Posted on 07/03/2015 8:40:38 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
Fighting between the government of Bashar al-Assad and various opposition forces continues to intensify in Daraa province, in southern Syria. For religious minorities, the rising conflict means living in fear of persecution. By either side.
“In my village, Namir, there is no difference between Christians and Muslims,” Nour, 28, who studied English literature and fled with her parents during a regime assault, told Syria Deeply. “We all had to leave.”
Since the emergence of hard-line armed groups such as the Islamic State and the Nusra Front (Jabhat al-Nusra), several minority groups – among them Christians, Alawites, Shiites, Druze and others – have been targeted in violent and sometimes deadly attacks.
Syria's Christians, who represent around 10% of the country's 22 million people, have endured kidnappings, beheadings and other attacks.
Nour says that being a Christian in Daraa is “tough” because the community is stuck between Assad’s regime and hard-line rebel groups. “The presence of the Syrian army didn’t make any difference, although they claim to support minorities,” she explained.
According to a fighter from Daraa from Free Syrian Army’s (FSA) Southern Front unit, rebels have been working together in the area for the past two years. The Southern Front began advancing on Daraa this spring and successfully overran two of the Assad regime's local military bases.
The Syrian army’s 52nd Brigade’s base is located in the Izraa district and was taken by opposition forces in March, as was the 82nd Brigade’s base in the Daraa area, one of the regime’s largest army bases, according to Basem, a 35-year-old local activist from a Syrian media center based in al-Lajat, a southern town.
As these fighters continue their advance, many Syrian minority groups increasingly fear becoming the targets of violent reprisals due to the belief that they are loyal to the Assad.
(Excerpt) Read more at worldcrunch.com ...
Boy it’s sure tough being a christian in the US. /s
God protect and defend our Christian brothers and sisters. Amen.
I do not understand the logic of this post. The Christians in Syria are pro government. They are pro Syrian Government not because they like Assad but because they are not persecuted by the Government of Syria. They wish nothing except to be left alone as Assad had done.
I find it odd that the only two governments in the Middle East that allow Christians to freely practice their faith are Syrian and Israel whom or both enemies of each other at this time.
Obama is responsible for the genocide in Syria/Libya
....” two governments in the Middle East that allow Christians to freely practice their faith are Syrian and Israel”.....
The difference between these two is vast... it’s well known many terrorists are trained in Syria, our Military leaders have spoken candidly in Washington of this risk being a threat to our National Security by bringing Syrian refugees to this country the risk is high they will be infilitrated by ISIS and or other terrorists.
There are currently wealthy Syrian and Iraqi individuals living in the US who are bypassing our laws and bringing refugees through the Mexican border. They believe the United States has ‘the responsibility’ to bring Syrians here regardless of the terroristic threat to American citizens.
I do not agree in bringing them here to this country....when we are a specific target to ISIS and other terrorists from Syria.
The Christians weren’t under much threat from the Assad regime before the rebels (USA supported) and ISIS started the conflict. In fact, hundreds of thousands of Christians fled from Iraq to Syria after our war in Iraq because they knew they would be protected in Syria by the Assad regime.
Obama and Hillary were so wrong to support the rebels and ISIS against Assad. We all know Assad is not good but those trying to overthrow him are much worse.
The article is a lie. The Assad regime has never threatened Christians, the only threat comes from the Sunni “rebels” be it the Daesh (a.k.a. IS, ISIL, ISIL), the Al Nursra Front, or any of the assorted nasties the U.S. has backed under the plea they are “moderates”. Assad and his enforcers are thugs, but they maintained themselves in power by treating all the religious minorities, Christians included, well. Most Arab Christians are Ba’athists because when the two alternatives are a mid-twentieth-century-style fascist secular nationalist movement that will welcome your participation or politicized Islam that will slaughter or enslave you, it’s rather obvious which to chose.
Speaking of this... I plan to visit Israel and Jordan this winter. I’m planning to personally thank King Abdullah for his standing up to fight ISIL and protect Christians. Who knows if I’ll get a personal appointment... :-) But still going to visit regardless.
Any Freeper suggestions to visiting?
“The article is a lie. The Assad regime has never threatened Christians, the only threat comes from the Sunni “rebels” be it the Daesh (a.k.a. IS, ISIL, ISIL), the Al Nursra Front, or any of the assorted nasties the U.S. has backed under the plea they are “moderates”. Assad and his enforcers are thugs, but they maintained themselves in power by treating all the religious minorities, Christians included, well....”
******************************************************************************************************
That’s correct...thank you!
“Any Freeper suggestions to visiting?”
My sister went to Petra two days ago. Loved it. She did say that for the first time ever she had difficulties entering Israel afterwards.
“And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the LORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem.” Isaiah 27:13
Thanks MinorityRepublican.
Why are they pretending that Assad is persecuting Christians? Did Lyndsey Graham write this?
All persecution eventually becomes more severe persecution. Presumably you’d rather let it fester until it gets to this stage.
Why are we (the USA) not bringing the Christian refugees over here instead of Muslims?
Is Obama afraid they might vote GOP?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.