The West must look to the East; Christians are being persecuted

The West must look to the East in the face of the persecution against Christians in Syria, for example, it is time to recognize that this is not a problem of today, although it has intensified after the Arab Springs.

Arab Spring that many countries and powers celebrated thinking it would bring more freedom. But what it has done is radicalize Islamic fundamentalism and recognize that the displacement of Christians is not a recent phenomenon. It was amplified during the Ottoman Empire, especially during World War I.

That is why even today in Argentina, in Brazil, they are known as Turks, because they were Ottoman citizens. And unfortunately, they were called that because it was the Turks themselves who persecuted them, especially the Armenians, against whom they committed genocide.

That is why it is important to know history and to know that the first Christians were precisely their ancestors. That is, there is continuity, and they are being forgotten.

The persecution of Christians in Syria has been a persistent reality, especially during and after the armed conflict that began in 2011. Christian communities, along with other religious minorities, have suffered violent attacks, forced displacements, and discrimination.

In March 2025, reports indicate that violence in Syria continues to severely affect these communities. In the coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus, clashes were recorded, resulting in over 1,000 deaths in just four days. Although the attacks were mainly directed at the Alawite minority, at least three Christians were killed. Authorities imposed curfews in cities like Homs, Tartous, and Latakia, and many Christians suspended their services out of fear of further attacks. Additionally, figures like Mons. Nabil Hachem, Archbishop of Homs, have expressed their desire to end the violence, participating in events like the "Night of the Witnesses" vigil in Madrid, where he called for an end to the massacres and advocated for peace in Syria.

It is important to highlight the silence of the international community, especially the European Union, which, due to its proximity, should condemn this persecution of Christians rather than continue funding the war in Ukraine, a war that has claimed thousands of lives and seems to indicate that some European Union countries have an interest in prolonging the conflict.