But Christians in Syria are not ready to join the victory dance. Many are reacting to the sudden turn of events with dread and an unsettling fear that their future looks bleaker than ever, while others are cautiously hoping this is the beginning of a new and better chapter.
Despite mainstream media reports that HTS (Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the leading rebel group holding the reins of power) has sent messages to Syrian minorities to reassure them of freedom and protection, The Catholic Register has learned that there is much fear and apprehension within Christian communities. But there is also a faint glimmer of hope and a “wait and see” attitude.
On Dec. 2, in what felt like a replay of the fall of Mosul to ISIS terrorists in June 2014, and the fall of Kabul to the Taliban in August 2021, Christians in Aleppo fled in terror as the HTS and its Islamist allies captured Aleppo, setting off a domino effect as more cities fell to their onslaught. Damascus capitulated without much resistance, with Assad and family off to Moscow where Russia has granted its ally asylum.
Many Christians fled their communities, seeking safer spaces, and are in dire need of humanitarian assistance.
Jeff King, president of International Christian Concern and a leading expert on global religious persecution, said the rebel group’s promised change of heart should be viewed with caution.
“They (armed groups) may have different names but they are essentially re-branded versions of Al Qaida,” he warned, adding that the flight of Christians for safer places within Syria and outside is sufficient evidence that there is a good reason for their fear and desperation.
Furthermore, King, whose organization serves the persecuted Church worldwide, said reports of Assad’s reign of terror should be taken with a grain of salt. Many Christians felt relatively safe while he was in power as long as they were not involved in anti-government activities.
Christians, in fact, have long felt that the only alternative to Assad they could envision was an Islamic theocracy, and Assad himself had portrayed himself as the protecter of minorities since he himself is an Alawite, a minority Muslim sect. However, the complex web of Syrians’ political affiliations can only be drawn in broad brush strokes as some Christian political parties were opposed to Assad.
King said his own staff had left Aleppo when the rebel groups seized it, but will regroup and provide the humanitarian aid needed by all those who have been affected by the stunning chain of events that unfolded since the fall of Aleppo.
A number of nations have stepped up, with the Greek government pledging to support Orthodox Christians, he said. The Hungarian government is standing by, ready to help when humanitarian assistance is required.
Michel Constantin, the Beirut-based regional director for Lebanon, Syria and Egypt with Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA), summarized the situation in a letter to partners shared with the Register.
“More than 25 per cent of Christians left the city when the roads were still open,” Constantin noted, adding that the Christians of Aleppo who fled were not convinced by the friendly overtures of HRT.
Jenan Moussa, an award-winning Arab journalist who has reported from inside Syria since 2011 and still lives and works in the Middle East, has also raised the alarm about the likelihood of Syria’s faith minorities being thrust again into perilous circumstances.
“HTS and its predecessor Jabhat-al-Nura have a bad record when it comes to the treatment of ethnic and religious minorities,” she tweeted, adding that she expects most of the remaining Christians to leave for Lebanon and Western countries.
Prior to the outbreak of the Syrian Civil War in 2011, Christians represented roughly 10 per cent of Syria’s population, approximately 1.5 million people. Today that number stands at around 300,000. Over the years, many left due to constant fighting and economic stagnation — the same reasons millions of other Syrians have fled to Canada and other countries. Others have abandoned Syria because of persecution and violence at the hands of radical jihadist groups that make up a significant part of the rebel coalition.
Several NGOs are preparing to help those caught in the current situation where there is an urgent need of food and other necessities. Mario Bard, head of information for the pontifical charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) Canada, said he had received news from the ground, shortly after the fighting broke out in Aleppo. He quoted Fr. Hugo Alaniz, an Argentine missionary in the city, who said “There are intense clashes with many dead and injured. Hospitals are overwhelmed, and fear is widespread.”
Nagui Demian, program officer for the Middle East for Development and Peace-Caritas Canada, noted the organization was forced to suspend humanitarian services because staff had fled Aleppo in the first shock of the sudden military offensive, but the service disruption is temporary.
This all comes as the need, which has been ongoing since the outbreak of the civil war in Syria a decade ago, is now greater than ever, emphasized Bard and Demian.
“ACN has launched an appeal for emergency funds, with a target of about $500,000 Canadian to meet the current challenging situation,” Bard said. “The money is needed to fund medical assistance to support hospitals treating critical cases and elderly and chronically ill patients.”
The most urgent needs are mattresses for displaced families, alternative solar and electrical energy and support for Christian schools in Aleppo.
Demian pointed out that international sanctions imposed on Syria are hurting the people and creating obstacles for humanitarian work as the country moves from one crisis to another.
“But we cannot watch people suffering and do nothing. D&P will receive donations,” he said. “We will regroup and resume our operations as soon as possible, and we need to be prepared for the day when our staff can get back to their work and their lives in general.”