By Linda Burkle, PhD, ICC Fellow 

It has been a little more than a year since the collapse in December 2024 of 50 years of the totalitarian dictatorship under Syrian President Assad. This article provides an update on the status of Christians and other minorities in 2025, amid instability and transition. 

Following a protracted civil war, in December 2024, a coup was carried out by various Islamist factions forming a rebel coalition called the Military Operations Command (MOC). MOC included the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Army. It was led by Ahmend Hussein al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, head of Hayat Tahrir Al Sham (HTS), a group designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and other nations. Formerly, al-Sharaa was also affiliated with al-Qaida. He was on the FBI’s Most Wanted List from 2013 through 2024 for his role in Sunni Islamist regional terror.(1) 

New Transitional Government Established 

Following the coup, al-Sharaa attempted to redefine himself as a statesman and ascended to power to become the de facto leader. As a U.S. delegation met with al-Sharaa, who assured the diplomats that he planned to establish a transitional government “chosen by the people,” implying that minorities would be included and protected.”(2)  

Given his assurances, he was removed from the FBI’s Most Wanted List and has been recognized by the U.S. administration as the legitimate leader of Syria. On Jan. 29, 2025, al-Sharaa was installed as the interim president. However, there was much skepticism that al-Sharaa, the self-proclaimed former jihadi who swept unexpectedly into power, could stabilize the country or restrain armed factions still operating with impunity. Thus far, this skepticism has proven to be well-founded. 

In March 2025, a new constitution was adopted. It states in Article 3, “1. The religion of the President of the Republic is Islam, and Islamic jurisprudence is the principal source of legislation. 2. Freedom of belief is protected. The State respects all divine religions and guarantees the freedom to perform all their rituals, provided that this does not disturb public order. 3. The personal status of religious sects is protected and respected in accordance with the law.”(3)  

The constitution will be in place for five years, after which elections are planned. The three “divine religions” are Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. Concerns have been expressed that it does not explicitly mention other faiths. 

In May 2025, President Trump met with al-Sharaa and described him as a “transformational leader,” emphasizing the importance of establishing an inclusive democratically elected government. Trump also urged al-Sharaa to establish diplomatic relations with Israel and join the Abraham Accords. Sanctions against Syria that had been in place since 1979 were lifted with the intent of giving Syria a fresh start. 

On June 30, 2025, Trump signed an executive order, “Providing for the Revocation of Syria Sanctions,” recognizing positive actions taken by the new Syrian government. On July 7, 2025, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio revoked the State Department’s designation of Hayat Tahrir Al Sham (HTS), formerly led by al-Sharaa, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).(4) 

While al-Sharaa assured the international community of his intention to establish a representative government through an electoral process to include all religions and ethnic groups, many Christians and other marginalized groups were not convinced.  

Given the targeted attacks throughout 2025, their concerns were justified, and many continue to flee. More than 14 million Syrians have been displaced due to the prolonged 13-year civil war, one of the largest displacement crises globally.(5) Of those displaced, about 7.4 million people are displaced within Syria’s borders, and more than 6 million are displaced in neighboring countries such as Lebanon, Jordan, and Turkey.  

“In a 2025 USCIRF hearing, investigative journalist Nuri Kino reported that before the civil war, there were up to 1.5 million Christians in Syria; today, fewer than 300,000 remain. The decline is especially severe in historic Christian centers: Aleppo’s Christian population fell from about 100,000 to roughly 25,000, and in the Khabur River region of northeast Syria — once home to 30,000 Syriac Christians — only a few hundred remain.”(6) 

Election Process and Results 

Given that so many Syrians currently live elsewhere and the infrastructure and economy are in disarray, a complex representative electoral framework was established that did not include public voting. Rather, the election was conducted “through a tiered structure where electoral bodies, selected by local subcommittees, will in turn elect parliamentary representatives. The government has stated that the aim of this approach is to select technocrats and academics, with a target of 70% of the members falling into this category and 30% being notable community leaders.” 

