Protest in Gütersloh, Germany, condemns bombing of Mar Elias Church in Daramsuq

GÜTERSLOH, Germany — In response to Sunday’s suicide bombing at the Mar Elias Greek (Rum) Orthodox Church in the Syrian capital Daramsuq (Damascus), a broad-based protest was held today in front of the Gütersloh city hall in Germany. Representatives of local religious and cultural institutions from the Syriac, Yazidi, Alawite and others communities took part in the gathering.

Candles were lit and prayers were offered for the souls of the martyrs. Several speeches by the gathere dorganizations and churches were delivered, condemning the heinous terrorist act and calling on Germany and the international community to protect the Christian presence in Syria and the Middle East.

A similar protest is underway in the French capital Paris at 3 p.m. today, where demonstrators call for justice for Christians of the East and demanded full protection for their historical communities amid increasing threats to their existence, identity, and faith.