Prepared by Syrian Network for Human Rights
Date of issue: 2/9/2013
Contents:
1- Introduction
2- Violations committed by Government Forces ( shell 33 churches and use some as military barracks ).
3- Violations committed by Armed Opposition ( shell 2 churches ).
4- Legal conclusions and Recommendations
=============================
1- Introduction
AS an impact of the great counterfeiting of truths, and spending millions dollars by Syrian regime on huge media organizations ,at first glance it appeared that the armed groups that came to Syria after the revolution turned into armed conflict, that these are the real enemies of Christian, and they shell and destroy churches, but when we have neutral, objective research, we found it’s quiet different, and the most important evidence is the conclusion of this report, where Syrian regime targeted 33 churches, and use many of them as military barracks and headquarters to shell the neighboring areas, after he expelled the resident and prevented prayers there, while armed groups targeted two churches.
Syrian regime practiced demagogue depends on lies and counterfeiting and convince Syrian and the world that the aim of the revolution is not to eliminate tyranny and corruption, and to achieve democracy and social justice , but it is sectarian conflict between ethnic components of the Syrian society.
But the clear fact that killing ,shelling and destruction carried out by the Syrian regime does not differentiate between a sect and other, they shelled mosques and churches, Scud missile, artillery ,tanks or snipers didn’t recognize among Muslim, Christian or otherwise.
Many churches, mosques and building have been destroyed before 15/7/2013, that’s mean even before the conflict turned into non-international armed conflict, where Syrian regime is only possess heavy equipments.
==============================
The Report:
First- Violations committed by Government Forces
33 churches have been totally or partially destroyed by government’s forces daily shelling on various Syrian governorates and cities since the beginning of Syrian Revolution to the date of issuing this report, according to SNHR.
All documented by photo, video, and the resident’s accounts their churches shelled by government troops
SNHR issued an earlier report on 24/12/2012, it has documented the targeting of 19 churches by Government forces to the time of issuing that report, please review the following attachment
Government ‘s forces not only targeted churches, shelling, killings, and tyranny do not distinguish between religion and another, Syrian Network for Human Rights targeted 1451 mosques and more than 3700 school and almost 270 private hospital, and the toll of the damaged buildings toll in Syria ( houses- school- churches- mosques- hospital) almost 3 million buildings, including more than 850.000 houses entirely destroyed by Scud missiles, TNT, artillery shells, and various types of attacks, all reports available on Syrian Network for Human Right’s website.
SNHR’s mosque report:
We would like to notify that Churches have been shelled by Government Forces more than one time, it is an evidence of targeting churches and houses of worship, as in Saint Mary Church of the Holy Belt church in Homs and Lady of Peace church: shelled 3 times, and many others.
Churches shelled by government forces deployed in various Syrian Governorates as follow:
Homs governorate: government forces shelled 10 churches
Aleppo governorate: government forces shelled 7 churches
Damascus governorate: government forces shelled 5 churches
Dier Ez-zor governorate: government forces shelled 5 churches
Lattakia governorate: government forces shelled 3 churches
Idlib governorate: government forces shelled 2 churches
Raqqa governorate: government forces shelled 1 church
Report Details:
Homs governorate:
Government forces shelled 10 churches in Homs governorate, classified by date of shell, and documented by photos and videos:
1- Homs: Bustan Aldiwan neighborhood
Saint Mary Church of the Holy Belt church ( Um az-Zinnar ) shelled 5 times
20/3/2012
https://docs.google.com/file/
26/3/2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
3/6/2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
14/6/2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
4/9/2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
2- Homs: Al-Qusayr city in the western countryside
Mar Elias Church, shelled 3 times
15/7/2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
https://docs.google.com/file/
23/9/2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
29/1/2013
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
3- Homs: Bustan Aldiwan neighborhood
Lady of Peace church, shelled 3 times
7/8/2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
4/9/2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
6/9/2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
4- Homs: Al-Hamidyah neighborhood
Evangelical Church
shelled once in 16/4/2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
https://docs.google.com/file/
5- Homs: Al-Hamidyah neighborhood
Saint Gerges church
shelled once in 29/5/2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
6- Homs: Bustan Al Dewan neighborhood
Aalrbaeen church
shelled once in 30/5/2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
7- Homs: Hamidiyeh neighborhood
Ancient Holy Spirit church, Syriac Catholic church (Catholic Archeparchy )
shelled once in 11/9/2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
8- Homs: Al-Hamidyeh neighborhood
AlItihad National Evangelical Christian church
shelled once in 11/10/2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
9- Homs: Al-Hamidyeh neighborhood
Greek Catholic Church
shelled once in 18/7/2013
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
10- Homs: Du-Vair town
Date of shelling 30/5/2013
Du-Vair Church, after the church damaged, government troops photo and describe by media campaign that terrorist did that, and they committed a massacre in the village, according to the Christian residents in the village , there was no massacre, and shelled by government troop
