Thread by @VanessaBeeley

Important new report on persecution of Syrian Christians in #Idlib by #AlQaeda-origin armed gangs. #WhiteHelmets have also taken part in desecration of Christian churches & violent seizure of property (testimony). Western regimes are anti-Christian.

"..since taking over Idlib, Islamist [terrorists] have established a stranglehold over Christian citizens, preventing them from practicing their rituals openly; they limited the services to prayers inside the church hall without ringing bells or raising crosses."

Christians have left Idlib in mass toward other Syrian areas or abroad, leaving everything they own behind. Thus, Idlib’s Christian population has dwindled dramatically. Reportedly, before 2010, Idlib was once home to 10,000 Christians distributed in the villages of al-Yacoubiyah

al-Qunaya, al-Jadidah, al-Ghassaniyah, Halluz, and in certain neighborhoods of Jisr al-Shughur and Idlib cities.

Al-Nusra took over the properties of all those displaced and distributed them to foreign fighters, who were in majority Turkistans, but also included Chechens, Algerians, and Tunisians

properties seized by Al-Nusra were under the guardianship of the “Office of Christians’ properties”, which recorded the houses and farms of Christians in Idlib and then distributed them to foreign fighters. This was accompanied by the confiscation of the cars of absent Christians

and the looting of the furniture of their homes and businesses.

Christians in Idlib who attempted to restore their farms forced to sign usufruct contracts. These contracts provided for giving 60% of their crop production to HTS with only 40% remaining to the farmer, even while the farmer remained responsible for farm’s cultivation, expenses

Throughout 2018, STJ documented the seizure of at least 750 houses belonging to Christian residents of rural Jisr al-Shughur. Houses were seized by HTS, Guardians of Religion Organization/ Hurras al-Din, & Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP) under pretext of their owners’ absence.

According to a local source, HTS’ rental revenue from the Christian-owned houses in Idlib alone has exceeded 70,000 USD per year.

“Today it’s very normal for a Turkistan fighter to attack an elderly Christian in the street and to call him an infidel or a worshipper of the cross while insulting and threatening him.”

2019 incident of kidnapping and murder of the Arabic language teacher, Suzanne Deir Kreikour, 60, who hails from al-Yacoubiyah town in rural Idlib. Suzanne was kidnapped, raped, and had her gold jewelry looted. She was found naked with clear signs of torture and rape on her body.

Local sources reported that most of Idlib’s churches are now locked up, out of service, or used by armed factions.

Idlib’s Christians are still prevented from practicing their religion freely and openly despite al-Julani’s promises of reform. Prayers and holiday celebrations are still confined within the walls of homes and churches with a continued ban of ringing bells and raising crosses.

These abuses are in violation of The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Article 18.1

stj-sy.org/en/idlibs-chri…

The #WhiteHelmets are "tasked" by the US/UK intel cabal with "documenting war crimes". They are embedded with these war criminal terrorist gangs but have never condemned the persecution of Christian communities in #Idlib.

rt.com/op-ed/472844-w…

@CamilleOtrakji @KevorkAlmassian @ClareDalyMEP @wallacemick @ClarkeMicah

#WhiteHelmet crimes will not be forgotten by the #Syrian people however much their UKFCDO billionaire-funded PR complex works to protect the brand.