Kottayam: The KCBC Jagratha Commission has issued a strong statement in response to the recent suicide bombing at a Christian church in Damascus, calling on the international community to unite and take decisive action against Islamic terrorist organizations responsible for growing anti-Christian violence across the globe.
The suicide bombing, carried out by the Islamic State (ISIS), targeted worshippers gathered at the historic Mar Elias Church in the Dweila neighborhood of Syria’s capital. The attack claimed the lives of more than twenty innocent people, including women and children, and left dozens seriously injured. Drawing parallels to the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka, the Commission described the attack as a “horrifying reminder” of the continued threat of extremist violence against peaceful religious communities.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Commission expressed deep sorrow and extended prayers for the souls of those killed, as well as for the swift recovery of the injured. “These are innocent people who came together in faith, and were met with unspeakable brutality. We stand in prayerful solidarity with them,” the message read.
The KCBC also highlighted the alarming rise in attacks on Christians in various parts of the world, especially in regions of Africa and West Asia. From Nigeria and Burkina Faso to Sudan and now Syria, the statement pointed out that extremist groups are engaged in what appears to be a systematic attempt to drive out or annihilate Christian populations.
“Their objective is clear eradicate anyone who does not submit to their ideology,” the Commission warned. “Christians, particularly in countries where they are already minorities, are being hunted down, their churches destroyed, and their communities shattered.”
The organization emphasized that the threat is no longer regional but global, urging world leaders to acknowledge the pattern of violence and take collective action before the crisis becomes irreversible.
In urging nations to act, the Commission stressed the need for a unified, coordinated global strategy to dismantle and eliminate terrorist outfits such as ISIS. “Terrorism is not bound by geography. It crosses borders with impunity, striking in the shadows. Nations must rise above politics and self-interest to protect the most vulnerable those without power, armies, or political voice,” the statement read.
The Commission also made an urgent appeal to global human rights organizations and peace advocacy groups to address the plight of Christians in countries like Syria, where the Christian population once a significant demographic has been reduced to a small, fragile community under constant threat.
The statement noted that Syria, once a cradle of early Christianity, now has only a fraction of its original Christian population due to decades of war, displacement, and rising sectarian violence. “The few who remain now live in a state of constant fear, surrounded by uncertainty and violence. Their situation demands not just our prayers, but also action.”
The KCBC Jagratha Commission concluded with a heartfelt call to the international community: “Let this brutal attack in Damascus be a wake-up call. Let us not wait for more blood to be shed. It is time for humanity to stand together against hatred, against terror, and in defense of the dignity of all human life regardless of faith.”