Christians within the Syrian capital of Damascus have fashioned patrol teams with the intention to defend their group and locations of non secular significance in what’s changing into an more and more tense environment.
Late final yr the repressive, however secular regime of Bashar al-Assad was toppled by the Islamist group HTS, an offshoot of al-Qaeda. Regardless of its doubtful origins, HTS has to date publicly indicated that it needs to control in an “inclusive” method that doesn’t penalise minority teams.
Regardless of this, public rhetoric severe issues stay. Two weeks in the past, lots of of individuals from the Alawite group – to which Assad belonged and which represents his most ardent supporters – had been massacred.
There have been false studies on social media that Christians had been these being massacred. Whereas some particular person Christians had been murdered within the days earlier than the bloodbath in remoted incidents, anti-persecution organisations famous that studies of an anti-Christian bloodbath had been each false and counter-productive to the well-being of the church in Syria.
Ambiguity stays nonetheless about who was liable for the bloodbath. Whereas some sources recommend that HTS was behind the bloodbath, others would point out that the bloodbath occurred resulting from HTS’ lack of ability to manage all of the armed teams which might be working in Syria. Both method, it’s little question a tough scenario for minorities to be in.
It’s no shock subsequently that in Damascus a gaggle of Christians calling themselves “Eagles of Antioch” has emerged to police Christian neighbourhoods and act as a protect in opposition to radical Islamist components.
Round 500 individuals, a few of them armed with permission from HTS, have volunteered for the group which offers nighttime patrols in Christian areas.
The group is meant to guard Christian shrines and companies from vandalism, theft and assault from Islamist radicals. One of many catalysts for the formation of the group was the burning of a Christmas tree.
One member of the group, Daniel Georgios, advised Fox Information Digital, that the group is open to working with the HTS-led authorities with the intention to present safety to the Christian group.
“We need to be represented, and we not settle for the concept of being marginalized or handled like second-class residents. We have a look at ourselves that we’re equal to the Muslim, the Alawite and each single Syrian citizen,” they stated.
