Syria rebels accused of looting churches
Rights group says fighters have burned and looted Christian and Shia places of
warship, increasing sectarian fears.
Last Modified: 23 Jan 2013 23:41
Human Rights Watch urged armed groups to respect places of warship [EPA]
Rebels in Syria have burned and looted the religious sites of minorities, Human
Rights Watch says, warning that the 22-month old conflict could become
increasingly sectarian.
"The destruction of religious sites is furthering sectarian fears and
compounding the tragedies of the country, with tens of thousands killed," said
Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director of the US-based rights group on
Wednesday.
"Syria will lose its rich cultural and religious diversity if armed groups do
not respect places of worship. Leaders on both sides should send a message that
those who attack these sites will be held accountable."
In the Christian villages of Ghasaniyeh and Jdeideh in Latakia province,
residents said that gunmen operating "in the name of the opposition" broke into
and stole from churches.
A resident in Jdeideh cited by the rights group said armed men had broken into
the local church, stolen and fired shots inside, after government troops had
fled.
Local rebels denied they attacked the church.
"While the motivation for the church break-ins may have been theft rather than
a religious attack, opposition fighters have a responsibility to protect
religious sites in areas under their control from wilful damage and theft,"
Human Rights Watch said.
Shia site destroyed
In the village of Zarzour in Idlib province, researchers found evidence of
deliberate damage to the local husseiniya, a Shia place of worship, caused by
opposition fighters.
Its windows were broken, prayer stones littered on the floor, walls charred
from flames, and what appeared to be the remnants of a burned prayer rug lay on
the floor.
In-depth coverage of escalating violence across Syria
Footage posted online on December 12 showed rebels celebrating their victory in
the town as the husseiniya burns in the background.
Residents said that the army had been using the husseiniya as a barracks.
Human Rights Watch condemned the government's use of the husseiniya for
military purposes, but said that did not justify intentional damage by the
rebels.
The rights group said local rebel fighters had blamed Syria's government for
the damage but residents said opposition fighters had started the fire when
they took control of the village.
The rebels said they were not responsible for the attack.
Residents of Zarzour, a predominantly Sunni village, said their Shia neighbours
fled fearing retaliation for supporting the government.
About 70 percent of Syria's population are Sunni Muslims, and a majority of the
rebel ranks are Sunnis.
Many members of minorities - including Christians, Shias and Alawites - have
stayed on the sidelines of the conflict or supported President Bashar al-Assad,
who is an Alawite.
Assad has portrayed his regime as a protector of minorities and has blamed the
uprising in his country on Muslim extremists and foreign countries.
The opposition, however, is accusing the regime of igniting sectarian strife.
Source:
Agencies
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