Journalist Ashraf Helmy, who resides in Australia, condemned the systematic violations carried out by the terrorist regime in Syria led by Ahmad al-Shar’ (formerly al-Julani) against minorities and the religious persecution of Christians in the Saydnaya area of Rural Damascus. He noted these abuses were documented in human-rights reports submitted to the United Nations, including a report by the international organization “Christian Solidarity,” which confirmed cases of detention and arrest without trial aimed at extorting families financially, as well as the denial of Christians’ right to practice religious rites.

Helmy praised the courageous decision by the pastoral committees of the Greek Orthodox, Syriac Orthodox, and Melkite Greek Catholic churches in Saydnaya to cancel all celebratory events associated with this year’s religious holidays. The move was taken in protest of the continued detention of a number of the town’s residents and people from other areas, the mistreatment suffered by Christians, the incitement and threats they face on social media, and the increasing incidents of theft and kidnapping.

He urged Western governments and international human-rights organizations to pressure the Syrian government to meet the churches’ demands: release the detained Christians, disclose the fate of those who have been kidnapped and secure their return, hold accountable those responsible for the flagrant violations against Christians, and impose economic sanctions on Syria if the churches’ demands are not met, applying justice to all in accordance with United Nations charters and international law.