Syria rebels ‘beheaded a Christian and fed him to the dogs’ as fears grow over Islamist atrocities

Nick Fagge – 2/1/13

• Christian Andrei Arbashe, 38, was kidnapped  and beheaded by rebel fighters in northern town of Ras Al-Ayn on the Turkish  border
• News came as pro-government forces  celebrated their victory against rebels near Aleppo Airport

Syrian rebels beheaded a Christian man and  fed his body to dogs, according to a nun who says the West is ignoring  atrocities committed by Islamic extremists.

The nun said taxi driver Andrei Arbashe, 38,  was kidnapped after his brother was heard complaining that fighters against the  ruling regime behaved like bandits.

She said his headless corpse was found by the  side of the road, surrounded by hungry dogs. He had recently married and was  soon to be a father.

Sister Agnes-Mariam de la Croix said: ‘His  only crime was his brother criticised the rebels, accused them of acting like  bandits, which is what they are.’

There have been a growing number of accounts  of atrocities carried out by rogue elements of the Syrian Free Army, which  opposes dictator Bashar al-Assad and is recognised by Britain and the West as  the legitimate leadership.

Sister Agnes-Miriam, mother superior of the  Monastery of St James the Mutilated, has condemned Britain and the west for  supporting the rebels despite growing evidence of human rights abuses. Murder,  kidnapping, rape and robbery are becoming commonplace, she says.

‘The free and democratic world is supporting  extremists,’ Sister Agnes-Miriam said from her sanctuary in Lebanon. ‘They want  to impose Sharia Law and create an Islamic state in Syria.’

The 60-year-old Carmelite nun claims the west  has turned a blind eye to growing evidence of a ‘fifth column’ of fanatics  within the rag-tag ranks that make up the Free Syrian Army that they back to  oust Assad.

One of the most effective fighting forces is  the Jabat Al-Nusra, which has an ideology similar to Al Qaeda.

‘The uprising has been hijacked by Islamist  mercenaries who are more interested in fighting a holy war than in changing the  government,’ she said.

‘It has turned into a sectarian conflict. One  in which Christians are paying a high price.’

The rebel attacked the northern town of Ras  Al-Ayn, on the Turkish border, last month. The fighters entered the Christian  quarter, ordering civilians to leave and leaving their homes.

‘More than 200 families were driven out in  the night,’ Sister Agnes-Miriam says. ‘People are afraid. Everywhere the deaths  squads stop civilians, abduct them and ask for ransom, sometimes they kill  them.’

Militants wearing black bandanas of Al Qaeda  recently laid siege to the Monastery of St James the Mutilated, located between  Damascus and Homs, for two days in an attempt to prevent Christmas celebrations,  the nun claims.

An estimated 300,000 Christians have been  displaced in the conflict, with 80,000 forced out of the Homs region alone, she  claims.

Many have fled abroad raising fears that  Syria’s Christian community may vanish – like others across Middle East, the  birthplace of Christianity.

Al Assad, a member of the Alawite Muslim  sect, claims only his regime can protect Syria’s minorities from domination from  the Sunni Muslims majority.

Meanwhile the fighting continues to rage with  government forces retaking control of a key district in the city of Homs  yesterday.

The latest violence comes after United  Nations peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi warned of ‘hell’ for Syria if no political  solution could be found.

Russia has stated the conflict is becoming  increasingly militarised and sectarian and risks bringing chaos to the whole  region.

Some 44,000 people have been killed since the  uprising against the Al Assad regime began in March 2011.

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