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July 13, 2012

Syrian Christians Evacuated From Bombed-Out City of Homs

Families released from Christian neighborhoods occupied by rebels.

Jasmine Young

Residents trapped in Christian neighborhoods of Syria's bombed-out city of Homs were evacuated this week after an agreement between army and rebel forces. Between Tuesday and Wednesday, more than 60 people were taken to safety, according to the Associated Press. Most identified as Christians.

The evacuation momentarily settles fears of Christians being caught in the middle of further clashes between the rebels and the army. Thousands of Christians in Homs, Syria's third-largest city, have already fled to a nearby area known as the “Valley of Christians.”

Syrian Christians have been criticized for supporting President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, whose aggressive reaction to protests last year has led to more than a year of violence in which more than 17,000 people have died.

According to CT dispatches from the Middle East, many Syrian Christians stand behind Assad out of fears that persecution would be imminent if a hard-line Islamist group were to come to power. However, as violence has continued, Christian support for Assad has decreased.

CT has reported about Syria's last chance for reconciliation; interviewed World Vision's director of interfaith relations about growing up in Syria and his lifelong journey with Islam; and examined the persecution of Christians as a cost of democracy in the Middle East.

posted by Jeremy Weber | Comments (2)

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The US government is so keen to topple the Assad’s regime over the years and, without any doubt, I think the US government must have supplied armament directly or indirectly to the rebel forces which led to the atrocity experienced by the Syrian Christians. The same atrocity applied to the Iraqi Christians and Libyan Christians.

I’m a Chinese Christian living in Hong Kong for decades. Ever since the US announced its return to Asia and by 2020, 60% of the US Navy will be deployed in the Pacific, the tension in Asia over territorial disputes among China, Vietnam, the Philippines and Japan has intensified notably. It seems to me that the US indulges in stoking regional conflicts around the world for its very own interest. With US’s relentless efforts in containing China in every dimension, I am quite worried that there will be military clashes in the near future. The US has been waging numerous wars since the end of World War II. There is no sign of stopping. The population of Christian in China is growing and they may wonder why a Christian President, i.e. Barack Hussein Obama, his cabinet and the US congress are so belligerent ?

Please pray for Asia’s peace and invoke our heavenly Father to stop the malefic forces in fomenting war in the region.

Posted By: Tina | July 14, 2012 3:45 AM

Tina, I'm praying for you and the region!

Posted By: Jill | July 16, 2012 1:17 PM

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