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PRESERVING THE CHRISTIANS OF SYRIA
Gulf News, UAE
December 26, 2006 Tuesday
On October 19, I wrote an article in this newspaper about preserving
the Christians of Lebanon. Many Christian readers commented praising
the article, recommending that I write something about preserving
the Christians of Syria as well.
There is no Christian "problem" in Syria, thanks to the wisdom of some
Syrians and the secularism of the state, but there is a Christian fear
of what the future might hold for Syrian Christians, if radicals get
organised in Islamic fundamentalism.
Anyone who doubts Christian fears should look next door at Iraq,
where the Christians were forced to leave as radical political and
military Islam targeted their communities.
Iraqi Christians came to Syria with horrible stories about how the
Islamists stormed their homes, killed their sons, beheaded their
priests, insulted their notables and bombed their churches.
In reference to the anti-Christian attacks in Iraq, another reader
wrote: "No Arab Muslim personality of influence spoke out to condemn
such horrible inhumane acts committed in the name of "The Most Merciful
and Compassionate God" against the innocent Iraqi Christians.
What a shame to the Muslim world what the fanatics of Iraq are doing
to their Christians brethren in the name of God and religious honour.
What would have been the reaction of the Arab Muslim public and Arab
leaders if Israel was to commit these acts against their Palestinians
Muslim brothers? What would have happened if Israeli Jewish zealots
beheaded a Palestinian Muslim cleric? We all know the answers to
these questions."
My reader is correct. All I can say is that I am ashamed that all
of this is happening in the name of my religion. And that is exactly
why I was critical of Pope Benedict XVI when he made his famed speech
in Germany back in September 2006, which some considered critical of
the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).
Did he not think of the Christians of the East? Even if his statement
was unintentional, he should have thought about its repercussions
on Arab Christians who live within the increasingly radical trend
of Islamification, among fanatics who are waiting to strike at the
Arab Christians.
This was made clear by the killing of an Italian nun in Somalia and
the attack on churches in Nablus in Occupied Palestine. To these
fundamentalists, the Pope's statement was almost - a blessing in
disguise.
I have befriended Syrian Christians and proudly been educated by
them since childhood. I know them well. They are highly patriotic,
sober, hard-working, honest and law abiding citizens who are good
with languages, clean, knowledgeable, and in general, well-educated.
As far as my encounter with them goes, they are very good citizens.
The mood in Christian Syria is tense because they know that there
are some in the Muslim community who want to write them off the
socio-political and religious stage in Syria.
Long history
Syria's Christians are estimated at around 1.8 million, 10 per cent
of the total population of 18 million. Because of their long history
in this part of the world, the Syrian Christians feel that they are
the original residents of Syria - which is true, because they were
here long before the Muslim conquests.
This feeling of belonging is particularly true with the Greek
Orthodox community (503,000 members), which is the oldest in Syria,
whose patriarch "for Antioch and All the East," Ignatius IV Hazeem,
is based in Damascus.
Syrian Catholics, on the other hand, are estimated at 118,000. Among
the larger Christian family one finds the Armenians, the Assyrians,
the Protestants and the few Syrian Maronites. They were treated as
first-class citizens, however, since the Ottoman Era until the present.
Over the past century, Christians became famous in all walks of life.
Trouble began when political Islam was fuelled and magnified by the
Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the Islamic revolution in Iran in
1979 and the murder of Anwar Al Sadat in 1981.
A dramatic anti-Christian sentiment emerged during the Muslim
Brotherhood war in 1982, when prominent Christians were murdered
either because they were Christians or working with the Baath regime.
This explains why one finds few Christians today in the Syrian
opposition (with the noticeable exception of Michel Kilo) because in
general, the Christians would prefer - with due right - a reformed
Baathist regime to anything that resembles a theocracy
An American writer Glan Chancy once wrote that Syria is "the best
nation in the Middle East in which to live if you are a Christian".
Christian holidays such as Christmas, New Year, and Easter, are
officially celebrated in Syria, something that is not found in most
other Arab countries and according to Chancy: "On any given Sunday,
more Christians are at worship in Syria than in such formerly Christian
nations as England."
Yes this is true, but what if things change in Syria? What if the
Islamists become organised and get the upper hand. Certainly the
Christians will no longer be able to celebrate Christmas nor will
they feel free to express their religious affiliations - probably
not even safe to attend church.
Many fanatics believe that Christians are enemies of Islam and should
be combated and rooted out of the Arab World.
Plight
Wrapping up, one reader, whose family has been for three generations
actively involved in Syrian public life, commented on the current
plight of Syrian Christians in the wave of Islamification saying:
"You see I was once a proud Syrian and a proud Arab in my expression
and inner thoughts. Now I hesitate to encourage my son to continue
the path paved by his grandfather and myself very honourably so."
He mentioned that he turned down lucrative offers to work abroad "to
remain in the land where I was born" adding, "I now see that I made
the mistake of my life and influenced in my decision the destiny of
my children."
He asked: "Why should we be running after passports and other
nationalities because we are more and more made to feel foreign in
our homes?"
Yes, the Christians of Syria are afraid and they are in danger. Is
this the price they should pay for 2,000 years of service to community
and 88 years of service to the Republic?
It is our duty as Muslims to give them assurances that regardless of
what the Islamists believe, say, or do, Syria is for the Christians in
as much as it is for the Muslims. It is as much theirs as it is ours.
