Al-Haqiqah (The Truth) , Syria
Website of Syrian opposition National Council for Truth, Justice and
Reconciliation
[Translated from Arabic]
Jan 12 2013
The Gangs of the Free Syrian Army Have Been Besieging 1,000 Christian
Citizens in the Al-Ya'qubiyah Village in Idlib Countryside Since More
Than a Month, and Threatening Them With Genocide.
More than 1,000 Catholic and Orthodox Christian citizens have been
living under siege for almost a month laid by the gangs of the
"criminal Free Syrian Army [FSA]" in the Al-Ya'qubiyah town in western
Jisr al-Shughur in Idlib Governorate.
The town is one of three Christian towns populated by an Armenian
majority in which "the Turkish Intelligence has been working through
its agents from the Islamic Turkomen gangs of the FSA to displace them
from the area within the framework of a Turkish scheme to displace the
Arab, Kurdish, and Armenian minorities living in the areas adjacent to
the Turkish border."
Citizens maintaining contacts with Francis Qusayfi, a Franciscan
priest in charge of the Saint Francis Church in the Al-Hamra Street in
Beirut, which offers aid to the displaced Syrians, said that the
besieged people there are "living in terrible conditions and are
vulnerable to genocide."
In an interview with the Vatican News Agency, Agenzia Fides, Qusayfi
said that Syrian refugees from the mentioned village told him about
the suffering of those residents. Moreover, the Franciscan nuns who
used to live in the Al-Ya'qubiyah also gave their accounts about the
situation there. He added that "the residents of the village lack
foodstuff, electricity, and basic needs and cannot leave the village."
Al-Qusayfi noted that those who stayed in the Al-Ya'qubiyah are now
besieged and we are trying to help them come to Lebanon through all
the possible means.
In recent days, we sent people there, but "the journey was full of
perils. After more than a day, they were able to arrive in Aleppo [as
received]." He stressed that "the residents are threatened with death"
amid general silence. He added that the frost wave that has recently
hit the region "made the living conditions yet more difficult for
them."
Last month, Al-Haqiqah unveiled the scheme of the "FSA gangs" to
attack the Al-Ya'qubiyah Village, and this attack actually took place
two days after the report was published. However, a Syrian Army unit
stationed in the village to protect the residents and the church
managed to confront them, but the village shortly came under siege
from all sides. The nearby Qaniyyah Village, where more than
two-thirds of its residents fled to Lattakia and Tartus on the Syrian
coast, was also besieged.
[Translated from Arabic]
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Website of Syrian opposition National Council for Truth, Justice and
Reconciliation
[Translated from Arabic]
Jan 12 2013
The Gangs of the Free Syrian Army Have Been Besieging 1,000 Christian
Citizens in the Al-Ya'qubiyah Village in Idlib Countryside Since More
Than a Month, and Threatening Them With Genocide.
More than 1,000 Catholic and Orthodox Christian citizens have been
living under siege for almost a month laid by the gangs of the
"criminal Free Syrian Army [FSA]" in the Al-Ya'qubiyah town in western
Jisr al-Shughur in Idlib Governorate.
The town is one of three Christian towns populated by an Armenian
majority in which "the Turkish Intelligence has been working through
its agents from the Islamic Turkomen gangs of the FSA to displace them
from the area within the framework of a Turkish scheme to displace the
Arab, Kurdish, and Armenian minorities living in the areas adjacent to
the Turkish border."
Citizens maintaining contacts with Francis Qusayfi, a Franciscan
priest in charge of the Saint Francis Church in the Al-Hamra Street in
Beirut, which offers aid to the displaced Syrians, said that the
besieged people there are "living in terrible conditions and are
vulnerable to genocide."
In an interview with the Vatican News Agency, Agenzia Fides, Qusayfi
said that Syrian refugees from the mentioned village told him about
the suffering of those residents. Moreover, the Franciscan nuns who
used to live in the Al-Ya'qubiyah also gave their accounts about the
situation there. He added that "the residents of the village lack
foodstuff, electricity, and basic needs and cannot leave the village."
Al-Qusayfi noted that those who stayed in the Al-Ya'qubiyah are now
besieged and we are trying to help them come to Lebanon through all
the possible means.
In recent days, we sent people there, but "the journey was full of
perils. After more than a day, they were able to arrive in Aleppo [as
received]." He stressed that "the residents are threatened with death"
amid general silence. He added that the frost wave that has recently
hit the region "made the living conditions yet more difficult for
them."
Last month, Al-Haqiqah unveiled the scheme of the "FSA gangs" to
attack the Al-Ya'qubiyah Village, and this attack actually took place
two days after the report was published. However, a Syrian Army unit
stationed in the village to protect the residents and the church
managed to confront them, but the village shortly came under siege
from all sides. The nearby Qaniyyah Village, where more than
two-thirds of its residents fled to Lattakia and Tartus on the Syrian
coast, was also besieged.
[Translated from Arabic]
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress