DAMASCUS. As the festive season draws near, Syrian Christians face a subdued Christmas this year, marked by caution and fear. Despite reassurances from the newly established Islamist rulers, many remain deeply skeptical about their safety and religious freedom in the evolving political landscape.
Church leaders have advised their congregations to scale back Christmas celebrations, reflecting a lingering distrust of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). This former al Qaeda affiliate now governs Syria. Ahmed al-Sharaa, HTS’s de facto leader, has made public statements promising safety and religious tolerance for minorities.
“We are watching to see if the groups currently in power are genuinely committed to establishing a civil society that offers equal opportunities for all,” said Christian Bishop Andrew Bahhi of St. George’s Syriac Orthodox Church.
Sharaa, a former Sunni Islamist leader, has shed his militant image for a more diplomatic persona, appearing in business suits and engaging with Western officials. He has pledged that HTS will neither seek revenge against the former Assad regime, predominantly Alawite, nor suppress Syria’s diverse religious minorities.
However, recent incidents have shaken the Christian community’s trust. On December 18, unidentified gunmen attacked a Greek Orthodox church in Hama, damaging a cross and smashing headstones in a cemetery. Reuters reporters also witnessed SUVs blasting jihadist songs in Bab Touma, a predominantly Christian neighborhood in Damascus, further unsettling residents. A photograph circulating on social media showed an armored vehicle in a Christian area with the ominous message: “Your day is coming, Oh worshippers of the cross.”
Quick Responses but Lingering Doubts
HTS reportedly acted swiftly to address these incidents. According to Bishop Bahhi, the driver of the armored vehicle was forced to remove the threatening sign and issue an apology. Similarly, police promptly announced the arrest of vandals responsible for the Hama church attack.
Despite these responses, many Christians remain wary. Emilia Katarina, who lost her husband and eldest son during Syria’s brutal civil war, expressed deep suspicion toward HTS. “Whenever I hear a sound at night, I jump. Fear is deeply ingrained in us,” she said, clutching a photograph of her son. Her daughter added, “The ideology does not change in an hour. We are afraid of this ideology.”
Katarina’s son, Firas Azar, disappeared after being detained by Assad’s forces in 2012. Two years later, her husband was killed, and her daughter was injured in a rebel shelling incident near their home. These scars, shared by many Syrian Christians, fuel ongoing fears of persecution under Islamist rule.
A Christmas Under Restraints
To avoid drawing unwanted attention, church leaders have advised Christians to celebrate Christmas modestly. Bishop Bahhi has urged young people to dress modestly, keep Christmas decorations and Father Christmas images within church premises, and avoid distributing sweets in public.
For Syria’s Christians, this muted celebration of faith reflects not only the challenges of rebuilding trust under HTS rule but also the uncertainty of living amidst a mosaic of armed Islamist groups.
At St. George’s Church, as Bishop Bahhi delivered a sermon on faith in difficult times, Katarina lit a candle and whispered a prayer for her son’s return. “Maybe God will answer my prayers and bring back my son,” she said, tears streaming down her face.
As Syria navigates its post-Assad era, the question of whether minorities like Christians can coexist peacefully with the new Islamist leadership remains a crucial and unresolved issue.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
