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Aleppo Christians Fear Iraq-Style Ethnic Cleansing

Many Christians in Aleppo are fleeing, while others are taking up arms alongside the regime to defend their way of life.
The burnt interior of Kevork Church is pictured after clashes between Free Syrian Army fighters and forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, at the al-Midan area in Aleppo October  30, 2012. REUTERS/George Ourfalian (SYRIA - Tags: CONFLICT CIVIL UNREST POLITICS) - RTR39RY3

ALEPPO, Syria — Aleppo is basically “Little Syria,” a melting pot, representative of the diverse ethnic and religious groups that make up the nation. Christians in Aleppo have tended to live together in close-knit communities in neighborhoods usually clustered around churches.

It would be very accurate to describe some areas of Aleppo as “Christian,” although this by no means implies any sort of self- or outside-imposed segregation or discrimination. Residents of other faiths are found, and get along just fine in those areas. It is just that they are predominantly Christian.

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