DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) – The Islamic State group demolished an ancient monastery founded more than 1,500 years in central Syria Friday near a town where the extremists abducted dozens of Christians earlier this month, activists and a Christian priest said.
Advertisement
The militants used bulldozers to destroy the 5th century Mar Elian monastery in the strategic town of al-Qaryatain in Homs province on Thursday.
The hardline militant group has been gaining ground in the desert areas east and south of Homs after it took over Palmyra last May.
Shortly after capturing Qaryatain, activists said the Islamic State group abducted 230 residents, including dozens of Christians.
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.
Islamic State is reportedly demanding Jizyah, a religiously required tax on non-Muslims under Islamic law, from Christians who refuses to convert to Islam.
Among them were 45 women and 19 children, including 11 families, some of whom were on a militants’ wanted list, said the monitor, which tracks the violence of Syria’s civil war through an extensive network of sources on the ground.
Advertisement
They have also targeted statues, which they consider idolatrous, and grave markers, including those of Muslims.
