HOLEB, Syria — The funeral of Armenian educator Maral Kheshfejian took place on Sunday after she was killed in her home in the city of Holeb (Aleppo), Syria, on Saturday night.
According to local reports, intruders suspected to be thieves forced their way into her residence, stabbed her multiple times, looted her property, and fled the scene.
Residents stated that Kheshfejian’s home, located in the city center, appeared to have been targeted during a burglary attempt. Investigators believe the attackers broke into the residence with the intention of stealing valuables.
The crime has sparked widespread shock among residents of Holeb, as the victim was well known in the area for her good reputation. She worked in the education sector and had previously served as the principal of a local school, earning respect for her role in teaching and guiding generations of students.
The incident comes amid broader concerns over security affecting Christian communities across various Syrian provinces, where many cases of violence and theft remain unresolved. Christians in Syria have endured numerous violations during the years of conflict, including killings, abductions, robberies, displacement, church bombings, and the desecration of religious sites.
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In a separate incident, Dr. Salwa Saloum was recently the victim of an armed robbery when a Range Rover carrying two men stopped in front of her clinic. One of the assailants reportedly pointed a gun at her head and threatened her while the other stole approximately 17 million Syrian Pounds from inside the clinic before fleeing the scene.
The Wadi al-Masihiyeen (Valley of Christians) was also shaken last October when masked gunmen attacked a group of Christian youths, resulting in the deaths of Wissam George Mansour and his cousin Shafiq Rafiq Mansour, while several others were injured.
These incidents have heightened tensions within the Christian community, whose sense of security has been increasingly unsettled due to the lack of safety, stability, and basic living conditions in many parts of the country, including areas with significant Christian populations.
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