The ACT Alliance Syria Forum strongly condemns the heinous and unacceptable attack that took place at the Greek Orthodox Church of Mar Elias Church in Dweil’a, in the suburbs of Damascus, Syria, during the Divine Liturgy on Sunday the 22nd of June 2025.  

 Members of our alliance have been injured; families of our colleagues have been killed. We pray for their suffering to be alleviated during these difficult times. The ACT Alliance Syria Forum extends its deepest condolences to the families of the victims. We pray for healing, comfort, and a swift recovery for the injured.  

It is appalling that this act of violence occurred in a place of worship during the Divine Liturgy. The sanctity of religious places must be respected and protected, and targeting worshippers in their religious spaces is a violation of fundamental human rights. The ACT Alliance Syria Forum urges the competent authorities to take necessary protection measures in ensuring safety and respect to religious diversity throughout Syria. 

This attack, in addition to the other sectarian tensions that occurred across the country since early 2025, is creating a hostile environment for the religions of Syria. It is imperative that the competent authorities and international community work to support freedom of religion and practice and provide safety, security, and justice for all communities. Syria has been the cradle of civilisations and that of the Christian faith, it is imperative that it remains a safe space for that. The below steps are necessary for working towards a country that ensures religious tolerance.  

We call for action to ensure safety for all: 

• The need for authorities to ban and criminalize public or institutional discriminatory practices and rhetoric that marginalize or dehumanize any religious or ethnic group. 

• The need for authorities to legislate (or enact or reinforce) policies that institutionalize inclusion of all faiths, to actively promote coexistence, tolerance, and equitable representation of all communities. 

• To combat hate speech with accountability and support civil society efforts to monitor and document hate speech (online and in public) and stop any incitement to violence. 

• To promote interfaith tolerance and launch media campaigns and education programs to counter extremist ideologies and foster respect for all. 

• To enforce legal protections and guarantee the safety of all worship sites and prosecute violations against all ethnic and religious minorities as priority crimes. 

• We urge the international community and donors to support and fund interfaith dialogue and conflict resolution initiatives, invest in social cohesion programs that restore trust, and reconcile divided communities.  

These are necessary actions that are essential for rebuilding a peaceful Syria.  

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The ACT Syria Forum members and partners’ work inside Syria and have the added value of working as first responders in hard-to-reach areas. ACT members and partners work with local faith and non-faith actors who are committed to working for humanity and dignity, motivated and framed by faith, and in full respect to the humanitarian principles and standards. Continuing our involvement and commitment to provide assistance and protection to all people in need is not only an expression of our faith and our conviction to humanity but is also inspired by our wish to contribute to peace and restore the dignity and the social fabric of the population of Syria.