Syria: Two Christians killed by suspected Bedouins

According to a report by Syriac Press on 22 April 2022, two Christians from the predominantly Greek Orthodox village of Kherba in southern Syria have been murdered. Local sources say that the killing took place on 20 April and that the motive was not theft as no money, car keys or other valuables were stolen from the victims’ pockets. One of the victims was the head of the local Agricultural Association.

World Watch Research analyst Henriette Kats explains: “Local sources report that the 51 year old and 65 year old Christians were last seen going out to inspect a piece of land and that it is most likely that Bedouins living in the area close to the village attacked them. One of the men was hit with a rock and then shot in the head, the body of the other one was found further away and had been shot in the back. Bedouins have been using various tactics to pressurize Christians into leaving the area, but this new incident would seem to point to an escalation. In the past, it has usually been a matter of stealing crops and letting livestock eat the fruit and vegetables on land owned by Christian families.”

Henriette Kats continues: “Christians in southern Syria are under daily pressure to leave the region and suffer from economic boycotts and other forms of discrimination. However, the Christian families have experienced forced displacement before and they do not want to experience this again. As a result, they are determined to stay and are trying to form an official organization which will advocate for Christians rights in government circles.”

Henriette Kats adds: “In a more recent development in May 2022, local sources report that a priest in southern Syria has been receiving death-threats and has been unable to leave his monastery for almost a week for this reason. The levels of intimidation targeting Christians remain high.”