Uncertainty and Fear Grip Syrian Christians After Damascus Bombing

The city of Damascus is still reeling from the recent tragic events at Mar Elyas Greek Orthodox Church, where a suicide bombing claimed the lives of at least 25 individuals. The incident has sparked ongoing debates over the parties responsible for this devastating attack.

Following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s secular government last year at the hands of the al-Qaeda affiliate HTS, concerns have grown regarding the state of religious minorities in Syria, including Christians. While the new government insists on promoting religious tolerance, its Islamist roots have raised skepticism among many.

In the aftermath of the bombing, the authorities quickly pointed fingers at a faction of the so-called Islamic State (IS), announcing the arrest of its members. However, in an unusual turn, IS has neither claimed nor denied responsibility for the attack.

Emerging as another suspect is a fledgling Islamist group known as Brigade of Supporters of the Sunnis. This group, reportedly a splinter faction from HTS, declared on Telegram that it orchestrated the attack in retaliation for local interference in their attempts to broadcast Islamic chants near the church.

A third theory has surfaced from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which cites credible sources suggesting that one of the injured in the incident was a perpetrator linked to the Syrian Ministry of Defence. Additionally, the rights group posits that the suicide bomber might have been connected to the Syrian security forces.

Syria’s current climate remains fraught with uncertainty. Earlier this year, the nation witnessed a horrific episode of sectarian violence when hundreds of Alawites were slaughtered. Whether this was a governmental directive or a breakdown in controlling the country’s armed factions is still under investigation.

Matthew Barnes, a spokesperson for Open Doors in the Middle East, commented, “For the government it would be very shameful if indeed a member of its own ranks was the attacker. For them it would be best if an organisation like Islamic State committed this terror attack, especially because almost everyone in the world considers IS a terrorist organisation.”

Barnes added, “Christians are shocked and scared after what happened in Damascus. Open Doors calls for prayer for the church in Syria. Pray for peace of heart and for protection in the weeks to come.”