Posted on December 2, 2013 by Alexandra Valiente
Terrorists break into St. Thecla Convent in Maaloula, hold Mother Superior and nuns hostage
Dec 02, 2013
Damascus Countryside
SANA
Dec 02, 2013
Damascus Countryside
SANA
Local sources in the town of Maaloula in Damascus Countryside said that terrorists broke into St. Thecla Convent and held Mother Superior Pelagia Sayyaf and a number of nuns hostage.
The sources told SANA that the terrorists also committed acts of vandalism in the town’s neighborhoods and around the convent, attacking locals and targeting them with sniper fire.
Head of the Higher Committee for Relief, Social Affairs Minister Kinda al-Shammat, voiced concern over this incident, holding the terrorist groups and the countries that fund and arm them responsible for the lives of the Mother Superior and the nuns they are holding hostage.
Al-Shammat called on the international community and organizations to pressure the countries supporting terrorists to release the hostages along with all abductees held by terrorists in Syria.
The report added that the foreign-sponsored militants took several nuns hostage in the convent, which is home to 40 nuns and orphans.
Given past atrocities, security sources and observers do not rule out the possibility of violence against the Christian residents of the historic town.
Meanwhile, sources say that the militants took part of Ma’loula after five days of clashes, while Syrian forces have recaptured the town of Qara and Deir Attiyeh, and are currently battling the foreign-backed militants for control of Nabak.
The militants had attacked Ma’loula early in September and captured some parts of it. However, they were pushed out of the town by the Syrian troops.
The beautiful town is regarded as a symbol of the ancient Christian presence in Syria.
Syria has been gripped by deadly unrest since 2011. Western powers and their regional allies — especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey — are supporting the militants operating inside the country.
According to the United Nations, more than 100,000 people have been killed and millions displaced in the violence.