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Assyrian Christians targeted for Christmas

By Joseph DeCaro, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) - A coordinated attack on three restaurants owned by Assyrian Christians in Syria killed 16 and injured dozens more during Christmas celebrations.

According to International Christian Concern, the three bombings had targeted a street in a Christian corner of Qamishli that was filled with families dining together during Christmas week.

Qamishli is a town on Syria's border with Turkey that has been a refuge for regional Christians. While thousands have fled Syria, there are still some Christians committed to remaining in the country. But in the long run, without protected safe havens inside the state, Syria will eventually be emptied of its Christians, Assyrian American Helma Adde told ICC.

"These latest attacks on Christians in Syria have once again shown the vulnerability that Christians face," said Todd Daniels, ICC's Regional Manager for the Middle East. "They face not just the threat of war in general, but specific targeting of Christian communities. Dozens of churches and religious properties have been destroyed, clergy and laity have been kidnapped, and now celebrations targeted. As world leaders debate over a course of action and negotiate the peace process for the future of Syria, foremost among their concerns ought to be the fate of the Christian and other minority communities. Any agreement that does not enable religious and ethnic minorities to peacefully live in their homelands will ultimately fall apart...."