IS destroys ancient Catholic monastery

Islamic State militants have destroyed an ancient monastery in the central Syrian province of Homs, according to a monitor and pictures published by the jihadist group, reports AFP from Beirut. “The Islamic State group yesterday used bulldozers to destroy the Mar Elian monastery in Al-Qaryatain, in Homs province,” said Syrian Observatory for Human Rights director Rami Abdel Rahman. He said the militants demolished the Syriac Catholic monastery “on the pretext that it was used for worshipping others than God.”
Photographs posted online by IS showed militants bulldozing parts of the monastery, although they did not appear to have completely destroyed the building with explosives as they have done with shrines and other religious buildings elsewhere. IS seized Al-Qaryatain on August 5, kidnapping at least 230 people, including dozens of Christians. The town lies at the crossroads between IS territory in the eastern countryside of Homs and points further west in the Qalamun area bordering Lebanon.
The Observatory said that IS had released 48 of those it took captive when it overran the town, and had transferred another 110 to its stronghold of Raqa province. The fate of the other 70 hostages was unclear.
The Mar Elian monastery dates back to the fifth century and is named for a Christian from Homs province who was martyred for refusing to renounce his faith. It is attached to a famous church of the same name, but it was unclear if that too had been damaged by IS.
In May, Syrian priest Jacques Mourad was abducted from the monastery by masked men as he prepared to receive residents of nearby Palmyra fleeing an IS advance.
Intolerant of any religious practice other than its own interpretation of Islam, IS has regularly destroyed religious buildings and icons in territory under their control.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Islamic State group beheaded the 82-year-old retired chief archaeologist of Palmyra after he refused to leave the ancient city.
A UNESCO World Heritage site famed for well-preserved Greco-Roman ruins, Palmyra was seized by IS in May, fuelling fears the IS jihadists might destroy its priceless heritage as it had done in other parts of Syria and Iraq.a

IS destroys ancient Catholic monastery

Islamic State militants have destroyed an ancient monastery in the central Syrian province of Homs, according to a monitor and pictures published by the jihadist group, reports AFP from Beirut. The Islamic State group yesterday used bulldozers to destroy the Mar Elian monastery in Al-Qaryatain, in Homs province, said Syrian Observatory for Human Rights director Rami Abdel Rahman. He said the militants demolished the Syriac Catholic monastery on the pretext that it was used for worshipping others than God. Photographs posted online by IS showed militants bulldozing parts of the monastery, although they did not appear to have completely destroyed the building with explosives as they have done with shrines and other religious buildings elsewhere. IS seized Al-Qaryatain on August 5, kidnapping at least 230 people, including dozens of Christians. The town lies at the crossroads between IS territory in the eastern countryside of Homs and points further west in the Qalamun area bordering Lebanon. The Observatory said that IS had released 48 of those it took captive when it overran the town, and had transferred another 110 to its stronghold of Raqa province. The fate of the other 70 hostages was unclear. The Mar Elian monastery dates back to the fifth century and is named for a Christian from Homs province who was martyred for refusing to renounce his faith. It is attached to a famous church of the same name, but it was unclear if that too had been damaged by IS. In May, Syrian priest Jacques Mourad was abducted from the monastery by masked men as he prepared to receive residents of nearby Palmyra fleeing an IS advance. Intolerant of any religious practice other than its own interpretation of Islam, IS has regularly destroyed religious buildings and icons in territory under their control. Earlier on Tuesday, the Islamic State group beheaded the 82-year-old retired chief archaeologist of Palmyra after he refused to leave the ancient city. A UNESCO World Heritage site famed for well-preserved Greco-Roman ruins, Palmyra was seized by IS in May, fuelling fears the IS jihadists might destroy its priceless heritage as it had done in other parts of Syria and Iraq.a