Syria has witnessed three major violent events targeting religious and ethnic minorities in 2025; violence against Alawites on the coast in March, a suicide attack on St. Elias church in Damascus in June, and recent violent clashes between the Druze and the Sunni tribes in Suwayda governorate in the south.
Christian communities were favored and protected by the previous regime and now feel extremely insecure in light of this year’s events, doubting that the government has their best interest in mind, and that it may not be willing or able to protect them, even though the interim government’s statements have always described Christians as a valued, vital, and equal part of the Syrian community.
There have been dozens of smaller incidents threatening Christians through pamphlets, insulting social media posts, attacks in the streets and intimidation in casual daily interaction, but also through planned bomb attacks that were foiled by the government.
These incidents result from both religious intolerance and historically entrenched injustices and held grudges that burst out after the fall of the Assad regime. Different cultural and religious values mean different components of Syrian society deal with those issues differently, often taking justice into their own hands, using weapons and seeking retribution.
These recent developments cause Christians fearing they may be targeted next, to see no future for them in Syria.
Prayer Points
The Syrian church requests prayers for Suwayda and Syria as a whole for:
- Powerful Christian witness
- Change of hearts of those who seek harm and their own justice
- Restoration of peace, return of displaced people, and rebuilding mutual trust among involved components
- The interim government to act wisely, justly, and efficiently while solving the conflicts, restoring the rule of law, and rebuilding the country
