The Syriac-Catholic Archbishop of Homs has made a heartfelt appeal to the international community, calling for economic sanctions on Syria to be lifted in order to ease the suffering of ordinary people and renew hope for the future.
Archbishop Jacques Mourad spoke at a recent press conference organised by Aid to the Church in Need, urging governments to consider the human cost of ongoing sanctions following the collapse of the Assad government last year.
Although fears that Syria would fall fully into the hands of hardline Islamist extremists have not yet come true, Archbishop Mourad said the presence of armed Islamist groups on the streets has caused widespread unease, even among Muslim communities.
“For the Syrian people, this way of life is unfamiliar,” he said. “It does not reflect their traditions. The kind of rigid Islam being enforced now is foreign to the culture of our people.”
He added that Sunni Muslim neighbours have quietly voiced their discomfort with the new regime, but live in fear of speaking out, as dissent is considered blasphemy by extremists—a charge that could carry a death sentence.
Syria has long been a country known for its diversity, where Christians and Muslims have lived side by side. Archbishop Mourad explained that this deeply rooted tradition is now under threat due to fear, division, and violence.
Though the new regime has made some attempts to reassure Christians and other minorities, the archbishop said the central government lacks full control. This has led to concerning incidents of local violence, including the killing of hundreds of Alawites in March—possibly linked to revenge or efforts to prevent any attempt to restore the old order. Former president Bashar al-Assad belonged to the Alawite minority.
Archbishop Mourad said the sanctions are only deepening the crisis.
“After the fall of the government, many people lost their jobs and can no longer provide for their families,” he explained. “People come to me every day asking for help just to buy bread. Others cannot afford heating. This is the reality now.”
He believes lifting the sanctions would help the Syrian people rebuild their lives, create job opportunities, and offer a chance for recovery.
Despite the extreme hardship, Archbishop Mourad expressed strong faith and hope. In 2015, while still a monk, he was kidnapped and held for months by ISIS. That experience, he said, shaped his understanding of true freedom.
“For someone like me, who has known inner freedom even during captivity, there is now nothing that can imprison me,” he said. “My life is in the hands of God, and I am confident He is guiding me.”
He continued: “The God who rescued me from captivity still walks with me. He is with all of us, including the Church and Christians who remain in Syria.”
