Member of Presidential Council of Bethnahrin National Council Echoua Gouriye condemns Mar Elias Church terrorist attack

DARAMSUQ — In an interview with Suroyo TV on Sunday, Member of Presidential Council of Bethnahrin National Council (Mawtbo Umthoyo d’Bethnahrin, MUB) Echoua Gouriye condemned the terrorist attack that targeted the Greek (Rûm) Orthodox Church of Mar Elias in Daramsuq (Damascus).

He stated that attacks and persecution against the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) people, and Christians in general, across the Middle East will continue unless they unite in their demands and defend themselves.

Therefore, he stressed the necessity for Syriacs (Arameans–Assyrians–Chaldeans) and other predominantly Christian peoples to come together, unify their demands, as well as empower themselves to protect their regions and holy sites.

Gouriye added that there are many examples of this, including the terrorist attack on the Sayyidat al-Najat (Our Lady of Salvation) Cathedral, where calls were made for the people to unite, defend themselves, as well as secure their rights, yet these appeals were not embodied into action on the ground.

He emphasized the need for Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) people to determine their own destiny, demands, future and goals in the Middle East, especially amid the escalating tensions and devastating wars gripping the region.

Gouriye called on the political, cultural and religious parties, institutions and organizations of Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) people, as well as Church leaders, to work toward unifying efforts, demands and voices as a Christian people, rather than along narrow partisan and sectarian lines.