NDP condemns destruction of Armenian memorial and church in Syria

NDP Foreign Affairs Critic Paul Dewar (Ottawa Centre) issued the following statement regarding the destruction of the Holy Martyrs Church in Deir ez-Zor, Syria:

The desecration of the Armenian Holy Martyrs church, also known as the Armenian Genocide Memorial Church, and the adjacent Museum of the Holy Martyrs by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) is an appalling assault on religious freedom and the cultural heritage of the Syrian and Armenian people.

This attack is only the latest in a series of deplorable attacks by ISIL on sacred, historic, and culturally significant sites. These devastating attacks are among the egregious human rights abuses perpetrated by ISIL forces, which also include mass killing of civilians, rape and other sexual violence, and forced recruitment of children.

Ethnic and religious minority groups in Syria, including the Armenian population, have been repeatedly and deliberately targeted by ISIL. The forced evacuation of the ancient community of Kessab earlier this year is yet another example of ISIL’s repressive brutality.

The NDP reiterates its condemnation of ISIL’s attacks on civilians in Syria and Iraq. We continue to call on the Government of Canada to significantly increase its humanitarian aid for the millions of people in need of international assistance.