The international community has often spotlighted the challenges faced by Christians in India, portraying them as victims of systemic persecution. This narrative has been amplified by global media, Western governments, and certain international organizations. Yet, these very entities have remained conspicuously silent on the plight of Christians in Syria and other parts of the Middle East, where the threats to their survival are far more acute and existential. This glaring double standard raises critical questions about the motivations behind such selective outrage and the global indifference toward one of the oldest Christian communities in the world.
Syria’s Christian population, once vibrant and integral to the country’s cultural fabric, has been devastated over the past decade. Before the Syrian Civil War, Christians accounted for about 10% of Syria’s population. Today, that number has dwindled dramatically. Communities that have existed since the time of Christ are now on the brink of extinction, driven out by war, persecution, and the rise of extremist groups such as Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
Under the control of these terrorist factions, Christians in Syria face forced conversions, executions, and the destruction of their cultural and religious heritage. Churches have been razed, clergy kidnapped or killed, and entire communities displaced. Yet, this tragedy, unfolding in real time, has failed to generate the same level of international outrage or intervention seen in other regions.
The global Orthodox Christian community, which numbers approximately 300 million, has been notably silent on the plight of Syrian Christians. Orthodox-majority nations such as Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Estonia, and Cyprus are all members of the European Union. However, none have successfully brought the crisis facing Syrian Christians to the agenda of the EU or the United Nations.
Russia, home to the world’s largest Orthodox population and the influential Russian Orthodox Church, has also failed to act decisively. While Russia’s military intervention in Syria has been primarily motivated by geopolitical interests, the humanitarian aspect of protecting Christian communities has largely been overlooked. The Russian Orthodox Church, which has historically had close ties to the Middle East, has not launched significant initiatives to address the crisis or provide substantial aid.
This silence is both puzzling and troubling. It reveals a lack of unity and solidarity among global Orthodox Christians, who have the resources and influence to bring attention to the plight of their Syrian brethren but have largely chosen not to.
The Vatican, often seen as the moral and spiritual leader of the global Christian community, has similarly failed to address the Syrian Christian crisis adequately. Despite reporting a profit of €45.9 million (USD $49.6 million) from its investment office in 2023, the Vatican has not undertaken any substantial aid initiatives to support Syrian Christians.
Pope Francis has frequently spoken about global injustice and the need to protect marginalized communities. However, when it comes to Syrian Christians, these messages have not translated into concrete actions. This inaction is particularly glaring given the Vatican’s diplomatic clout and financial resources.
The Vatican’s apparent indifference is part of a broader pattern in which high-profile institutions and leaders often focus on politically expedient causes while neglecting less visible, though equally urgent, issues.
The neglect of Syrian Christians is not an isolated case. Across the world, Christian communities face systemic persecution and violence. In Nigeria, extremist groups like Boko Haram have slaughtered thousands of Christians. In Somalia, Libya, Eritrea, and Yemen, Christians are forced to practice their faith in secret, facing death if discovered. In Pakistan, false blasphemy accusations have led to lynchings and lengthy prison sentences for Christians.
Yet, these atrocities rarely make headlines. The global Christian community, with a few notable exceptions, has failed to rally behind these persecuted groups. This lack of solidarity is a tragic indictment of the global Christian leadership’s inability—or unwillingness—to prioritize the protection of its most vulnerable members.
The United States, which frequently champions religious freedom as a core tenet of its foreign policy, has also failed Syrian Christians. Under the Biden administration, U.S. policies have indirectly enabled Turkey to support extremist factions like HTS, worsening the plight of Syrian Christians.
Washington’s selective approach to religious freedom is evident in its starkly different treatment of Christians in India versus Syria. While the U.S. State Department has frequently criticized India for alleged violations of religious freedom, it has remained largely silent on the atrocities committed against Syrian Christians. This hypocrisy undermines America’s credibility as a defender of global human rights and religious minorities.
The disparity in attention between Christians in India and those in Syria is striking. India’s Christian community, though facing localized challenges, enjoys constitutional protections and religious freedom. Churches operate openly, and Christians have made significant contributions to Indian society in fields such as education, healthcare, and social work.
In contrast, Syrian Christians face existential threats that could wipe out their communities entirely. Yet, their plight receives minimal coverage, while India is often held up as an example of Christian persecution. This double standard suggests that geopolitical interests, rather than genuine concern for religious minorities, drive much of the international narrative.
The global media plays a significant role in shaping perceptions of religious persecution. In the case of India, sensationalist reporting often amplifies isolated incidents, painting a picture of widespread persecution. Meanwhile, the systematic annihilation of Syrian Christians by extremist groups goes largely unreported.
This selective reporting perpetuates a skewed understanding of the global challenges facing Christians. It also allows powerful nations and organizations to avoid accountability for their inaction in places like Syria.
The world’s silence on the atrocities faced by Syrian Christians is a damning indictment of its selective compassion. While the international community is quick to sound the bugle over Christians in India, it has chosen to turn a blind eye to the existential threats facing Christians in Syria and other parts of the Middle East.
This double standard not only undermines the credibility of global advocacy for religious freedom but also leaves millions of vulnerable Christians abandoned in their hour of need. It is time for the global Christian community, international organizations, and governments to confront this hypocrisy and take meaningful action to protect persecuted Christians wherever they may be. Until then, the cries of Syria’s forgotten Christians will remain a haunting reminder of the world’s indifference.
