In Western Syria, Christians find hope in two Franciscan friars who remain amid jihadist anti-Christian violence.

By Clodagh Gallagher

In Western Syria, on the border of Turkey, many Syrians remain under the control of violent jihadist groups who enforce Sharia law on all people - regardless of their religion. Women are forced to wear veils, Christian properties have been confiscated and crucifixes are torn down. In the villages of Knayeh and Yacoubieh, 300 Christian families of different denominations remain. Every day, they face the possibility of persecution by violence or death – all because of their faith in Jesus Christ.

Two Franciscan friars, Luai Bsharat, aged 40, and 67-year-old Hanna Jallouf, have refused to abandon the people of Western Syria, remaining there to minister to people regardless of the imminent danger. The region is close to Antioch where Saint Paul began his travels. Their superior Father Firas Lutfi OFM shares: “Their suffering began a decade ago. When the militant groups took control of the region and proclaimed the Islamic State, they confiscated Christian properties, imposed Islamic Sharia law on all non-Muslims and suppressed their right to move around freely within their own villages. These extremists have persecuted, attacked, beaten, tortured and even murdered some of our brothers and sisters”, he says. Some of us will remember Father François Murad, who was beheaded in 2013 by these same jihadists. More recently, a female schoolteacher was raped and then murdered in Yacoubieh.

These are just two of the heart-breaking stories of the murder of Christians which has become commonplace in Syria. Today, 744,000 Christians live in Syria, which is about four per cent of the population. This is 70,000 fewer Christians than in 2019 and far less than before the civil war started. In 2010, the Christian population in Syria was 1.2 million Christians – ten percent of the country’s population. Since then, most of our Syrian brothers and sisters have fled this jihadist persecution, which forces conversion to Islam through abduction and anti-Christian violence. The Christians who remain, are kidnapped for ransom across Syria, or murdered. In areas controlled by Islamic extremists, Christians cannot express their faith publicly for risk of death and persecution of their families. More than 200 Christian churches have been destroyed. More than 6,000 Christian homes have been destroyed.

As the civil war continues into its tenth year, the enormity of Syrian suffering remains overwhelming. Syrians continue to bear the brunt of a conflict marked by unparalleled suffering, destruction and disregard for human life. The presence of friars Luai Bsharat and Hanna Alouf, is a light in the darkness for Syrian Christians – and for many Muslims. Believers from Muslim backgrounds are forced to keep their faith in Jesus Christ a secret, as leaving Islam would bring shame and persecution from even their families and communities. Father Firas reminds us that the friars are there to help everyone in need of support and guidance, regardless of their religion, race, nationality or political opinions. “On many occasions”, he explains “the monasteries of Knayeh and Yacoubieh welcomed and gave shelter to dozens of Muslim families who were seeking refuge in the churches”, when the region became a battleground and a place of conflict. “The presence of the Franciscans is a sign of hope in the midst of the darkness and despair”, Father Firas explains. But they also depend heavily on whatever outside support they can obtain, especially financial support, since the local people can no longer harvest their own crops, which have been confiscated, or sell their own produce – and so they are in constant need of outside humanitarian aid.

Aid To The Church In Need is currently financially and prayerfully  supporting over fifty different projects to assist Christians in Syria. In addition to the emergency aid projects for vulnerable families in Aleppo and Damascus, we are also sponsoring a number of projects through Father Firas Lufti. Our aid in Syria is not only a response to the severe need caused by the jihadist bombing and persecution; our aid aims to prevent the Christian presence in the Middle East from being completely wiped out. Please continue to pray for our brothers and sisters in Syria. We are but one Body in Christ and your financial and spiritual support makes all the difference to them. Please prayerfully consider supporting the work Aid To The Church In Need does in the Middle East.