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SYRIAN CHRISTIANS ACCUSE ISLAMIST REBELS OF DESTROYING CHURCH CROSSES, PILLAGING HOMES DURING TOWN SEIZURE
The Blaze
March 27 2014
Mar. 27, 2014 3:30pm Sharona Schwartz
Radical Islamist rebels have seized a predominantly Christian town
in northwest Syria in recent days and reportedly destroyed crosses
on churches, pillaged homes and beheaded at least one opponent in
a neighboring area, according to accounts conveyed from Syria on
social media.
According to various media accounts, rebels from the Al
Qaeda-affiliated Al-Nusra Front, Ahrah al Sham, the Islamic Front
and Chechen jihadists on Sunday gained control over Kassab, a town
of 1,700 residents who are mostly Armenian Christians who now fear
for their future there.
The Christian Broadcasting Network reported that 80 people have been
killed and at least three churches desecrated as Syrian Christians
have all but abandoned the town.
Syrian Armenian community activist Nerses Sarkissian told Armenian
Weekly that the rebels are desecrating churches, pillaging houses
and destroying government buildings.
While most have fled to neighboring Latakia, the community is concerned
about the Christians who have been unable to leave.
Other atrocities have been reported by Syria watcher Joshua Landis,
who directs the Center for Middle East Studies at the University
of Oklahoma and writes the Syria Comment blog. Landis retweeted
photos apparently taken in Kassab and the vicinity showing the
jihadi militants' actions now that they control the town, including
desecrating Christian churches, destroying bottles of alcohol and
even beheading an opponent.
Here is the photo Landis tweeted:
This photo posted on Twitter purports to show the destruction of
alcoholic beverage bottles:
Another Twitter user wrote "Jihadists broke the crosses of a church
in #Kassab, and promised to turn it into a mosque" and attached
this photo:
Another photo purported to show the head of a Syrian army soldier
fighting to defend President Bashar Assad's rule who was allegedly
decapitated outside Latakia near Kassab. The link to the photo can
be found (WARNING -- graphic image) here.
Landis told TheBlaze that the photo was accompanied by a warning in
Arabic to those who have "hurt the Muslims of Syria."
TheBlaze is unable to independently authenticate the photos; however,
Landis said in an email that the "torrent of social media, pictures,
maps and TV clips coming out of Kassab" and surrounding areas provide
"a clearer picture of what is going on."
Christian residents who have fled the village and the Armenian-American
community are accusing Turkey of aiding the rebels and allowing them
to cross the border from Turkey into Kassab. Turkey has repeatedly
denied that it provides support to the militants.
Armenian Weekly reported that almost all of the Christians have
emptied the town and fled to neighboring Latakia. They are now beset
with fear about their ability to return to their homes.
Their ancestors fled to this same town in Syria to escape the genocide
of the Armenians a century ago carried out by the Ottomans in the
land that today comprises Turkey.
"Almost all the Armenians of Kassab and neighboring towns have fled
to Latakia city, where they have been given refuge in the Armenian
churches there and are receiving food and aid from the Red Crescent,
WFP and church groups," Landis said.
The weekend offensive of the Christian town yet again "underlines
what a dominant role foreign jihadists and militant, Al Qaeda linked
groups are now playing in Syria," he added.
View photos at
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/03/27/syrian-christians-accuse-islamist-rebels-of-destroying-church-crosses-pillaging-homes-during-town-seizure/
The Blaze
March 27 2014
Mar. 27, 2014 3:30pm Sharona Schwartz
Radical Islamist rebels have seized a predominantly Christian town
in northwest Syria in recent days and reportedly destroyed crosses
on churches, pillaged homes and beheaded at least one opponent in
a neighboring area, according to accounts conveyed from Syria on
social media.
According to various media accounts, rebels from the Al
Qaeda-affiliated Al-Nusra Front, Ahrah al Sham, the Islamic Front
and Chechen jihadists on Sunday gained control over Kassab, a town
of 1,700 residents who are mostly Armenian Christians who now fear
for their future there.
The Christian Broadcasting Network reported that 80 people have been
killed and at least three churches desecrated as Syrian Christians
have all but abandoned the town.
Syrian Armenian community activist Nerses Sarkissian told Armenian
Weekly that the rebels are desecrating churches, pillaging houses
and destroying government buildings.
While most have fled to neighboring Latakia, the community is concerned
about the Christians who have been unable to leave.
Other atrocities have been reported by Syria watcher Joshua Landis,
who directs the Center for Middle East Studies at the University
of Oklahoma and writes the Syria Comment blog. Landis retweeted
photos apparently taken in Kassab and the vicinity showing the
jihadi militants' actions now that they control the town, including
desecrating Christian churches, destroying bottles of alcohol and
even beheading an opponent.
Here is the photo Landis tweeted:
This photo posted on Twitter purports to show the destruction of
alcoholic beverage bottles:
Another Twitter user wrote "Jihadists broke the crosses of a church
in #Kassab, and promised to turn it into a mosque" and attached
this photo:
Another photo purported to show the head of a Syrian army soldier
fighting to defend President Bashar Assad's rule who was allegedly
decapitated outside Latakia near Kassab. The link to the photo can
be found (WARNING -- graphic image) here.
Landis told TheBlaze that the photo was accompanied by a warning in
Arabic to those who have "hurt the Muslims of Syria."
TheBlaze is unable to independently authenticate the photos; however,
Landis said in an email that the "torrent of social media, pictures,
maps and TV clips coming out of Kassab" and surrounding areas provide
"a clearer picture of what is going on."
Christian residents who have fled the village and the Armenian-American
community are accusing Turkey of aiding the rebels and allowing them
to cross the border from Turkey into Kassab. Turkey has repeatedly
denied that it provides support to the militants.
Armenian Weekly reported that almost all of the Christians have
emptied the town and fled to neighboring Latakia. They are now beset
with fear about their ability to return to their homes.
Their ancestors fled to this same town in Syria to escape the genocide
of the Armenians a century ago carried out by the Ottomans in the
land that today comprises Turkey.
"Almost all the Armenians of Kassab and neighboring towns have fled
to Latakia city, where they have been given refuge in the Armenian
churches there and are receiving food and aid from the Red Crescent,
WFP and church groups," Landis said.
The weekend offensive of the Christian town yet again "underlines
what a dominant role foreign jihadists and militant, Al Qaeda linked
groups are now playing in Syria," he added.
View photos at
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/03/27/syrian-christians-accuse-islamist-rebels-of-destroying-church-crosses-pillaging-homes-during-town-seizure/