UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has condemned attacks on Syrian civilians, appealing for the safety of 12 nuns abducted by foreign-backed militants from their convent in the Arab country.
�The United Nations rejects any targeting of persons based on their religion, community or ethnic affiliation. Civilians throughout Syria are at risk and must be protected,� the UN chief said in a statement issued on Monday.

�These concerns are most recently underscored by the situation of the 12 nuns� kidnapped from a Greek Orthodox convent in the Christian town of Ma'loula.

The nuns were kidnapped from the convent by foreign-backed militants, including members of the al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front, on December 2.

They were then taken to the nearby town of Yabrud - which has a large Christian population.

On December 3, Syria's Greek Orthodox patriarch called for the release of the nuns, saying, �We appeal to the seed of conscience that God planted in all humans, including the kidnappers, to release our sisters safely.�

Moreover, the Syrian Foreign Ministry sent two letters to the head of the UN chief on December 2, saying, �Syria is facing a barbarian war launched by extremist...gangs targeting its present and future.�

The ministry added that �terrorists� stormed Mar Takla Convent and held its Mother Superior Pelagia Sayaf and a number of nuns �as hostages and sabotaged churches and houses.�

The militants fighting against the Syrian government had attacked Ma'loula, which is regarded as a symbol of the ancient Christian presence in Syria, early in September. However, they were pushed out of the town by the Syrian troops.

Syria has been gripped by deadly unrest since 2011. According to reports, the Western powers and their regional allies -- especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey -- are supporting the militants operating inside Syria.

By Press TV

 

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