First Mass Since Liberation of Al-Qusayr
A fifteen year-old girl living in Al-Qusayr was forced to marry fifteen Jabhat al-Nusra members, including their commander. All fifteen men raped her.
According to the Fides news agency, the girl identified as “Miriam”, was kidnapped after her family escaped Al-Qusayr, a strategic town occupied by extremist militants from Jabhat al-Nusra and the Free Syrian Army (FSA). Miriam was then forced into a temporary marriage and raped – a process which was repeated over fifteen days. The young girl was forced to marry fifteen militants, one every day – who then raped her and repudiated the marriage.
Similar incidents are widespread following a fatwa issued on YouTube by controversial Sheikh, Yasir al-Ajlawni.
A Salafi sheikh of Jordanian origin, Al-Ajlawni declared lawful – the forced marriage and rape of non-Sunni females. Other similar fatwas have been issued, resulting in small numbers of extremist females travelling to Syria to perform “sex jihad”.
According to sources, the fifteen day period of being held captive and subjected to forced marriage and rape, culminated in her execution. Widespread reports of a similar nature have surfaced, since the Syrian army took back Al-Qusayr from insurgents.
Two priests cited by Fides agency, Fr. Issam and Fr. Elias, recently returned to Al-Qusayr where they are hearing reports of atrocities and suffering during the occupation of the town. According to the priests:
These atrocities are not told by any International Commission, who will do something to protect civilians, the most vulnerable?
The Church of St. Elias was recently-opened and consecrated, having been ransacked and looted by FSA and Jabhat al-Nusra militants.
Over the past two months, Christians have been subjected to multiple atrocities, including beheadings, kidnappings, executions and massacres.
Increasing evidence has underlined the unity between Al-Qaeda affiliated groups and the Free Syrian Army – the latter commonly portrayed by the mainstream media as a moderate and representative organisation, separated from radical extremists.
Insurgent’s “Sex Jihad” Timetable. Photo: Reporter Alaa Ebrahim
Al-Qusayr Church: “True Religion of our Prophet Mohammed will be Victorious Over Tyrants”. Photo: Reporter Alaa Ebrahim
Damaged church. Al-Qusayr previously had a significant Christian population.
