Christian communities across Syria have significantly scaled back or entirely canceled Holy Week festivities, including Palm Sunday services, following a wave of violent attacks by Muslim mobs over the weekend. These assaults reportedly involved the destruction of Christian iconography and the looting of local businesses.

HTS Rule and Security Concerns

The Syrian government, currently under the control of the jihadist organization Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), utilized state media channels to assert that it would guarantee security for churches and other Christian sites, enabling Holy Week observances leading up to Easter.

However, human rights advocates on the ground report that many Christians remain deeply skeptical of these government assurances regarding crackdowns on anti-Christian violence. Consequently, many faithful are opting to avoid large public prayer gatherings for safety reasons.

Political Context Under HTS

Syria has been governed by HTS since December 2024, a period that followed the end of the Syrian Civil War and resulted in dictator Bashar Assad fleeing the nation. The current president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has sought to rebrand himself from his former association with al-Qaeda to appear as a moderate figure capable of engaging with potential European allies.

Currently, President Sharaa is visiting the United Kingdom. This situation echoes past events where the Damascus government advertised large Christmas events while human rights groups simultaneously documented targeted violence against Christians elsewhere in the country.

Targeted Violence in Christian Strongholds

Incident in Suqaylabiyah

Local Christians strongly condemned violent incidents that occurred Saturday night in Suqaylabiyah, a recognized Christian stronghold. Sunni Islamic radicals, allegedly mobilized through social media, focused their initial aggression on a local liquor store.

What began as a local dispute quickly escalated into widespread abuse, looting, and destruction of property. Asia News reported that radicalized youths from neighboring villages joined the fray, going on a rampage.

“They went on a rampage, destroying a statue of the Virgin Mary in a square,” Asia News quoted sources saying. Furthermore, attackers reportedly attempted to target Christian girls and threatened residents with more severe future assaults.

Archbishop Details Escalation and Security Failure

Archbishop Jacques Mourad, the Syriac Catholic Archbishop of Homs, Hama, and Dabek, informed Asia News that this event followed numerous prior threats and abuses against city residents by “young Muslims.” He noted this specific attack was larger, as the assailants arrived “armed and on motorcycles, and began breaking up businesses and shops, firing shots into the air, and creating a climate of fear and terror.”

The Archbishop further denounced the lack of a swift government security response to protect the Christian population. Shockingly, he stated that government security forces and police were not only absent but “actively participated in this act of persecution,” rather than supporting the victims.

Destruction of Religious Heritage

Reports indicate that Christian cemeteries have also become targets for destruction. In Tartus province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) documented that unknown assailants attacked a Christian cemetery in Al-Rawda town this morning.

The attackers reportedly smashed crosses adorning the tombstones. Genocide experts and human rights advocates often view the destruction of cemeteries as a deliberate tactic aimed at erasing the cultural legacy and tradition of the targeted community.

Widespread Observance Cancellations

SOHR confirmed that many churches across Syria canceled or severely limited their observance of Palm Sunday, the first day of Holy Week commemorating Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem.

These limitations and cancellations of processions, along with reduced prayer services, were observed both near Suqaylabiyah and in the capital city of Damascus. In Aleppo, Maronite Archbishop Joseph Tobji told ACN that processions were canceled to show solidarity with persecuted Christians nationwide, rather than purely for immediate safety concerns.

Contrasting Government Narratives

The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), the official government media outlet, presented a starkly different account. SANA claimed that “prayers and liturgies” proceeded across Damascus churches, asserting that the HTS government had successfully protected them.

SANA quoted the Ministry reaffirming its “commitment to maintaining public order and providing a safe environment for all citizens to practice their religious rituals with freedom and peace of mind.” This narrative suggests proactive measures were taken to safeguard stability during religious gatherings.

Reality Versus State Claims

The discrepancy between official protection claims and the lived reality reported by Syrian Christians has been a consistent feature of Sharaa’s administration. Ryan Brown, CEO of Open Doors, noted in January to Breitbart News that while state TV showed celebrations, research indicated this did not reflect the full experience of Syrian Christians.

Brown highlighted a significant increase in faith-based killings, verifying at least 27 Syrian Christians were killed for their faith during their last reporting period, compared to zero the year prior. This included a deadly suicide attack at Mar Elias Greek Orthodox Church in Damascus in June 2025, which killed 22 and wounded 63.

Beyond direct violence, Brown added that the March 2025 interim constitution established Islamic jurisprudence as the primary source of legislation. This has reportedly caused anxiety among Christians, leading many to hide symbols and avoid public displays of faith, with churches curtailing activities due to security risks.