Syrian Arab News Agency S A N A
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The Hague, SANA – Mar Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Leader of the Syriac Orthodox Church demanded an international condemnation of the harrowing atrocities the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist organization is committing in Hasaka.
For the past few days, ISIS has been ravaging villages in the countryside of the northeastern province, perpetrating appalling acts of killing and abduction against the residents.
ISIS atrocities also left hundreds of people displaced and scores of houses and facilities demolished and burned down, including an antique church in Tal Hermerz village which is deemed as the oldest in Syria.
Speaking from the Netherlands, where he is on a patriarchal visit, Patriarch Aphrem made an appeal to all people of goodwill to work for halting the direct and indirect support provided to terrorist organizations operating in Syria.
This effort, he noted, can be done through abiding by the Security Council’s relevant resolutions.
He called upon the international community to take action to facilitate the immediate and unconditional release of all people abducted and held captive by ISIS.
Around a hundred civilians from Hasaka villages alone were captured by ISIS in its recent armed assault which started last Monday.
The Patriarch urged people of influence in the world to work seriously to stop the acts of killing and systematic displacement of the Christians, calling also for immediate international intervention to support a peaceful settlement in the region.
Haifa Said
