Austrian FM Condemns kidnapping Aleppo two Bishops

VIENNA,(ST)_ Austria’s Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurtz reiterated his country ‘s condemnation of kidnapping the two bishops John Ibrahim Metropolitan of Aleppo of the Syriac Orthodox church  and Archbishop of Aleppo Paul Yazigi and Iskenderun of the Orthodox church by the armed terrorist groups, expressing concern over their unknown fate, until now.

In a statement posted on the website of the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kurtz called for the immediate release of the two bishops explaining that clergy men and religious thought should not be used to achieve political goals.

Kurtz added in his statement, marking the first anniversary of the abduction of the two bishops that ” the two bishops are from Christian minorities in Syria and that every one is entitled to help for their release quickly and to provide protection for them,” noting positive signs for releasing them very soon.

In April, 2013, Austria condemned the kidnapping of patriarchs Ibrahim and Yazigi by the armed terrorist groups, demanding their immediate release.

Meantime, a joint prayer for peace in Syria and the return of all abductees was held, earlier in the day yesterday at the Holy Cross Church in Damascus on the occasion of the first anniversary of the abduction of Aleppo bishops.

In the meantime, an initiative proclaimed by Austria ‘s liberal Muslims called on the European governments to monitor all the extremist and fundamentalist groups in Europe and bring them to the competent courts on charges of recruiting terrorists and contact with underground networks and al-Qaeda organization.

In a statement published on its website, the initiative indicated  that the armed terrorist groups that commit heinous crimes and massacres in Syria ” have received all forms of support from the West and the Gulf states,” pointing out “the existence of organizations in Europe, supported by exposed Western and Gulf sides that recruit extremists” for jihad ” in Syria, seeking to strike and destroy the Syrian state.

T. Fateh