Residents of a predominantly Christian village in Syria are calling for security, justice and accountability after armed men from a neighbouring town carried out a second attack on their community in six months.
Al-Suqaylabiyah, in Hama province, was targeted by men from nearby Al-Qalaa, also known as Qalaat al-Madiq. The latest violence occurred on the night of 3 October, when attackers reportedly returned in greater numbers and armed with weapons after an earlier confrontation with local residents.
The dispute began when young men from Al-Qalaa allegedly attempted to intimidate a shopkeeper in Al-Suqaylabiyah. Other young men from the Christian village intervened and forced them to leave. However, the group later returned and opened fire on homes. An Orthodox priest was also shot at while travelling in his vehicle but escaped without injury.
Police responded to the incident and arrested several alleged attackers, as well as two Christian men from the village. The two Christians were released two days later. No immediate reports of deaths emerged following the attack.
Father Fadi Sankari, a Greek Orthodox priest in Al-Suqaylabiyah, condemned the threats against residents and stressed their right to safety and dignity in their own homes.
He also encouraged Christians to support one another as they dealt with the trauma of the incident, saying that their faith and solidarity would help them through the difficult period.
The latest violence has renewed fears in a community still recovering from an attack earlier in the year. Shortly before Easter, local residents intervened when a group of young men allegedly harassed a woman in the village. The confrontation was followed by a larger mob armed with sticks and knives, which attacked people and damaged businesses.
An eyewitness to the earlier violence described how the attackers targeted property selectively. When one shopkeeper reportedly shouted that he was a Sunni Muslim as the group tried to enter his premises, the attackers left his shop alone and continued vandalising other property.
Residents now hope that the latest incident will lead to lasting justice and prevent further attacks, although many remain fearful of renewed violence.
One resident said the community wanted the latest attack to be the last, but past experience had left people worried that each incident could be more serious than the one before.
Mervyn Thomas, founding president of Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), condemned the renewed sectarian violence in Al-Suqaylabiyah. He urged the authorities to prioritise the safety of vulnerable communities and called on the international community to press the Syrian government to tackle extremism, hate speech and sectarian incitement urgently.
Residents are seeking effective protection and accountability as they attempt to rebuild a sense of security after repeated attacks on their community.
Based on reporting by ICC and CSW.
