generalspeaking

Christian Defence in Syria

"We saw what happened in Iraq in 2003. Our people were left alone, with no autonomy, no army that could defend them."
"Most of our people have emigrated, thanks to attacks from al-Qaeda and other groups. They couldn't defend themselves. We learned that lesson and have prepared ourselves."
"I think I was prepared [in battle for Tel Hamis]. I was a little bit afraid -- it was my first battle."
Kino Gabriel, Syrian Christian

"We are absolutely appalled, but not surprised, by the actions of the Islamic State. They (Islamic State) continue to do what they do—terrorize, murder, and pillage."
"Immediately for Syria, we’re calling for much broader international intervention. We are calling on the public to support our relief efforts. Both governments and people need to respond to this crisis."
"We have already now sent tens of thousands of dollars in aid and assistance to groups working on the ground. We will continue to send money, coordinating action and calling on the international community to intervene."
"We have tens of thousands of Assyrian volunteers. We just finished training and mobilizing the first 500. These men are ready, able, and willing to put everything on the line."
"They have lost everything, they are living in IDP (internally displaced person) camps, they are living in tents, the guys are stepping forward for the Nineveh Plain Protection Units, and we are supporting their actions."
Jeff Gardner, spokesman, Restore Nineveh Now [protection/relief for Assyrian Christians]

When Syria first erupted in civil war after its majority Sunni protests against the minority Alawite Shia Baathist government's oppression of Syrian Sunnis, the Christians in Syria who viewed themselves as being protected in some part by the regime, preferred not to become involved in the conflict. They quietly, unobtrusively and diplomatically tended to support the government.

But then when the invading foreign Islamists entered the country and al-Qaeda-affiliated militias began to focus on their presence with relentless violence, they could no longer remain on the sidelines. Once the threat to the towns and villages where Christians lived and worshipped became a reality, young men like Mr. Gabriel responded with the message that they would fight back to preserve themselves.

In existence for the past few years they have established themselves as a small but determined fighting force against the Islamic State jihadists across a front in northwest Syria. Having allied themselves with the Kurdish defence forces they are not alone. That Syrian Christians are arming themselves and training as soldiers against violent oppression has energized Christians worldwide to come to their aid; many themselves exiles from the post-Saddam era in Iraq.

The Christian population of Iraq was over a million in 2003, and it is now less than half that number. Over 600,000 Christians were driven from their homes when ISIS swept the Nineveh plain that was the traditional home of Assyrian Christians in northern Iraq. And now in Syria, with the experience of Jabhat al-Nusra determining them to defence, they now face the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, more confident in their capacity to fight back.

They've seen their churches blown up, their crosses destroyed and their members living under Islamist jihad rule, forced to pay the Islamic tax traditionally extorted from non-Muslims living under the thumb of Islam, called jizya. Kino Gabriel joined his future to the fighting front at the end of 2013, joining the Syriac Military Council; one thousand men fighting alongside Kurds for the town of Tel Hamis. Jabhat al-Nusra held Tel Hamis at that time.

Over 300 Christians who remained in the area were taken hostage in villages around Tel Tamer in northwest Syria on Monday. The Syriac Military Council is holding on to the desperate hope that ISIS will agree to a prisoner swap. That they will agree to having the eight jihadists captured in the battle for Tel Hamis held by the Christians in exchange for the Christian civilians taken hostage by ISIS.

Labels: Christians, Conflict, Iraq, Islamic State, Jihadists, Syria

posted by Pieface @ Tuesday, March 03, 2015