Syria

How are Christians harassed, discriminated against and persecuted?

Before the civil war that began in 2011, Christians in Syria enjoyed widespread freedom. Back then, the number of Christians was around 1.2 million, while in 2024 it has fallen to an estimated 300,000.

Before the civil war, Christians had no lack of Bibles, they were allowed to conduct church services and meetings, as well as get involved in politics and society in general. Since the Islamic State and Islamic fundamentalist rebels began fighting, many Christians have been forced to flee their homes - including to parts of Syria that are relatively safe. These include the Kurdish-controlled areas in northern Syria and the eastern Assad-controlled part of the country. After the Islamic State began to lose ground in 2016, Christians have slowly started to return to eastern Syria.

The country is also suffering from an economic crisis, with the Syrian lira severely devalued and some breadwinners having to work three full-time jobs to support their families. This affects both Muslim and Christian families.

Islamic State's brutality leads Muslims to seek answers in the Christian faith

The war and the economic crisis have also taken their toll on churches, with some losing most of their congregations - either through death or moving abroad. But the war has also provided opportunities for evangelization, and in many places, pastors report that their churches are full again. But now it's former Muslims sitting in the pews instead. They have often met Jesus through the relief work that the remaining Christians are at the forefront of.

Pastors share how Muslims have become frustrated with the brutality of the Islamic State and are surprised by how Christians distribute aid to both Christians and Muslims. An estimated 20,000 Muslims have converted to the Christian faith during the civil war. Their numbers are far from offsetting the large number of Christians who have left the country during the same time, but the growth is remarkable as it has occurred amidst the turmoil of war.

On December 2024, the Islamic group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) took power in Syria. The group has promised that Christians and other minorities will be able to live in freedom. Time will tell if HTS can keep its word and the various Islamic groups under its leadership will uphold human rights.

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Although Syria is still divided, the civil war is over and the country is impoverished. Therefore, emergency aid is still needed.