Syria: Will Christians benefit from Assad's promotion of religious diversity?

According to an article in The Economist published on 15 July 2023, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is promoting religious diversity to improve his international status. He has, for example, been promoting practices like yoga and supporting the opening of meditation centers. In addition, Jews of Syrian origin have been encouraged to visit the capital Damascus and have been requested to help rebuild synagogues in Aleppo. It is even claimed that the president has allowed evangelical Christians to “open churches in houses where converted Muslims can worship”. According to The Economist, Assad is trying to expand the support base of the regime's minorities and mitigate the effects of the civil war, which has caused massive destruction and displacement. While his Alawite sect has traditionally aligned itself with religious minorities to maintain dominance over the Sunni Muslim majority, it now seems to be embracing a wider range of religions and movements. The Economist argues that by promoting multi-religious initiatives, the president is hoping to counter his pariah status and rebuild international relations.

World Watch Research analyst Henriette Kats comments: “Although this all sounds like a commendable initiative, we should not forget that this is part of a political strategy. While Assad aims to paint a rosy picture of Syria being a safe haven for all religious beliefs, it is important to note that adherents of all faiths - especially evangelicals – continue to be strictly monitored and censored. Evangelicals in particular are seen as a threat to national security and are suspected of having ties with the West. Apart from such government control, for converts from Islam to Christianity the main source of hostility comes from the immense pressure to recant exerted by their family and wider Islamic community.”