Syrian rebels destroy church
August 13, 2013
Syrian rebels have destroyed a Greek Orthodox church in Al-Thawrah, a city of 70,000 in north-central Syria, the Assyrian International News Agency (AINA) reported.
“The Free Syrian Army demolished the [Saints Sergius and Bacchus] church,” said a refugee who fled the city. “They tore up the sanctuary curtains, Bibles and other holy books, and broke all the crosses, chairs and icons of Jesus and the saints. They stole electrical appliances like fans, chandeliers and lights. They took whatever was in the church, and sold it all. There is nothing there now.”
“Even though I have left, the terrorists still call and text me from there, on my cell phone, to bother me,” said another refugee. “They recently called and told me, ‘If you attempt to return to [Al-Thawrah] we will cut off your head and display it on the mosque so that all the Muslims there can see it and be proud of it.’ They say other things too, but what they say is so disturbing, that I keep my phone switched off unless I really need to use it.”
For all current news, visit our News home page.
Further information:
All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a current donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!
-
Posted by: Defender -
Aug. 15, 2013 2:10 PM ET USA
8/15: In Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood assaults 22 Christian churches is but one of the headlines today...anyone notice a trend? No? How about: Bangladesh: the revival of fundamentalism, a threat to women and democracy? Still not convinced? How's: Niger: New Battleground for North Africa's Islamist Militants? These are just a few of the headlines from just day and from different sources.
