Archbishop Mourad says Syria’s Christians still live in fear and poverty, even after the defeat of ISIS and the lifting of sanctions
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From being kidnapped by Islamic terrorists to now ministering to a dwindling Christian community in Syria, Archbishop Jacques Mourad has lived through the worst of his country’s civil war and emerged as a symbol of faith and endurance.
The Syriac Catholic Archbishop of Homs was held hostage for five months in 2015 by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) militants. Today, he shepherds a battered and shrinking flock, offering hope in a land still marked by chaos, economic collapse and religious tension.
“Christians are no longer actively persecuted in Syria, but the situation remains unstable, and many continue to leave,” Mourad said during a June 3 online news conference hosted by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), a pontifical charity that supports persecuted Christians and other faith groups around the world.
“After the big moment of change—the takeover of the country by opponents of Bashar Assad in December 2024—things are a little calmer. But there is still a lot of fear,” he said.
Mourad said the recent lifting of sanctions by Canada, the U.S., the European Union and Saudi Arabia has sparked some hope in a population impoverished by more than a decade of civil war. Although the sanctions targeted Assad’s regime, they severely impacted civilians, limiting access to food, medicine and fuel.
Christians, along with other minorities, endured an even darker period between 2014 and 2019, when ISIS held large parts of Syria and Iraq and carried out acts of genocide. The Christian population plummeted from 1.5 million—around 10 per cent of Syria’s population in 2011—to an estimated 300,000 by 2022, less than two per cent.
Despite the defeat of ISIS by a U.S.-led coalition in 2019 and the fall of the Assad regime five years later, Syria remains deeply unstable. The new transitional government is led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an Islamist militia formerly designated a terrorist organization. Its commander, Ahmed al-Shaara, now serves as president.
HTS has tried to shed its extremist image, said Arab journalist Jenan Moussa, who has reported extensively on the region. Al-Shaara has made gestures toward inclusivity, including appointing Hind Kabawat, a Western-educated Christian and dual citizen of Syria and Canada, as minister of social affairs and labour.
But many Syrians remain wary. Minorities, including Christians, Druze and Alawites, report mixed signals from the new leadership and continue to fear for their safety.
“Syria has always been a land of diversity, a place of encounter for Muslims, Christians, Druze, Kurds and others,” Mourad said. “But despite the government’s efforts to distance itself from its Islamist roots, its control remains patchy. Salafists are still active in parts of the country, threatening people and enforcing their own rules, such as mandatory hijab for women.” Salafists follow a strict, fundamentalist interpretation of Sunni Islam and often seek to impose rigid religious laws on communities they control.
“The country is still in chaos, with checkpoints everywhere,” he added. “People have no jobs, live in poverty, and lack dignity. They thirst for justice and want a life with minimum economic well-being, which is impossible without stability.”
He noted a growing trend: it is no longer just young men fleeing the country to avoid forced military service. Now, entire families are leaving.
“Families don’t want their children to grow up in these conditions,” Mourad said. “The lack of security and the uncertainty about their rights makes it hard to stay.”
The Church, he said, plays a crucial role in building trust, sustaining families and promoting peace. He also expressed deep gratitude for the support of international Catholic charities, especially ACN.
“In the name of all Syrians, and especially Christians, we are extremely grateful to ACN and its international supporters for helping us to help Syrians to survive this time of hunger, thirst and lack of basic necessities,” he said.
ACN executive president Regina Lynch outlined the organization’s long-standing commitment to Syria.
Between 2011 and 2022, ACN supported over 1,100 projects in Syria, with funding of more than €50 million [approximately $78 million]. These efforts provided emergency relief—medicine, food, shelter, education—but they also gave something even more precious: hope.”
Mourad believes the lifting of sanctions could mark a turning point, if the momentum is maintained.
“The removal of sanctions means we can transfer money into the country again,” he said. “That means we can launch big projects—homes, hospitals, schools. This will create jobs and give people hope. We can help young Christians get married and support families. And maybe those who left will consider returning, if they can find work and build a future with dignity.”
His hope is grounded in both faith and lived experience. Mourad escaped captivity in 2015 with the help of a Muslim man who remembered his compassion years earlier—allowing Muslims to shelter in his monastery when war first broke out. He credits prayer and acts of Christian love for his survival.
“Life is in God’s hands,” he said. “God performed the miracle of returning me to freedom and life. He will not abandon Syria. There is still hope for Syria and for the Church.”
Susan Korah is Ottawa correspondent for The Catholic Register, a Troy Media Editorial Content Provider Partner.
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