This Easter, the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) is drawing attention to the precarious situation of Christian communities in Syria, which are threatened by radical political Islam. “Christians in Syria cannot freely practice their faith without fear of violence and repression. They are subjected to systematic discrimination and targeted attacks by the Islamist regime,” said Dr. Kamal Sido, the STP’s Middle East consultant, today in Göttingen.

“Under the new ruler Ahmed al-Scharaa, there is no freedom of religion in Syria. Christians, Alawites, Druze, and other religious minorities are persecuted and oppressed because of their faith,” emphasized the human rights activist. According to the STP, the attacks on the Christian community in the town of Sqailbiyya in central Syria on March 27, 2026, are part of a systematic campaign by the Syrian rulers against the free practice of the Christian faith.

The human rights organization sharply criticizes the German federal government’s handling of the Islamist regime in Damascus. Merz failed to advocate for Christians and other minorities during his meeting with al-Sharaa. “It is a sad reflection on him that the Christian Democratic Party chairman meets with the Islamist ruler al-Sharaa without saying a single word about the attacks on Christians in Syria,” criticizes Sido. If Merz is now expected to once again invoke Christian values at Easter, that would be more than cynical.

The German government’s lack of public criticism regarding the Syrian regime’s treatment of Druze, Alawites, Kurds, and Christians is interpreted in Syria as support and a free pass. “Pro-government media in Syria are celebrating al-Sharaa’s visit to Germany as a major success. For the people in Syria who have experienced the worst crimes under Assad and al-Sharaa—who continue to be attacked, arrested, and cut off from the outside world in their villages and regions—this is a slap in the face,” Sido emphasizes.

The STP calls on the CDU-led federal government to do more to protect religious minorities in Syria and demands a halt to deportations of Christians, Druze, Alawites, Kurds, and other minorities to Syria. “It is unacceptable for people to be deported to a country where they are persecuted and threatened because of their religion or ethnic background. Germany must grant these people protection.”

“When it comes to threats to peaceful coexistence in Germany, politicians like Friedrich Merz are quick to point the finger at radical political Islam. At the same time, he and other politicians from the CDU/CSU, as well as the SPD, the Green Party, and the FDP, court Islamists such as the Syrian ruler al-Scharaa. This implausible policy harms democracy and the commitment to women’s rights and religious freedom in Germany and the Middle East,” said Sido.

Since the start of the Syrian civil war in 2011, the number of Christians in Syria has fallen dramatically. Before the war, about 1.5 to 2 million Christians lived in the country. They made up about 10 percent of the population. Current estimates for the year 2026 predict that only about 300,000 Christians will remain in Syria. Only about two percent of Syria’s total population is Christian today. This represents a decline of over 80 percent since 2011. Most Syrian Christians belong to the Greek Orthodox Church. Officially known as the “Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East,” it has approximately 4.3 million followers worldwide.

This press release was translated from German to English using AI. If you come across errors or ambiguities, please contact us at presse@gfbv.de.