marist news 882
16 I APRIL I 2025
SYRIA: Letter ALEPPO No. 50: TRANSITIONS and STEPHANUS Foundation Prize

Dear friends,

many of you have asked us for a new letter. We thank you for your concern. We have been waiting for a clearer picture of the situation before writing to you. Since our last letter, we have experienced a double transition. One, for Syria, is complicated, dangerous and worrisome for the future and the other, for the Blue Marists, is smoother and less complicated.

Transition in Syria
As you know, Syria is in a transitional phase, the transitional period in which its future and the future of the Syrian people will be decided. Indeed, on December 8, 2024, seventeen armed Islamist rebel groups led by HTS (Hayaat Tahrir al-Sham), an Islamist group formerly known as Al-Nusra, were able to overthrow the regime and seize power. In 13 days they had achieved what they had not managed in 13 years! There was initially great relief among the population at the abolition of compulsory military service, which could last up to nine years, the release of prisoners, the abolition of the secret services and the 4th Brigade, whose main task was to extort money from citizens. Freedom of speech, which had been suppressed for 63 years, has been allowed and Syrians can express themselves in public, on social media after more than 60 years of repression.

Huge chaos ensued: the abolition of the constitution, the dissolution of parliament, the army and the police, the dismissal of more than 300,000 administrative employees and the standstill of administrative services for more than three months. HTS leader Ahmad Al Sharaa was appointed interim president by representatives of the armed forces. He called for a five-year transition period and announced a roadmap consisting of a national conference with representatives from all parts of Syria. This conference, which was attended by 600 people, lasted only one day and published a communiqué with prepared resolutions. The proclamation of a constitutional declaration to serve as a provisional constitution for the transitional period. A presidential system was adopted. The president, who must be Muslim, has all powers, including the appointment of members of the future legislative body. Muslim jurisprudence (Fikh) is the main source of laws. An interim government with 23 ministers was appointed. It consists of one representative from each of the four ethnic-religious minorities, the Alawites, Christians, Druze and Kurds, and only one woman, a Christian. The four sovereign ministries remained in the hands of close confidants of the president. The forthcoming appointment of a legislative body, the legislative body for the transitional period, a committee to draft a new constitution and finally the holding of parliamentary and presidential elections are to be organized in five years.

While things are now clear but also worrying at the political level, the same cannot be said for the military level. The new regime only controls part of Syria, the northwest is under Turkish control, the two southern provinces of Daraa and Sweida are under the control of local militias and Israel has taken advantage of the situation to bomb and destroy the Syrian army’s military airports and weapons depots and occupy part of the border area. In recent days, an agreement was reached with the Syrian Democratic Forces (Kurds), who control the north-eastern part of Syria and are supported by the Americans, and with the Druze community. The economy, which has been devastated after years of war, is now in agony. We are in an unbearable crisis. More than a million additional unemployed without pay in the last four months (all parts of the army and the police have been disbanded), 300,000 administrative employees dismissed. A rise in the price of bread, transportation and other essential goods, no improvement so far in public services such as electricity, which is only available for 2-4 hours a day. The support of Western and Arab countries for the new regime and promised aid have not yet materialized. Crime and theft have increased due to poverty and the lack of police forces. There are daily attacks, murders and violence against members of certain communities or people suspected of being connected to the former regime.

The events in the coastal region in search of the “remnants” of the former regime at the beginning of March ended in a massacre against Alawites and Christians alike: summary executions. Between 1,600 and 6,000 people were killed; acts described by the new authorities as isolated incidents, but their number and repetition suggest that they at least have no control over their forces. The transitional justice system to prosecute war crimes and crimes against humanity, so often announced by the new authorities, is still not in place. However, it should prosecute all crimes committed by both sides. The authorities, although Islamist, maintain a very moderate and benevolent discourse and have not taken discriminatory measures against different ethnic and religious groups. The words “freedom”, “sovereignty” and “equality” appear frequently in their statements, but never “democracy” or “secular state”. However, the behavior of their troops on the ground is very questionable. Their desire to Islamize the country, very questionable: the use of the word “kafir” (infidel) to refer to non-Muslims and even non-Sunnis, calls to wear the veil and separate men and women in public places, etc.

What will the future of Syria look like?
With the current authorities, it will certainly be an Islamist state. However, we hope that it will be moderate Islamism along Turkish lines and not extremist Islamism along Afghan lines. Our dream of a democracy with a separation of the three powers, the rule of law and a secular, non-sectarian regime has faded. We fear replacing an oligarchic autocracy with an Islamic autocracy. Christians are very worried about their future. Their main desire is to emigrate, as in the past, but for different reasons.

Transition for the Blue Marists
The second transition is less difficult and more peaceful. As we announced in our last letter, we have appointed a new leadership team for the Blue Marists. After the founding and 12 years of service to the Blue Marists, Leyla, Br. Georges and I have decided to hand over the reins to a younger team capable of ensuring the sustainability of our group. The transition is going smoothly, sometimes with tensions, but peacefully. After a two-week hiatus in December following the events, we have resumed our activities. Our presence, our projects and our programs are needed now more than ever. We are continuing our aid projects to help people survive, to name but a few: Distribution of monthly food parcels to 1,100 families, accommodation for around 150 families, medical care for more than 200 people every month, care for 260 senior citizens over 80 years of age who live alone (“Sharing Bread” project), 2,000 children under the age of 9 receive their monthly ration of milk (“Drop of Milk” project). Our educational programs inspire the beneficiaries: “I want to learn” for 120 children aged 3 to 6 years, “Seeds” for psychosocial support for 600 children and young people, “MIT” for adults, “Cut and sew” for a group of 40 women every four months and “School Support” for more than 200 pupils. Our development projects will continue despite the difficult situation. “Heartmade” produces beautiful pieces from fabric remnants. The “Micro-Projects” program teaches adults how to successfully manage a micro-project and finances the best projects. Forty apprentices spend two years learning a trade from a professional as part of the “Vocational Training” program. The waiting list for the “Women’s Development” project is very long and testifies to the enthusiasm and excitement of our women, who seize every opportunity to succeed.

Prize to the Blue Marists
The German Stephanus Foundation for Persecuted Christians awarded its 2025 Annual Prize to the Blue Marists, honoring its three founders. The prize was presented to me at a ceremony on the sidelines of the annual conference of the International Society for Human Rights in Bonn on Saturday, March 29, at which I gave an overview of the current situation in Syria. On accepting the award, I said: “Tonight I am not receiving this award for myself alone. I accept it on behalf of all three founders of the Blue Marists: my wife Leyla, Brother George and myself, and on behalf of all those who have worked tirelessly with us. This recognition goes to the many volunteers, staff and beneficiaries who have become a family, united by faith, hope and an unwavering commitment to those in need. When I accept this award, I accept it with renewed commitment. This recognition strengthens our determination to continue our work and help preserve the Christian presence in Syria, not only as a historical memory, but also as a living faith that continues to shine”. Although the Syrian people are champions of resilience, 14 years of war, sanctions, deprivation, economic crisis, poverty, scarcity and earthquakes have sapped their optimism. Syrians are desperate and for many, hope is dead and buried. In the midst of so much suffering, we, the Blue Marists, are providing food, education, medical aid, jobs and much more, not only to meet immediate needs, but also to restore dignity and hope.

Despite the uncertainty and fear of the future, we must continue to fight for a better future in order to resist despair, pessimism and anxiety.
Soon we will be celebrating Easter, the feast of the resurrection and the feast of hope. May it awaken in each of us that little bit of faith that gives us hope.

Happy Easter!

Dr. Nabil Antaki, for the Blue Marists