The battle for supremacy in Syria continues between the Government and Opposition forces. With no end in sight and so many Christians escaping the terror, it is the plight of Syria’s Christians in the country which has left many contemplating a future Syria without the native Christian Arameans (a.k.a. Syriacs, Chaldeans and Assyrians (Nestorians)). The World Council of Arameans (Syriacs) (“WCA”) is a United Nations NGO which represents and seeks to protect the interests of the Aramean people in Syria. The present paper by the WCA closely reflects the position held by the majority of Syria’s Christians and other vulnerable minorities.
The Aramean Christians are the indigenous people of Syria and represent a large proportion of the 10% Christian population in Syria. This number is decreasing daily, as numerous Christians have escaped into Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq and Jordan. Ample evidence shows that other Christian IDPs have fled from cities like Homs, Aleppo and Idlib to other safer cities in or near Damascus or to the Northeast Jezireh region. However, as battles increasingly break out in cities like Deir ez-Zor, Ras al-Ayn and Hassake, the WCA believes that there are no longer true safe zones in Syria for Christian IDPs to flee to.
The crisis in Syria is becoming worse every day. The United Nations reported in January 2013, that 70,000 people have died. There are almost 700,000 refugees and more than 2 million IDPs. By June 2013, the UN estimates that the refugees will number 1.1 million Syrians. Food, shelter and medical care are in short supply regardless of the recent receipt of $1.5 billion by the United Nations and the efforts by the Syrian Government to re-establish social infrastructure in the country. Ancient historical centres, recognised as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, are in jeopardy all over the prehistoric country, notably in Aleppo, Damascus, Bosra, Palmyra and in a group of antique villages in northern Syria.
The standard of living in Syria has reached shocking levels, with hyperinflation, poverty, growing sectarian enmity, shortage of supplies in kinds of food and fuel, cold weather with no warmth, lack of security, revenge attacks, kidnappings for huge amounts of ransom, massive migration, days without electricity (and daily electricity shortages), risks of traveling anywhere in the country and frequent shutdown of internet access and telecommunications.
The situation in Syria’s cities is also in decline. Cities like Hassake and the Jezireh area have been in relative peace, but trouble is flaring up. Arabs, Kurds and Christians have joined together, socially and through localised self-defence groups, in requesting the opposition forces not to enter their city. In Ras al-Ayn, the rebels crossed the Turkish border and occupied the town. Approximately 300 Christian families escaped to other safer cities nearby; the village lord explained his refugee story in Lebanon to the WCA. In Deir ez-Zor, battles caused the entire Christian community leaving the city and taking refuge in Qamishli and Hassake. In mid-January 2013, the St. Mary Church and the al-Wahda Private School in Deir ez-Zor were destroyed. The disasters in the cities of Homs and Aleppo have been well documented. The Christian community has largely deserted Homs and we estimate that there are only 1300 Aramean families left in Hay as-Siryan and 800 Aramean families in Slemaniye in the Aleppo region. Sharia law seems to have been instituted in some cities, as an increasing number of Jihadist groups emerge in Syria, with full intention of turning the country into an Islamic State.
The WCA Position on Syria
Given the complexities and terror of the war in Syria, the WCA has always maintained that flooding Syria with more weapons is not and cannot be the answer. Instead, both a ceasefire and dialogue from both sides must be the only way to resolve this long drawn-out conflict.
The WCA supports all minorities in Syria, because they are the most susceptible to utter annihilation. In particular, the indigenous Arameans need the protection of the international community. They are in a dire position as they fight for survival – stuck, in many instances, between the ferocious warring Syrian army and opposition forces. The Aramean Christians now fear for the worst. They either leave their homeland or die protecting their homes, their women and children, their families and their future. These peaceful Christians watch hopelessly as Syria is infiltrated by Muslim extremists who aim to transform their relatively secular state into an intolerant Islamic state. The WCA opposes such demands and asks all parties involved to focus on a peaceful outcome. One that respects all minority positions, particularly those which acknowledge that the Arameans are the indigenous population of Syria.
There is no doubt that the Christians in Syria do not generally support the Syrian National Coalition for Revolutionary and Opposition Forces (“Coalition”), led by Sheik Ahmad Moaz al-Khatib. This 10% of the Syrian population has stayed largely neutral and attempted to maintain a peaceful position. More broadly speaking, the Arameans have always focused on democracy and dialogue, not on war and terror. Yet the underlying focus of the Opposition has exactly been to destabilise and terrorise not just the Government, but also the country and society. This position has received the strong support of the international community. It is clear that the Coalition does not represent the Christian voice or even the minority voice. The Druze, the Alevite and the Kurds have not joined the Coalition and only three nominal Christians are members. Two of these Christians represent their own nationalist ideology, while another admits to being a communist. It is clear that the Aramean Christians, who are the majority of Syria’s native Christians, are not represented at all.
To fill the gap in the discourse, the WCA has put forward its position to the global community and the Syrian Government about how to resolve the issues in Syria, thereby professing the position of Syria’s Christians.
The WCA proposes the following
The WCA Expands on the Following Issues of Importance
Final Remarks
The WCA reiterates that peace and reconciliation cannot be realized through an increase of weapons or
mercenaries infiltrating and flooding the country. Rather, everyone must agree on an immediate armistice and a genuine dialogue to be held sooner rather than later.
The WCA will continue its efforts to ensure that the real voice of the people is heard, both in Syria and outside of the country. Thus far, the will of the Aramean Christians has not been considered, as external parties and Islamic extremists continue to push their own agenda. The WCA pleads with all parties concerned here to focus on the true will of the people. If all parties truly care about saving lives of all Syrians, especially innocent civilians, and if they are impassioned about a brighter future for Syria, then peace must commence now with dialogue and not a continuation of violence and terror.
World Council of Arameans (Syriacs)
Formerly known as Syriac Universal Alliance
18 February 2013