Syria | March 12, 2024
Urgent prayer needed for Syrian Christians fleeing Turkey attacks
Christians in north east Syria are preparing to flee their homes as the bombings and attacks by Turkish armed forces escalate. We are asking urgently for prayer, particularly for our brothers and sisters in Qamishli, Kobani, Hassaka and other areas of north east Syria near the Turkish border.
12 October 2019
Christians in north east Syria are preparing to flee their homes as the bombings and attacks by Turkish armed forces escalate. We are asking urgently for prayer, particularly for our brothers and sisters in Qamishli, Kobani, Hassaka and other areas of north east Syria near the Turkish border.
Fighting in Syria has been long-standing and has caused widespread devastation, but there had recently been signs that the worst was over. Many Christians were returning to their homes and restarting their lives and livelihoods, with support from Open Doors partners and your prayers and gifts. But this latest news has put many back in danger, and vulnerable families are expecting to have to flee again.
Open Doors partners are currently connecting with other key leaders in the areas under attack, and preparing contacts in Al Hasakah (a city further from the Turkish border) to welcome their brothers and sisters. We have heard from Pastor George, who leads a church in Qamishli, that he and his whole church are leaving the city today. Please pray for protection for them. One of the families in his church has already had their house destroyed by shelling. At least one member of the congregation has been severely injured.
Are Christians particularly vulnerable?
There isn’t any evidence that the Turkish military action is intending to specifically target Christians, though they are obviously deeply affected alongside other communities in the region. Turkey’s stated objectives are to create a ‘safe zone’ along the border by combatting Kurdish-led forces and to facilitate the repatriation of Syrian refugees from Turkey. But shelling has led to multiple casualties, more than 20 villages have been seized and tens of thousands have fled the region. More are expecting to go.
And Christians in the region face vulnerabilities that other Syrians may not. Christian leaders are concerned that there are elements within Turkey’s armed forces who are pursuing their own unofficial Islamist agendas. These Sunni Muslims are hostile to any communities that don’t follow their faith, with particular vehemence for attacking Christian converts from a Muslim background. North east Syria is the principal Kurdish region of the country and hosts sizeable Syriac and Assyrian Christian communities – include a significant number of converts from Islam. The threat of extremist action will be compounded if the security of prisons holding extremists is compromised. This is very possible.
How your prayers and support are helping
Open Doors has been working through local church partners in Syria to support Christians affected by the conflict since the fighting began, and your prayers and gifts continue to provide a lifeline to your persecuted family there. You may have heard a lot about our work with Open Doors partners in Aleppo recently, but we have also been working with local churches in the north east of Syria for several years. Before the Turkish attacks began, these partners prioritised essential food, fuel and medical aid as well as training and income-generating projects.
Open Doors continues to stand alongside Christians in Syria with emergency support, pastoral care and immediate trauma support, as well as investing in their livelihood, so they might stay in their country. Our local partners are urgently assessing the situation to see how best to meet the needs of the church community.
Please pray:
- For peace and protection for all communities in north east Syria, particularly those potentially at threat from Islamic extremism during the Turkish attacks, and that political and military leaders will act with restraint, wisdom and compassion
- For those who are bereaved or injured, and those who have to flee, to find God’s comfort, healing, provision and hope
- That Christian communities will not be intimidated but will find opportunity to be agents of reconciliation, peace and hope
- That God will change the hearts of all who are intent on violence and that they would discover His offer of new life through Jesus.
