Scores of Christians – priests, mothers, children – were caught up in the violence triggered by a revolt that broke out in Assad's former stronghold. In a message, Syrian patriarchs bemoan the “dangerous escalation of violence, torture and murder” against “innocent civilians, including women and children”. Syria’s Islamist president makes a belated appeal for unity. Fr Jihad calls for “fasting and prayers” for peace.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights speaks of over 500 victims in the last two days. The testimony of the Franciscan parish priest of Aleppo: ‘Despite the countless voices calling for a government that represents all components of Syrian society, no concrete action is seen. The weapons threaten to destroy what remains of our hope’.
As theMiddle East that is completley reconfigured, the time has come for the Druze community, scattered between Lebanon, Syria, Israel and Jordan, to make choices. Hostile to a new Islamist government in Syria, the Jewish state that annexed the Golan Heights in 1981 is trying to win the community's allegiance. Walid Joumblatt's manoeuvres to avoid the Israeli embrace and his presence at his father's tribute.
AsiaNews interviewed the only woman, a Catholic, on the Committee of Seven set up by President Ahmad al-Sharaa. Amid sanctions and economic crisis, the challenges of reconstruction affect the country and its people. For her, “Syria is not a single thing: Christians, Muslims, every ethnic group must be part of the process.” And “women should be at least 30 per cent or even more in the various bodies, starting with the Constituent Assembly.”
Fr Karakach tells AsiaNews that despite the difficulties, there are also signs of hope. The Church promotes discussions on ‘justice, solidarity and peace’. The authorities announce the formation of a new government on 1 March. The priorities are to revive the economy and obtain the cancellation of Western sanctions.
The apostolic administrator notes that red tape and the lack of legal recognition of the Church are major problems. A torchlight rally was held at 4 am in Antakya to mark the moment when the main quake struck. The main opposition party slams the government, claiming that only 30 per cent of the promised reconstruction has been completed.
