ISIS targeted more Muslim-populated areas in Syria on Sunday. According to reports, the attacks left at least 140 dead in Damascus and Homs. These attacks were the deadliest of Syria’s five-year war. Citing a monitoring group, the BBC reporting a double car bombing in Homs. Later in Damascus, four or more blasts killed and injured people, according to Syrian state media. Both attacks were targeting minority groups. In Damascus, the explosions took place in Sayyida Zeinab, the location of the holiest Shia Muslim shrine.
ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attacks. “It is dangerous, but we’re hearing kind of one side of the story, a lot of times through the news media,” explains Dyann Romeijn with Vision Beyond Borders (VBB). “Not to discount the things [ISIS is] doing to the Christians, but at the same time, there’s this knowledge among Muslims because the Muslims are also being persecuted. Certain Muslim groups that [ISIS doesn’t] perceive as radical enough are being persecuted.” READ MORE
