Al-Thawrah, Syria (AINA) -- A 26 year-old Assyrian man, Ninar Odisho, was murdered on Saturday, September 21, in the afternoon in the city of Al-Thawra (al-Tabqah), where he had gone to safeguard his family's house and property. Mr. Odisho was with two Muslim friends when they were approached by Jihadist rebels, who questioned the three men at gun point. The rebels released his friends upon learning they were Muslim, then beat and bludgeoned Mr. Odisho to death.

Al-Thawrah fell to the Syrian rebels in September, 2012 and came under the control of al-Nusra Front and other Jihadist groups fighting in Syria. Nearly all of the Assyrians were forced to leave the area (AINA 8-2-2013). The rebels told the Assyrians to convert to Islam to keep their jobs, and that if they refused they had to leave or be killed (AINA 8-4-2013).

The rebels destroyed the Antiochian Orthodox church of Sts. Sergius and Bacchus and other Christian churches (AINA 8-9-2013).