Updates from the field
Shai Fund Responds to Deadly Church Bombing in Damascus with Emergency Relief
A suicide bombing at the Greek Orthodox Church of Mar Elias in Damascus renews urgent calls for minority protections amid escalating violence.
June 30, 2025 | by McKenzie Hood
(Damascus, Syria - June 30, 2025) On Sunday, June 22, 2025, a suicide bomber attacked the Greek Orthodox Church of Mar Elias in the Douileh neighborhood of Damascus, killing at least 25 worshipers and injuring 63 others. Within 36 hours of the vicious attack, Shai Fund provided an initial emergency response in coordination with local partners to address the most urgent needs of those impacted.
Local partners will use the funds to meet immediate medical needs of the injured and funeral costs for grieving families in the short term. As needs are further assessed, support will expand to include trauma care and psycho-social services in the long term.
The bombing struck during Sunday worship where 350 people were in prayer, devastating one of the city’s historic Christian communities. The attack, the deadliest on Syria’s Christian community in recent years, reignites fears of renewed sectarian violence.
Growing Fears of Violence Under Interim Rule
Since Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and allied Islamist groups seized power from Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, religious and ethnic minorities including Alawites, Christians, Druze, Jews, and Kurds have pressed the interim government for constitutional guarantees on minority rights, religious freedoms, and inclusive governance.
However, sectarian reprisals have escalated sharply. In March, Syrian security forces—including Islamist fighters from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), foreign jihadists, and units of the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA)—were reportedly involved in the massacre of 1,479 Alawite civilians in northwest coastal areas
“Churches in Damascus have never before been targeted by Islamists, so this has shattered any sense of security for Christians and other religious minorities throughout Syria,” commented Nadine Maenza, Senior Advisor to Shai Fund. “In this moment of crisis, President al-Sharaa must go beyond promises of security. He should ensure that Christians and all religious communities are represented in the new government, and revise the Constitution to guarantee equal citizenship—so that no group is marginalized and no group is privileged. Only then can Syria move toward real unity and stability.”
While the new leadership has made political gestures toward including religious minorities in governance, their communities remain deeply vulnerable and fearful for their safety. Persistent sectarian violence and extremist threats cast a long shadow over their future in post‑Assad Syria.
“This was an act of pure evil targeting innocent people at prayer,” said Charmaine Hedding, President of Shai Fund. “For a country still bearing open wounds in the aftermath of a 13-year civil war, this deadly attack is yet another crippling blow to the Syrian Christian community. It is critical for the international community to not only loudly decry this church bombing but push for al-Sharaa's government to create real power-sharing and protections for Syria’s religious minorities.”
Shai Fund actively defends religious freedom and works to promote the prosperity of religious minorities across Syria. By building partnerships in the country for over a decade, Shai Fund is ready and able to swiftly respond to terrorist events with tangible support and long-term encouragement.
For media inquiries, contact McKenzie Hood, Advocacy and Partnerships Manager, at [email protected].
