Yusuf Aydin leads Swedish delegation in push to secure future for Lebanese Christians

MARAAEB, Lebanon — A delegation of lawmakers from the Christian Democrats (Kristdemokraterna, KD) of Sweden arrived in the Maronite heartland last Wednesday, marking a significant step in international support for Lebanon’s embattled Christian communities. The visit, led by Syriac Member of Parliament in Sweden Yusuf Aydin and joined by colleagues Magnus Jacobsson and Magnus Bernetsson, was the result of connections established during a recent conference in Budapest on 4 March. At that event, Mr. Aydin raised concerns about the future of Lebanon’s Christians after meeting with Church leaders and federalism advocates from Beirut.

Gathering in the sunlit reception room of Mar Elian Church, the Swedish delegation — each specializing in Christian minority affairs, foreign policy, or local governance within their party — met with Lebanese Forces (LF) leader Samir Geagea. The discussion focused on “a comprehensive model that reflects Lebanon’s pluralism,” according to Jacobsson. Over the course of ninety minutes, they explored how Sweden’s well-established decentralized municipal system might provide insights for Lebanon’s ongoing debate about transitioning to a federal constitution.

Hemma efter en intensiv men mycket intressant och givande studieresa till Libanon 🇱🇧 tillsammans med mina KD-kollegor i riksdagen Magnus Berntsson och Magnus Jacobsson för att lära oss mer om situationen i landet men också i grannlandet Syrien.

Vi träffade bland annat Libanons… pic.twitter.com/eruy9Idkwt

— Yusuf Aydin (@Y_Aydin82) June 1, 2025

“What happens in the Middle East affects Europe,” Aydin told reporters after the meeting. “Lebanon still represents a beacon of hope, if its Christians can remain rooted in their homeland. Sweden can assist by supporting local administrations, education, and job creation to ensure Lebanon’s diversity thrives.”

Geagea, whose party has been a leading voice for Christian political advocacy since the civil war, echoed the sentiment, emphasizing that “security, opportunity, and representation” are critical to halting the exodus of Lebanon’s historically influential Christian population.

From Budapest to Beirut

Two months before the delegations visit in Budapest, Aydin had joined more than 300 clergy, politicians, and federalism advocates at an international conference titled The Future of Lebanon from a Christian Perspective. Hosted by Hungary’s Foreign Ministry, the conference built upon a founding session held on 1 March. At that earlier gathering, Alfred Riachi, Secretary-General of the Permanent Conference of Federalism in Lebanon, condemned post-Taif policies as “collective cultural genocide” against Lebanon’s Christians.

During the 1 March forum, Hungary unveiled a proposal for a $200 million support fund, backed by national and international donors, aimed at bolstering Lebanon’s Christian institutions. The fund was designed to finance vocational training in Mount Lebanon’s villages, restore ancient churches and monasteries, and support clinics in Christian-majority districts. “Hungary stands with Lebanese Christians,” declared Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, who pledged that the fund would be overseen by a board comprising Lebanese Christian parties and international partners.

However, Riachi cautioned that financial aid alone would be insufficient without constitutional reform. He highlighted numerous grievances stemming from the 1989 Taif Agreement, including citizenship laws that naturalized more than 250,000 non-Lebanese families, electoral reforms that reduced Christian parliamentary representation, and the statutory redefinition of Lebanon as “Arab,” which he described as a form of “cultural erasure.”

A Voice for Federalism

Three days later, on 4 March, the Budapest conference further developed these discussions. Unable to attend due to a mild illness, Syriac Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros al-Rai entrusted Bishop Mar Paul Sayyah to deliver his message. “Lebanon is more than a nation; it is a message of coexistence,” the Patriarch’s statement declared. “Our proximity to the conflicts in Syria, Palestine, and Israel has driven many young Christians abroad. This conference must result in tangible programs — job creation, educational opportunities, and cultural preservation — so that Christians can remain in their homeland.”

During a panel on constitutional reform, federalist advocate Iyad Boustani of the Federal Lebanon movement traced a historical trajectory from the Austro-Habsburg sponsorship of Lebanon’s first constitution in 1861 to the centralized 1926 charter, which he argued “now suffocates minorities.”

