Assyrian Chaldean Syriac population is under threat, warn Lebanese Christians

posted on: Feb 28, 2015

Lebanese Christian parties warned on Friday that the existence of the Assyrian Chaldean Syriac population is being threatened by ethnic cleansing, religious persecution and systematic displacement, Anadolu has reported. The Christian groups also criticised the “silence” of the international community over such dangerous threats facing these ethnic minorities.

“The latest development in Al-Khabour (Al-Hasakah) neighbourhood,” a spokesperson said, “proves that the Syrians in general and the Assyrian Chaldean Syriac population in particular are facing existential threats.” The Christian groups insist that those responsible are “ISIS and other terrorist organisations with their international supporters.”

ISIS campaigns, the statement noted, have caused a real humanitarian disaster. “Between 350 and 400 people have been kidnapped, and around 6,000 have been displaced.” It pointed out that churches have been the subject of arson attacks, compounding the dangers of the killing and disappearances of ordinary people.

Criticising the “shameful” position of the international and Arab communities, the Lebanese Christians called for urgent action in the field to put an end to such threats. “We need a similar degree of unlimited support which was given to the Kurds in Iran and Syria.” Their co-religionists insist on staying in and defending their historic homeland, they added, as they also condemned the wanton destruction of Assyrian artefacts in the museum in Mosul by ISIS.

Source: www.middleeastmonitor.com