Stockholm: In the aftermath of a deadly suicide bombing targeting worshippers at a Christian church in Damascus, members of parliament have raised serious concerns about the precarious future of Syria’s Christian community. Addressing the European Affairs Committee of the Swedish Riksdag, Syrian MPs Isa Kahraman and Yusuf Aydin sounded the alarm over growing hostility and insecurity facing Christians in their homeland.
Christian Democrat MP Yusuf Aydin expressed his grave anxiety over the current plight of Syrian Christians, citing the rising dominance of hardline Islamist factions. “I fear for their safety and their future,” he said, highlighting the shrinking Christian presence in Syria amid mounting sectarian violence.
Aydin pointed to the recent bombing of the St. Elias Church in Damascus, which followed a disturbing pattern of attacks first against the Alawite community, then the Druze, and now Christians. He warned that these assaults appear to form part of a calculated campaign of intimidation aimed at Syria’s religious minorities. Aydin reaffirmed his support for a strong central government in Syria, stressing the need for a system that guarantees equal protection and rights for all communities, regardless of faith.
The June 21 suicide bombing at the Mar Elias Church, which took place during prayers, claimed 29 lives and left 63 injured. The terror group Islamic State later took responsibility for the atrocity, further heightening fears among Syria’s Christian minority. The attack sent shockwaves through the region, not only for its brutality but also for what followed.
In a chilling post-attack message, the extremist faction Saraya Ansar al-Sunna issued a stark warning: “This is just the beginning.” Their statement threatened future attacks and vowed that “your blood will flood the streets,” calling the Mar Elias massacre a “first lesson” in what they described as a campaign to “wipe you out.”
The remarks by MPs and the extremist threats underscore the vulnerability of Syria’s ancient Christian population, caught in the crossfire of a relentless sectarian war. As the international community watches with concern, calls are growing louder for concrete measures to safeguard minority communities and uphold religious freedom in the region.