Netherlands MP Isa Kahraman: Rising violence against Christians in Syria cannot be tolerated

THE HAGUE — In response to the recent terrorist attack that struck the Greek (Rûm) Orthodox Church of Mar Elias in Daramsuq (Damascus) — martyring 29 people — Member of Parliament in the Netherlands Isa Kahraman (Nieuw Sociaal Contract, NSC), a Syriac, stated that Christians in Syria have not experienced security since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s dictatorial regime.

Speaking during a parliamentary session attended by Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp, Kahraman expressed deep concern over rising violence against minorities in Syria, particularly the Christian community, which he estimated at 2.5 million people.

He stated that Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara must take responsibility for protecting all citizens, adding that trust in al-Shara remains low due to his past affiliation with the terrorist organization Al-Qaeda.

He warned that threats to Christians in Syria are escalating, calling the Christian presence a “point of weakness” for European governments. Despite numerous reports documenting violations against them, he lamented, “No one is willing to intervene or offer protection.”

Kahraman concluded by emphasizing that Syria is the cradle of Christianity and that Christians must remain steadfast and rooted in their ancestral homeland.