A church in Aleppo (© Jacob/ACN).
Ishtartv.com - acnuk.org
January 27, 2025, Amy Balog
Church leaders in Syria are working closely with the new leadership
to ensure that religious freedom will be guaranteed and Christians will be able
to play a full role in the country’s future.
Christians “do not want to define themselves as minorities”, for fear
“they might lose their representation in the new constitution and state
institutions”, according to a source who asked not to be named.
The local contact told Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need
(ACN) that Christian leaders have attended a number of meetings with the new
government and received assurance that religious minorities will have equal
rights under the new constitution.
Almost 14 years of civil war ended last December when the Islamist group
Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) – previously affiliated with Al-Qaeda – toppled
Bashar al-Assad’s regime, giving rise to much uncertainly about the future of
Christianity in Syria.
The ACN source said: “Damascus is in the spotlight, which pressures
the former rebels to be more peaceful, and to maintain the positive image they
have.”
She added that the lack of a strong central authority has allowed
radical factions to impose extreme measures, such as segregated seating on
public transport and forcing women to wear veils.
She explained: “There are still individual incidents, such as women
being asked to wear the veil, or men and women being told not to walk together
if they are not related. The same happens in Aleppo.”
She said that in other cities like “Homs and Hama, the situation is more
difficult.
“It is a mixed area, with ten religious confessions living in the
same place, and neighbourhoods are mixed, which makes it difficult.”
She added: “It was also a difficult situation during the war. People
avoid being on the streets after 5pm.
“There are jihadists on the streets, using megaphones to call on
people to convert to Islam and telling women to veil.
“Fear is really very pronounced – Christians cannot work, many stay
home.”
The ACN contact highlighted that the Valley of the Christians – an
exclusively Christian region in western Syria – is peaceful, but roads in and
out of the area are dangerous because armed groups are free to set up
roadblocks and harass citizens.
She added: “We have had cases of Christians being asked to convert to
Islam.
“When they refuse, they are turned away from the roadblock but lose all
their belongings.”
She concluded: “We are happy that Assad’s regime has fallen, and we hope
for a better Syria.
“But we must not take for granted that everything is fine now,
especially for the Christians, or that the change in Syria is for the best,
though we hope and pray it is.”
ACN has been monitoring the situation in Syria by remaining in close
contact with projects partners and Church leaders.
The charity is committed to providing continued support, including
emergency aid, medical assistance and food supplies for Christian families, as
well as helping with pastoral activities, the rebuilding of homes and the
installation of solar panels for Church buildings and schools to help reduce
energy costs.
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