Property theft from Christians denounced

Christian leaders in the north-eastern province of Hassakè have spoken out against local Kurdish officials who are taking over properties owned by Christians who were driven from their homes by Islamic State (IS), before Kurdish fighters drove back IS, writes Ellen Teague. In July, around 4,000 Christian families fled Hassakè as IS terrorist forces advanced. They included Chaldeans, Assyrians, Syrian Catholics and Syrian Orthodox. Those remaining say policies of the Kurds make it ever more difficult for Christians to return.

A statement signed by church leaders – including Archbishop Jacques Behnan Hindo of Hassakè-Nisibi – says the self-assigned right of the local authorities to confiscate and administer goods and properties belonging to persons forced to leave their homes is a “violation of human rights”.