Persecuted Syrian Christians Staying Behind, Reaching Out to Muslim Neighbors Despite Attacks
Elevate Christian Network :: News and Events
Many Syrian Christians are deciding to stay behind and heed what they say is God’s call to reach out to their Muslim neighbors despite the violent attacks against them, persecution watchdog group Open Doors USA has shared. Several reports have noted that the two-and-a-half-year civil war in Syria, which has caused over 100,000 deaths and forced over 2 million people to flee the country, is also bringing increased persecution for Christians as the Islamic extremists gain influence.
Missionary groups and relief organizations are working with the millions of refugees fleeing Syria and flowing into neighboring countries, but much of the country’s Christian population, making up 10 percent out of 23 million, is choosing to stay behind. With a chaotic political situation all around them, they have received little protection from extremist attacks, however. Fuentes explained to CP that Syrian Christians are now being targeted specifically for their faith, and are not simply casualties of the general violence that has gripped Syria’s cities.
“Christian churches are being attacked in different parts of the cities by the Muslim extremists in the rebel groups,” she said. While much has been written about the struggle between President Bashar al-Assad, accused by the U.S. and other major countries of using chemical weapons on his own people, and the various rebel factions, some which reportedly have ties to al-Qaida, Syria’s church leaders are not trying to get involved politically, Open Doors revealed. Fuentes concluded that people who want to help can turn to donation programs, but prayer is the main thing that Syrian Christians are asking for.
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