Parish Church of Deir Atiyah, Syria, protests exclusion from Municipal Council

DEIR ATIYAH, Syria — Deir Atiyah, a town nestled in the Syrian Qalamoun Mountains long known for its communal solidarity, has been shaken by a new controversy after the parish church was excluded from representation on the municipal council. The Parish Church of Deir Atiyah issued a statement condemning the move, calling it a “deep wound in our collective fabric” and a reversal of the principles of coexistence that have long defined the community. 

The church’s statement emphasized that Deir Atiyah has historically been a model of harmony, where Christians and Muslims lived side by side without division. Despite the hardships of war, displacement, and destruction that scarred Syria over the past decade, the town’s residents stood together, rejecting sectarianism in favor of solidarity and shared belonging. 

The church argued that the recent decision undermines that legacy. “This exclusion is not merely a matter of formality; it is a dangerous message, because it transforms the principle of citizenship into narrow calculations and weakens people’s confidence in justice and equality,” the statement read. Church leaders stressed that they were not demanding privilege but a “natural and national right to representation and participation in decision-making.” 

Calling the exclusion an unprecedented development in the town’s modern history, the parish outlined three key demands: the rejection of any measure that sidelines the parish from representation, the launch of a comprehensive dialogue among all of Deir Atiyah’s components, and a reaffirmation that community unity must remain “a red line.” 

The statement appealed not only to residents but also to expatriates abroad, urging them to stand together in defense of inclusivity and national belonging. “We call on all the people of Deir Atiyah, at home and abroad, to stand together, not in defense of a particular group, but in defense of the value of the homeland itself,” the parish declared. 

The church warned that if the principles of partnership and unity are eroded, Deir Atiyah risks losing its identity as a cradle of coexistence. “If we lose this meaning, we lose the essence of our existence,” the statement concluded, underscoring the belief that Syria can only be rebuilt through the participation of all its citizens.