Syrian Christian Leaders to US: Stop Supporting Militants

Tehran, February 3, 2014

Leaders of five Christian denominations have called on the US government to change its policies and stop calling the militants “freedom fighters.” They are also urging Washington to put pressure on countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey to stop sending foreign militants into Syria, Islam Times reported.

The group comprises of Reverend Adeeb Awad, vice moderator of the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon, Bishop Elias Toumeh, representative of the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and Bishop Armash Nalbandian, Primate of the Armenian Church of Damascus.

They are joined by Reverend Riad Jarjour, Presbyterian pastor from Homs, and Bishop Dionysius Jean Kawak, Metropolitan of the Syrian Orthodox Church.

It is the first delegation of its kind to visit Washington since the Syria crisis began three years ago, and its five members represent key different Christian communities in the country.

Stories by the five top leaders in the American Time magazine highlight the horrors that Christians are facing in Syria amid the worsening crimes of the militants in rebel-held areas.

The bishops’ accounts are similar to other stories of violence against Syrian Christians during the conflict which has claimed at least 130,000 lives over the past three years.

Syria is home to some 1.8 million Christians, who account for about 10 percent of the country’s population. The religious minority has been subjected to numerous attacks by extremist groups since the outbreak of violence in the country in March 2011.

Fars News Agency

2/4/2014

See also
Young Christian killed and beheaded by jihadists Young Christian killed and beheaded by jihadists Young Christian killed and beheaded by jihadists Young Christian killed and beheaded by jihadists
Islamist groups have killed and beheaded a young Christian man, seriously wounding another.
1200 EU citizens recruited to fight in Syria 1200 EU citizens recruited to fight in Syria 1200 EU citizens recruited to fight in Syria 1200 EU citizens recruited to fight in Syria
This was reported January 15 by European Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmström at a press conference in Brussels.
More and more Muslim volunteers from Western countries fighting on the side of Islamists in Syria More and more Muslim volunteers from Western countries fighting on the side of Islamists in Syria More and more Muslim volunteers from Western countries fighting on the side of Islamists in Syria More and more Muslim volunteers from Western countries fighting on the side of Islamists in Syria
About 20% of 10,000 foreigners, who are fighting on the side of islamist militants in Syria, came there from Western countries, and their number in percentage terms is increasing.
Worry about militant Islamists in Syria Worry about militant Islamists in Syria Worry about militant Islamists in Syria Worry about militant Islamists in Syria
The worsening situation in Syria threatens the Middle East in many ways that will continue to evolve in the months and years ahead. But perhaps the most troubling threat is the continued expansion of the hard-line groups of Salafist-takfiri Islamists. These groups are troubling for Syrians above all, but also because they threaten other countries in the Middle East and around the world.
Syria’s Christians Flee Kidnappings, Rape, Executions Syria’s Christians Flee Kidnappings, Rape, Executions Syria’s Christians Flee Kidnappings, Rape, Executions Syria’s Christians Flee Kidnappings, Rape, Executions
Running from assault, abduction, and assassination at the hands of jihadists and FSA rebels, Syria’s ancient Christian community fears a religious pogrom is set to erupt.

Subscribe
to our mailing list

* indicates required
×