This is a fragment from an unpublished text on Syrian Christians and the uprising against the criminal Assad regime.
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The common feeling that Christians are afraid of this revolution and its consequences is mostly based on the statements made by some of the church’s representatives in Syria. Many of them are showing a frank support to the Assad regime, while others are expressing future fears of the Sunni majority’s attitude toward Christians once they attain control of the government. These positions don’t have unanimity, as many Christians refuse to identify with them. In an effort to communicate this discrepancy, a group of Christian youth made several visits to bishops and patriarchs, asking them not to make generalizing statements about the Christian people’s political positions. Christians, like any other components of Syrian society, are diverse in their political attitude toward the ruling regime, thus nobody has the right to proclaims himself to be representing a unanimous Christian political position.
With all due respect to our reverent fathers, we have noticed a variety of positions even from within the church walls, as the distinguished position of the Syrian Jesuits who issued two statements since the start of the crisis calling for dialogue, national reconciliation, and a democratic transition of power. Many churches also launched counseling sessions and community gatherings to talk about fear in order to prevent it from turning into violence.
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See HERE an article in Der Spiegel about the support of Assad by Syrian Christians.
There are a few things hard to understand about Syria. The media tells this story: one day Assad decided to start killing his people. It is not credible. My guess is that there is an armed rebellion against the Assad regime. Now which government in the world tolerates an armed rebellion? Did the British just hand Ireland to IRA? Did they not fight back? Did US tolerate the David Koresh at Wako? Did Lincoln tolerate the secession?
I suspect (and I read about this), that this is a Sunni rebellion against a Shia dominated government. Syrian people enjoy the freedom of religion (Christians are better than almost anywhere else in the Middle East), freedom of travel commerce, etc. but the Sunnis do not like being at the bottom, they want the top. This must be a religious rebellion, supported by Saudi Arabia and Al Queda. Nice bedfellows for the West! I believe Israel favors it, because it will make the country descend in chaos. The Christians in US take their clues from Israel. No wonder Assad is always demonized.
My guess is that the moment the rebels put down their arms, the killing will stop.
By: Mihai Oara on 23 February 2012
at 2:09 pm
My friend, I feel somehow that, because of your otherwise understandable desire to support the Syrian Orthodox, you are forgetting too easily our common experience under communist oppression.
It is obvious that many Christians in Syria supported Assad (and some still continue to do so, in spite of the horrible crimes of the army – I cannot believe you are willing to justify these atrocities, whatever the explanation for them) in exchange for a very limited freedom (as long as they were ready to sacrifice the freedom to witness, which many of them did).
We should not be surprised they praised the regime. Our Baptist and Orthodox leaders in Romania did too, in exchange for some petty crumbs the communist regime was willing to throw them, as long as they did what they were told.
Beyond ideologies and interpretations, there are a few indeniable facts, I believe:
1. Assad is a criminal
2. His regime was one of strict control – a pure dictatorship;
3. it was a regime with an imperial drive, as proven by the invasion and long term control of Lebanon
4. Syrian secret police was trained by KGB and follows the same communist criminal methods
This being the case, support for such a regime is criminal in nature.
If, after the imminent fall of Assad, Muslims will persecute Christians, they will have to search their souls and decide if they are not the ones who brought it on themselves.
I bet on this we are on opposed positions. And I hope we can still be friends.
By: DanutM on 24 February 2012
at 12:31 am