MEP Lampros Fountoulis of the Golden Dawn Party raised the question of the destruction of ancient monuments by Islamic State militants
March
7th, 2015 in the province of Hasaka
According
to the AINA, ISIL militants crossed the northern side of the Khabur River in
the Hasaka province of Syria, attacking several villages. Local reports claim
ISIL militants crossed through the village of Tel Maghas, and Tel Nasri, and
initially had a standoff with Kurdish and Assyrian fighters near the Arab
village of Rgouba.
March 12, 2015
According to the European Parliament Web Site, Italian MEP Mara Bizzotto raised the question of concerning the abduction of Assyrians in Syria
March 25th, 2015
According to the European Parliament Web Site, Greek MEP Georgios Epitideios of the Golden Dawn Party raised the question of a coordinated Genocide against Syrian Rûm. MEP Epitideios asked if the Commission if they were aware of the situation, and what initiatives had or would be taken to protect Syria's Rûm minority.
March 31, 2015
According to the European Parliament Web Site, Spainish MEP Fernando Maura Barandiarán raised the question of Recognition by Parliament of the destruction of heritage in Syria and Iraq as a war crime and a crime against humanity.
March 12, 2015
According to the European Parliament Web Site, Italian MEP Mara Bizzotto raised the question of concerning the abduction of Assyrians in Syria
March 25th, 2015
According to the European Parliament Web Site, Greek MEP Georgios Epitideios of the Golden Dawn Party raised the question of a coordinated Genocide against Syrian Rûm. MEP Epitideios asked if the Commission if they were aware of the situation, and what initiatives had or would be taken to protect Syria's Rûm minority.
March 31, 2015
According to the European Parliament Web Site, Spainish MEP Fernando Maura Barandiarán raised the question of Recognition by Parliament of the destruction of heritage in Syria and Iraq as a war crime and a crime against humanity.
April
1st, 2015 in the city of Idlib
According
to Agenzia Fides, Islamists kidnapped Rûm-Orthodox priest Ibrahim Farah from
the city of Idlib. Idlib fell to Islamists on March 28th, 2015.
According to social media, the priest is waiting to appear before one of the
Islamic courts set up by rebel Islamists. Many attribute his kidnapping to
al-Nusra.
April
1st, 2015 in the city of Idlib
According
to Reuters, al-Nusra has declared Islamic Sharia Law in the newly occupied city
of Idlib.
April
3rd, 2015 in the city of Idlib
According
to Reuters, 15,000 antiquities of the in the newly occupied city of Idlib are
now at risk of being sold on the black market or destroyed by al-Nusra
militants.
April
7th, 2015
According
to the AINA, Pope Francis released a statement condemning the international
community’s “mute and inert” response to the persecutions of Christians in the
Middle East and Africa.
April
8th, 2015
According
to Reuters, the International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor acknowledges
evidence of war crimes by ISIL in Iraq and Syria, but doesn’t believe its
leaders will be investigated. In the statement released by ICC chief
prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, crimes attributed to ISIL range from mass
executions, sexual slavery, rape, torture, forced recruitment of child
soldiers, and Genocide.
April 11th, 2015 in the city of
Aleppo (Beroea/Βέροια)
According to ABC News, Syrian rebels shelled a Christian & Armenian government-held Suleimaniyeh neighborhood in Aleppo, killing at least nine people and wounding fifty.
April 27, 2015
According to the European Parliament Web Site, the Parliament adopts a motion for a resolution on the destruction of cultural sites by ISIL.
According to ABC News, Syrian rebels shelled a Christian & Armenian government-held Suleimaniyeh neighborhood in Aleppo, killing at least nine people and wounding fifty.
April 27, 2015
According to the European Parliament Web Site, the Parliament adopts a motion for a resolution on the destruction of cultural sites by ISIL.
April 28th, 2015 in Tel Tal & Aleppo (Beroea/Βέροια)
According to the AINA, ISIL bombed two churches in Syria. The St. Odisho Assyrian in Tel Tal and the St. Rita Tilel Armenian Church in Aleppo.
April 28, 2015
According to the European Parliament Web Site, the Parliament adopted a joint resolution on the destruction of cultural sites by ISIL
May 2, 2015
As shown on YouTube, Greek MEP, Georgios Epitideios, in the plenary of the European Parliament spoke on the risk to antiquities from vandalism by the jihadists.
May 7, 2015
According to Antiwar.com, Turkish officials say the recent “gains” in northwest Syria by Jabhat al-Nusra are the product of a deal between Turkey and Saudi Arabia to more aggressively back rebel factions in the area in the hope of accelerating regime change in the country.
May 21, 2015
According to Reuters, Turkey's State intelligence agency helped deliver arms to Islamist Rebels in 2013 & 2014.
May 30, 2015
According to Haaretz, a Turkish newspaper has released video footage which shows security forces discovering weapons being sent to Syria on trucks belonging to the MIT, the Turkish State Intelligence Agency.
September 10th, 2015
According to the Washington Times, a nonpartisan group of U.S. Congressmen have introduced a resolution before Congress calling on the atrocities committed by ISIL against Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East to be labeled ‘Genocide’.
September 14th, 2015
According to the Christian Post, members of the group In Defense of Christians (IDC), have begun lobbying U.S. officials to pass Concurrent Resolution 75, which was introduced last week. Sponsored by Nebraska Congressman Jeff Fortenberry, H. Con. Res. 75 calls upon Congress to label recent acts of intolerance against Christians and other minorities in the Middle East as "crimes against humanity" and "genocide."
