Acting In Self Defence
"Everybody is fighting everybody. The Armenians are fighting because they believe the [Free Syrian Army] are sent by their Turkish oppressors to attack them, the Christians want to defend their neighbourhoods, Shabiha regime militia are there to kill and rape, the army is fighting the FSA, and the [Kurdish militant group] PKK have their own militia too." Armenian Christian in Aleppo
Up until now the Syrian Christian community has been careful to set themselves aside and away from the conflict raging in Syria between the regime of President Bashar al-Assad and the Syrian Sunni majority determined they will no longer live under the heel of an Baathist Alawite minority. The Christians have looked upon the current regime as a protector and they fear that should the Sunnis with their rigid Islamist backers come to power their safety will be imperilled.
Now, however, matters have come to the point where it is impossible to avoid the conflict, and Christians in Aleppo have decided to take up arms, forming militias of their own, to protect themselves from anticipated assaults. Vigilantes have been recruited from among themselves to protect churches. But more urgent measures are also being taken, with the acceptance of weapons from the Syrian army and the decision to join forces with Armenian groups to repel the guerrillas of the opposition.
Allied and active Christian and Armenians, now transformed into 'fighters' have been busy for over a month determined to prevent Free Syria Army rebels from occupying the Christian areas of Aleppo. The Syrian army heralded their 'victory' in removing FSA fighters from the Christian quarter of Jdeideh, but as far as the Christian militias are concerned the kudos belong to them, for they initiated the attacks on the FSA.
"The FSA were hiding in Farhat square in Jdeideh. The church committees stormed in and cleansed the area. Then the Syrian army joined us. They claimed the victory on State television. The rebels were threatening the churches."
There are credible witnesses to what had occurred. Now in Beirut, a former Christian clergyman claims to have witnessed the fighting. Where jihadist groups are now playing a more prominent role, and where shrill accusations of atrocities emanating from both sides in the conflict have been on the rise. The Christian residents of Aleppo have firm enough reasons for their fears, recalling the fate of Iraq's Christians.
"They are shouting, 'The Alawites to the graves and the Christians to Beirut'", an Armenian woman said reflecting a charge other Christian refugees had lodged.
Labels: Christianity, Conflict, Islamism, Middle East, Political Realities, Security, Societal Failures, Syria, Terrorism
posted by Pieface @ Friday, September 14, 2012
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