Influential evangelical leader says US shouldn’t give sanctions relief or recognition to Syria

The recent massacre in Syria that claimed the lives of over 1,000 Syrians, including Christians, has raised serious concerns about the ability of the new interim government led by former al Qaeda terrorist Ahmed al-Sharaa to protect vulnerable religious minorities. Al-Sharaa, who heads the U.S.-designated Sunni terrorist organization Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, seized power in December after toppling former Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Christian leaders and human rights activists have expressed skepticism about the Islamist regime’s ability to establish a democratic government that safeguards the rights of all citizens. Rev. Johnnie Moore, the president of The Congress of Christian Leaders, condemned the government’s failure to prevent the massacre, stating that it demonstrates their inability to fulfill the basic responsibility of protecting their citizens.

Video footage showing Islamist militants carrying out brutal attacks on Syrian Alawites, a minority religious group, prompted al-Sharaa to promise accountability for those responsible for the violence. However, Moore criticized the government for its ineffectiveness in preventing the bloodshed and ensuring justice for the victims.

The escalating violence in Syria has reignited concerns about the fate of religious minorities in the country, particularly Christians who have been targeted and displaced during the civil war. The Christian population in Syria has significantly dwindled since the conflict began in 2011, with an estimated 300,000 Christians remaining in the war-torn nation compared to 1.5 million before the war.

As European governments consider easing sanctions on the Syrian regime and the EU plans a funding conference to support the new government, Moore urged the United States to take a firm stance against the Islamist regime. He emphasized the need for the U.S. to withhold sanctions relief and demand concrete actions from the Syrian government to protect all citizens, including Christians.

The tragic events in Syria serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by religious minorities in the war-torn nation. The international community must prioritize the protection of vulnerable populations and hold accountable those responsible for atrocities, in order to prevent further bloodshed and ensure a more secure future for all Syrians.