Syrian and Greek Orthodox Church bishops kidnapped in northern Syria

DAMASCUS – Agence France-Presse

A file picture taken on February 10, 2013 shows Syrian Bishop Boulos Yaziji (seated-L), head of the Greek Orthodox church in Aleppo, during the enthroanment in Damascus of his brother Yuhanna X Yazigi (seated-R) as the Patriarch of Antioch. An armed group kidnapped two bishops in a village in Aleppo province in northern Syria, the state news agency SANA reported late on April 22, 2103, including Bishop Boulos and Bishop Yuhanna Ibrahim, head of the Syriac Orthodox Church in Aleppo. AFP PHOTO

An armed group kidnapped two bishops in a village in Aleppo province in northern Syria, the state news agency SANA reported late on Monday.

“An armed terrorist group today kidnapped Bishop Yohanna Ibrahim, head of the Syrian Orthodox Church (in Aleppo) and Bishop Boulos Yaziji, head of the Greek Orthodox Church (in Aleppo) while they were on humanitarian operations in the village of Kafr Dael in Aleppo province,” the news agency said.

“Terrorists intercepted the bishops’ car in Kafr Dael village, took the driver out of the car and kidnapped the bishops,” it added. Reached by AFP, sources in the Greek Orthodox diocese of Aleppo declined to comment on the incident.

Christian residents of Aleppo reached by AFP said Ibrahim set out in his car to pick up Yaziji from the Bab al-Hawa crossing on the Turkish border, which is under rebel control. The car was intercepted on the way back by gunmen who kidnapped the bishops and killed their driver, the residents said on condition of anonymity.

Kidnappings have become increasingly prevalent in Syria as law and order has broken down with the spread of the conflict between rebels and loyalist troops. Activists and human rights groups say minority groups, including Christians, have been particularly vulnerable.