Syrian Christians Fear Bleak Future After Assad

AP ^ | 12/23/12 | Barbara Surk

[marshmallow]

BEIRUT — With Christmas just days away, 40-year-old Mira begged her parents to flee their hometown of Aleppo, which has become a major battleground in Syria's civil war.

Her parents refused to join her in Lebanon, but they are taking one simple precaution inside their besieged city. For the first time, Mira says, her parents will not put up a Christmas tree this year for fear their religion might make them a target.

"They want to stay to guard the property so nobody takes it," said Mira, who spoke to The Associated Press in Lebanon on condition that only her first name be published, out of concern for her family.

"They cannot celebrate Christmas properly. It's not safe. They are in a Christian area, but they don't feel secure to put a tree, even inside their apartment," Mira said.

Christians, who make up about 10 percent of Syria's population of more than 22 million, say they are particularly vulnerable to the violence that has been sweeping the country since March 2011. They are fearful that Syria will become another Iraq, with Christians caught in the crossfire between rival Islamic groups.

Hundreds of thousands of Christians fled Iraq after their community and others were targeted by militants in the chaotic years after dictator Saddam Hussein was ousted in 2003.

During the Syria conflict, Christians have largely stuck by President Bashar Assad, in large part because they fear the rising power of Muslim hard-liners and groups with al-Qaida-style ideologies within the uprising against his rule. Many Christians worry they will be marginalized or even targeted if the country's Sunni Muslim majority, which forms the majority of the opposition, takes over.

The rebel leadership has sought to portray itself as inclusive, promising no reprisals if Assad falls. But some actions by fighters on...

[BobL]

“For the first time, Mira says, her parents will not put up a Christmas tree this year for fear their religion might make them a target.”

Say what you will about Assad, but there are not a whole lot of Muslim-ruled countries where Christians feel safe putting up Christmas trees. It looks Syria will now join the rest of those countries.

So, again, why are we taking the side of the rebels?

[lgjhn23]

“...So, again, why are we taking the side of the rebels?...”

One word: Obama

[RetiredTexasVet]

One word: Obama .... the Sunni Muslim.

[Truth29]

With Obama’s assistance, another country is going to join the emerging Greater Caliphate and many Christians in both Syria and Egypt are going to die at the hands of the Muslim Brotherhood, Al Qaeda and other transnational Islamists.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks marshmallow.

Muslim group slams rebel threats against Syria Christians
The Daily Star - Lebanon | December 23, 2012 05:28 PM | Friend or Foe?
Posted on Sun Dec 23 21:11:50 2012 by haffast
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2971768/posts