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| Watchdog groups: Islamic State abducts Christians in Syria | Watchdog groups: Islamic State abducts Christians in Syria |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| BEIRUT — Islamic State militants have captured dozens of Assyrian Christians, including many women and children, during raids on villages in eastern Syria, organizations that monitor the Syrian conflict said Tuesday. | BEIRUT — Islamic State militants have captured dozens of Assyrian Christians, including many women and children, during raids on villages in eastern Syria, organizations that monitor the Syrian conflict said Tuesday. |
| The incident marks another blow to the Middle East’s embattled Christian communities, which have dwindled dramatically in recent years because of attacks by Islamists and others. | The incident marks another blow to the Middle East’s embattled Christian communities, which have dwindled dramatically in recent years because of attacks by Islamists and others. |
| It also appears to mark the latest onslaught against religious minorities by the Islamic State, whose previous targets have included Yazidis in northern Iraq and Egyptian Coptic Christians taken captive in Libya. | It also appears to mark the latest onslaught against religious minorities by the Islamic State, whose previous targets have included Yazidis in northern Iraq and Egyptian Coptic Christians taken captive in Libya. |
| As many as 90 people from the ancient Assyrian Christian community were taken from villages in Syria’s northeastern province of Hasaka, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based group that monitors Syria’s civil strife. | As many as 90 people from the ancient Assyrian Christian community were taken from villages in Syria’s northeastern province of Hasaka, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based group that monitors Syria’s civil strife. |
| Another group that chronicles abuses by the Islamic State posted on its Facebook account that 70 people were abducted from villages nears the town of Tal Tamr, citing figures obtained by Assyrian activists. | |
| Most of those reported kidnapped are women and children, according to the group, which is called ISIS “Daash” Violations in Syria. ISIS and ISIL are acronyms for Islamic State, while in Arabic the group is often referred to as Daash. | Most of those reported kidnapped are women and children, according to the group, which is called ISIS “Daash” Violations in Syria. ISIS and ISIL are acronyms for Islamic State, while in Arabic the group is often referred to as Daash. |
| The reason for the discrepancies in the number of abducted Assyrians is unclear, but the incident coincides with intense clashes about 60 miles to the east of Tal Tamr between the Islamic State and Syrian Kurdish fighters. | The reason for the discrepancies in the number of abducted Assyrians is unclear, but the incident coincides with intense clashes about 60 miles to the east of Tal Tamr between the Islamic State and Syrian Kurdish fighters. |
| The fate of the captives was not immediately known. The Islamic State uses a violent interpretation of Sunni Islam to justify beheadings and mass executions of religious minorities and opponents. | The fate of the captives was not immediately known. The Islamic State uses a violent interpretation of Sunni Islam to justify beheadings and mass executions of religious minorities and opponents. |
| The Associated Press reported that the Islamic State group’s online radio station reported Tuesday that Islamic State members had detained “tens of crusaders” and seized villages near Tal Tamr. The Islamic State refers to Christians as “crusaders.” | The Associated Press reported that the Islamic State group’s online radio station reported Tuesday that Islamic State members had detained “tens of crusaders” and seized villages near Tal Tamr. The Islamic State refers to Christians as “crusaders.” |
| Captured women from the Yazidi minority community have been used as sex slaves by the radical group, which also has systematically pillaged churches and razed shines revered by both Shiite and Sunni Muslims. | Captured women from the Yazidi minority community have been used as sex slaves by the radical group, which also has systematically pillaged churches and razed shines revered by both Shiite and Sunni Muslims. |
| Earlier this month, a Libyan group that pledged allegiance to the Islamic State released a video showing the beheading of 20 Egyptian Coptic Christians and a Christian from Ghana. | Earlier this month, a Libyan group that pledged allegiance to the Islamic State released a video showing the beheading of 20 Egyptian Coptic Christians and a Christian from Ghana. |
| Sam Alrefaie contributed to this report. | Sam Alrefaie contributed to this report. |