Two Bishops Kidnapped in Syria Held Captive by ISIL, in 'Good Health'
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Two Orthodox bishops kidnapped in Syria in April 2013 are currently in the northern city of Raqqa and held captive by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
According to a report published in al-Akhbar newspaper on Saturday, the two bishops are “in good health” and are currently detained in the region of Tal Abyad, which is located in north of Raqqa governorate, near the Turkish border.
The two bishops, Yohanna Ibrahim and Boulos Yaziji, were kidnapped at the end of April, reportedly near the rebel-held town of Kafr Dael, near Aleppo in northern Syria.
The al-Qaida-affiliated Asbat al-Ansar is allegedly the group behind the abduction of the two bishops.
The newspaper said that Asbat al-Ansar, which was loyal to al-Nusra Front, became discreetly loyal to ISIL.
The kidnappers reportedly didn't realize the fuss that the abduction operation would create, prompting them to ask ISIL leadership for assistance.
The ISIL group then was handed over the two bishops and moved them to al-Raqqa.
No group has officially claimed responsibility for their kidnap, but sources close to the Greek Orthodox Church and the Syrian authorities have claimed the kidnappers were "Chechen jihadists".
Christians constitute some five percent of Syria's population, a patchwork of religious and ethnic groups.
Rights groups say Christians are especially vulnerable in the chaos that has engulfed Syria ever since the outbreak of a conflict in March 2011, which has so far killed some 90,000 people.
H.K.
D.A.
07 June 2014, 09:58
53
So much for the FSA-Al Qaeda cannibal jihadist terrorists being "secular" and "moderate" LOL.
07 June 2014, 10:02
45
So much for your honesty. You know that ISIL spends most of its time fighting the the FSA, the other Islamist movements and Al-Qaeda and it hardly fights the regime. I yet to see one iota of honesty from you Karim.
07 June 2014, 10:21
63
FSA-Al Qaeda is openly allied to Nusra Front, the main Syrian branch of Al Qaeda. Just because FSA-Al Qaeda is fighting ISIL (another jihadist terrorist organization), that does not make them "secular" and "democratic". Jihadist terrorist organizations fight each other all the time.
07 June 2014, 10:25
35
Karim ... You are full of it. Your posting clearly imply that you are accusing FSA-Al Qaeda of holding the Bishops while it is clear that ISIL is the one holding them. This is the same ISIL that hardly fights the regime and spends most of its time fighting the rebels. At the same time, the supposedly secular regime is allied to radical Shia militias from Iraq, Lebanon and Iran fighting on its behalf. This is the same regime that committed by far the most crimes in Syria, followed by ISIL. I may not like Al Nusra but those supporting the infinitely more criminal Assad regime are hardly in a position to speak.
07 June 2014, 22:16
24
haboub, why did they get released from syrian and iraqi jails ? tell us...
07 June 2014, 22:44
31
ultrahabib - These guys represent a collection of extreme (and unbalanced) people who are easily manipulated. They also have a common enemy with the regime: the more mainstream and moderate rebels.
07 June 2014, 14:48
55
Yes the majority not all but majority of the Syrian opposition "HATE" Christians.
07 June 2014, 22:18
33
even the christians in the opposition ?
arent George Sabra and Michel Kilo opposition top leaders ?
Or do u know better then them ?
08 June 2014, 02:51
22
Most but not all hate Christians. Those guys you mentioned are the exception. My good Cedre. You are the dominant sect throughout history in this part of the World for the majority of the past several years. I'm not someone who doesn't have family and friends in Homs, Damascus and Saidnaya and Maalula. The Christian station in these areas are terrified yes terrified of the opposition does the matter which group. All of them they are terrified of. Nobody says oh the good opposition does not harm us or our churches. From Homs to Maalula to Saidnaya I have people. Homs are all gone. The rest have been through hell. Again I do not support Assad, just because he is selective when to be be nice to christians. It's just a big cluster. Nobody is good. Just like usa politics.
08 June 2014, 02:57
11
I go to church with these people every Sunday. We take everybody and so I here there stories. Remember Zahle is not an ancient city so our great great Grandfathers all came from somewhere else. Assad is smart. He killed the Christians in Lebanon and treated the ones in Syria better. Typical divide and conquer just like the turks did. Yes I stand by the majority of opposition not all HATE Christians. If they were so great we would not have so many destroyed churches and nuns and bishops and priests.....
07 June 2014, 17:16
22
Ya jame3a lmatarni bi yad nizam laykon kif 3an yezehro soret ledlamiyin bo dhershenya khedmi la botin
