Syrian Christians Fleeing Aleppo as Homes Destroyed

SYRIAN CHRISTIANS FLEEING AS HOMES DESTROYED
ICC Note:
In Syria’s civil war, people from every political, ethnic, and religious background are suffering. Christians, however, have found themselves in a very unique and frightening situation, having widely chosen not to take up arms or to openly support either the rebels or the regime. While many Christians have publicly denounced the brutality of President Assad and by no means support the regime, most Christians see little hope in an alternative government which, they fear, will be led by Islamists who will hinder or outright abolish the religious freedoms long experienced by Christian in Syria. For this reason, many Christians have fled Syrian cities, including Aleppo, most of which is now rebel control. “[Christians] vividly remember what happened in Homs earlier this year when most of the Christian community fled the city, often by force. A similar story is beginning to unfold in Aleppo where there have been several bombings in Christian-majority neighborhoods, a few Christian kidnappings and an Armenian church that was reportedly set on fire by rebels on Monday,” Aidan Clay, the Middle East Regional Manager for International Christian Concern told World Net Daily.
By MICHAEL CARL
11/3/2012 Syria (WND)- Islamist rebels are invading Christian communities in Syria – fighting to capture Aleppo’s mostly Christian neighborhoods of al-Syriaan al-Jaddie and al-Syriaan al-Qadime.
Reports from Middle East analysts say the battle for the Christian neighborhoods started last week.
Religious Freedom Coalition President William Murray said there’s a reason the Free Syrian Army chose to fight over the Christian neighborhoods.
“The Islamist rebels invaded Christian neighbors to force government troops to destroy homes there,” Murray said. “They want the government troops to shell the neighborhoods in an effort to recapture it.”
Murray said this is a familiar tactic.
“I have seen this tactic in the so-called West Bank during the Intifada,” he said. “Muslims would fire mortars from a Christian neighborhood to draw Israeli fire there. This is a win-win for the Islamist rebels supplied by Turkey. Syrian government troops can be fired on and Christian homes get destroyed.”
Although International Christian Concern Middle East analyst Aidan Clay said accurate information on Syria is limited, he’s confirmed the fighting in several Aleppo enclaves.
“Reports indicate that rebels have advanced into several central neighborhoods, including Christian areas, of Aleppo in recent weeks,” Clay said.
He said Aleppo is rapidly becoming a hub for rebel forces.
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Clay also said Christians are experiencing the most hardship because they have the most to lose if Assad is overthrown.
“While many Christians have publicly denounced the brutality of President Assad and by no means support the regime, many Christians still desire greater freedoms and political reform to be enacted by the current government,” Clay said.
However, Christians’ hopes for reform are growing dim.
“That, of course, will never happen as Assad has chosen time and again to use brutal force in response to peaceful protests, killing thousands of civilians,” Clay said. “At the same time, however, most Christians see little hope in an alternative government which, they fear, will be led by Islamists who will hinder or outright abolish the religious freedoms long experienced by Christians in Syria.
“Due to ongoing violence and fears of radical Islamic factions, church leaders in Aleppo have reported that many Christians have already fled the city. According to Agence France-Presse, Syrian rebels have openly stated their goal of transforming Syria into an Islamic state while proclaiming that Christians have no connection to the country.
“Again, this view is not shared by all FSA fighters and supporters, but the idea is so prevalent that a large number of Christians are talking about leaving their homeland for good if Assad is ousted.”
Clay added that many Christians fear Aleppo will become like the already looted city of Homs.
“They vividly remember what happened in Homs earlier this year when most of the Christian community fled the city, often by force,” he said. “A similar story is beginning to unfold in Aleppo where there have been several bombings in Christian-majority neighborhoods, a few Christian kidnappings and an Armenian church that was reportedly set on fire by rebels on Monday.
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