Syria’s Top Christian Leader Condemns Government Over Church Bombing
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
DAMASCUS (Worthy News) – Syria’s top Christian leader has blamed Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s government for a deadly church blast on Sunday that killed dozens, while fellow persecuted Christians also expressed their sorrow.
At least 25 worshippers died on Sunday when a suicide bomber blew himself up at the Mar Elias Church in Damascus, officials said.
It was the first such attack since Sharaa’s Islamist-led government seized power in December after toppling President Bashar al-Assad and his family.
The deadly blast, which the government blamed on the Islamic State group, reinforced doubts among minorities about whether they can rely on government assurances of protection.
“With love and with all due respect, Mr. President, you spoke by phone yesterday to express your condolences. That is not enough for us,” the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch, John (X) Yazigi, said at the funeral, drawing applause.
“We are grateful for the phone call. But the crime that took place is a little bigger than that.”
The U.S. State Department condemned what its spokesperson Tammy Bruce described as “a brutal and cowardly attack” and called on the Syrian government to hold all perpetrators of violence accountable and ensure the security of all Syrians, including members of religious and ethnic minorities.
She said Washington continued to support the Syrian government “as it fights against forces seeking to create instability and fear in their country and in the broader region.”
Christians made up around 10 percent of Syria’s pre-war population of 22 million, but their numbers shrank significantly during the 14-year conflict, mainly through emigration.
Only a few hundred thousand are now estimated to be living in Syria.
Hundreds were at the service in the nearby Church of the Holy Cross to bury nine of the victims, whose bodies were placed in simple white coffins adorned with white flowers.
Social Affairs Minister Hind Kabawat, the only Christian and only woman in Syria’s new government, attended.
On Monday, Sharaa said the attack was a crime hurting all Syrians, but did not use the words “Christians” or “church.”
The government said security forces raided hideouts used by the Islamic State (IS), killing two of its members, including one who facilitated the suicide bomber’s entry into Mar Elias Church.
IS did not issue a statement of responsibility.
Elsewhere in Pakistan, where devout Christians have faced killings and torture, several believers condemned the attack.
Pastor Imran Amanat, a leading voice for Christian advocacy in Pakistan and current head of Christian rights group LEAD Ministries Pakistan, voiced profound grief over the atrocity.
Speaking to Worthy News, he decried the bombing as “a ruthless and inhumane assault on sacred life and the fundamental freedom of worship.”
“This act of terror against peaceful believers gathered in prayer is an affront to all that is decent and sacred,” Pastor Amanat added. “As followers of Christ, we stand united with our Syrian brothers and sisters in faith, offering our prayers, solidarity, and unwavering support during this time of mourning.”
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