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ISIS Kidnaps Dozens of Assyrian Christians in Syria

  • Carrie Dedrick Religious persecution, missions, Christianity around the world
  • Updated Feb 24, 2015

ISIS militants have kidnapped about 90 Assyrian Christians from several small villages in Syria, according to reports. The Syrian Observatory for Human rights reported villages around the Khabur River in northeast Syria were ransacked and up to 100 people could have been captured. 

Nuri Kino, who heads activist group A Demand For Action said that about 3,000 civilians escaped the violence and kidnapping. 

Fox News reports an Assyrian woman from Tal Shamiram said that communication is limited in the area; she was struggling to find out if her family escaped the ISIS brutality. 

"Land lines have been cut, their mobiles are closed. Have they been slaughtered? Are they still alive? We're searching for any news,” the woman told the Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity. 

"My family visited me last month and returned to Syria. There were clashes but it was normal, nothing exceptional. I feel so helpless, I cannot do anything for them but pray.” 

Authorities are unsure if the militants plan to kill the Christians that were taken captive or use them to arrange a prisoner swap with the Kurdish and Christian militias. 

Publication date: February 24, 2015