Syria: Christians fear increased attacks after Houla massacre

The Church in Syria says it fears Christians could becomes targets of revenge by armed groups and Sunni Islamic militants who want to avenge the massacre of Houla.

Caritas Lebanon report that refugees are continuing to arrive from Syria. They are Alawite Muslims and Christians, especially those who were employed in public offices. Most of them are from villages in Homs, such as Qusayr and others. Christians prefer to escape because they are considered "close to the regime or protected by the regime of Bashar al-Assad."

With prolonged episodes of violence and after episodes such as the massacre of Houla, attributed to the Syrian army - although some reports claim rebel gangs are also responsible for some of the attacks - the desire for revenge of the militia, in opposition, against civilians, "supporters of the regime" also increases.

If Sunni militants seek to avenge their loved ones killed, the Alawites are the target (the minority to which Assad belongs) but also Christians.

A Greek Syrian Catholic family, who arrived in Lebanon from Qusayr, told Fides that he left the village because of fighting between the army and rebels, but especially for the plague of kidnappings: Many Christians are being picked up by masked men, many who speak in a local accent. The kidnappers ask for huge ransoms. One of their
Christian relatives told them refugees have been killed, kidnapped and tortured because "they were non-aligned with the revolutionaries."

The father and the cousin of Catholic priest Fr Issam Kassouha were kidnapped recently and then released.

"We do not know if the terrorists were Sunni militants seeking revenge or criminals who want to take advantage of the chaos, hitting the most vulnerable," said the refugees. "If other massacres happen as that of Houla, Christians may pay a high price."

Source: Fides