Beleaguered Syrian Christians Fear Future, Increasingly Targeted by Jihadis

The Washington Post ^ | 10/28/13 | Associated Press

[marshmallow]

DAMASCUS, Syria — Sami Amir is used to the deep echoing rumble of the Syrian army artillery pounding rebel positions on the outskirts of Damascus. It’s the thump of mortars launched from an Islamist-controlled neighborhood that scares him to death.

The mortars have repeatedly hit in his mainly Christian district of Damascus, al-Qassaa, reportedly killing at least 32 people and injuring dozens of others the past two weeks.

“You don’t know when and you don’t know where they hit,” says Amir, a 55-year-old Christian merchant. “Life here is often too difficult.”

Rebel shelling into the capital has increasingly hit several majority-Christian districts, particularly al-Qassaa, with its wide avenues, middle class apartment blocks, leafy parks, popular restaurants and shopping streets busy with pedestrians.

The shelling and recent rebel assaults on predominantly Christian towns have fueled fears among Syria’s religious minorities about the growing role of Islamic extremists and foreign fighters among the rebels fighting against President Bashar Assad’s rule. Christians believe they are being targeted — in part because of the anti-Christian sentiment among extremists and in part as punishment for what is seen as their support for Assad.

[Uncle Miltie]

Al Qaeda in Syria: Training by the U.S. in how to use the arms we supply them to slaughter Christians.

American Troops: No training for 6 months.

[Zhang Fei]

Christians in Syria outnumber Kurds. But the Christians cower and run, whereas the Kurds stand and fight. I can’t help wondering why this is.

[Salvation]

Prayer for Peace in Syria

 

God of Compassion,
Hear the cries of the people of Syria,
Bring healing to those suffering from the violence,
Bring comfort to those mourning the dead,
Strengthen Syria’s neighbors in their care and welcome for refugees,
Convert the hearts of those who have taken up arms,
And protect those committed to peace.

God of Hope,
Inspire leaders to choose peace over violence and to seek reconciliation with enemies,
Inspire the Church around the world with compassion for the people of Syria,
And give us hope for a future of peace built on justice for all.

We ask this through Jesus Christ,
Prince of Peace and Light of the World,
Amen.

Petition: For the people of Syria, that God may strengthen the resolve of leaders to end the fighting and choose a future of peace.

[bunkerhill7]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sa_xOI6Py_k

[Zhang Fei]

I’d call that a good start, but that’s in Iraq. In Syria, the impression I get is that Christians are just sitting there and taking it, whereas the Kurds are duking it out with Sunni Arabs, al Qaeda-ists or regime troops that attempt to take over their territory.