Nuncio in Damascus: Fate of Orthodox nuns kidnapped by Islamists still uncertain
Damascus
(AsiaNews) - The fate of the 12 Orthodox nuns of the monastery of Santa Tecla
in Maaloula , seized yesterday afternoon by a group of Islamist insurgents is
still uncertain says Mgr . Mario
Zenari , Apostolic Nuncio to Damascus speaking to AsiaNews. "We have no other news - says the
Vatican representative in Syria - since last night. We can confirm that the
nuns were forced to leave the monastery and follow these armed people."
The
12 nuns of the monastery of St. Thecla were abducted yesterday afternoon . According
to latest reports , the nuns were being marched by a contingent of Islamist
rebels towards Yabrud , about 80 km north of the capital.
For
two days Maaloula has been the scene of violent clashes between the army and
rebels of the Free Syrian Army ( FSA) , in whose ranks many members of the al -
Qaeda linked extremist Jabat - al- Nousra militia are fighting. Archbishop
Zenari points out that "the whole area is in tumult". The
attacks occur mainly in the upper part of the city - the oldest - where the
monasteries of St. Thecla and the Greek - Catholic Saints Sergius and Bacchus
are located. On
5 September the village was invaded
by the rebels, who defeated government troops.
Meanwhile,
Navi Pillay , UN High Commissioner for Human Rights , said yesterday that the
war crimes committed in Syria were also authorized by the Syrian president Bashar
al-Assad. Citing
an inquiry conducted by the United Nations, Pillai said that " there is
ample evidence of very serious crimes . Crimes of war, crimes against humanity
. [...] The brutality of the abuses perpetrated by elements on both sides defies
imagination. Responsibility lies with the highest levels of government,
including the head of state . "
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