Syria: Aleppo Christian Community Has Dramatically Decreased Since Civil War
by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – As Syrians struggle to cope with the devastating consequences of a catastrophic civil war, the number of Christians in the previously formidable Syrian city of Aleppo has now decreased from around 250,000 to just 50,000, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
Syria continues to be ruled by Iran and Russia-backed Islamic dictator Bashar al-Assad, and ranks 12th on the US Open Doors World Watch List 2023 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted.
ICC reports that the Christian community in Aleppo has found itself in the cross-fire of the civil and has faced “mass displacement, economic crises, and societal breakdown.” ICC points out that Aleppo was once “a thriving hub and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities globally.” Indeed, as a trade center, Aleppo was the third-largest city in the entire Ottoman Empire.
According to ICC, approximately 200,000 Christians have left Aleppo in the 12 years since the civil war began. “This mass exodus reflects the broader trend of displacement and persecution faced by religious minorities in the region,” ICC noted in its report.
“As the city grapples with the aftermath of conflict and natural disasters, the plight of Aleppo’s Christians remains a poignant reminder of the human cost of prolonged conflict and the urgent need for international attention and support in protecting Christian communities in the Middle East during conflict,” ICC added.
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