Church Leaders in Syria Seek Assurances from Islamic Rebels Amidst Political Upheaval
In a bid to secure the future of Christian communities in Syria, church leaders recently engaged in discussions with armed Islamic rebel factions that have gained control over large parts of the country. The meeting, held on Monday in Aleppo, was prompted by concerns over potential persecution or imposition of strict regulations on Christians following the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime earlier this month.
The rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, associated with Al-Qaeda, captured key cities including Aleppo, Damascus, and Hama, leading to the establishment of new power dynamics in the region. The religious leaders convened with the Islamic-led forces at a Franciscan church and convent, which also serves as the Apostolic Vicariate of the Catholics of the Latin Rite.
Chaldean Jesuit Bishop Antoine Audo of Alep, who was present at the summit, described the interaction as a “positive meeting,” according to a statement given to Fides. The rebels reportedly assured the Christian representatives that they would not enforce changes or restrictions on ecclesiastical communities, such as gender-segregated education.
During the meeting, Bishop Audo emphasized the historical role of Arab Christians and their contributions to Muslim-Christian relations. He noted, “I told them that we, as Arab Christians, represent a unique reality in history and in the world.” He further elaborated on the ‘dhimmi’ status, stressing that Christians should not be treated as second-class citizens.
Despite these assurances, there are ongoing concerns from various watchdog groups about the safety and future of Christians in the region. David Curry, CEO of Global Christian Relief, reported that Islamic rebel forces had seized humanitarian aid intended for local churches, as he shared in an interview with The Christian Post. He mentioned the precarious situation for Christians, stating, “There’s still some that remains; we’re going to distribute that as cautiously as we possibly can to people who are now on the run, but the reality is this is a very dangerous area right now for Christians.”
Curry also highlighted the dwindling Christian population in Aleppo, a city historically central to the Christian faith in Syria, and predicted further decline as the HTS-led rebels expand their control. He remarked, “Considered a terrorist organization, they have, in less than two weeks, ethnically cleansed the northwest of Syria — including Aleppo and beyond — of Kurds and Christians.”
The civil war in Syria, which began over a decade ago, has significantly reduced the Christian population from an estimated 1.5 million to just 300,000, largely due to ongoing conflict and persecution. Alongside the loss of aid, reports of bread and water shortages have surfaced, exacerbating the plight of those who remain under the new regime’s curfews.
Jeff King, president of International Christian Concern, emphasized the critical nature of the coming days for the Christian community’s survival in Syria, stating that the situation “will be crucial for the fate of [the] Christian community.”
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
