Syria's Maaloula Again Besieged: Nuns Kidnapped
Press Release
After the recent attacks by militant Islamic forces against the ancient Aramean towns of Maaloula and al-Raqqa, the world recently witnessed another organized assault against the Biblical towns of Sadad and Hafar. Sadly Maaloula is again the target of the Syrian rebel forces as they aim fire at innocent indigenous Christians and their lands, seemingly with the goal of expunging Syria’s Christian population from their homeland.
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On 4 September, Jubhat al-Nusra, a terrorist group associated with Al-Qaeda in Syria, had violently entered Maaloula, killing a number of innocent Christians and destroying the town’s historic buildings. At the time, many of the Christians of Maaloula were told by the rebels that they had to convert to Islam or face death, thereby forcing some 3,000 civilians to escape from Maaloula in order to save their lives and those of their families. A month later, seven militant rebel groups joined forces in laying siege on the Biblical town of Sadad. Before the Syrian Army liberated Sadad, Jubhat al-Nusra and the Katibat al-Mahawer brigade of the Free Syrian Army held 1,500 Aramean Christian families hostage for a full week and used them as human shields. Hostages included defenceless women and children and many deaths of the innocent resulted.
Syriac Orthodox Bishop from Damascus asks Dutch and German Parliaments, Media and Christian NGOs for Help
From 16-18 October 2013, the World Council of Arameans (Syriacs) (“WCA”) hosted the Syriac Orthodox Bishop H.E Dionysius Jean Kawak from the Syrian capital for a lecture, presentation, meetings and interviews in the Netherlands and Germany.
After months of preparations, the WCA was able to successfully host the Syriac Orthodox Bishop H.E Dionysius Jean Kawak from the Syrian capital. Together with Mr. Feije Duim, the Program Officer of the Church in Action, Mr. Johny Messo, the President of the WCA, had arranged a rich program on Wednesday 16 and Thursday 17 October in the Netherlands.
WCA open letter to U.S. Congress members
Vote “NO” – U.S. Foreign Policy fatal for native Christians and other defenseless minorities in Syria
Stockholm, 10 September 2013
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Esteemed Member of Congress,
On behalf of the already decimated Aramean (Syriac) Christians, an ancient Biblical and Semitic people who are native to Syria, Turkey, Iraq and Lebanon, the World Council of Arameans (Syriacs) (“WCA”) urgently seeks your help in voting against the proposed resolution for the USA and its allies to commence yet another war in the Middle East – this time in Syria. There is no question that this proposal from the Obama administration flies into the face of international law and will have disastrous consequences, particularly for Syria’s Christian population and its ancient cultural heritage.
200 DAYS ABDUCTED: NO SIGN OF LIFE YET FROM ARCHBISHOPS IN SYRIA!
Press Release
On Monday 22 April 2013, today 200 days ago, two prominent Archbishops from the Syriac and Melkite (Greek) Orthodox Churches were abducted between Kafer Dael and Mansura, in one of the most dangerous areas in Syria known as the frontline between the Free Syrian Army and the regular army. Their car was intercepted and the driver, Mr Fatha’ Allah Kabboud, was cold-bloodedly shot dead, either during or shortly after the assault. The World Council of Arameans (Syriacs) (“WCA”) asks the international community for urgent help.
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200 days have passed, and the Syriac Orthodox Metropolitan of Aleppo, H.E. Gregorius Hanna Ibrahim, and H.E. Boulos al-Yazigi, the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Aleppo and Iskenderun, are still missing. Despite contradictory reports and rumours which have been circulating since their abduction, the World Council of Arameans (Syriacs) (“WCA”) affirms that there is still no clear information about the identity of the kidnappers, their motivation and demands, their whereabouts or, most importantly, the condition of the two Bishops.
PRESS RELEASE: 150 DAYS ABDUCTED: NO SIGN OF LIFE YET FROM ARCHBISHOPS IN SYRIA!
NO SIGN OF LIFE YET FROM ARCHBISHOPS IN SYRIA!
