European conference urges equal citizenship for Syria’s Christians
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – European policymakers, Church leaders and representatives of Syria’s Christian communities on Tuesday called for a new constitutional and political framework guaranteeing equal citizenship, religious freedom and meaningful political participation.
The calls came during a conference at the European Parliament in Brussels titled “The Future of Christians in Syria: Religious Freedom, Political Representation, Common Future,” as Syria continues its post-Assad political transition.
The conference brought together European officials, Church leaders and representatives of Christian and Syriac (Aramean-Assyrian-Chaldean) political organizations.
Participants stressed that protecting Christians should go beyond physical security or symbolic representation, calling for enforceable legal protections, property rights, accountability for abuses and safe returns for displaced people.
Melkite Greek Catholic Archbishop of Aleppo Georges Masri described the challenges facing Christians in Syria as existential and called for a “fully civil constitution” guaranteeing equal rights and responsibilities regardless of religious, tribal or sectarian affiliation.
Father Vasilios Khamis of the Greek Orthodox Church said Christians do not seek special privileges or a Christian state, but a Syria based on civic citizenship and coexistence.
“The aspiration of Christians is not ‘Syria for Christians,’ but Syria for all Syrians,” Khamis said.
Sanharib Barsom, Co-Chair of the Syriac Union Party, warned of systematic political marginalization and called for constitutional guarantees protecting equal citizenship, religious freedom, political participation and individual and collective rights.
Waddah al-Khoury, president of the Levantine National Council, identified equal citizenship, protection of people and religious sites, accountability, safe return and political participation as key priorities.
The conference was co-organized by several European Christian and Syriac organizations and chaired by MEP Miriam Lexmann.