Syriac Orthodox Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II meets with U.S. officials in Washington, D.C.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East Mor Ignatius Aphrem II held meetings with members of the U.S. Congress and officials from the U.S. State Department during his visit to Washington, D.C.
The discussions centered on the ongoing situation in Syria and the challenges facing its people.
Patriarchal Vicar for the Archdiocese of the Eastern USA Mor Dionysius John Kawak and Executive Director of the Washington-based human rights and advocacy organization for Christians in the Middle East In Defense of Christians (IDC) Richard Ghazal accompanied the Patriarch.
The Patriarch Aphrem II highlighted the dire conditions facing the Christians in the aftermath of the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime. He stressed lifting economic sanctions, which he argued are exacerbating the hardships faced by the Syrians and impeding recovery efforts.
The Patriarch also emphasized the principles of citizenship and equality, stressing that any future Syrian constitution must safeguard the rights of all citizens, regardless of their religious or ethnic background.
The Patriarch also raised the ongoing plight of two kidnapped Christian leaders, Syriac Orthodox Archbishop of Holeb (Aleppo) Youhanna Ibrahim and Syriac Melkite Archbishop of Holeb (Aleppo) Bulos Yazji, who were abducted in 2013. He urged the U.S. Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs to prioritize efforts to investigate their case and pursue their release.
This visit, which reflects the Patriarch’s commitment to advocating for Syrian Christians and other marginalized communities, underscores the importance of international dialogue in addressing the multifaceted crises facing Syria today.