Page 18 - The Portal magazine - February 2025
P. 18

THE P    RTAL                            February 2025                                    Page 18

        Aid to the Church in Need


        Uncertain future for



        Syria’s Christians




        Amy Balog


             ESPITE SYRIA’S  Christian schools reopening – with assurances from the new authorities that
       Dthere will be no restrictions on religious practice – concerns remain about the future of Christianity
        in the country. Local sources who asked not to be named told Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need
        (ACN) that the mood of the Christian community was subdued yet cautiously optimistic at the end of 2024.


          An ACN contact said: “My message to the world is
        the importance of international support for Christians
        to establish a civil constitution, rather than an Islamic
        Shari‘a-based constitution. If the constitution is based
        on Shari‘a law, Christians will undoubtedly have to
        leave the country because personal freedoms will be
        restricted.”

          The source added that the Christian population in
        Syria is so small that they do not have enough power
        to make them “capable of securing their rights in
        terms of the constitution, institutional life and civil
        governance. There is fear that we have moved from a
        regime that silenced everyone to a regime that does
        not allow others to live as they wish, with personal   ACN remains in close contact with projects partners
        freedoms.” They stressed that there are concerns the  and Church leaders in Syria, some of whom have
        country could move towards a fundamentalist Islamist  met with representatives of the country’s leadership
        system where religious ideology may override personal  in Aleppo and  Damascus.  They have welcomed
        freedoms.                                             assurances from the new regime that Christianity will
                                                              have a future in the country.
          Another local contact told ACN that Christians in
        Aleppo have resumed their daily lives, with Masses     Armenian Catholic Bishop Georges Assadourian
        taking place without any problems. Some streets were  of Damascus was one of the Christian representatives
        also adorned with small Christmas decorations last  meeting with Syrian leaders in December. A number
        December.                                             of ambassadors from overseas governments were
                                                              also present. Bishop Assadourian told ACN that
          The source added that authorities have assured the  the authorities reassured the Church leaders “that
        public that Christian schools would be able to operate  everything would be fine and that we should not
        as normal and even urged the faithful to celebrate  worry”.
        Christmas to help improve the city’s atmosphere.
                                                               ACN is committed to providing continued support,
          Other ACN contacts said that the Christian  including emergency aid, medical assistance and food
        community remains cautious about the future because  supplies for Christian families, as well as helping with
        their trust in those in positions of power was deeply  pastoral activities, the rebuilding of homes and the
        shaken during 13 years of conflict.                   installation of solar panels for Church buildings and
                                                              schools to help reduce energy costs.
          The charity’s research indicates that – despite reports                      Amy Balog is Press Officer
        of isolated incidents of religious discrimination or                        for Aid to the Church in Need
        aggression – there have been no signs of systematic                       acn@acnuk.org  www.acnuk.org
        persecution.                                                                        or call 020 8642 8668
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