PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS

Taranaki Daily News, 20 October 1930, Page 15

PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS

THE REMNANT OF THE SYRIANS EMISSARY VISITS NEW ZEALAND. Constantly persecuted and massacred because of their Christian beliefs, ruled by an enemy Government, surrounded by hostile races, living under conditions worse than slavery; such was the lot of the Syrian race for niany centuries. “The Syrians, and there were about 150.000 of us, have been Christians since the fourth century,” said the Rev. David Zadok, a deacon of the Syrian Church, to a repoi cer of the Christchurch Press, “There hai neveri been a Mohammedan or a Jew among ns, and because of this we were in constant dread of massacres by the Turks. They tried to convert us to Mohammedanism, but without success. We were completely urider the Turks, were were not allowed an army, rifles or ammunition, our men. our women and our children were killed in thousands; everything we had was taken for taxes; wo were worse than slaves.” Three times a year a Turkish officer and about a hundred men marched through the Syrian villages Io collect the taxes. Each village they came to had to supply them, absolutely without charge, with food, lodging, nnd transport. The head then In each village, the magistrate ami the mayor, Were ministers of religion, and from them the taxes and food were collected. If, as frequently happened, they wbro unable to produce these, simply nccituse the villagers did not have them, their boots and stockings were removed. they were bound, and lashed unnierciliilly oil the bottoms of their feet. Many ol

them died under this treatment. The taxes were not levied on a percentage basis; the Turks demanded what they wanted. never practise these cruelties among themselves,” said Mr, Zadok. “They did it to us so that , we w°uld be converted, but none of us ■ . were, thank God.’.’ At that time the Syrians received a little protection from the British, American, and European Consuls at Mosul. When the Turks sent out raiding parties the consuls would, make efforts to stop them. When the war broke out .the - consuls were forced to leave Mosul, as were the missionaries, and what little protection the Syrians had was re-, moved. They were then absolutely at the mercy of the Turks. The religious hatred of the Turks culminated in an awful and wholesale massacre. Many thousand Syrian men, women and children were killed. The survivors abandoned their homes -id everything they had, and escaped to the mountains. The Turkish armies were looting, murdering and burning, and the Syrians were able to take nothing with them except goats. They were pursued to the mountains. For defence tney had a few old-fash--loned muzzle loading rifles. The Turks bad modern rifles, artillery, and ma-chine-guns. For live months the Syrians were surrounded on a high mountain. They had gouts’ meat for, food and nothing else, not even salt. They repulsed the Turks by rolling boulders down mountain side. During the siege on the mountain 15,000 Syrians died of starvation. Seven of near relatives died. There was n 1 shelter; they slept on the ground with no coverings. Then the Russian Army advanced through Persia and drove the Turks off, ii'lowiiig the Syrians to escape. They had no homes to which they could re-

turn; everything had been so they went to Northern Persia and stayed at Lake Urumiya as refugees until 1917, the Allies feeding and clothing them, • When the Russian Array broke up the protection was removed and once more the Turks attacked the Syrians, who then had plenty of rifles and ammunition taken from the Russians.. They fought the Turks day and night (or eight mouths until their ammunition was exhausted, when they retreated towards Bagdad. For a month and a half the whole nation was retreating day and night. Thousands died from thirst and starvation, Mothers were compelled to march on half an hour after the birth of a child; had they delayed they would have been killed by the Turks, who were in close pursuit. At last they met English trdops who were marching to their - help. The English Government had sent hundreds-of lorries for the transport of the Syrians. “It was a most wonderful day for the ■ Syrian nation, when we jnet„.thoeo Tommies coming to our rescue,” said Mr. Zadok. ■ Ohly “’5.000 Syrians arrived at Bagdad, and they were put into a refugee camp organised by the British officers. Of all that had died, only 15,000 who died on the mountain were buried. They were supplied with food and clothing, and hospitals and schools were at then disposal. For three and a half years thev remained in the camp. There was no hope of returning to their homes, as the Turks were there, and they feared more religious massacres. Now the Syrians are starting to gcttlc in Iraq, British mandated territory, under the protection of the British Government. In Iraq the British have made roads, railways, bridges and

have provided electricity and established schools. “Even though wo have lost everythin<» we had, thank God we have done away with Turkish Government and are under the Union Jack,” said Mr. Zadok. “We can never thank the British nation for what they have done for us. They not only fed us, but saved our nation from death or Mohammedanism. The little nation of Syria is ready to die for Britain whenever the need arises. May God grant that the Union Jack will fly forever over/the whole world, then there will be no persecutions, no massacres, nb strife, but universal brotherhood. We cannot live without British protection. If Britain withdraws from Iraq we have made prepar tions to follow, no matter how far. Wo cannot hope to express our gratitude to Britain.” ’he Syrians are now almost destitute; they h:-ve been given a start but want money to enable them to carry on. . ’ r. Zadok’s mission is to explain to New Zealander. and to his own conn, trymdn ■ in the Dominion, ■ the desperate r. ..da and position of tho Syrians today.