Here are two pieces of interest concerning Syria and the welfare of its Christian population.
Syrian rebel leader pushes ‘social justice’
in campaign to win global approval
(Timothy Nerozzi/Washington Examiner) — Ahmad al Sharaa, leader of the Hayat Tahrir al Sham terrorist group, has continued to soften his image after toppling the Syrian government and taking control of the country.
The leader, who sometimes goes by the militaristic pseudonym Abu Mohammed al Jolani, has been making every effort to portray himself as a reasonable and peaceable head of state. He traded military fatigues for Western business suits and bent his speeches toward the virtues of tolerance and mercy.
“Syria must remain united, and there must be a social contract between the state and all religions to guarantee social justice,” Sharaa told the Druze community, according to a Tuesday statement on the HTS Telegram account.
Liturgical celebrations and reopening schools in Syria:
A new beginning amid hope and uncertainty
(Aid to the Church in Need) … It is a fact that the Christian community remains cautious about the future, their trust in the authorities deeply shaken after 13 years of conflict. “After all the suffering and hardship, it is very difficult for us to trust anyone or the new authorities easily,” one of Aleppo’s Christians explained to ACN.
ACN research reports that while there have been occasional incidents and reports of religious discrimination or aggression, there are no signs of systematic persecution at this point, and these remain isolated incidents.
ACN continues to maintain direct contact with its multiple partners and with Church leaders in Syria, who have met with the new authorities in both Aleppo and Damascus several times during last week. The charity has been committed to supporting Christians since the beginning of the war in 2011 and ask the international community to oversee the transition to assure religious freedom in Syria.
