Sir, – In light of Mary FitzGerald’s report (“Nun on Irish visit accused of peddling ‘regime lies’ about crisis in Syria”, August 18th) the words of Mother Agnes Mariam to RTÉ last week seem prophetic. “You don’t know when it will be your turn to be considered as a collaborator,” she said.
During the current conflict in Syria, Mother Agnes Mariam has played a prominent role in helping all who suffer, giving shelter and assistance at the monastery to those in need regardless of their religious or political affiliation. She has not been afraid to challenge certain Western media perspectives on the events in Syria and her testimony and personal witness to events in the district of Homs – one of the most troubled areas of the conflict – contrasts with the commonly accepted Western narrative. Mother Agnes Mariam, alongside her monastic community, has tried to hold the middle ground throughout this difficult period negotiating with both sides for the benefit of peace and stability in the district.
Fr Paolo dall’Oglio, the Italian Jesuit quoted by Mary FitzGerald, was asked to leave the country by the Syriac-Catholic Archbishop of Homs, H.E. Mons Kassab. While the Mother Agnes Mariam acts as a spokesperson for the Catholic media centre of Homs Diocese and is a member of the Musallaha reconciliation initiative, we must ask who Fr Paolo represents? In the words of his order’s Superior General in Syria, “his position reflects on no one but himself”.
This weekend provided yet another example of the complexity of the conflict in Syria, when early Saturday morning the nun’s monastery at Qara in Homs came under aerial attack from a Syrian Armed Forces helicopter firing four missiles. Two struck the new building complex and two hit the surrounding area shaking the dormitory block. Thankfully there were no casualties, but all those taking refuge were said to be very shaken. While also in the last few days in the town of Maskaneh, Riqqa Province, the “Musallaha” reconciliation initiative lost one of its members, a much loved and respected Muslim cleric, Sheikh Jamaan al Khafagy, who along with his nephew and his assistant were executed, having their throats cut by members of the Free Syrian Army following the “liberation” of the town – most of the residents have now fled. – Yours, etc,