The proposed process was met with criticism by numerous nongovernmental organizations in a joint statement. They suggest that the process allows al-Sharaa to “effectively shape a parliamentary majority composed of individuals he selected or ensured loyalty from,’ which risked ‘undermining the principle of pluralism essential to any genuine democratic process’ … ‘You can call the process what you like, but not elections,’ Bass am Alahmad, executive director of France-based Syrians for Truth and Justice, one of the organizations to have signed the statement, told the AFP news agency.”(8) 

The indirect vote of parliamentary representatives occurred on Oct. 5, 2025, resulting in the election of 119 lawmakers who will serve in a 210-member parliament.

Most of the seats went to men from the Sunni Muslim majority, with few women or religious minorities elected. Around 5% are women, compared with less than 6% during the Assad regime, when between 6% and 13% of lawmakers were women. Reportedly, only one Christian was elected, but not from Damascus or Aleppo, where most Christians live. An additional 70 lawmakers will be appointed by al-Sharaa in the coming days, while 21 will be chosen in postponed elections. The election committee acknowledged “that poor results for women and Christians were ‘among the most significant shortcomings’ of the vote but expressed hope that Sharaa would address these shortcomings through his own appointments.”(9) 

Due to clashes between militia fighters and government forces in the northeast Kurdish-held territory, elections there were delayed. Al-Sharaa is intent on centralized governmental control, although two areas remain largely out of their control: the Druze-majority region of Suwayda in the South, and the Kurdish-majority northeast Syria. Leaders of both regions are seeking autonomy, considering that al-Sharaa’s security forces massacred thousands of civilians in March and July 2025.(10) 

“Syria faces grave problems, including a collapsed economy, the prospect of renewed internal conflict, and disruptive meddling by outside powers. The caretaker government will not be able to address any of these issues if its own hold over the country remains contested,” said the International Crisis Group’s Jerome Drevon, Foreign Affairs.(11) 

Al-Sharaa touted the elections as a historic moment, stating that the parliament would play a major oversight role during a democratic and inclusive political transition. However, violence and deadly attacks continue, causing doubt, fear, and uncertainty among minorities. 

Violence and Attacks Recorded in 2025 

In reviewing incidents of violence and attacks during 2025, it appears Islamic groups have perpetrated most, although the Syrian government forces are also implicated in some attacks. Persecution watchdog organizations like Christian Solidarity International (CSI) have been reporting deteriorating conditions for minorities like the Druze, Alawites, and Christians, many of whom live in Aleppo, which is under the control of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces.   

“Since the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, Syria’s ‘transitional government’ and its security forces have been dominated by fighters from HTS, a jihadist group which attacked Christians and other religious minorities throughout Syria’s long civil war.”(12) It should be reiterated that al-Sharaa headed HTS and was previously designated by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist organization. 

Throughout 2025, numerous attacks were documented. “The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) reported today that 80 civilians were killed in Syria in December 2025, including 11 children, eight women, and two victims of torture.’ … ‘The report indicated that of the 3,666 individuals documented killed in 2025, 73 civilians, including eight children, six women, and 16 who died under torture, were killed by Syrian government forces. Assad regime’s forces also perpetrated two massacres. Additionally, 14 civilians, including nine children, one woman, one member of the Civil Defense, and one person who died under torture, were killed by Assad regime forces. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) killed 73 civilians, including 15 children, 14 women, and 12 who died under torture. The Syrian National Army (SNA) killed five civilians, including two children, one woman, and one person who died under torture. International Coalition forces killed two civilians, one of whom was a child. The report also documented the killing of 1217 individuals, including 51 children, 63 women, and 32 medical personnel, and 53 massacres by armed groups participating in military operations in the coastal region (March). Finally, it documented the killing of 446 people, including nine children, 21 women, and one medical personnel, and four massacres by non-state armed groups affiliated with the Assad regime. The report documented the killing of 62 civilians, including three children and three women, by Israeli forces. It also recorded the killing of 35 civilians, including 14 children, five women, three medical personnel, and one massacre by Turkish forces. The report documented the killing of 374 civilians, including 39 children, 79 women, four media personnel, and 10 medical personnel, as well as 11 massacres and two deaths due to torture, by armed groups involved in the escalation and military operations in the Suwayda Governorate in July. The report also recorded the killing of 1,365 people, including 177 children and 119 women, by unidentified parties.”(13) 

