Christians in Syria ask whether their rights will be preserved under new Islamic rule

AMMAN, Jordan (OSV News) -- Although Christian leaders in Syria are trying to stay positive about the new Islamist interim government in Damascus, others are pointing to worrying concerns about what lies ahead for the country's diverse population.

Syria's de facto leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, met with Bishop Hanna Jallouf, the apostolic vicar of Aleppo and head of the Latin Church in Syria, along with other senior Catholic, Orthodox and Anglican clerics in Damascus on Dec. 31.

Christians are urging al-Sharaa to guarantee religious and ethnic minority rights after the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, along with a coalition of other Islamist groups, seized power on Dec. 8. HTS was formerly al-Qaida's branch in Syria.

Earlier, Syria's Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch Youssef I Absi of Antioch, Greek Orthodox Patriarch John X of Antioch and Syriac Orthodox Patriarch Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II issued a statement on Dec. 29. "At this historic moment, as Syria undergoes a new transition, we address the public with a message of love and hope," read the remarks made available to OSV News.

The clerics called for peace and unity during this critical political transition time highlighting national reconciliation to be fostered. Syria's civil war that began in March 2011 quickly morphed into a sectarian conflict pitting communities, which once enjoyed good relations, against each other.

Syria was home to about 1 million Christians before the civil war, according to French analyst Fabrice Balanche, who says their number has dwindled to about 300,000.

Church leaders urged Christians and others in their Dec. 29 statement to play an important role in drafting a new constitution that reflects the aspirations of Syrians as key to building a modern and democratic state. This should involve "all components" of Syrian society where all citizens are equal before the law. They underscored the importance of Syria as a secular state where diversity is respected and where people are free to practice their faith.

"As Christians, we have a vital and pivotal role to play in this phase by cooperating with everyone to advance and rebuild this homeland," they said.

They also called for "a comprehensive national dialogue" to rebuild social cohesion and to strengthen Syria's identity as a diverse and inclusive nation.

"We urge our Christian faithful not to retreat into isolation or fear but to engage actively in the public sphere," the statement said.

Although al-Sharaa has promised that rights for Christians and other Syrians will be honored, many fear his government will embrace strict Islamic law that marginalizes minority communities and excludes women from public life.

Notably, changes to Syria's school curriculum on Jan. 1 introducing an Islamist slant has elicited outrage and intense backlash. Angry critics questioned the swiftness of the move, competence of the authorship as well as the proposed amendments including: "those who are damned and have gone astray" changed to "Jews and Christians" and "path of goodness" to "Islamic path" among others. Although it's believed that al-Sharaa may reconsider these changes.

This follows the caretaker government's appointment of foreign Islamist fighters to senior positions in Syria's military causing unease among Syrians.

Meanwhile, Syrian women continue protests against remarks by Obaida Arnaout, HTS spokesman, who described women as "incapable biologically" of certain leadership roles.

Christians in the towns of Hawash, Suqaylabiyah and other Christian and minority towns in Syria reportedly have demonstrated demanding the removal of foreign fighters from their communities, especially after a Christmas tree was burned ahead of Christmas in one of Christian towns.

Tensions between Christians and Islamists have also been reported in Maaloula, a historic town where the language of Jesus, Aramaic, is spoken, located some 35 miles northeast of Damascus. Residents are asking for local Christian police to coordinate with HTS to make the Islamists stay out of the town, known for its Christian heritage.

Bassam Said Ishak is president of the Syriac National Council of Syria, a group which aims to defend the rights of Christians and all minorities to build a democratic, secular, and pluralistic Syria. Syriac Christians and Kurds have already achieved this, along with religious freedom, in Syria's northeast in their governance of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria.

He and other notable Syrians, urged for inclusion in meetings with the interim government "to build a homeland that accommodates all," in a statement provided to OSV News.

Ishak, a graduate of The Catholic University of America in Washington, told OSV News that one of the biggest concerns for Christians and others is security and safety.

"They want to know that no one is going to jeopardize their security, and that it will be ensured. Also, there are concerns about whether they can continue to live their way of life without fear," he said. "Will they have their rights to worship freely? What opportunities will be available to them? Will their economic rights be preserved?" Ishak said.

The United States, Britain and the European Union have called for an inclusive political transition in Syria that upholds the rights of the country's diverse communities.

New leader al-Sharaa said Syria's administration will hold the "National Dialogue Conference" in January to discuss the country's future with all segments of society, but it's unclear who is invited to attend.