Syria: Militants target church walls and attempt to remove its cross

Image: Jihad Watch

Unidentified attackers struck the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Hama in Western Syria on Wednesday as ongoing unrest continues to affect the country.

Armed assailants fired at the church walls and attempted to destroy the building's cross. Local police have launched an investigation to apprehend the culprits, according to a report from the Greek Herald.

"The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Hama confirms that a shooting incident occurred. The Hama Police Command immediately responded, and efforts are underway to locate the perpetrators," stated local authorities.

Unverified reports from Greco-Levantines World Wide also suggested that a nearby cemetery was defiled during the assault, with crosses reportedly being "vandalized and removed."

The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) condemned the violence against the church, speculating that while the identity of the attackers remains unclear, the jihadist group Ansar al-Tawhid has been linked to numerous assaults on properties and individuals.

“SNHR strongly condemns the attack on Hama’s Greek Orthodox Archdiocese and its affiliates,” the organization stated. “We emphasize that targeting places of worship and religious symbols constitutes a gross violation of international human rights law and United Nations General Assembly resolution 75/258.”

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)