Listeners:
Top listeners:
play_arrow

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – Christians in Syria have reported they are worried for their futures as the country gets used to a new Islamic government following the ousting of dictator Bashar al-Assad on December 8 last year.
Prior to the recent ousting of Assad, war-torn Syria had ranked 18 on the Open Doors World Watch List of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted. Christians under Assad faced murder and abductions, as well as workplace discrimination and sexual violence.
When the insurgent Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham ousted Assad and set up a transitional new government, there was widespread joy and a sense of freedom among Syrians. However, Christians have expressed concerns about how the new government will act toward them.
“The war may be over, but now we are plunging into the unknown,” Christian school principal May Bitar told La Croix International. “I try to reassure my teachers and students—that’s my role—but inside, I’m terrified. Do you think I’ll have to wear a hijab or take off my cross?”
“They talk about citizenship and religious freedom,” Archbishop Joseph Tobji, the Maronite leader in Aleppo, told La Croix separately. “They assure us our lives won’t change—but we’re waiting to see their actions.”
A Christian source in Syria whose name is withheld for security purposes told Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN): “People avoid being on the streets after 5pm. There are jihadists on the streets, using megaphones to call on people to convert to Islam and telling women to veil.”
“Fear is really very pronounced – Christians cannot work, many stay home,” the Christian said.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah have agreed to a ceasefire that was to begin Friday afternoon, Worthy News learned.
At least 10 people, including four children, were injured in a Russian strike on Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region, Ukrainian authorities said Friday. In southern Ukraine, the State Emergency Service reported that one person was killed and four others were injured in a separate Russian attack on the Odesa region.
President Donald Trump signed the temporary peace deal with Iran ahead of schedule Wednesday at the Palace of Versailles in France, kicking off negotiations over a final nuclear deal.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s statement following the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the United States is being viewed by analysts not as an embrace of peace, but as a carefully crafted declaration that preserves Tehran’s revolutionary posture while allowing the regime to regroup.
The United States imposed new sanctions Thursday on individuals and entities linked to Hezbollah, accusing them of using political and financial influence to obstruct Lebanon’s peace process and delay the Iran-backed group’s disarmament.
Ukraine launched one of its largest drone attacks on Moscow since the war began, hitting a key oil refinery and other targets around the Russian capital, leaving at least one person dead and numerous others injured, Russian officials said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted Southeast Asian leaders in Kazan this week as Moscow moved to deepen ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and promote its vision of a “multipolar world order” aimed at countering U.S. global dominance.
The Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs encapsulate the beauty, wisdom, and eternal truths found in the Bible, creating an immersive experience that resonates with believers and seekers alike.
Copyright The New Jerusalem Media.