Scottish Catholic Observer

As we in Scotland enter June and the beginning of the summer weather—or so we hope—the Middle East looks more fragile than ever before, as the Christian winter deepens.

Perhaps it is hard for us to imagine what it must be like to flee your home when terrorists and extremists threaten to harm you and your family because of your Christian faith. Yet, the witness of those who trust in God’s love is a challenge and inspiration to us all.

Despite its brutality, President Assad’s Government guaranteed freedom of worship to minorities before the outbreak of civil war. However, since the start of the Syrian civil war in 2011 it is estimated that 700,000 Christians have fled Syria.

Current crisis

At the beginning of 2015, Assyrian Christians in the Hassake region ran for their lives as Islamic State (IS) seized their villages—100 years after their forefathers escaped to Syria to avoid slaughter. In 1915, their ancestors had settled in Syria, founding villages after they fled from Ottoman lands during the genocide of Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Christians.

Around 300 villagers were taken prisoner by the extremists, and although IS released the 21 Christians it captured from the village of Tel Goran, reports suggest it has killed some hostages.

Even before this current crisis began, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) was providing help for Hassake’s destitute Christians—many of whom were leaving the country to avoid starvation.

ACN responded to their plight with more than £285,000 which included emergency help—fuel oil, gas, electricity, rent costs—and medical aid for displaced families in Hassake and Aleppo.

Jesuit priest abducted

At the end of May 2015, another priest was kidnapped in Syria—with local Christians fearing Islamic extremists have seized him. Fr Jacques Mourad (right) was travelling in Qaryatayn with a co-worker when two motorcycles drew up alongside their car. The kidnappers seized the vehicle and abducted the Jesuit priest.

Fr Nawras Sammour, the director of the Jesuit Refugee Services for the Middle East, told ACN: “We priests are fully aware of the risks we run, but we cannot do otherwise than remain alongside the Syrian people, both Christians and Muslims.”

Recalling the abduction of Fr Dall’Oglio and Bishops Yohanna Ibrahim and Bulos Yazigi—as well as the killings of Fr François Mourad and Fr Frans Van Der Lugt—Fr Sammour added: “In many cases we are the only ones they have to turn to.”

Sr Annie Demerjian

In a harrowing account, Sr Annie Demerjian spoke to ACN about the thousands of people fleeing for their lives and desperate to escape the raging conflict between government and rebel forces.

Describing how the violence had worsened, she said: “Thousands have already left the city of Aleppo, both Christian and Muslim. We are preparing for the worst.”

She said that the Christian quarter of Aleppo had ‘noticeably emptied out’ and that Christians were leaving, taking what possessions they could carry and seeking refuge on the coast or in the ‘Valley of the Christians’ near Homs.

“Pray for Aleppo,” Sr Annie appealed. “People are fearful as never before.”

Describing what Holy Week 2015 was like, the Armenian Catholic Sister described how on April 10—Good Friday in the Eastern Churches—Aleppo’s Christian quarter of Suleymaniye came under heavy bombardment.

“One woman saw her own children lying motionless among the people but fortunately they had survived but others lost their lives in the attacks,” she said. “On Easter Sunday, we buried many of our brothers and sisters. We hurried from one funeral to the next. It was so sad.”

Aiding the Middle East

Aid to the Church in Need is prioritising aid for the Middle East. Since 2011, the charity has given more than £8.7 million to help people in Syria and Iraq. ACN is helping with aid including:

—The Good Shepherd Sisters’ clinic in Beirut caring for refugees from Syria and Iraq.

— Mass stipends for priests ministering to the

persecuted in Iraq and Syria.

— Food and medicine for refugee families in Syria’s Valley of the Christians.

Scottish support

Aid to the Church in Need provides immediate practical support but also spiritual encouragement and hope to Christian communities all around the world.

“Those Christians who are determined to stay in Syria and wider Middle East need practical and

spiritual support,” Lorraine McMahon, head of operations in Scotland for ACN, said recently. “ACN is committed to providing this and thanks to the generosity of our supporters we are able to provide for those who know fully what it means to bear the cost of being a Christian, witnessing to Christ today.”

Lorraine added: “To our parishes and schools in Scotland, I say, please don’t be indifferent to the issues faced by persecuted Christians. Come and join us and learn about the forgotten human rights issue of the day.”

— To find out more about Aid to the Church in Need and the persecuted Church please consider praying for persecuted Christians. Follow us on Twitter: @ACN_Scotland or give us a call: 01698 337 472

— www.acnuk.org