Church leaders in Syria are working closely with the country’s new leadership to ensure that religious freedom will be guaranteed and Christians will be able to play a full role in the country’s future.

Christians “do not want to define themselves as minorities”, for fear “they might lose their representation in the new constitution and state institutions”, a local contact told Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).

Almost 14 years of civil war ended last December when the Islamist group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) – previously affiliated with Al-Qaeda – toppled Bashar al-Assad’s regime, giving rise to much uncertainty about the future of Christianity in Syria.

While Damascus is in the spotlight and the former rebels under pressure to be more peaceful, and to maintain the positive image they have, unfortunately the lack of a strong central authority has allowed radical factions to impose extreme measures, such as segregated seating on public transport and forcing women to wear veils.