Syrian Priest severely beaten by pro-Assad militant: monitoring group

A Christian cleric was severely beaten by fighters of National Defense Forces, Pro-Syrian regime militia, in Safita city near Tartus northwest Syria last Tuesday, a monitoring group said.

The Assyrian Observatory for Human Rights said that Father George Deeb Joseph, 40, the parish priest of the saints Kuzma and Damian of the Greek Orthodox in Safita was severely beaten by NDF fighter last Tuesday.

The assault had caused injuries in the spine, abdomen and head, the observatory said as Father Joseph receives  a treatment in  Safita hospital.