While the Syrian regime is working to quell violent protests calling for his ouster and the proceedings were extended and radicalized in the country, some segments of the Syrian population - Multifaith - watch carefully the movement that is shaking up the system President Bashar al-Assad, in power since 2000.
Iraqi scenario
Since the uprising began, two million Christians living in Syria (12% of the population) were kept out of events, consisting of an overwhelming majority of Sunnis, who spearheaded the mobilization. "Most Christians have been left out of the revolt, Syrian sitters.They fear an unfavorable outcome to the crisis that would affect their lives and their property, "said Mohamed Ajlani, professor of political science and international relations at the Center for Diplomatic and Strategic Studies (CEDS), joined by FRANCE 24.
Within this community, concern of a repeat the Iraq scenario is very strong. Many fear being forced into exile, as were Iraqi Christians since the fall of Saddam Hussein, victims of several murderous attacks."The destabilization of Syria could jeopardize relations between religious communities and, in the same way as happened in Iraq after the occupation of Americans, harm to the two million Christians living in the country," said recently Vicar Apostolic of Aleppo Latin Catholic Bishop Giuseppe Nazzaro, the missionary agency Misna.
So far in fact, the Assad family in power in Damascus since 1970, itself a result of the Alawite religious minority (derivative of Shia Islam), has placed de facto under the protection of Christian and Druze minorities in the country ."The regime has always tried to maintain a privileged relationship with the Christians of Syria to secure its internal legitimacy. Partnering with minorities, the authority wanted to balance the roles against the Sunni majority, and maintain its image bulwark against Islam vis-à-vis the outside, "Mohamed Ajlani analysis.
Caught
For their part, Christians have been comforted over the years by the secular nature of the regime and not by the establishment of radical Islam that they fear the takeover in case of revolution."The Assad has always operated this card, claiming that if the regime falls, chaos will reign and that Christians would be the first to pay the piper," notes Mohamed Ajlani.
In exchange for the security and freedom of worship, the Christians of Syria have renounced to play a political role similar to that of their fellow Lebanese. Despite the presence of some of their representatives in government or parliament.At the cost of this implicit bargain - and not so much political commitment to the Assad regime - one of the oldest Christian communities in the world has prospered economically in a climate of religious tolerance.
"The Syrian Christians are a very active component of Syrian society, especially in the economic and cultural.If some people are accommodated in the scheme and benefited from the system to enrich themselves, others chose the opposition and the underground, like other communities, "analysis for its part Samir Arbache, religious historian and specialist Middle East at the Catholic University of Lille, joined by FRANCE 24.
Sandwiched between demonstrations calling for the downfall of the regime and pending a political solution to the crisis, the Christian community is therefore reluctant to take a stand. "If the regime falls, you may get wrong to anger all those who have been frustrated by the regime of Assad. If we participate in the demonstrations, the regime could make us pay dearly by addressing our rights.In both cases we lose! "Concluded Sami, a young Maronite Christian from Damascus.
