Syria, among the countries where the persecution of Christians worsens after the change of regime

The situation of Christians in Syria has worsened significantly in recent months, to the point of becoming one of the countries where religious persecution has increased most rapidly. This is reflected in various international reports, which attribute this deterioration to the climate of insecurity and the rise of Islamist groups after the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime.

Syria is among the ten most dangerous countries to profess the Christian faith, an unprecedented jump compared to previous years. According to information coming from the country, the increase in violence, threats and restrictions on religious freedom has raised the country to a level of persecution considered “extreme.”

One of the episodes that marked this change was the suicide attack perpetrated against the church of Mar Elías, in Damascus, during a religious celebration. The attack left more than twenty dead and dozens injured, spreading fear among a Christian community that had already seen its population drastically reduced since the start of the civil war.

Organizations that monitor religious freedom warn that the concern goes beyond the attacks. In different areas of the country, Christians report difficulties in celebrating worship normally, social pressures and a growing fear that extremist groups will gain influence in local institutions. Added to this is the constant emigration of Christian families, seeking stability after more than a decade of conflict.

Before the start of the war, Syria had about one and a half million Christians. Today, estimates reduce that figure to around 300,000 faithful, which makes the survival of these historic communities one of the main concerns of organizations dedicated to the defense of religious freedom.