Concern grows for the safety of Christians in Malula, a historic Syrian city

In the weeks since the Syrian government was overthrown, Christians in Malula, a historic city in western Syria known for its Christian heritage, have been living in increasing fear for their safety, exacerbated by a recent incident that It affected a Christian family and another Muslim. But what is the full story and what is the reality of Christians in Malula today?

A Church source, who spoke on condition of anonymity to EWTN News’ Arabic-language agency ACI MENA, said that after former President Bashar al-Assad’s regime regained control of Malula about 10 years ago, it banned some Muslims to enter the city due to their collaboration with the Al-Nusra Front in carrying out murders, kidnappings and acts of vandalism against Christians and their churches. But after the collapse of the regime, these individuals returned to the city, putting pressure on the Christians under the pretext that the Christians had displaced them.

“Some of those expelled caused problems and the Christians were considered to be aligned with the previous regime,” the source explained. “However, ironically, their joy at the fall was greater than that of others, as most of our young people emigrated to escape conscription or reserve service.”

Regarding the recent attacks on Christians, the source reported that “threats were initiated against five Christian families to seize their agricultural lands. Some Christians were also told to leave their homes and the city or face death. The reasons for these threats include old vendettas or accusations against Christians of carrying weapons and joining the ‘National Defense’ forces.”

The source continued: “These threats became facts when the house and cafe of Bashar Shahin and his family were confiscated, despite some Muslims defending them. After mediation, Bashar was allowed to recover his belongings. In addition, two houses were broken into and robbed. There were also other forms of harassment, such as shots fired near a priest who was handing out Christmas gifts to children in a kindergarten, and reports from Christians that they were spat on.”

The source claimed that the de facto authority in Malula is an individual linked to the Turkish Suleiman Shah Brigade (named after the grandfather of Osman I, the founder of the Ottoman Empire). As a result, local residents and church leaders have called for the intervention of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, a Sunni Islamic political and paramilitary organization.

“The Christians of Malula do not feel safe. In the absence of the State we invoke, security has disappeared, especially since weapons have been completely removed from Christians and remain in the hands of others,” the source said. “We are defenders of peace and we want to build Malula with the help of all those who make it up.”

The source said the most significant incident that raised tensions in the city occurred in the early hours of December 26, when a Muslim man, Abdul Salam Diab, and his father broke into a farm belonging to a Christian man named Ghassan Zakhm, with the intention of stealing it. Abdul Salam was killed during the incident. “Unfortunately, the case was presented as a religious matter, portraying Christians as aggressors against Muslims, even though it was purely an isolated incident,” the source said.

This incident has reportedly caused many Christian families to leave the city as no entity guarantees their safety. Of Malula’s approximately 325 Christian families, almost 80 have left, according to local sources. In addition, four Christian houses belonging to Zakhm’s relatives have been confiscated.

Details of the December 26 incident

Speaking to ACI MENA, a Christian resident of Malula provided more details about the December 26 incident.

“Before Christmas, members of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham insisted that Christians decorate their houses to avoid any tension. However, things did not go as expected,” he said.

“In the early hours of December 26, surveillance cameras at the Ghassan Zakhm farm captured masked individuals breaking the lock on the farm gate. Ghassan and his son Sarkis immediately went to the scene and asked the members of the security committee to accompany them, but they did not show up despite their promises.”

The source confirmed that, when the owners of the farm arrived, a shootout took place between the two sides, in which the intruder, Abdul Salam, died. Ghassan then handed himself over to a priest, Father Fadi al-Barkil, who handed him over to the competent authorities in Damascus to avoid further unrest.

Translated and adapted by the ACI Prensa team. Originally published in ACI MENA.