Source: www.MNNonline.org
Date: December 20, 2024
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
DAMASCUS (Worthy News) – Christians expressed concern Thursday about the rapidly deteriorating security situation in Syria, a day after gunmen attacked an Orthodox church in the west-central city of Hama following other anti-Christian incidents.
Security forces “moved quickly” to secure the scene following Wednesday’s shootings, and the alleged culprits “were arrested” early Thursday, December 19, Christians told Worthy News.
Church sources said the unidentified attackers fired bullets indiscriminately from a passing car at Saint George Greek Orthodox Church in al-Madina neighborhood in Hama city.
The bullets reportedly hit the entrance and the door of the bishop’s quarters, slightly damaging the building.
“The attack also caused a state of public panic. The city is under the control of the current transitional authorities in Syria,” added the
Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR).
“We condemn this attack on the church, and we call on the controlling forces to launch an investigation into this incident to hold the perpetrators accountable,” the group stressed. There was no immediate known claim of responsibility from an Islamic group in the region.
CEMETERY VANDALIZED
In a separate incident, “following the fall of [Syrian leader Bashar] al-Assad’s regime, a cemetery in the Christian town of Mhareh near Hama was vandalized,” confirmed advocacy group Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW).
According to Christians familiar with the situation, local authorities “condemned the incident” and vowed to arrest the perpetrators and hold them accountable.
Separately, a person claiming to be a fighter of the Islamic Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group “entered a bar in a Christian neighborhood in Damascus,” the capital, said CSW, which closely follows the situation of Christians in the region.
The alleged HTS member also “attempted to intimidate the owner for serving alcohol,” CSW explained. “He tried to run away when confronted and asked to show his [identity document] ID. But he was quickly arrested and identified as a former member of a paramilitary group loyal to Assad.”
In remarks shared with Worthy News, activist Ayman Abdelnour of the Syrian Christian Advisory Forum (SCAF) said: ‘We strongly condemn these attacks and commend the quick and swift response of security forces and the reassurances given to religious communities by the new interim government.”
However, he stressed that the SCAF, an advocacy group of Syrian Christian politicians, civil society, and activists, will “recognize the legitimate concerns, and we are monitoring the situation very closely. We will continue to work with other parties to move towards a new democratic and inclusive system.”
Fellow SCAF activist Jamil Diarbakerli, who also leads the Assyrian Monitor for Human Rights, added that while “We are reassured by the response and messaging of the new interim government, we have to be vigilant.”
EARLY DAYS
He noted that “it is still early days, and there are criminal groups and others loyal to the former dictator [Assad] who might be trying to spread fear and instability.”
On November 27, a coalition of anti-Assad rebel groups launched a surprise attack and managed to take the northern city of Aleppo, the second-largest city in Syria.
They swept south very quickly and took the cities of Hama and Homs within a few days, causing Assad’s army to retreat. They reached Damascus on December 8, forcing Assad to flee to Moscow and marking the end of what Christians called “54 years of tyranny.”
However, Christians have also expressed concern that the new leaders will impose Sharia, a strict interpretation of Islam, across Syria.
CSW’s Founder President Mervyn Thomas told Worthy News that his group “continues to monitor the situation in Syria very closely. We urge the new interim government to listen to the concerns and demands of the Syrian people who fought hard for their freedom and ultimately to bring peace, reconciliation, and prosperity to the country.”
He explained that CSW also wants “the international community to engage with the new interim government positively whilst maintaining essential scrutiny on what remains a highly volatile situation.”