Syrian rebels attack Christian town, reportedly desecrate churches

March 26, 2014

Syrian rebel forces affiliated with Al-Qaeda and based in Turkey crossed the Turkish-Syrian border and attacked the town of Kesab, whose population is predominantly Armenian and Christian.

“Armenian churches were reportedly desecrated and Armenians driven from their homes,” Andrew Bennett, Canada’s Ambassador for Religious Freedom, said in a statement. “The continued attacks against Christians, including Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Christians and Armenian Catholics, in Syria are unacceptable.”

The head of the Armenian Catholic Church, Patriarch Nerses Bedros XIX Tarmouni, told the Fides news agency that “the Christians fled at dawn, some of them in pajamas, without being able to bring anything with them, as soon as they heard the sound of gunfire. The rebels came from the mountains on the border with Turkey. They were many and well armed.”

 

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Further information:

• Canada Concerned by Attacks on Armenian Town in Syria (Government of Canada)
• The Armenian Catholic Patriarch: the Christians who fled from Kessab have to deal with the emergency with a spirit of communion (Fides)
• Kesab (Wikipedia)