The SNHR report also documented at least 65 attacks on civilian centers, including attacks on 11 schools, eight medical facilities, and nine places of worship. At least two attacks occurred in December, one on a worship center. Most of the attacks were directed at civilians, and many of the deaths are attributed to militias as well as security forces. A significant number of deaths in early 2025 were the result of land mines and other explosions of war remnants and injuries from previous bombing.(14) 

Clashes between Syrian government forces and the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces have marked the beginning of 2026. According to Chris Mitchell, CBN’S Middle Eastern Bureau chief, the Syrian forces, backed by Turkey, have been described as continuing their “ethnic cleansing” of minorities (Druze, Christians, and Alawites) with the most fierce attacks in the northern city of Aleppo.(15)  

On Jan. 9, 2026, the Syrian Defense Ministry announced a ceasefire in Aleppo, although the truce was brief, with some continued fighting as the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces refused to leave. It was announced on Sunday, Jan. 11, that all fighters had left Aleppo as the Syrian government has taken control, but other reports indicate that clashes continue.(16) 

The situation and safety of Christians in Syria continue to be precarious. Although al-Sharaa states his intention to have an inclusive government that protects all people of various faiths, thus far, the actions of his security forces prove otherwise, leading to growing fear and distrust of Syrian minorities. Recently, he has condemned some attacks by ISIS affiliates and supported the U.S. retaliatory strikes against an Islamic State group, which had attacked and killed U.S. military personnel in Syria.(17) 

Amid the continued attacks and uncertainty of the political landscape in Syria, we as the Western church must continue to pray for the protection, provision, and comfort of our brothers and sisters in Syria. We pray Psalm 91 over all persecuted believers. Prayer has power!  

In addition, we can offer practical help by supporting organizations that provide basic needs for those displaced. International Christian Concern (ICC) is at the forefront of meeting such needs. Consider supporting the work financially as well as interceding for those persecuted in Syria and elsewhere. 

Sources 

1.https://persecution.org/2025/01/09/the-christians-disappearing-from-biblical-lands/ 

2. https://persecution.org/2025/09/19/update-on-syria-a-new-era-or-more-of-the-same-for-syrian-christians/
3. http://constitutionality/sites/default/files/2025-03/2025.03.13%20-%20Constitutional%20declaration%20%28English%29.PDF  
4. state.gov, July 7,2025Press Statement 
5. https://www.worldvision.org
6. 2026 GCR Red List.pf
7. ​reliefwed.int, September 17, 2025. “Syria’s 2025 Elections: Legitimacy and Representation.”
8. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10/5/syrian-electors-vote-in-indirect-polls-for-first-post-assad-parliament
9. https://www.cfr.org/article/syrias-transitional-election
10. https://csi-usa.org/aleppo-clashes-csis-partner-on-the-ground-reports/
11. https://www.cfr.org/article/syrias-transitional-election 
12. http://csi-usa.org/aleppo-clashes-csis-partner-on-the-ground-reports/
13. https://snhr.org/blog/2026/01/01/the-death-of-3338-individuals-including-328-children-and-312-women-and-32-deaths-due-to-torture-recorded-in-the-year-2025-in-syria/
14. Ibid.
15. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sMfUdM6QoM
16. https://www.msn.com/en-xl/news/other/clashes-in-syria-the-national-army-has-struck-kurdish-neighborhoods-of-aleppo/ss-AA1U3GwI#image=1
17. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/u-s-launches-new-retaliatory-strikes-against-islamic-state-group-in-syria

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