Instability has led to deadly clashes, with Christians caught in the crossfire.
bottom“The fear... it was unspeakable. We were all in shock, paralysed by the horror.”
— Father Baselios, witness to Damascus church attack June 2025
The situation for Christians in Syria has grown more dire in the last year. Since the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, the country has largely been controlled by an Islamic extremist group with roots in al-Qaeda. The group has taken initiatives toward moderation and held talks with representatives of Syria’s traditional Christian communities, but it is too soon to know what will come of the new leadership.
Since the regime change, widespread instability has led to deadly clashes that have affected other religious minorities, particularly Druze and Alawites, with Christians caught in the crossfire. The resurgence of military operations by the Islamic State group since October 2024 reinforces a sense of insecurity. Their reign of terror includes a deadly attack on a church in Damascus in June 2025.
On an individual level, Christians who convert from Islam or Druze beliefs face strong family and societal pressure, especially in Muslim-majority areas. Conversion can lead to serious violence or expulsion. Rising Islamic radicalisation has intensified resistance to converts from Muslim backgrounds.
The pressure on Christians in Syria varies by region. The northeast is generally safer and more tolerant. On the coast, the smaller dispersed Christian communities are moderately vulnerable to social pressure. In the south, Christians face moderate to high pressure, though tolerance is generally greater in Druze-majority areas compared to Muslim. The greatest pressure is in Damascus and Aleppo, where growing hostility from conservative Muslims and extremists creates uncertainty and restrictions.
– For converts from Islam to find love and fellowship after being rejected by family and friends.
– For victims of the Damascus church attack, that their wounds and hearts will be healed.
– That believers will lean solely on God in the face of constant uncertainty.
Open Doors works through local partners and churches in Syria to help strengthen believers by distributing Bibles and Christian literature, providing discipleship training, trauma care, relief aid, microloans, and other socioeconomic help.
