Syria’s Broken Promises: Breaking New Evidence Shows Slaughter of Christians and Religious Minorities

The world celebrated when Syria’s brutal dictator Bashar al-Assad fled to Russia on December 8, 2024. After 14 years of civil war and untold suffering, hope seemed within reach. The international community rushed to embrace Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syria’s new leader, who promised unity and human rights. The U.S. even lifted sanctions, extending a hand of friendship to this supposed reformer.

We were all deceived.

Behind the carefully crafted press statements, the ACLJ is uncovering a horrifying truth emerging from our connections on the ground: Christians and minorities are once again being targeted, attacked, and killed.

New Evidence From Syria: What They Don’t Want the U.S. To See

ACLJ connections on the ground are painting a devastating picture of what is actually happening under Ahmad al-Sharaa’s leadership. More than 1,300 civilians have been killed in recent sectarian violence, including Christians, Alawites, Druze, and other religious minorities. Entire families have been massacred, including women and children, while survivors have been forced to flee their homes.

The ACLJ is working with Reverend Majed El Shafie, a courageous survivor of religious persecution and torture in Egypt following his conversion to Christianity. Rev. El Shafie has been working on the ground in the Middle East and Syria and has witnessed firsthand the atrocities being committed. El Shafie’s organization, One Free World International, which has previously rescued individuals – including women and children – from ISIS captivity and victims of religious violence, has conducted extensive research and fact-finding missions that reveal a bleak reality.

Rev. El Shafie has proof: The detailed reports include firsthand evidence of intense human suffering and video interviews with Christian leaders in the region who are living under constant threat. These reports document systematic persecution that directly contradicts the Syrian government’s public statements about protecting religious freedom. This is just the first tier of evidence that has been collected from the ground in Syria, as the additional evidence is not something we can publicly share.

These reports go far beyond the headlines of the past month and include a suicide bombing that targeted a Greek Orthodox church, murdering at least 22 Christians in a brutal act of terror, and a jihadist assault on a Druze community in which a U.S. citizen from Oklahoma was killed. The evidence we’ve uncovered paints an even more harrowing picture – one that underscores the rapid and deadly escalation of sectarian violence under Syria’s new regime.

The Rise of Ahmed al-Sharaa: The “Reformed” Terrorist

Ahmed al-Sharaa was previously known as Abu Mohammed al-Julani, an al-Qaeda terrorist who has a troubling history that contradicts his current moderate image. Sent by al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) in late 2011, he established Jabhat al-Nusra, which quickly gained notoriety for kidnappings, bombings, and terrorist activities that killed significant numbers of civilians throughout Syria. The group earned terrorist designations from the U.N., U.S., and more, with the U.S. placing a $10 million bounty on al-Julani.

Al-Julani saw his opportunity after the war with Israel weakened Assad’s Russian and Iranian-backed support. On November 27, 2024, al-Julani’s forces launched a surprise offensive from his Southern power base toward the Syrian capital, reaching Damascus in less than two weeks. By December 8, 2024, Assad had fled to Russia, and al-Julani declared himself president of Syria.

Realizing his precarious situation, al-Sharaa immediately made efforts to curry favor with Western governments, promising to run a responsible government that would respect human rights. The efforts paid off: His government was recognized by France and the U.N., the U.S. bounty quietly removed, and President Trump lifted sanctions against Syria. The Trump Administration gave Syria a chance to demonstrate genuine change and commitment to human rights, but that chance has been squandered through bloodshed and deception.

The International Response: Time To Step Up

What has played out has become a disaster. Al-Sharaa’s claimed moderation was merely a tactical ploy.

This is not the time for diplomatic niceties or wishful thinking. It is time for the world to wake up to the reality of the violence taking place against Christians and other persecuted religious minorities in Syria. While the international community was right to be hopeful, hope must be balanced with accountability when that hope is betrayed through violence and persecution – with evidence that more persecution and violence are on the way.

The ACLJ is taking decisive action. We are engaging directly with international human rights advocates to amplify the voices of persecuted believers and minorities. We’re also preparing to present this urgent issue before the U.N. Human Rights Council and are drafting memoranda for key Members of Congress, urging a reassessment of U.S. policy toward Syria in light of the mounting evidence of persecution.

To help ensure protection for Syria’s Christian community, the ACLJ is advocating with our partners for the following immediate actions:

• Congressional hearings where witnesses can provide firsthand testimony about the atrocities being committed by the current Syrian regime against Christians and other religious minorities;
• Direct engagement with Administration officials to convey urgent concerns about how the Syrian regime is betraying America’s trust and expectations;
• Media attention to educate the public about what is really happening to Christians and minorities in Syria, beyond diplomatic headlines and official statements; and
• A reassessment of relations with the new Syrian government until these massacres are addressed and concrete actions, not just words, demonstrate genuine commitment to protecting religious minorities.

The U.S. and other Western nations must not be swayed by Al-Sharaa’s false narrative simply because it aligns with geopolitical hopes and interests. Human rights, particularly the right to life and the rights of religious and ethnic minorities, are fundamental to Western civilization and must not be sacrificed. The Syrian government has shown its true colors through its actions, not its words. The massacres of Christians, Alawites, and Druze reveal that this is not a government committed to religious freedom and human rights, but one that allows and participates in the very persecution it publicly claims to oppose.

The time for action is now – the international community must hold al-Sharaa and his authorities accountable while there is still time to protect Syria’s vulnerable minority communities.

Join the ACLJ as we actively work to combat the violence taking place against our Christian brothers and sisters in Syria. Add your voice to this effort, sign our petition: Defend Persecuted Christians Worldwide From Targeted Violence and Abuse.