July 7, 2025
25 Christians Murdered: Suicide Bombing In Syria!
The deaths of these Christians is not a one-off but rather the next stage in the war against any who stand against radical Islam in Syria
WASHINGTON — The deaths of at least 25 Christians at the Mar Elias Church in Damascus, Syria, on June 22 can be blamed in large measure on the administration of the nation’s president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, according to International Christian Concern (ICC) (persecution.org).
The Middle Eastern nation, recently liberated from decades of dictatorship under the Assad regime, is far from safe for religious minorities, ICC noted, and must be made so.
The day after the assailant, a member of the Islamic State terrorist group, detonated explosives in the church during a prayer service, al-Sharaa decried “a crime against all Syrians,” according to a news report, but refused to specify that the attack was against Christian Syrians.
“After decades of oppression and deprivation, Syria’s Christians — and all its citizens — deserve to live in peace and security,” said Jeff King, ICC president and global advocate for the persecuted. “President al-Sharaa must speak out for his country’s religious minorities and acknowledge the ongoing persecution there.”
During a funeral service on June 24, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch John (X) Yazigi publicly rebuked President al-Sharaa, blaming his administration for failing to protect religious minorities. Yazigi, the most senior Christian cleric in the country, said the bombing was a direct consequence of government failure and demanded action rather than sympathy.
While U.S. officials, including U.S. Ambassador to Syria Tom Barrack and U.S. State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce, decried the attack, more needs to be said and done to aid those in danger. Syria once had 2.2 million Christians among its population, but only a few hundred thousand remain today.
“The loss of these Christians in this latest violence is no surprise once you understand who the government is. The government is made up of Jihadests from ISIS and Al Qaeda. The blood of the martyrs of Mar Elias Church cries out to us. Those who value life and hate the victimization of innocents must speak for the sheep that exist among wolves.”
ICC joins in Patriarch Yazigi’s call for action and asks Christians in the U.S. and worldwide to pray and advocate for Syria’s Christians.
Jeff King has served as International Christian Concern (ICC) (persecution.org) president since 2003 and is one of the world’s top experts on religious persecution. He has advocated for the persecuted everywhere, testifying before the U.S. Congress on religious freedom. He has been interviewed by leading media outlets such as the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, and The Washington Times. Jeff is also the host of “Faith Under Fire,” a podcast dedicated to sharing stories of the persecuted church from around the world. “Faith Under Fire” is available on LifeAudio, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever podcasts are available. Jeff King is available as a guest speaker. To learn more, go to Christian Persecution and Spiritual Growth Speaker | Jeff King Blog.
Since 1995, ICC has served the global persecuted church through a three-pronged approach of assistance, advocacy and awareness. ICC exists to bandage the wounds of persecuted Christians and to build the church in the toughest parts of the world. Visit the International Christian Concern media page here.
Jeff King is the author of three books: “The Whisper” (2024), “Last Words of the Martyrs” (2023), and “Islam Uncensored” (2011). Jeff is available to speak at churches and events. For speaking, contact Jaela Bernard: jaelabernard@gmail.com.
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