Syrian Christian Assyrians pray for kidnapped brethren

Tens of Christian Assyrians on Sunday held a mass at one of the churches in the capital Damascus, praying for their fellow Assyrians who have recently been abducted by the Islamic State (IS) militants in northeastern Syria.

Greeted by overwhelming fragrance of incense that filled the place, many women and children marched into the Abraham Monastery in the old quarter of Damascus, covering their heads as they stepped into the giant gates.

The Assyrians started to recite their prayers, some even quietly crying as the pastor was delivering a prayer for around 220 Assyrians who were taken in captivity by the IS from their towns in the countryside of al-Hasaka province in northeastern Syria.

The prayers were recited in Assyrian language, the first to be held in that ancient language as a show of solidarity to the affected Assyrians.

"I am praying for the release of all those who have been kidnapped," said Rouni, a 20-year-old Assyrian.

"We don't know revenge; it's not in our culture. We don't know where the IS group come from or the parties behind them, but God willing they will release our kidnapped brothers," he hoped.

Dema Burai, an Assyrian woman, also voiced her hopes at Sunday's mass.

"I felt that the kidnapping of those people is unfair. I have felt the pain of them ... they are our families. They are innocent people and have no guilt. I hope all of them return to their families."

Father Tuma Stevokaka urged "the international community and the Arab League to pay attention to the massacres committed against our people and the Christian community in general."

On Saturday, the court of the IS militant group said it had exonerated 29 Assyrians, amid reports that 19 others were killed.

The 29 people are part of those 220 Assyrians the IS kidnapped on Feb. 23, when the group stormed the town of Tal Tamr in Hasaka, reports said. The Assyrian leaders have held talks with the IS through mediators to secure the release of the snatched Assyrians.

On Friday, the Syrian Foreign Ministry condemned the IS attack on Assyrian areas in Hasaka, saying the IS unleashed attacks on tens of predominantly Assyrian villages, including Tal Hurmoz, Tal Shamiram, Tal Rumman, Tal Nasra and many more towns in the countryside of the Hasaka province, and deprived many lives and kidnapped around 200 civilians.

More than 690 families have been displaced by the IS attacks, not to mention the desecration of worship places and churches, the state SANA news agency quoted the ministry as saying. Endit