MEP: Islamists killed 7,000 Christians and Alawites in Syria

Syrian Government Forces. Photo: BBC

March 12, 2025 – According to Greek Member of the European Parliament Nikolas Farantouris, a member of the European Parliament’s Committee on Security and Defense, more than 7,000 Christians and Alawites have been “slaughtered” in Syria, Greek City Times reports.

Farantouris visited Damascus on March 8-9, where he met with religious leaders, including Patriarch John X of Antioch, as well as representatives of the new regime’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Damascus.

His visit coincided with mass killings of Alawites and Christians, including Orthodox Christians, carried out by forces of the Turkey-backed Islamist regime. Preliminary reports indicate that the death toll exceeds 7,000.

"Reliable data indicate 7,000 Christians and Alawites slaughtered and unprecedented atrocities against civilians. Christian and other communities with a millennial presence in this region are at risk of extinction," Farantouris said following his visit.

"The new Islamic regime is leading Syria into an Islamic state and is pretending that it cannot control the paramilitaries and the gangs associated with them who attack innocent civilians," he continued, adding that Patriarch John X had called for an end to the bloodshed, while privately emphasizing the severe shortage of food and medicine that Christians are facing.

The recent mass killings have been described as the worst violence to hit Syria since the fall of the Assad regime in December.

Ahmed al-Sharaa, the interim president whose Islamist group led the offensive that toppled Assad, attempted to distance himself from the violence in response to international outrage. He promised to "hold accountable, firmly and without leniency, anyone who was involved in the bloodshed of civilians."

"There will be no one above the law and anyone whose hands have been stained with the blood of Syrians will face justice sooner or later," al-Sharaa added.

MEP Farantouris called on the Greek government and EU member states to act immediately, arguing that neither Greece nor the EU can continue to tolerate and limit themselves to ceremonial visits and courtesies with the Islamic regime in pursuit of investments and 'business' while thousands of civilians are being exterminated with its silent approval – if not under its leadership.

"Measures must be taken here and now before it is too late," he urged.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that Islamists had killed a large number of civilians in Syria.

Read also

Military servicemen award UOC Sumy Eparchy cleric

A priest of the Sumy Eparchy, Archpriest Oleksandr Petrenko, received gratitude from the territorial defense command for assistance to military personnel.

Vatican again lets OCU approach St. Nicholas' relics

With the assistance of the Ukrainian embassy, OCU clerics served a “liturgy” in the crypt of the papal basilica in Bari.

Exhibition about “church rascism” touring across Ukraine

Experts believe the exhibition about “church rascism” is aimed at the UOC, since the authorities portray it as “Moscow's.”

Cypriot hierarch calls 2026 the year of "spiritual trials"

Metropolitan Neophytos of Morphou warned the faithful about coming trials and urged repentance and participation in the Divine Liturgy.

Metropolitan Lazar (Shvets) departs to the Lord

At the age of 86, Metropolitan Lazar of Simferopol and Crimea has reposed in the Lord.

UOC deacon's family home burned down in Pohreby, believers ask for help

After a gas explosion, two sons of Deacon Olexiy Orlov underwent surgeries, the family asks for prayers and help in finding housing.