Around 50 Christians have been killed in the violent uprising in Syria so far, says Barnabas Fund.

The organisation has received reports of a young Christian boy being killed by rebels who filmed the murder and then claimed that government forces had committed the act.

In another incident, a Christian was seized by rebels, taken to a house and asked 'How do you want to die?'. Although the man was released, but has been left in severe psychological distress.

Dr Patrick Sookhdeo, international director of Barnabas Fund, has just returned from a visit to the country.

He met senior Syrian church leaders who told him they were concerned about the welfare of Christians in the midst of the unrest.

Christians have enjoyed relative peace and religious freedom in Syria but are now being perceived by some rebels as supporters of the Assad regime.

Syrian church leaders fear that Christians will pay a high price if the international community decides upon military intervention.

There are concerns they will share a similar fate to the church in Iraq, which has suffered deadly bomb attacks and an exodus of Christians from the country.

One church leader told Barnabas Fund: “The people of Syria do not want the international powers to interfere in their lives and so divide the country as they did in Iraq.

“Any such hidden agenda of the superpowers will mean the end of Christianity in the Middle East.”

Barnabas Fund said many more Christians were struggling to feed their families because of the disruption to normal life.

Dr Patrick Sookhdeo, International Director of Barnabas Fund, said: “The tragedy facing Syria, especially the Christian community and other minorities, is potentially another Iraq.

“It is now recognised that the war in Iraq was not only misguided but also illegal, with devastating consequences for the peoples of Iraq, especially the Christians.

“This must not be allowed to happen again. Christians must now pray for peace and stability, but also urge their governments not to engage in actions in Syria without considering the consequences.”