Sami Moubayed is a Syrian political analyst.
Gulf News, UAE
December 26, 2006 Tuesday
On October 19, I wrote an article in this newspaper about preserving
the Christians of Lebanon. Many Christian readers commented praising
the article, recommending that I write something about preserving
the Christians of Syria as well.
There is no Christian "problem" in Syria, thanks to the wisdom of some
Syrians and the secularism of the state, but there is a Christian fear
of what the future might hold for Syrian Christians, if radicals get
organised in Islamic fundamentalism.
Anyone who doubts Christian fears should look next door at Iraq,
where the Christians were forced to leave as radical political and
military Islam targeted their communities.
Iraqi Christians came to Syria with horrible stories about how the
Islamists stormed their homes, killed their sons, beheaded their
priests, insulted their notables and bombed their churches.
In reference to the anti-Christian attacks in Iraq, another reader
wrote: "No Arab Muslim personality of influence spoke out to condemn
such horrible inhumane acts committed in the name of "The Most Merciful
and Compassionate God" against the innocent Iraqi Christians.
What a shame to the Muslim world what the fanatics of Iraq are doing
to their Christians brethren in the name of God and religious honour.
What would have been the reaction of the Arab Muslim public and Arab
leaders if Israel was to commit these acts against their Palestinians
Muslim brothers? What would have happened if Israeli Jewish zealots
beheaded a Palestinian Muslim cleric? We all know the answers to
these questions."
My reader is correct. All I can say is that I am ashamed that all
of this is happening in the name of my religion. And that is exactly
why I was critical of Pope Benedict XVI when he made his famed speech
in Germany back in September 2006, which some considered critical of
the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).
Did he not think of the Christians of the East? Even if his statement
was unintentional, he should have thought about its repercussions
on Arab Christians who live within the increasingly radical trend
of Islamification, among fanatics who are waiting to strike at the
Arab Christians.
This was made clear by the killing of an Italian nun in Somalia and
the attack on churches in Nablus in Occupied Palestine. To these
fundamentalists, the Pope's statement was almost - a blessing in
disguise.
I have befriended Syrian Christians and proudly been educated by
them since childhood. I know them well. They are highly patriotic,
sober, hard-working, honest and law abiding citizens who are good
with languages, clean, knowledgeable, and in general, well-educated.
As far as my encounter with them goes, they are very good citizens.
The mood in Christian Syria is tense because they know that there
are some in the Muslim community who want to write them off the
socio-political and religious stage in Syria.
Long history
Syria's Christians are estimated at around 1.8 million, 10 per cent
of the total population of 18 million. Because of their long history
in this part of the world, the Syrian Christians feel that they are
the original residents of Syria - which is true, because they were
here long before the Muslim conquests.
This feeling of belonging is particularly true with the Greek
Orthodox community (503,000 members), which is the oldest in Syria,
whose patriarch "for Antioch and All the East," Ignatius IV Hazeem,
is based in Damascus.
Syrian Catholics, on the other hand, are estimated at 118,000. Among
the larger Christian family one finds the Armenians, the Assyrians,
the Protestants and the few Syrian Maronites. They were treated as
first-class citizens, however, since the Ottoman Era until the present.
Over the past century, Christians became famous in all walks of life.
Trouble began when political Islam was fuelled and magnified by the
Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the Islamic revolution in Iran in
1979 and the murder of Anwar Al Sadat in 1981.
A dramatic anti-Christian sentiment emerged during the Muslim
Brotherhood war in 1982, when prominent Christians were murdered
either because they were Christians or working with the Baath regime.
This explains why one finds few Christians today in the Syrian
opposition (with the noticeable exception of Michel Kilo) because in
general, the Christians would prefer - with due right - a reformed
Baathist regime to anything that resembles a theocracy
An American writer Glan Chancy once wrote that Syria is "the best
nation in the Middle East in which to live if you are a Christian".
Christian holidays such as Christmas, New Year, and Easter, are
officially celebrated in Syria, something that is not found in most
other Arab countries and according to Chancy: "On any given Sunday,
more Christians are at worship in Syria than in such formerly Christian
nations as England."
Yes this is true, but what if things change in Syria? What if the
Islamists become organised and get the upper hand. Certainly the
Christians will no longer be able to celebrate Christmas nor will
they feel free to express their religious affiliations - probably
not even safe to attend church.
Many fanatics believe that Christians are enemies of Islam and should
be combated and rooted out of the Arab World.
Plight
Wrapping up, one reader, whose family has been for three generations
actively involved in Syrian public life, commented on the current
plight of Syrian Christians in the wave of Islamification saying:
"You see I was once a proud Syrian and a proud Arab in my expression
and inner thoughts. Now I hesitate to encourage my son to continue
the path paved by his grandfather and myself very honourably so."
He mentioned that he turned down lucrative offers to work abroad "to
remain in the land where I was born" adding, "I now see that I made
the mistake of my life and influenced in my decision the destiny of
my children."
He asked: "Why should we be running after passports and other
nationalities because we are more and more made to feel foreign in
our homes?"
Yes, the Christians of Syria are afraid and they are in danger. Is
this the price they should pay for 2,000 years of service to community
and 88 years of service to the Republic?
It is our duty as Muslims to give them assurances that regardless of
what the Islamists believe, say, or do, Syria is for the Christians in
as much as it is for the Muslims. It is as much theirs as it is ours.
Sami Moubayed is a Syrian political analyst.