Diocesan Resources
International Religious Freedom in Syria (2014)
International Religious Freedom: Historic Christian Communities Under Siege in Syria, March 2014
It has been a long and terrible three years for Syria. The violence continues, despite peace talks taking place periodically in Geneva. Christians, who once comprised 10 percent of the population, are caught in the cross-fire between President Bashir al Assad’s military and anti-government forces. Christian communities, schools, and homes have been targeted, threatening their historic presence dating back centuries. 70 churches and monasteries are reported to have been destroyed by warring parties. Christians have been kidnapped, held for ransom, tortured and often brutally killed. Two Orthodox bishops from Aleppo were kidnapped in April 2013; 13 Greek Orthodox nuns were taken in December 2013. The nuns were released in March 2014 but there is no word on the fate of the bishops. But Christians are not the only ones affected. According to the UN, over 130,000 Syrians (mostly civilians and many Muslims) have been killed and over eight million have fled their homes, 6.5 million inside Syria and 2.3 million into neighboring countries, since the conflict began in 2011.