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| Pray for the grieving families of these three men. Photo: AINA |
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports that three Christians, who were part of a large group held captive by Islamic State (ISIS) earlier this year, have been executed. The terrorist group released a video about a week ago showing Dr. Abdelmassih Enwiya, Bassam Issa Michael and Assur Rustam Abraham wearing orange jumpsuits. A Syrian evangelical leader paid tribute to the three martyred Christians, describing the doctor as "a great man of God who took a risk by staying in his village to take care of his people and encourage them in the Lord."
The men had been held since February when ISIS abducted over 230 Christians following dawn raids on their settlements in the northeast of Syria. While the group has periodically released elderly prisoners, more than 200 people are remaining in captivity. According to news reports, ISIS is demanding ransoms of around $50,000 per hostage for the release of each prisoner, threatening to execute remaining hostages if their ransoms are not paid.
Syrian Christians have been targeted by militant Islamist jihadi groups since the outbreak of the civil war in 2011, resulting in numerous believers being killed or forced to flee their homes. In many cases, those who have remained -- often the elderly and disabled -- have been ordered to either convert to Islam or pay a religious tax (referred to as "jizya"). In March, a total of 23 Christians were released after paying the religious tax. For additional reports revealing the extremely trying conditions facing believers in this part of the world, go to the Syria Country Report.
Please uphold those who have tragically lost loved ones at the hands of ISIS, asking that they be greatly comforted and filled with joy at the prospect of seeing them again at the coming of our Lord Jesus (1 Thessalonians 4:15-18). Pray for an end to the violence perpetrated by members of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. Ask God to also minister comfort and protection to the remaining hostages, in response to their pleas for help and deliverance from their captors. May the militants responsible for the murder and abduction of multitudes of innocent civilians be convicted of their sin, turning to the Lord for mercy, forgiveness and salvation.
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