Christian Persecution in Syria

Christian Persecution in

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SYRIA

Persecution Report:

SYRIA

What does Christian persecution in Syria look like?

Christian persecution in Syria branches out from diverse areas. The emigration of Christians is a long-standing challenge, rooted in discrimination in employment, especially in the public sector. For example, land reforms in 1958 disproportionately affected Christians, prompting migration from rural to urban areas followed by emigration abroad by those unable to secure suitable employment. A severe drought in 2009 had a similar effect.

Before 2011, churches were allowed to meet if authorities were notified of all gatherings in advance and only persecuted Christians attended. Churches have had greater scope since the current crisis erupted in 2011. Family and social pressures on Jesus’ disciples from Muslim heritage remain intense.

In March 2025, interim president and militant Islamist Ahmed al-Sharaa signed a constitutional declaration placing Syria under Islamic rule for five years. Tragically, religious minorities, including persecuted Christians, have been targeted or affected by violence in Syria from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Islamic militant faction that al-Sharaa once commanded:

“Syria had long been under the reign of Bashar al-Assad. Although he committed many human rights violations during his time in power, Syrian Christians and other persecuted religious minorities in Syria found relative stability and predictability under his authoritarian rule. When HTS conquered Assad’s forces and took control of major Syrian cities in December 2024, Christians and other minorities were fearful of the potential changes under the new regime. HTS promised they would not enact radical religious policies, but as time passed, persecution against Christians and other minorities intensified. Militants have attacked churches, desecrated cemeteries, forced Christian women to adhere to Islamic dress codes and confiscated Christians’ homes.”

Leadership:
Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa
Government:
Presidential republic
Population
23.8 M
Christian pop.
2.3 M

“The Christians are leaving, and my church building is fuller than ever. Do not describe the conflict in our country as a ‘civil war’; there are far too many foreign fighters and numerous governments playing active roles.”

- Syrian Pastor and leaders

History of Christianity

Christianity arrived at Pentecost and was strengthened by the displacement that followed the death of Stephen (Acts 8). The church became institutionalized following its acceptance by the Roman Empire. As with much of the Middle East the Crusades had a profound impact, creating Catholic denominations in parallel with existing Eastern and Oriental Orthodox denominations.

Today, the largest church is the Byzantine/Greek Orthodox Church under the Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East based in Damascus. There are fully recognized churches belonging to the Catholic, the Eastern Orthodox (to which the Greek Orthodox church belongs), the Oriental Orthodox and the Protestant families of churches, plus the Assyrian Church of the East which does not belong to any of these families of denominations.

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History of Christianity

What does Christian persecution in Syria look like?

Christian persecution in Syria branches out from diverse areas. The emigration of Christians is a long-standing challenge, rooted in discrimination in employment, especially in the public sector. For example, land reforms in 1958 disproportionately affected Christians, prompting migration from rural to urban areas followed by emigration abroad by those unable to secure suitable employment. A severe drought in 2009 had a similar effect.

Before 2011, churches were allowed to meet if authorities were notified of all gatherings in advance and only persecuted Christians attended. Churches have had greater scope since the current crisis erupted in 2011. Family and social pressures on Jesus’ disciples from Muslim heritage remain intense.

In March 2025, interim president and militant Islamist Ahmed al-Sharaa signed a constitutional declaration placing Syria under Islamic rule for five years. Tragically, religious minorities, including persecuted Christians, have been targeted or affected by violence in Syria from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Islamic militant faction that al-Sharaa once commanded:

“Syria had long been under the reign of Bashar al-Assad. Although he committed many human rights violations during his time in power, Syrian Christians and other persecuted religious minorities in Syria found relative stability and predictability under his authoritarian rule. When HTS conquered Assad’s forces and took control of major Syrian cities in December 2024, Christians and other minorities were fearful of the potential changes under the new regime. HTS promised they would not enact radical religious policies, but as time passed, persecution against Christians and other minorities intensified. Militants have attacked churches, desecrated cemeteries, forced Christian women to adhere to Islamic dress codes and confiscated Christians’ homes.”