Turkey has just shot down a Russian fighter jet taking part in the fight against Islamic State. The shooting down once again raises questions about which side Turkey is on.
Read the article: Turkey supports Islamic State - brutally displacing Christians
It is doubtful that the Russian plane was in Turkish airspace and Turkey's downing can be interpreted as a stance against Russia and for Islamic State, making an already complex conflict even more complex.
How should the West respond? Should it back NATO member Turkey or join a coalition with Russia to attack the Islamic State? The Islamic State that has displaced or killed many Christians and other minorities in Iraq and Syria and was behind the terrorist attack in Paris that killed 129 people?
The questions are many, but here are three perspectives on the complex conflict - seen through the eyes of Syrian Christians - a conflict that is turning into a world war.
First perspective: Christians have freedom under Assad
Firstly, under the rule of President Bashar al-Assad, Christians and other minorities have enjoyed freedom. Christians have never lacked Bibles, they have been free to hold church services and meetings and to get involved in politics and society in general. The price of freedom is loyalty to the Assad regime. If Islamist rebel groups overthrow Assad, Christians will be hit hard.
Other perspective: Are there moderate insurgent groups?
This leads to the second perspective: The West has a hard time figuring out whether a rebel group like the Free Syrian Army (DFSH) is secular or actually Islamist. The Danish European Mission's own sources and several media outlets report that DFSH is selling weapons to Islamic State and fighting alongside Islamic State to maintain the supply line to Turkey. It seems that DFSH is not as moderate as the West imagines it to be. If the 'moderate' Islamist rebel groups gain power in Syria, Christians will be far worse off than under Assad. Therefore, it makes sense for Russia to bomb more of the rebel groups.
Third perspective: Can Western-style democracy be introduced in the Middle East?
The third perspective is that Middle Eastern countries like Syria are not democratic societies like those in the West, where different groups speak their minds through public debate. In societies like Syria, one dictator holds power and the influence of other groups is determined by their loyalty to the leader. If these groups challenge the leader's power, it is perceived as a threat to the dictator - who will have to crush the rebellion to maintain power.
By removing dictators in the Middle East, the West can give way to rebel groups that are more brutal than the dictator.
This is not to say that Assad's rule is ideal. For example, he is probably the most anti-Israeli leader in the Middle East, supporting Hezbollah and Iran's fight against Israel. But Christians and other minorities in Syria - and Israel in general - will be far worse off if Islamic State takes power in Syria. That's why Christians in Syria are very grateful for Putin's support for Assad.
Emergency aid shows God's love in practice
By supporting Syrian Christians, we can cherish the light they are in the midst of civil war. And by helping them to reach out to other minorities in need, people from non-Christian backgrounds can practically and tangibly feel God's love and care, even in times like these. In the project, around 60 % of the beneficiaries of emergency aid are Christians, while the rest are from other backgrounds.
- On average, it costs around 217 DKK to provide a refugee family with water, food, kitchenware, hygiene items and medicine for 10 days.
- On average, it costs around 652 DKK to ensure that a refugee family has water, food, kitchenware, hygiene items and medicine for a month.
- On average, it costs around 1086 DKK to ensure a refugee family has warm clothes, shoes, mattresses, blankets and fuel this winter.
Support Syria: Emergency aid for Christians and other displaced people
Thank you for extending a helping hand to people in need in Syria.
