Syrian Christians Attend Church Services for First Time Since Assad’s Overthrow

For the first time since the dramatic overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad a week ago, Syrian Christians attended regular Sunday church services. This marked an early test of the assurances made by the new Islamist rulers, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), that the rights and freedoms of religious minorities would be respected.

Return to Worship, But Fears Remain

Streets in the predominantly Christian Bab Touma neighborhood of Damascus were filled with worshippers returning from church on Sunday morning. However, the atmosphere was one of cautious optimism.

“We’re scared, we’re still scared,” said Maha Barsa, a local resident who attended Mass at the Greek Melkite Catholic Church. She noted that she had barely left her home since HTS took over a week ago, though she admitted that nothing had happened to justify her fears. “Things are ambiguous,” she added.

In Latakia, a coastal city known as an Assad stronghold, Lina Akhras, a parish council secretary at the St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral, expressed relief that HTS representatives had contacted their priest, offering reassurances about the community’s safety. “If God wills, we will return to our previous lives and live in our beautiful Syria,” she said.

Minorities Under Threat

Syria is home to various ethnic and religious minorities, including Christians, Armenians, Kurds, and Shi’ite Muslims. Under Assad’s rule, religious minorities had the freedom to practice their beliefs without interference. However, with an Islamist group like HTS in control, many fear that these freedoms could be at risk.

A senior Lebanese security official reported that tens of thousands of Shi’ite Muslims had fled to Lebanon in the past week, fearing persecution under Syria’s new rulers.

Diplomatic Talks on Minority Rights

The protection of Syria’s minorities was a key agenda item during a high-profile diplomatic meeting in Jordan. The meeting included representatives from Arab nations, Turkey, the United States, and the European Union.

Speaking on behalf of the U.S., Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the transition of power in Syria must lead to “a credible, inclusive, and non-sectarian government” that respects the rights of all minority groups. He emphasized that Syria must not become a “base for terrorist groups.”

Schools Reopen Under New Leadership

In another sign of normalcy returning, Syrian schools reopened on Sunday for the first time since the government transition. Children were seen returning to classrooms across the country, though some parents were still hesitant to send their kids back due to lingering uncertainty.

At a boys’ high school in Damascus, students stood in the courtyard as Raed Nasser, the school secretary, raised the new flag adopted by the HTS-led government. Inside a classroom, a student was seen pasting the same flag on a wall.

“I am optimistic and very happy,” said student Salah al-Din Diab, adding that he no longer feared being drafted into military service or facing harassment at checkpoints.

Rebuilding Syria: Sanctions and Diplomatic Talks

With Syria’s new leadership in place, the focus is now on rebuilding the war-torn country. HTS’s new leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa (better known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani), faces enormous challenges, including restoring Syria’s economy, rebuilding destroyed cities, and managing millions of displaced refugees.

The impact of international sanctions on Syria remains a pressing issue. U.N. envoy Geir Pedersen called for an end to the sanctions, saying, “We will hopefully see a quick end to sanctions so that we can see a real rallying around building up Syria.”

Pedersen is currently in Damascus, meeting with the new leadership to discuss the next steps for Syria’s recovery.

U.N. Roadmap for Syria

The U.N. and other international powers have emphasized the importance of following the framework of U.N. Security Council Resolution 2254, which calls for a Syrian-led, U.N.-facilitated political transition. The resolution outlines a roadmap for non-sectarian governance, a new constitution, and free and fair elections.