CWN - The Franciscan priest who was kidnapped in Syria on Sunday night had recently appealed to an Islamic court for protection against Islamic militants, the Fides news service reports.
Father Hanna Jallouf had led a Christian community in the village of Knayeh, which is under the control of rebel groups associated with the Islamic State. He had kept his church and school open despite regular harassment, by keeping open lines of communication with leaders of the rebel groups.
In the absence of any government agencies in the region, Father Jallouf had lodged a plea with the Islamic court for an end to the harassment of his community. Shortly thereafter, he and at least 20 parishioners were seized by Islamic militants. Their current whereabouts are notknown.
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