Syria in transition: Christians live between hope and fear

Syria in transition: Christians live between hope and fear

In a current call, the maronite patriarch Bechara Rai emphasized that the Christians in Syria must not be ignored when the country was rebuilt. The patriarch, who speaks from Lebanon, commented on the essential role of Christians in Syrian society during a service. It underlined the historical anchorage of Christianity in Syria and asked the new leadership to promote an inclusive society in which the same rights are due, according to Vatican News .

At the same time, Manuel Baghdi, the Middle East Representative of Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, commented on the tense situation of the Christians in Syria. According to Baghdi, many people are torn between hope and fear if they look at the country's new constitution, which could contain disadvantageous regulations for women. In particular, the fact that the rebels of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) send peaceful messages, but the leaders have connections to previous terrorist organizations, makes the situation fragile. Baghdi reported attacks on Christian symbols and an incident in Aleppo, where a large Christmas tree has been overturned, the threat to religious minorities, such as Kathpress reported.

The challenges of the refugees

The refugees from Syria are also under pressure. Baghdi warned of uncertainty in the asylum procedure in Austria, after the government has announced that Syrian asylum applications have been put on hold and to initiate a review. This has triggered fear of deportation among the Syrian refugees. In the context of the current political changes in Syria, an individual examination of the asylum authorization, especially for Christians and regime -critical people, is of great importance.

Overall, the situation for Christians in Syria remains precarious. The uncertainty about the future political landscape and the effects of the new rulers are increasing the fears. While there is hope for peace, the country is still in the strangle of fear and distrust of what makes the plants of justice and peace difficult for society as a whole.