The Syrian Future Movement commends the swift and professional security deployment carried out by the Internal Security Forces in the city of Maaloula in the Damascus countryside, and particularly around churches, on Sunday, March 29, 2026. This deployment aimed to secure churches and worshippers during Palm Sunday celebrations, commemorating Jesus Christ’s entry into Jerusalem. The deployment included protecting places of worship and ensuring the safety of citizens as they attended prayers and masses.
The Syrian Future Movement congratulates the sons and daughters of the Christian communities in Syria, especially the residents of Maaloula and Christians in Damascus, Aleppo, and all Syrian regions, on the occasion of Palm Sunday. The Syrian Future Movement wishes them celebrations filled with peace, love, and security, and joins in the prayers expressed in religious sermons for stability and national harmony in Syria.
The Syrian Future Movement appreciates these security measures, which reflect the state’s commitment to protecting freedom of worship and religious pluralism, especially during this sensitive transitional period and the attempts by some malicious actors to sow sectarian discord among the people. We believe that protecting churches and worshippers in Maaloula, in particular—this historic city that symbolizes Syrian diversity—is a positive step that strengthens confidence in security institutions and affirms that the safety of citizens and places of worship is a red line that cannot be crossed.
The Syrian Future Movement emphasizes that protecting religious and cultural diversity in Syria is not merely a security duty, but a fundamental pillar for building a modern civil state. This security deployment aligns with the widespread sentiments expressed by Syrians on social media, as we have observed, who have categorically rejected any threat targeting religious communities and called for strengthening civil peace and national solidarity among all citizens.
The Syrian Future Movement stresses that any incident targeting churches or worshippers constitutes an attack on the entire national fabric and must be met with the full force of the law. Christian diversity is an integral part of Syrian identity, and safeguarding freedom of worship and peaceful coexistence is a prerequisite for the success of the transitional phase.
The Syrian Future Movement demands the following:
- Strengthening ongoing coordination between internal security forces and Christian religious communities to ensure comprehensive protection for all places of worship throughout the year, not just during religious holidays.
- Launching joint national awareness programs that promote the values of tolerance and coexistence among all communities, while engaging youth, women, and civil society in strengthening social peace.
- Establishing transparent mechanisms for swift and impartial investigations into any incident targeting religious diversity, with the results made public to foster trust.
- Linking efforts to protect churches to local stability and development plans in areas like Maaloula, to serve as a model for a future Syria based on equal citizenship.
The Syrian Future Movement affirms that protecting churches and ensuring the safe celebration of Palm Sunday reflect the true spirit of Syria: a homeland that unites religions and cultures under the umbrella of law and human dignity. The Syrian Future Movement will continue to support every effort that safeguards pluralism and builds a shared future for all Syrians.
