MASS EXECUTION?: ISIS kidnaps 230 Christian and Muslim men, women and children

The terrorist group successfully stormed Qaryatain.

Islamic State fighters have kidnapped 230 men, women and children in Syria sparking fears they are destined for sexual slavery or mass execution. Earlier this week, members of the religious extremist group assumed control over the densely populated town of Qaryatain after suicide bombers targeted army checkpoints at the entrance.

MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - Around 230 Christians and Muslims, including 45 women and 19 children, have been captured and a hundred other people are missing, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported. The capture of the town in Qaryatain is ISIS' most momentous advance since taking hold of the ancient city of Palmyra several months ago.

This morning, Rami Abdurrahman, founder and director of the human rights observatory testified that 230 people have been kidnapped. Another report claimed that around 150 Assyrian Christians were among those held captive.

In a statement, the Syrian Orthodox Archdiocese of Homs, Hama and Environs, the Christian church based in Homs, wrote, "ISIS has attacked Alqaritin (sic) village and took control over it after killing some members in the Syrian Arab Army."

"ISIS also took captive all families and began negotiations to free some of them. About 200 Christian families were released and 100 families are still held captive in the houses of the terrorist groups.

"We received the displaced families in our archdiocese headquarter and gave them the basic and essential needs because they went out of their houses without taking anything with them, neither clothes nor properties; so we are working on providing them clothing, housing and medication."

Many Christians have searched for refuge in Qaryatain after running away from the Aleppo province, in northern Syria. The seizure of Qaryatain gives ISIS the advantage to coordinate areas under its power in and around Palmyra with areas in the eastern countryside of Qalamoun in Damascus province.

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