"In the village of Zarzour in Idlib province, researchers found evidence of
deliberate damage to the local husseiniya, a Shia place of worship, caused by opposition fighters in December.
Its windows were broken, prayer stones littered on the floor, walls charred from
flames, and what appeared to be the remnants of a burned prayer rug lay on the
floor.
Footage posted online showed rebels
celebrating their victory in the town as the husseiniya burns in the background. Residents of
Zarzour, a predominantly Sunni village, said their Shia neighbours fled fearing
retaliation for supporting the government.
In the Christian villages of Ghasaniyeh and Jdeideh in Latakia province,
residents said that gunmen operating "in the name of the opposition" broke into
and stole from churches in November. A resident in Jdeideh cited by the rights group said armed men had
broken into the local church, stolen and fired shots inside, after government
troops had fled."
