Are there Christians in Syria today?
Christians were about 10 percent of Syria’s population of 21 million before the war began in 2011. Now, they account for about 5 percent, with fewer than 700,000 left, according to groups that track the persecution of Christians around the world.
What is the religion of Assad?
The Alawites are the second largest religious group in Syria, after the Sunni Muslims. Hafez al-Assad and his son, President Bashar al-Assad, belong to the Alawite sect.
What was Bashar Al-Assad known for?
Bashar Hafez al-Assad (born 11 September 1965) is a Syrian politician who is the 19th president of Syria, since 17 July 2000. In addition, he is the commander-in-chief of the Syrian Armed Forces and the Secretary-General of the Central Command of the Arab Socialist Ba’ath Party.
Do Christians get persecuted in Syria?
Persecution of Christian minorities climaxed following the Syrian civil war and later by its spillover. According to US diplomat Alberto M. Fernandez, “While the majority of the victims of the conflict which is raging in Syria and Iraq have been Muslims, Christians have borne a heavy burden given their small numbers.”
How many Christians are in Syria 2021?
Before the Syrian civil war – the country’s Christian population accounted for about 10 percent of the population – about 2.2 million people of the country’s total population. Currently, in 2021, the number appears to be only about one and a half million people, some claim of even less.
Why did the Syrian war start?
Unrest in Syria began on 15 March 2011 as part of the wider 2011 Arab Spring protests out of discontent with the Syrian government, eventually escalating to an armed conflict after protests calling for Assad’s removal were violently suppressed.
Where did Syrian Christians come from?
In a more restricted sense, however, Syrian Christians trace their origins to the 1st century ad, when St. Thomas the Apostle is believed to have landed in Kerala. As a result of this, they are also known as Christians of St. Thomas.
Is Bashar al-Assad The Guardian Angel of Syria?
Bashar al-Assad, president of Syria, sporting dark glasses and military fatigues, looking resolute and determined, appears in the heavens opposite the Virgin Mary, floating above the head of a martyred soldier. Bashar, on a par with the Virgin Mary, is presented as the guardian angel of Syria’s Christians.
Do Syrian Christians support Assad?
Syrian Christians are often portrayed as supporting President Bashar al-Assad throughout the uprising that began on 15 March 2011 and escalated into a war that is now 10 years in the fighting on 15 March.
Is Bashar al-Assad the protector of Syria’s Minorities?
Since the start of the current war, Bashar al-Assad, in power since 2000, has consistently sought to promote himself as the protector of Syria’s minorities — be they Christian, Alawi, Shi’i or Druze — from Islamist extremists.
What did Bashar al-Assad do for Syria?
Bashar also became the President of the Syrian Computer Society and helped to introduce the internet in Syria, which aided his image as a moderniser and reformer. After the death of Hafez al-Assad on 10 June 2000, the Constitution of Syria was amended; the minimum age requirement for the presidency was lowered from 40 to 34]