“Lebanese Christians are dying,” Boustani cautioned. “Within twenty years, our heritage — 6,000 years of Phoenician civilization, 2,000 years of Christianity, and 1,600 years of Syriac-Maronite history — may vanish. Only a federal constitution, granting each community autonomy over its affairs, can preserve our identity.” He emphasized that the proposed Lebanon fund must be tied to political objectives rather than being merely charitable. “Christians need a cause and a project,” he said. “Without direction, we will fade from history.”

Amine Iskandar, representing the Universal Syriac Union Party (USUP), highlighted the systemic marginalization Lebanon’s Christians have faced since the state’s modern establishment. He condemned the consequences of the 1989 Taif Agreement, which codified Lebanon’s “Arab” identity and diminished Christian political representation. To combat demographic engineering — such as the naturalization of non-Lebanese and the settlement of refugees — Iskandar advocated for “geo-cultural federalism,” a system in which regional autonomy would protect linguistic, religious, and historical pluralism. “If diversity is respected,” he asserted, “we can withstand external pressures that aim to dilute our identity.”

Lebanon is a Beacon

Aydin took to social media to articulate his message. “Lebanon is vital to regional stability,” he wrote. “A strong, politically empowered Christian presence is essential. We must develop a Swedish aid strategy that promotes religious freedom and minority rights—particularly for Christians, who remain among the most persecuted groups in the Middle East.”

He highlighted his meetings with Lebanese MPs, church leaders, and civil society figures, expressing admiration for Hungary’s “mechanism for long-term support” under Special Envoy Tristan Azbej. “This is not mere charity,” Aydin concluded. “It is an investment in pluralism, peace, and the survival of a 6,000-year heritage.”

A Model of Coexistence

Two months later, Aydin’s words echoed in Maraaeb as the Swedish delegation met with Geagea at his residence in the hills above Beirut. Magnus Jacobsson, responsible for foreign policy within KD, remarked, “Sweden’s own path toward decentralized governance offers a blueprint for Lebanon. If each region can manage its schools, healthcare, and police under a unified framework, all communities — Christian, Muslim, and Druze — can share in state resources while preserving their distinct identities.”

Geagea affirmed that the Lebanese Forces view decentralization as the solution to sectarian tensions. “We seek a Lebanon where Maronites, Syriac Orthodox, Shiites, Sunnis, and Druze can govern their own affairs without fear of marginalization,” he said. “Sweden’s experience gives us hope that federalism does not mean fragmentation but rather a stronger, more representative state.”

Magnus Bernetsson, tasked with external relations for his party, noted, “Europe has a stake in preserving Lebanon’s pluralistic model. Political instability or failure here reverberates across the Mediterranean, from Greece to Malta.” He added, “Education exchanges and local government training can serve as catalysts for deeper Swedish-Lebanese partnerships.”

A Precarious Future

For decades, Lebanon’s Christians, once nearly half the population, have dwindled to fewer than one in three, driven away by political collapse, economic meltdown, and security vacuums. United Nations estimates indicate that nearly half of Lebanon’s citizens live below the poverty line, while the World Bank warns of further population decline if emigration remains unchecked. The Hungarian fund’s $200 million contribution and Sweden’s parliamentary outreach represent the most significant international mobilization for Lebanon’s Christians in recent memory. However, federalists caution that without constitutional reform, even substantial aid may fail to stem brain drain and demographic erosion.

Back in Stockholm, Aydin expressed a shared sense of urgency. “Lebanese Christians have been the backbone of their nation for centuries — running schools, hospitals, and churches that served all Lebanese. Their flight would not only extinguish a faith community but also rob the region of a living model of coexistence. Europe must stand with them now, before it is too late.”

As the Swedish delegation departed Maraaeb on Thursday, they left behind plans for educational grants, municipal training programs, and a memorandum of understanding to reconvene in Beirut later this summer. For Lebanon’s Christians — who have endured Ottoman rule, a brutal civil war, and successive waves of emigration — the coming months will determine whether international pledges lead to meaningful political change at home.