Submitted by: Donald Hank
Catholic Priest Beheaded in Syria by
Al-Qaeda-Linked Rebels as Men and Children Take Pictures and Cheer
Syrian Catholic priest Francois
Murad killed last weekend by jihadi fighters was beheaded, according to a
report by Catholic Online
which is linking to video purportedly showing the brutal murder.
As TheBlaze reported last week, Murad,
49, was setting up a monastery in Gassanieh, northern Syria. Last Sunday, on the
Christian leader’s Sabbath, extremist militants trying to topple President
Bashar Assad breached the monastery and grabbed Murad.
While earlier reports suggested
Murad may have been shot to death, Catholic Online reported Saturday: “The
Vatican is confirming the death by beheading of Franciscan Father, Francois
Murad, who was martyred by Syrian jihadists on June 23.”
The Catholic news service quotes
local sources who report that the radical Al-Qaeda-linked Jabhat al-Nusra, or
Al-Nusra Front, was behind the savage killing.
In video posted by Live Leak
purporting to show the execution, dozens of men and boys are seen cheering on as
three men are seated on the ground awaiting their grisly fate.
The men are methodically beheaded
one at a time by men holding what appears to be a simple kitchen knife after
which the heads are placed on top of the bodies.
According to Catholic Online, the
first victim was Murad.
A frenzy ensues, with dozens
drawing out their smartphones to capture the bloody scene, as a chorus of Allahu
Akbar (“Allah is the greatest”) are sung with jihadi rapture. Several observers
are seen moving within inches of the bodies in an effort to capture close-up
photos.
Catholic Online is raising alarm that western
nations are providing support to the rebels who have shown a proclivity toward
persecuting Christians:
This should make it clear to Christians around the world what jihadists are about. Make no mistake. Catholics and Christians around the globe are under dire threat, particularly from the spread of militant Islam. Until the threat is recognized and taken seriously, martyrdoms like this will continue.
Vatican Radio reports that Gassanieh, a
village with a majority Christian population, had been under attack by Islamist
fighters for the past few weeks, forcing most residents to flee for
safety.
It quotes Custos of the Holy
Land, Franciscan Fr. Pierbattista Pizzaballa who says, “Unfortunately Syria has
now become a battleground not only between Syrian forces, but also between Arab
countries and the international community. And those paying the price are the
poor, the young and the Christians. That the international community must put a
stop to all this”.
Pizzaballa told the Vatican News Agency,
“The world must know that the support of gunmen by the west is helping
extremists in killing Syrians.
“With such stances, not a single
Christian will remain in the East,” he added.
Vatican Radio writes, “Fr. Mourad
was just one of the many men and women religious putting their faith on the
front line in Syria, refusing to abandon the communities they serve, Christian
and Muslim. They stay because they want to be a sign of hope, light and comfort
to people in the midst of destruction.”
TheBlaze chose not to post
the video purporting to show Father Murad’s murder. It can be viewed here, but please be warned it is extremely graphic and
disturbing.
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