Syria has returned to the top ten list of the most dangerous countries to be a Christian, after a surge in violence against believers and attacks on churches.
Rising twelve places to sixth in the World Watch List, persecution watchdog Open Doors has warned the country is at its most dangerous since Islamic State occupied much of the territory.
Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group with historic jihadist links, promised safety and freedom when coming to power after the fall of Bashar Al Assad in December 2024. But Christians, who make up around 1.3 per cent of the population, have been targeted as part of persecution against minority groups.
A suicide bomber killed 22 Christians at a Damascus church in June 2025, shattering hopes of peace.
Juliette, who works for a Christian organisation in Syria’s capital Aleppo, told Premier Christian News the attack put “fear in the heart” of Christians, meaning many have stayed away from church.
“I'm not living in Damascus, but even so, I felt like it's my church, because we are all one body in Christ. So every Christian in Syria feels like he lost one of their family's members. Some Christians have never gone to church again, because they have trauma after the incident,” she said.
The attack has driven many to avoid publicly practicing their faith and displaying Christian symbols. Threatening messages have been painted on churches and the walls in areas where Christians live, further heightening tensions.
Believers “face people who have offensive ideas about Christians”, Juliette explains. This has led to threats and persecution in society, including in the workplace, schools and universities. Those who have converted from Islam have also been targeted.
Education guidance for schools refer to Christians as “those who are damned and have gone astray”.
As a minority, Christians have been linked with the Druze and Alawites, which persecutors associate with the deposed Assad regime and the west more generally. This has led to some Christians being caught in the crossfire in clashes between groups.
There has been a significant displacement of Christians, with many forced to flee Syria. Open Doors estimate the population has decreased from 1.1 million to 300,000 since 2015.
Juliette’s prayer is for an end to the violence so all Christians can live in peace, and that questions about the country’s governance will be “solved in a peaceful way, so we can live all together in love and hope to rebuild Syria.”
The World Watch List ranks the 50 countries where Christians face the most severe persecution for their faith.
You can read more about the top ten here.