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Kidnapped Bishops: 500 days no sign of life and world still silent!
Today, 4 September 2014, marks the 500th day that two Archbishops were kidnapped in a rebel-held area that is close to the Turkish border in Syria. The WCA has published several writings concerning this important topic, time and again stressing the fact that the world leaders and the mainstream media are silent on this curious abduction case.
Despite contradicting reports, rumors and vague claims that have been circulating since their abduction, there is still no clear information about the identity of the kidnappers, their motivation and demands, their whereabouts, the health condition of the two Archbishops, and more.
Yesterday, Vice-President Joe Biden said about the beheading of a second American journalist: "As a nation we are united, and when people harm Americans we don't retreat. We don't forget." It is worth noting that the Syriac Orthodox Archbishop Hanna Ibrahim has a double nationality, including U.S. citizenship status. Concerning America's role in this abduction case, or its neglect of the Christians of the Middle East, the WCA expresses its deepest disappointment in the Obama-administration.
Of all the countries in the world, the most powerful and advanced nation has been strikingly passive and silent on the abduction of one of its own citizens. After closely following this case, we have good reason to believe that some states are hiding critical information about the kidnapping of the Bishops. One thing seems to be certain: this abduction case is astonishing and its very nature, as well as the way governments have so far been dealing with it, leads one to think that certain governments have been involved in condoning, if not facilitating and even orchestrating, the abduction of the prelates.
The WCA will not give up its mission to seek international attention for this case that led to an acceleration of the mass exodus of Syria's Christians. The WCA continues to call for investigations and support of the UN, all governments, religious leaders of all faiths, NGOs and media outlets in order to address the abduction of the two Archbishops. Such an approach will convey the right message to all the Christians across the Middle East to not loose hope in their difficult struggle to survive in their native Aramean homelands, particularly in Iraq and Syria.
WCA speaks at the UN's Special Session on Iraq
On Monday, 1 September, the WCA read aloud the next statement at the UN Office in Geneva duiring a Special Session on Iraq || Since the beginning of the Syrian conflict, we have repeatedly warned the world to take the growing Islamist threat seriously. When we reported that our people were intimidated, kidnapped, killed and expelled from their homes, the world remained silent and indifferent.
One year ago, at the 24th session of this Council, we urged the United Nations to oppose the diabolical plans of these Islamists to found a caliphate in our homeland. Recently their Islamic State became a reality in Syria and Iraq. When we immediately reported that the Aramean Christians and other vulnerable minorities faced a new genocide and ethnic cleansing, including the destruction of their cultural heritage, the world once again remained silent and indifferent.
Our message to the international community is: Enough is enough!
Our people continue to be sacrificed by states who preach human rights, democracy and freedom, but who in reality pursue their own interests. As a result of their policy, we are now even witnessing the Islamist menace in our Western societies.
In accordance with international law and justice, we ask the Human Rights Council to urge the UN Security Council to adopt an unambiguous resolution.
Click on the button below to watch and read the rest of the statement.
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