As violence continues in many parts of their country,
Syrian Christians request continued prayer for peace and for all who suffer as
a result of the ongoing conflict, including Christian communities affected by
abductions.
On 23rd December a Franciscan Priest, Father Dhiya Aziz,
disappeared after setting out from Lattakia to return to his parish in
Yacoubieh, Idlib Governorate. The order to which Fr Dhiya is affiliated, The
Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land, issued a communiqué on 28th December
stating that contact with Fr Dhiya has been lost, his whereabouts are unknown
and that it is assumed that he has been abducted. Fr Dhiya, who is Iraqi, was
also abducted on 4th July 2015. On that occasion he was seized by militants in
Yacoubieh and was released after five days.
On 25th December Assyrian sources reported that a further
25 Assyrian Christians had been released by Daesh (so-called "Islamic
State"), 16 of whom are children. This follows the release of 25
Christians on 9th December and 47 during November. These were all among more
than 230 Christians abducted in late February 2015 when Daesh captured around
35 predominantly Assyrian villages along the Khabour River in Hassaka
Governorate. The recent releases follow negotiations over many months by church
representatives. It is estimated that around 85 Christians from the Hassaka
villages remain abducted. In addition, many Christians are understood to be
among more than 200 civilians abducted by Daesh in August in al-Qaryatain, Homs
Governorate, many of whom remain unaccounted for.
Several church leaders abducted in 2013 also remain
unaccounted for. These include: Fr. Michel Kayyal (Armenian Catholic) and Fr.
Maher Mahfouz (Greek Orthodox), abducted
in February 2013; Bishop Yohanna Ibrahim (Syriac Orthodox) and Bishop Boulos
Yaziji (Greek Orthodox), abducted in April 2013; and Fr. Paolo Dall'Oglio
(Jesuit), abducted in July 2013.
Syrian Christians ask us to pray that:
a. Fr. Dhiya will know the Lord's presence and
protection, and that he will be released soon
b. all others abducted who remain
unaccounted for will similarly know the Lord's comfort and sustaining, and that
they will be released soon
c. those who have recently been released will know
the Lord's comfort, healing and restoration
d. those displaced will know the
Lord's care and provision, and be able to return to their homes soon
e.
violence will cease, peace will be restored and the clear rule of law will be
applied equally for all in Syria
f. those responsible for the murder and
abduction of innocent civilians will know the Spirit's conviction of sin, seek
the Father's forgiveness and find new life in the Son.
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Middle East Concern