research conducted by SNHR about what happened there and the false story of Syrian regime:
https://docs.google.com/file/
Du-Vair Church
https://docs.google.com/file/
https://docs.google.com/file/
https://docs.google.com/file/
===================
Aleppo governorate:
Government forces shelled 7 churches in Aleppo and countryside, they are:
1- Aleppo – Old Aleppo
Date of shelling: 16/1/2012
Ancient Saint George church
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
2- Aleppo – Dar Izza in the western countryside of Aleppo
Date of shelling: 31/5/2013
Ancient Saint Simeon church:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
3- Aleppo – Almidan neighborhood
Date of shelling 23/9/2012
Saint Wartan church
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
https://docs.google.com/file/
4- Aleppo – Bab Alnasr
Date of shelling: 12/11/2012
Tishreen Kindergarten, which was an ancient church
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
5- Aleppo – Aljadida, Alhatab square
Date of shelling: 17/2/2013
Armenian Evangelical Church (which is in the original Jewish Synagogue)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
6- Aleppo – Alsulaimaniah
Date of shelling: 11/4/2013
Prophet Elias church
https://docs.google.com/file/
7- Aleppo – Al sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood
Date of shelling: 20/4/2013
Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood’s church
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
https://docs.google.com/file/
==============================
Damascus countryside governorate:
Government forces shelled 5 churches in Aleppo and countryside, they are:
1- Damascus countryside: Yabroud city
Date of shelling :21/9/2012
Yabroud church
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
2- Damascus countryside: Zabadani city
Date of shelling :21/11/2012
Zabadani church
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
https://docs.google.com/file/
3- Damascus countryside: Daria city
Date of shelling :26/11/2012
Ancient Saint Takla church in Daria
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
4- Damascus countryside: Harasta city
Date of shelling :31/12/2012
Virgin Mary church
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
5- Damascus countryside: Arbine city
Date of shelling :24/3/2012
Saint George church in Arbine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
==============================
Dier ez-Zoor governorate:
Government forces shelled 5 churches in Dier ez-Zoor governorate, they are:
1- Our lady church of Syriac Catholic- near to eastern area police, in the middle of Alrashidiah neighborhood, on 290 square meter, followed by elementary school known with Special Unit school, the same church which SANA reported on Wednesday 19/6/2013, that armed fighter from Nusra front burned the Alwihda church for Syriac in Dier ez-Zoor city
shelled many times:
25/9/2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
26/12/2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
the wall of the church and the chapel completely destroy cause it was clause to security branches, and because the explosion of a bombed car was on the way to target military police headquarter , but by mistake explode near the church.
Photos of the church’s ruins:
https://docs.google.com/file/
2- church of the forty martyrs, or Armenian Martyrs ( Greek Orthodox ) in the city centre near Ziad hotel, shelled by missiles which led to destroy and burned.
14/9/ 2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
3- Armenian Catholic church – city center, street of Fouad cinema , shelled by more than 6 mortars, caused a huge damage in the building, especially near the bells and chapel.
http://static.mediapart.fr/
https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.
4- the only Armenian church in Bokamal, built from stone, clay and plaster, date, it is the oldest church in Bokamal, it’s date for more than 300 years, shelled and damaged by MIG plane, and almost completely destroyed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
5- Al Latin church ( Kaboshia in city centre, ALrashidia neighborhood, behind military police headquarter, near Bemo Bank, established by French in the 1930s and consists of four sections, chapel, monastery , school contains three classes and a space, it considered one of the archaeological sites that have been registered at the department of Antiquities.
Image and coordinates of monastery by satellite:
https://maps.google.com.eg/
Government’s soldier broke into this church, positioned and put many snipers in its high floors, where they killed many civilians, We have some documentation in SNHR’s archive , also positioned in the opposite street and build barricades, in 15/4/2013, strong explosion shock the city and destroy the church and Capuchin Franciscan Monastery, it was the last sound church without shelling in Dier ez Zoor
===========================
Lattakia governorate:
Government forces shelled 3 churches in Lattakia governorate, they are:
1- Lattakia – Ghonaimia
Date of shelling: 14/7/2012
Armenian church of Ghonaimia in Lattakia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
https://docs.google.com/file/
1- Lattakia – Kansaba
Kansaba is a town of Alhifa, located at the north east of Lattakia, 50 km far from the city, has border with Idlib and Hama, shelled by MIG, artillery, and TNT
Damaged church is Prophet Elias church at church street, can contain 150 prayer
https://docs.google.com/file/
https://docs.google.com/file/
destroyed cause of continuous shelling by TNT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
3- Lattakia: Alqasab
Alqasab is a village in Lattakia coastal plain, it’s church shelled from tower known with Alqasab tower , where government forces put heavy artillery and mortars that were daily shells the surrounding areas.
