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Watchdog groups: Islamic State abducts Christians in Syria Islamic State said to abduct at least 70 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 in eastern Syria have captured at least 70 Assyrian Christians — including many women and children — in one of the largest abductions against religious minorities by the extremists, watchdog groups 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 Islamic State said it was holding “tens of crusaders” — a phrase it often uses for Christians — but other details were not immediately clear.
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. The captives could become bargaining chips as the Islamic State seeks to hold strategic ground linking its territory in Syria and Iraq. Some members of the embattled Assyrian Christian community — a group dating back to Biblical times — have taken up arms against the Islamic State.
But the Islamic State also has displayed its quick vengeance against those who fall into the hands, including a video earlier this month showing the beheadings of 20 Egyptian Coptic Christians and a Ghanaian Christian held hostage in Libya.
Syria’s oil-rich eastern region has been a key battle ground against the Islamic State, which has faced repeated airstrike from the U.S.-led international coalition. But the abductions, reportedly coming after raids on villages, suggest some advances or retrenching by the militants.
The incident marks another blow to the Middle East’s besieged Christian communities, which have dwindled dramatically in recent years because of attacks by Islamists and others.
It also is the latest onslaught against religious minorities by the Islamic State, whose previous targets have included Yazidis in northern Iraq.
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.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. The Assyrian Church has roots going back to the first century of Christianity, and many members speak a modern version of Aramaic, believed to be the language of Jesus.
The collapse of the Ottoman Empire in 1923 forces many Assyrians and other ancient Christian sects in the Middle East to emigrate, with most settling in the West.
Many of the remaining Assyrians in Iraq fled after the U.S.-led invasion in 2003 and the turbulent years that followed.
Murphy reported from Washignton. Sam Alrefaie in Beirut contributed to this report.