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SYRIAN REBELS ACCUSED OF LOOTING CHRISTIAN CHURCHES, BURNING THEM
http://theuglytruth.wordpress.com/2013/01/24/syrian-rebels-accused-of-looting-christian-churches-burning-them/
Rights group says fighters have burned and looted Christian and Shia
places of worship, increasing sectarian fears.
aljazeera.com
Rebels in Syria have burned and looted the religious sites of
minorities, Human Rights Watch says, warning that the 22-month old
conflict could become increasingly sectarian.
"The destruction of religious sites is furthering sectarian fears
and compounding the tragedies of the country, with tens of thousands
killed," Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director of the US-based
rights group, said on Wednesday.
"Syria will lose its rich cultural and religious diversity if armed
groups do not respect places of worship. Leaders on both sides
should send a message that those who attack these sites will be
held accountable."
In the village of Zarzour in Idlib province, researchers found evidence
of deliberate damage to the local husseiniya, a Shia place of worship,
caused by opposition fighters in December.
Its windows were broken, prayer stones littered on the floor, walls
charred from flames, and what appeared to be the remnants of a burned
prayer rug lay on the floor.
Footage posted online showed rebels celebrating their victory in the
town as the husseiniya burns in the background.
Residents said the army had been using the husseiniya as a barracks.
Human Rights Watch condemned the government's use of the husseiniya
for military purposes, but said that did not justify intentional
damage by the rebels.
The rights group said local rebel fighters had blamed Syria's
government for the damage but residents said opposition fighters had
started the fire when they took control of the village.
Residents of Zarzour, a predominantly Sunni village, said their Shia
neighbours fled fearing retaliation for supporting the government.
Churches looted
In the Christian villages of Ghasaniyeh and Jdeideh in Latakia
province, residents said that gunmen operating "in the name of the
opposition" broke into and stole from churches in November.
A resident in Jdeideh cited by the rights group said armed men had
broken into the local church, stolen and fired shots inside, after
government troops had fled.
Local rebels denied they attacked the church.
"While the motivation for the church break-ins may have been
theft rather than a religious attack, opposition fighters have
a responsibility to protect religious sites in areas under their
control from wilful damage and theft," Human Rights Watch said.
The group has previously documented the destruction and vandalisation
of a mosque in Taftanaz, Idlib by government forces.
Many mosques have been destroyed in shelling by regime forces.
About 70 percent of Syria's population are Sunni Muslims, and a
majority of the rebel ranks are Sunnis.
Many members of minorities - including Christians, Shias and Alawites
- have stayed on the sidelines of the conflict or supported President
Bashar al-Assad, who is an Alawite.
Assad has portrayed his regime as a protector of minorities and has
blamed the uprising in his country on Muslim extremists and foreign
countries.
The opposition, however, is accusing the regime of igniting sectarian
strife.
http://theuglytruth.wordpress.com/2013/01/24/syrian-rebels-accused-of-looting-christian-churches-burning-them/
Rights group says fighters have burned and looted Christian and Shia
places of worship, increasing sectarian fears.
aljazeera.com
Rebels in Syria have burned and looted the religious sites of
minorities, Human Rights Watch says, warning that the 22-month old
conflict could become increasingly sectarian.
"The destruction of religious sites is furthering sectarian fears
and compounding the tragedies of the country, with tens of thousands
killed," Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director of the US-based
rights group, said on Wednesday.
"Syria will lose its rich cultural and religious diversity if armed
groups do not respect places of worship. Leaders on both sides
should send a message that those who attack these sites will be
held accountable."
In the village of Zarzour in Idlib province, researchers found evidence
of deliberate damage to the local husseiniya, a Shia place of worship,
caused by opposition fighters in December.
Its windows were broken, prayer stones littered on the floor, walls
charred from flames, and what appeared to be the remnants of a burned
prayer rug lay on the floor.
Footage posted online showed rebels celebrating their victory in the
town as the husseiniya burns in the background.
Residents said the army had been using the husseiniya as a barracks.
Human Rights Watch condemned the government's use of the husseiniya
for military purposes, but said that did not justify intentional
damage by the rebels.
The rights group said local rebel fighters had blamed Syria's
government for the damage but residents said opposition fighters had
started the fire when they took control of the village.
Residents of Zarzour, a predominantly Sunni village, said their Shia
neighbours fled fearing retaliation for supporting the government.
Churches looted
In the Christian villages of Ghasaniyeh and Jdeideh in Latakia
province, residents said that gunmen operating "in the name of the
opposition" broke into and stole from churches in November.
A resident in Jdeideh cited by the rights group said armed men had
broken into the local church, stolen and fired shots inside, after
government troops had fled.
Local rebels denied they attacked the church.
"While the motivation for the church break-ins may have been
theft rather than a religious attack, opposition fighters have
a responsibility to protect religious sites in areas under their
control from wilful damage and theft," Human Rights Watch said.
The group has previously documented the destruction and vandalisation
of a mosque in Taftanaz, Idlib by government forces.
Many mosques have been destroyed in shelling by regime forces.
About 70 percent of Syria's population are Sunni Muslims, and a
majority of the rebel ranks are Sunnis.
Many members of minorities - including Christians, Shias and Alawites
- have stayed on the sidelines of the conflict or supported President
Bashar al-Assad, who is an Alawite.
Assad has portrayed his regime as a protector of minorities and has
blamed the uprising in his country on Muslim extremists and foreign
countries.
The opposition, however, is accusing the regime of igniting sectarian
strife.