The city was invaded by Islamist forces in late October and then retaken by the Syrian army. "45 innocent civilians were martyred for no reason, and among them were several women and children. Many of them were thrown into mass graves. Other civilians were threatened and terrorized. 30 were injured and 10 are still missing. For a week, 1500 families were held hostage and used as human shields. Among them were children, elderly, youth, women and men. Some of them fled on foot, walking the 8 kilometers from Sadad to Al-Hafer to find refuge. Around 2500 families fled Sadad with nothing but their clothes, due to the incursion of the armed groups, and today they live as refugees scattered around Damascus, Homs, Fayrouza, Zaydal, Maskane and Al-Fhayle".
The archbishop continues with bitterness in his voice: "There is no electricity, water or telephone service in the city. All the houses in Sadad have been looted and possessions have been stolen. The churches have been damaged and desecrated, emptied of old books and valuable furniture. Schools, government and municipal buildings have been destroyed, as well as the post office, hospital and medical clinic".
"What happened in Sadad," he says, "is the largest massacre of Christians in Syria and the second largest in the Middle East, after that of Our Lady of Salvation Church in Iraq in 2010."
The Archbishop concludes: "We have cried out for help to the world, but no one has listened to us. Where is the Christian conscience? Where is the human conscience? Where are my brothers? I think of all those who are suffering today in sorrow and inconvenience: we ask that everyone pray for us."
Sadad is a small town of 15,000 inhabitants, mainly Syrian Orthodox Christians, located 160 km north of Damascus. It has 14 churches and a monastery with four priests.
Source: Agenzia Fides