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On Monday 22 April 2013, tomorrow precisely 150 days ago, two prominent Aramean (Syriac) Archbishops from the Syriac and Melkite (Greek) Orthodox Churches were abducted between Kafer Dael and Mansura, in one of the most dangerous areas in Syria known as the frontline between the Free Syria Army and the Syrian Government Army. Their car was intercepted and the driver, Mr Fatha’ Allah Kabboud, was cold-bloodedly shot dead, either during or shortly after the attack.
150 days have passed, and the Syriac Orthodox Metropolitan of Aleppo, H.E. Gregorius Hanna Ibrahim, and H.E. Boulos al-Yazigi, the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Aleppo and Iskenderun, are still missing. Despite contradictory reports and rumours which have been circulating since their abduction, the World Council of Arameans (Syriacs) (“WCA”) affirms that there is still no clear information about the identity of the kidnappers, their motivation and demands, their whereabouts or, most importantly, the condition of the two Bishops.
WCA Letter to the US President Barack Obama
URGENT REQUEST TO CONSIDER ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR SYRIA
Stockholm, 4 September 2013
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Dear Mr. President Obama,
We urgently appeal to You on behalf of the Aramean (Syriac) people, who are indigenous to Syria, Iraq, Southeast Turkey and Lebanon, and more than 100,000 of whom have found refuge in Sweden (see the appendix below). We request You to reconsider Your current position on Syria.
JIHADISTS AGAIN ATTACK CHRISTIAN TOWNS IN SYRIA: THE DEAFENING SILENCE AND INDIFFERENCE CONTINUES
Press Release
London, 1 November 2013
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Click here to view the images of the Sadad attacks
After the recent attacks by militant Muslims against Maaloula and al-Raqqa, the world has witnessed another organized assault against two Christian places in Syria. The Biblical town of Sadad and Hafar were besieged and destroyed. While 3,000 Christian families managed to escape, 1,500 families were held hostage and used as human shields from 21 to 28 October. Syria’s Christians, who are increasingly yet silently fleeing their homeland, continue to be appalled by the deafening silence of the world on such unpunished crimes against humanity.
On 21 October, seven militant Muslim groups joined forces in laying siege on the Biblical town of Sadad (see Numbers 34:8 and Ezekiel 15:47). Before the Syrian Army liberated it on 28 October, Jubhat al-Nusra (blacklisted as a terrorist organization) and the Katibat al-Mahawer brigade of the Free Syrian Army (recognized and supported by Western and Muslim nations) who formed part of this diabolic alliance, held 1,500 Aramean Christian families for a full week hostage and used them shamelessly as human shields, including women, children and elderly civilians.
WCA Letter to the US State Secretary John Kerry
APPEAL TO RECOGNIZE MASS EXODUS OF CHRISTIANS FROM SYRIA AND TRUE NATURE OF ‘REBELS’
Stockholm, 18 September 2013
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Dear Secretary Mr. Kerry,
We urgently appeal to you on behalf of the Aramean (Syriac) people, who are native to Syria, Iraq, Southeast Turkey and Lebanon, and more than 100,000 of whom have found refuge in Sweden. We ask you to acknowledge the below reality and come to the urgent help of our endangered people:
PRESS RELEASE: KIDNAPPED ARCHBISHOPS FROM SYRIA ALLEGEDLY HELD IN TURKEY
KIDNAPPED ARCHBISHOPS FROM SYRIA ALLEGEDLY HELD IN TURKEY
London, 6 August 2013 - Today it has been 106 days since the abduction of the Greek and Syriac Orthodox Archbishops of Aleppo, Msgr. Boulos Yazigi and Msgr. Yuhanon Ibrahim. Rumors about their fate and alleged location in Turkey are still circulating like wild fire. Signs of life and reports about their whereabouts call for an immediate confirmation or denial by Governments.
The World Council of Arameans (Syriacs) (“WCA”) denounces the unverified reports which recently have been spread by Turkish TV channels and newspapers, adding to the insecurity and fear that the abduction had already inflicted upon the Aramean (Syriac) people. It was reported that the two Bishops were killed, whereas their kidnappers were arrested and immediately sent back to their countries.
