FPM Bloc Urges End of Takfiri Attacks against Nuns in Syria, Says Christians' Lives 'in Danger'

Change and Reform bloc urged on Tuesday stopping Takfiris from attacking nuns and holding them captive in Syria, warning of “a danger on the lives of Christians” in Lebanon and the East.

"Our lives and our future are in danger and everything the East and Lebanon were built upon is also under threat,” MP Alain Aoun stated after the weekly meeting of the Free Patriotic Movement MPS.

He added: “We all warn against the danger of Takfiris and if their ideology is not capable of tolerating a nun, how can it accept any other political ideology?”

“We hope everyone condemns the kidnapping of the nuns (in Syria) and employs their international connections to free them.”

12 nuns were reported missing on Monday, as Syria's rebel forces, including jihadists from the al-Qaida-affiliated Al-Nusra Front, recaptured the Syrian famed Christian town of Maalula, which lies north of Damascus.

The nuns among the few residents left in the hamlet, and were sheltering inside the Mar Takla convent.

Religious officials said on Tuesday that the Syrian rebels have taken the nuns to the nearby rebel stronghold of Yabrud.

The FPM lawmakers also tackled the situation in the northern city of Tripoli, pointing out that they had suggested entrusting the army with security-related matters back in 2012.

“We remind everyone that we suggested entrusting the army with Tripoli's security on May 23, 2012 but the cabinet then rejected the proposal,” Aoun said.

“Today's decision was made after Tripoli turned into a city that is not under the state's authority and we hope President Michel Suleiman and caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati's judgment is not incomplete.”

Miqati announced Monday evening that the army will be entrusted with Tripoli's security for six months and that all security agencies in the city will be put under its command.

The ongoing round of clashes between the rival Tripoli neighborhoods of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen has left at least 10 people dead and 100 others wounded since Saturday.

Fighting linked to conflict in Syria frequently erupts between the rival districts, with residents of Bab al-Tabbaneh supporting Syrian rebels and residents of Jabal Mohsen backing the Syrian regime.