Church Fears 'Ethnic Cleansing' Of Christians In Homs, Syria -- L.A. Times
REPORTING FROM BEIRUT -- The Syrian Orthodox Church is worried about “an ongoing ethnic cleansing of Christians” in the embattled city of Homs, reports Agenzia Fides, the official Vatican news agency.
Anti-government militants have expelled 90% of Christians in Homs and confiscated their residences by force, said Fides, citing a note sent to the agency by the Syrian Orthodox Church.
The Vatican agency cited sources saying militants went door to door in the Homs neighborhoods of Hamidiya and Bustan al-Diwan, “forcing Christians to flee, without giving them the chance to take their belongings.”
Estimates vary, but Syria’s Christians, with ancient roots, are generally said to represent as much as 10% of the nation’s 23 million people.
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My Comment: This is probably one of the reasons why the rebels in Syria have had trouble raising money and arms. The more radical Islamic elements in the rebel movement have made their intentions very clear on how they want to treat non-Sunni groups ..... and while the ethnic cleansing that is occurring in Homs does not surprise me, one can only imagine the horror that they can inflict on the rest of the country if they should come to power. As for Assad and his brutal regime .... this is just one more propaganda victory for them, as well as a tool to use in garnering support from Syria's other ethnic religious and minority groups.
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