Families in ‘Ayāt have stated that the clashes between the families and thugs have renewed. According to inhabitants, thugs are extorting the families. They have shut down shops for the refusal of the shop-owners to pay extortions. Thugs have also terrorized the Christians families and extorted the congregations after they burnt the Virgin Church in Taftīsh area and looted some of the shops there (Sāmī Tirāwī, al-Wafd, Oct. 2, p. 3). This article has no link online.