The church known as Prophet Elias, we were not able to get photo after shelled by government forces, but we check the information from more than one source according to SNHR’s standards :
https://docs.google.com/file/
https://docs.google.com/file/
===========================
Idlib governorate:
Government forces shelled 2 churches in Idlib governorate, they are:
1- Idlib: Jisr Alshaghour – Ghassania village
Date of shell 22/10/2012
Saint George church
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
1- Idlib: Jisr Alshaghour – Yaqobia village
in the North west of Syria, their residents speak Arabic, Armenian, and they are Christian ( Armenian Orthodox, Catholic, Latin Catholic )
Date of shell 11/6/2013
Saint Ann church
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
==============================
Raqqa governorate:
Government forces shelled 1 church in Raqqa governorate:
Date of shelling 23/9/2012
Tal Abiad church
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
=========================
Churches used by Government Forces as barracks and military headquarter to shell the surrounding areas :
Government forces used churches as platforms to shell neighboring areas, some of them as military brackets violating the privacy of these sacred religious places for Christian.:
These churches are:
1- Cathedral Church Al sherobim in sednaya used to shell many parts in the Qalamoon on 18/5/2013
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
2- Jidah is a town affiliated to Janodia in Jisr Alshagor of Idlib district, contain Jhon the Baptist monastery for Greek Orthodox, located in the main street , and can accommodate for 200 parish
https://docs.google.com/file/
https://docs.google.com/file/
Used by Government forces as a military barracks from which attacks on neighboring areas, opposition forces took over the village of and clashed with Syrian soldiers who were stationed inside and so on 11/12/2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
3- Al Latin church ( Kaboshia in city centre, ALrashidia neighborhood, behind military police headquarter, established by French in the 1930s Image and coordinates of monastery by satellite:
https://maps.google.com.eg/
Government’s soldier broke into this church, positioned and put many snipers in its high floors, where they killed many civilians, We have some documentation in SNHR’s archive , also positioned in the opposite street and build barricades, in 15/4/2013, strong explosion shock the city and destroy the church and Capuchin Franciscan Monastery, it was the last sound church without shelling in Dier ez Zoor
============================
Second: Violations committed by Armed Opposition:
1- Idlib governorate: armed opposition shelled 1 church
Ghassania village: west of Jisr Alshogor village in 10 km on the road between Lattakia and Jisr Alshagor , Saint George church accommodates 300 Parish
https://docs.google.com/file/
https://docs.google.com/file/
The town was subjected to heavy shelling by the security forces in the context of indiscriminate shelling campaigns to various Syrian cities by barrels containing explosive material from the air and also artillery shells from the village of Alqasab tower and this has caused the displacement of a large number of villagers reported the bombing also caused the Church and broke its Windows.
armed opposition, in particularly Nusra front in December 2012, Was Simeon’s monastery was attacked by those groups and patron of the monastery father François Murat ” killed during the attack
A video of some of the effects caused by shelling on the Church:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
2- Lattakia governorate: armed opposition shelled 1 church
Alnoaymiah town 45 km east of Lattakia
Saint Kaifork church, shelled by armed rebel in 17/3/2013 caused damages:
https://docs.google.com/file/
https://docs.google.com/file/
==============================
Legal Conclusions:
Note that the Syrian regime has committed a war crime-related property and had all the elements of massive destruction crime over 33 Churches, and is known that the churches are property covered by the 1949 Geneva Convention and this actions committed in non-international armed conflict.
In addition to the violation of paragraph (a) and (b) of rule 40 of customary international humanitarian law, which states:
Rule 40. Each party to the conflict must protect cultural property:
A. All seizure of or destruction or wilful damage done to institutions dedicated to religion, charity, education, the arts and sciences, historic monuments and works of art and science is prohibited.
B. Any form of theft, pillage or misappropriation of, and any acts of vandalism directed against, property of great importance to the cultural heritage of every people is prohibited.
Some of the armed opposition factions committed a war crime in its aggression on churches and the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces to prosecute the perpetrators and hold them accountable.
Recommendations:
Recommendations
Human Rights Council :
Considering attacks that occurred in Syria on the sanctity of the churches as violation of basic human rights that affect his sanctities and dignity
Denounce violations committed by Syrian Government’s Armed Forces such as warship houses and churches , and document those attacks
Pressure on the Syrian Government’s Armed Troops and formally request to stop its violations on mosques
Hold alias and supporters of the Syrian Government’s Armed Troops (support with weapons and gear ) to take clear positions on those violations and make diplomatic and political pressure to stop and end these violations
Arab League :
Denounce violations of warship houses and churches , and document those attacks
– Pressure regionally and internationally to make effective decisions in this regard
– Pressure on the Syrian regime to stop those violations that affect Muslims all around the world
Demand the states that can effect on Alassad regime to make it stop deliberate and widespread violations on churches.
Security Council :
Denounce violations of warship houses and churches , and criminalized those attacks
Issue a binding decision against Syrian regime to stop all violations, specifically warship houses and churches
Warning of the consequences of such violations for social peace and led for sectarian and religious wars , and hold Syrian Government’s full responsibility about it
Announce demand to protect churches and Archeological places and warning of endangerment them
——————————
Syrian Network for Human Rights – London