NEXEM ÇAÇAN

Qamishlo- Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) took power in Syria following the fall of the Assad regime on December 8, 2024. Since then, many massacres have been committed against minorities, especially the Alawite minority in Syria’s coastal areas.

On Sunday, a suicide attack on the Mar Elias Church in the Dweila neighborhood of Damascus killed 22 civilians and injured 63 others.

“About 300 people gathered at the Mar Elias Church in Damascus for Sunday mass; however, a suicide attack was carried out against them by extremist groups,” said Arzu Temo, a member of the Sara Organization to Combat Violence against Women. “The attack killed and injured dozens. After Hayat Tahrir al-Sham took power in Damascus, it started committing massacres in the coastal areas of Syria. There is no difference between them and ISIS, they do not recognize any ethnic and religious minorities.”

‘Crimes are committed due to the absence of law’

Kurdish, Arab, Syriac, Yazidi and Alawite communities live together in Syria and their rights must be protected, Arzu Temo stressed. “Extremist groups have committed many massacres in Syria. The interim government attacks the places of worship instead of protecting them. These crimes are committed due to the absence of law. An international investigation must be launched into the attack on the church. Those responsible for the attack must be held accountable and measures must be taken to prevent possible attacks.”

‘It was an attack on all ethnic and religious identities’

The attack on the church was an attack on all ethnic and religious identities in Syria, said Sultana Xişo from the Syrian Free Women's Foundation. “Recently, many massacres have been committed against minorities in Syria. As the foundation, we demand an investigation be launched into the attack. Those responsible for the attack should not go unpunished. If they go unpunished, Syria will have an uncertain future. All minorities in Syria need peace in order to live together.”