April 25, 2017
In 2013, 5 young men were kidnapped from the ancient Christian town of Maloula, for the first six months their families remained in contact with their kidnappers among the Free Syrian Army so called "moderates" & Nusra Front, then communications ended abruptly. Families continued to believe in a "miracle" and to pray for their safe return for the following three years. These hopes were cruelly destroyed recently when the executed bodies of the 5 young men were found close to the Syrian border and were identified as the kidnap victims.
The Martyrs' names are : Ghassan Michael Shnis, Atef Ragheb Kalomeh, Shady Michael Thalab, Daoud Sarkis Milaneh and Jihad Mtanios Thalab
Today in Damascus we were honoured to attend the funeral ceremony for these five brave souls whose relatives in the tight knit community of Maloula are still reeling from the shock of their death after three years praying and continuing to hope for their safe return.
The grief and rage was palpable, both from those close family members walking with the coffins and from the people of Damascus who flocked onto the streets to pay their respects. United in the senseless loss of yet more young lives in this 6 year war bieng waged against Syria by NATO and Gulf state regimes.
"The thing that unites Syrians most, are our martyrs" said Abdo Hadad, whose cousin was among the martyrs. Sadly the last few days in Syria have proven this statement over and over again.
Dany Milaneh, from Maloula, had been shot by a sniper in Zamalka [Damascus suburbs] and left paralysed, wheelchair bound. His brother, Daoud Milaneh was among the martyrs.
In 2013, 5 young men were kidnapped from the ancient Christian town of Maloula, for the first six months their families remained in contact with their kidnappers among the Free Syrian Army so called "moderates" & Nusra Front, then communications ended abruptly. Families continued to believe in a "miracle" and to pray for their safe return for the following three years. These hopes were cruelly destroyed recently when the executed bodies of the 5 young men were found close to the Syrian border and were identified as the kidnap victims.
The Martyrs' names are : Ghassan Michael Shnis, Atef Ragheb Kalomeh, Shady Michael Thalab, Daoud Sarkis Milaneh and Jihad Mtanios Thalab
Today in Damascus we were honoured to attend the funeral ceremony for these five brave souls whose relatives in the tight knit community of Maloula are still reeling from the shock of their death after three years praying and continuing to hope for their safe return.
The grief and rage was palpable, both from those close family members walking with the coffins and from the people of Damascus who flocked onto the streets to pay their respects. United in the senseless loss of yet more young lives in this 6 year war bieng waged against Syria by NATO and Gulf state regimes.
"The thing that unites Syrians most, are our martyrs" said Abdo Hadad, whose cousin was among the martyrs. Sadly the last few days in Syria have proven this statement over and over again.
Dany Milaneh, from Maloula, had been shot by a sniper in Zamalka [Damascus suburbs] and left paralysed, wheelchair bound. His brother, Daoud Milaneh was among the martyrs.