Kochi: On June 22, a horrific suicide attack ripped through the sacred silence of St. Elias Church in the heart of Syria’s capital, Damascus, claiming the lives of 22 innocent Christians gathered for Holy Mass. The attacker, identified as a militant belonging to the Islamic State (ISIS), detonated explosives amidst the congregation, turning a moment of worship into a scene of devastation.
The Syro-Malabar Media Commission has expressed deep sorrow and outrage over this barbaric act and raised haunting questions that pierce the conscience of humanity. "How can we dream of a future where peace reigns," the Commission asked, "when the number of people who believe that killing or dying guarantees heaven continues to grow?"
The statement continued with a sharp rebuke of global silence and inaction. "How much longer will we turn our eyes away from the ruins of bombed churches, the blood of Christians that stains sacred altars, and the lives of the faithful who now live like hunted sheep voiceless, afraid, and abandoned?"
This brutal assault, reminiscent of the 2019 Easter bombings in Sri Lanka, underscores a growing pattern of targeted violence against Christians in regions torn by extremism. Churches, once beacons of peace and refuge, are increasingly becoming targets of hatred and ideological madness.
The Commission emphasized the urgent need for global awareness, intervention, and solidarity. "It is not merely a regional crisis it is a moral collapse," the statement read. "Humanity cannot remain blind to the suffering of its own people, nor can it remain mute while darkness threatens to drown the light of faith and freedom."
As the world mourns the loss of the faithful in Damascus, the Syro-Malabar Church has called for prayers, justice, and a renewed global commitment to defending the dignity and safety of Christian communities everywhere.