Greek Orthodox Patriarch appeals to "conscience" of nuns’ kidnappers
Beirut, 5 December 2013: An appeal to the "conscience" of the kidnappers of the Ma'aloula
nuns from the Greek - Orthodox patriarch Youhanna X Yazigi, joined by the Lebanese
Maronite bishops, while the Land of the Cedars also asks that Christian and Muslim
holy sites in Syria are considered "neutral zones" and that some historical places
like Maaloula and Saydnaya be placed under the protection of UNESCO as World Heritage
Sites.
New voices united to that of Pope Francis for the liberation of the
five nuns of the convent of Santa Tecla, seized on Sunday by elements of al- Nousra
Brigades , linked to al-Qaeda and, it seems, brought to Yabroud. They are mother Pelagia
Sayyaf and four sisters.
"We appeal to the human conscience of all and all
people of good will - the words of the patriarch Youhanna X Yazigi - for the liberation
of our religious sisters." "We appeal to the conscience which the Creator has endowed
all men, including the kidnappers so that our sisters are safely released. We appeal
to the international community and to the rulers of the whole world to intervene in
favor of the release of the hostages. This abduction, which continues despite all
the contacts made, is a flagrant violation of human dignity and the path of peace
and prayer in Syria and throughout the Mashreq (the Arab East, ed)." The patriarch
also calls for the release "of our orphans," but in reality they were moved from Maaloula
some time ago.Source: AsiaNews