By Souhail Lawand
ACI MENA, Dec 31, 2024 / 14:30 pm
In the weeks following the overthrow of Syria’s government, the Christians of Maaloula, a town with a rich Christian heritage in western Syria, are living in fear for their safety. An incident involving a Christian and a Muslim family has intensified these fears. But what is the true story and the current reality for Christians in Maaloula?
A church source, speaking to ACI MENA, CNA’s Arabic-language news partner, under anonymity, revealed that after Bashar al-Assad’s regime regained control of Maaloula a decade ago, some Muslims collaborating with the Al-Nusra Front in attacks against Christians were prohibited from entering the town. However, after the regime’s collapse, these individuals returned, pressuring Christians by claiming they had been displaced by them.
“Some of the expelled individuals caused problems, viewing Christians as aligned with the previous regime,” the source explained. “Ironically, their joy at the regime’s fall was greater, as many youth had emigrated to avoid military service.”
Regarding recent attacks on Christians, the source mentioned, “Threats were made against five Christian families to seize their lands. Some were told to leave or face death. Reasons ranged from old vendettas to accusations of Christians bearing arms and joining ‘National Defense’ forces.”
The source described how threats escalated into action, with one family’s home and café being seized, despite some Muslims defending them. After mediation, the family was allowed to retrieve their belongings. Other incidents included break-ins, robberies, gunfire near a priest distributing gifts, and Christians being spat on.
The source revealed that the de facto authority in Maaloula is an individual connected to the Turkish Suleiman Shah Brigade, named after the grandfather of the Ottoman Empire’s founder, Osman I.
Welcome to our blog post where we shed light on the recent events in the town of Maaloula, Syria. The situation has become dire, leading local residents and church leaders to seek intervention from Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, a Sunni Islamist political and paramilitary organization.
According to a source, Christians in Maaloula are feeling increasingly insecure as safety has vanished in the absence of state protection. The source emphasized the need for peace and unity among all the town’s components to rebuild Maaloula together.
The tensions escalated on December 26 when a Muslim man, Abdul Salam Diab, and his father attempted to rob a farm owned by a Christian man named Ghassan Zakhm. The incident, which resulted in Abdul Salam’s death, was unfortunately framed as a religious issue, causing further divide between Christians and Muslims in the town.
As a result of this incident, many Christian families have decided to leave Maaloula due to the lack of safety assurances. Approximately 80 out of the 325 Christian families in Maaloula have already left, with reports of four Christian homes being seized.
One resident shared more details about the December 26 incident, explaining how tensions had been brewing before Christmas. Despite efforts by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham to promote peace, the situation quickly escalated, leading to a fatal confrontation at Ghassan Zakhm’s farm.
The source highlighted the urgent need for intervention to restore peace and security in Maaloula, emphasizing the importance of unity among all residents. We hope for a swift resolution to these conflicts and a return to harmony in this historic town.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing situation.
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