ISIS and Armed Factions’ Violations Against the Christian Community in Tabqa

Stories from the series Returning from Death, collected by ASO News Network, show the tragedy of civilians who suffered pain during the period of ISIS rule, realistic novels and stories that express the extent of terrorism and extremism in affecting the structure of society.

“Back from death”

A series of testimonies from the heart of the tragedy… Civilians who died under ISIS rule in North-East Syria

A series of special reports produced by the ASO News Network, published for the first time consecutively, highlighting the terrible violations that the city of Tabqa witnessed during the period of ISIS control.

Horrific stories from eyewitnesses who lived through the terrorist organization’s nightmare, where families were subjected to the harshest types of physical and psychological torture; From humiliating punishments that waste human dignity, to dark prisons from which only a few emerge alive, and ending with the destruction of schools and turning them into death factories.

We share with you these living testimonies to highlight the extent of the suffering and pain, and to present a true picture of what happened during that dark period.
All rights reserved to ASO News Network
Northeast Syria 2024

From Al-Tapqa written by: Hassan Al-Ahmad

Since the establishment of the Euphrates Dam and the service facilities in 1968, hundreds of Christian families from various Syrian cities settled in Tabqa in search of work in this labor-driven city. By 2012, these families numbered around 300. The city’s hallmark was its diverse population, earning it the nickname “The Mosaic of Syria.”

However, with the outbreak of the popular uprising in Syria in 2011, which later evolved into an internal armed conflict, these families faced displacement and intimidation alongside other religious and ethnic groups. This was due to armed factions and ISIS taking control of Tabqa after 2013. The Christian community, in particular, lived in fear of Jabhat al-Nusra, which imposed penalties that escalated to killings after targeted assassinations began against individuals from various sects.

Despite the presence of armed factions, including Jabhat al-Nusra, some families chose to stay in their city and homes, enduring harassment from these groups, whose goal was to loot their properties under false pretexts.

The situation worsened significantly for these families after ISIS took control of Tabqa in 2014. The group labeled them “infidels” and “apostates,” instilling terror in their hearts. This led the remaining families to flee to Syrian government-controlled areas or regions held by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). However, a very small number of families stayed behind, mostly elderly individuals who believed their age would shield them from ISIS’s brutality. These remaining families amounted to only a few households in the city.

Mohammad Al-Mohammad (a pseudonym for security reasons) told Aso News Network that his neighbors were Christians. He described how they lived together in harmony, sharing in each other’s celebrations and forming a close-knit community.

He added: “This continued until ISIS took over the city. That family then fled to Homs, fearing the group’s tyranny, leaving their home and belongings behind.”

ISIS seized the family’s house and placed a foreign family from Uzbekistan in it. According to Mohammad, the new occupants were heard speaking in classical Arabic, saying, “This house belonged to the infidels and is now property of the Islamic State.”

With the beginning of ISIS’s reign in Tabqa, a new chapter of violations against the Christian community and its sacred sites began. The group initially imposed a tax called the “staying tax,” requiring Christians to pay a sum of money in exchange for remaining in the city, accompanied by humiliation and degradation. The only alternative was forced conversion to Islam. Some families chose to pay the tax, while others outwardly converted to Islam for safety, secretly maintaining their faith.

ISIS confiscated the money and properties of Christian individuals in the city, declaring them assets of the Islamic State.

Among other violations, ISIS destroyed the cross atop one of the city’s churches, converting the building into a workshop for repairing its vehicles after looting its contents. Another church, located in the Third District near Dalla Roundabout, was turned into a weapons depot after being looted and partially destroyed, according to Mohammad.

Mohammad recalled how the church in the Third District used to be a place where his Christian neighbors gathered for prayers and masses, fostering a sense of diversity, love, and brotherhood in the city. However, after ISIS took over, the church became a military facility, and its surrounding street became deserted and fear-inducing after once being vibrant and full of life.

Today, only a handful of Christian families remain in the city, with no more than five households. They no longer have churches where they can practice their religious rituals and prayers, as no restoration efforts have been made to their places of worship. With their absence, Tabqa has lost one of the beautiful elements that once colored the mosaic of Syria.