Patriarch Lahham Condemned Coward Acts Targeting Damascus Civilians

BEIRUT,(ST)_ Patriarch of Antioch and All the East for Melkite Gregory III Lahham stressed that the cowardly criminal acts carried out by armed terrorist groups that target schools in Damascus by mortar shells , threaten particularly the educational process for the children of the rising generation, demanding Western and Arab ” conscience ” to speak up against this coward war , cowardly waged against the innocent and defenseless . “

Patriarch Lahham condemned in an appeal he made yesterday , “targeting churches and Patriarchates , homes and property , cars and charitable institutions and houses of worship bymortar shells that victimize without discrimination elders , disabled , women and men, young men and women , children , school and university students.”

” We appeal to the world to raise its voice against these cowardly acts”, the Patriarch said, adding that war is in the battlefield and not in schools , churches and safe residential areas .”

“Unfortunately, we did not hear worldwide condemnation for these cowardly criminal acts , but only from Pope Francis , who condemned these acts strongly , defending in particular the dignity of the weak human , especially innocent students in their schools or buses “, the Patriarch added , stressing that this tragedy must not be repeated . “

Patriarch Lahham warned of ” coward attempts targeting Christians in the Middle East in order to make of them a prey to fear and frustration that cause them to desert their countries ,” pointing out we “can not remain silent in front of this coward war and we hope the world will hear our voice and prayers to in order to save the lives of our citizens, innocent people , especially our students and school children’s school . “

He convicted all types of murder “, appealing to the God Almighty to have mercy for all the victims who fall in all parts of Syria.”

Worthy mentioning that statements made by Patriarch Lahham came at a time when terrorists and their supporters are trying to terrorize the people of Damascus via targeting it by mortars and focusing on schools and hospitals in a desperate attempt to undermine the steadfastness of the people of the city who defy terrorism and support the Syrian army which crushed terrorism and cling to Damascus, the city of peace , which will remain a city of culture and security , as confirmed by the Syrians, no matter what the coward terrorists had done.

T. Fateh