RONÎDA HACÎ

Hasakah- 25 people were killed and 63 others injured in the suicide attack on the Mar Elias Church in the Dweila neighborhood of Damascus on June 22, 2025. On June 24, the jihadist group Saraya Ansar Al-Sunna claimed responsibility for the attack. In an interview with NuJINHA, the members and administrators of the Democratic Islamic Congress condemned the attack on the church, saying that the attack was “a crime against humanity” and Syria’s interim government led by  Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) is “responsible for it”.

‘It was a crime against humanity’

Islam is a religion of peace, unity and love, said Xilûd Khîdir Şêx Îsa, highlighting that the aim of the attack was to fuel sectarian conflict in Syria. “We condemn the killing of Christians and those who carried out attacks in the name of Islam. Islam forbids shedding blood and killing people and considers it a heinous crime and a major sin. Everyone should respect all religions. There are many ethnic and religious minorities in Syria; however, dirty policies  are implemented against them. These policies aim to fuel sectarian conflict. As the people of Syria, we are aware of these policies and we must stand against them. We call on the interim government to stop attacking ethnic and religious minorities and hold those responsible for the attack (on the Mar Elias Church). Those who use Islam for their own interests must not go unpunished.”

‘Insecurity and instability pave the way for the resurgence of ISIS’

Eziza Hiso, another member of the Democratic Islamic Congress, thinks that insecurity and instability in Syria pave the way for the resurgence of ISIS. “In 2015, ISIS attacked Syriac villages of Til Temir, killing and abducting many people and destroying churches. The attacks of ISIS on the villages also forced Christians to leave their homes. Following the fall of the Assad regime, we hoped that all displaced people would return to their homes and have a safe life in the new Syria; however, many ethnic and religious minorities have been attacked. The attack on the Mar Elias Church was an attack on all Syrians.”

Eziza Hiso told us that the system implemented in the areas controlled by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) protects the rights of all ethnic and religious identities. “The Democratic Islamic Congress embraces people from all ethnic and religious groups in Syria. We condemn the attack on the Mar Elias Church and call on Syria’s interim government to implement the system of the AANES across Syria. Syria is the home of many ethnic and religious minorities and this system protects Syria’s diversity.”