The United Nations special envoy for Syria has condemned the attack on a church in the outskirts of Damascus on Sunday, which resulted in the tragic deaths of at least 20 individuals, labeling it a “heinous crime.” The attack, which also left at least 52 people wounded, has raised serious concerns about the safety of religious minorities in the region.
According to Syria’s Interior Ministry, a member of the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group was responsible for the assault. The attacker entered the Greek Orthodox Mar Elias Church in the Dweila neighborhood during a service, opened fire, and subsequently detonated an explosive vest, officials reported. This incident marks the first known suicide bombing in the Syrian capital since President Bashar al-Assad was ousted in December by an Islamist-led rebel uprising.
The Interior Ministry stated, “A suicide attacker affiliated with the Daesh (IS) or Islamic State terrorist group entered the Saint Elias church… opened fire, then blew himself up with an explosive belt.”
U.N. envoy Geir Pedersen expressed his condemnation of the attack, stating, “He condemns in the strongest possible terms the terrorist attack at St. Elias Church… which killed and injured civilians who were attending mass.” His office conveyed his outrage at this “heinous crime.”
The Syrian Civil Defence, known as the White Helmets, shared harrowing images and videos from inside the church, revealing a heavily damaged altar, pews littered with broken glass, and a bloodied floor. A security official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, indicated that two men were involved in the attack, including the suicide bomber.
While the Islamic State has been linked to several attempted attacks on churches in Syria since Assad’s fall, this incident marks the first successful attack, according to security sources. The attack highlights the ongoing dangers faced by Christians in the predominantly Islamic nation.
Christian advocacy group Open Doors noted, “Though most of Syria is now under government control, in some parts of the country, pockets of conflict with rebels continue, and Christians are caught in the crossfire.” The group further emphasized that many rebel factions consist of Islamist extremists who prohibit public expressions of the Christian faith and have destroyed or taken over numerous church buildings and monasteries.
Syria is home to nearly 600,000 Christians, according to some estimates, and ranks 18th on the annual World Watch List of 50 nations where Open Doors reports Christians face the most persecution for their faith in Christ.
For more information, visit the United Nations and Open Doors.
Tags: Syria, UN, church attack, Islamic State, minority rights, Christian persecution, Damascus, Geir Pedersen, Dweila neighborhood, White Helmets
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