Armed Sunni groups attacked Greek Orthodox residents, harassed women, and caused material damage.
PASOK MEP Nikolas Farantouris once again called for the European Union to intervene to protect the Christian populations of Syria, with a written question to the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy Kaja Kallas.
His question to Kallas comes as an escalation began when a group of young men from the Greek Orthodox town of Suqaylabiyah confronted several Sunni Muslims who had arrived on motorcycles from the nearby town of Qal’at al-Madiq, accusing them of harassing young women.
The confrontation quickly intensified, prompting the General Security Service (GSS) to intervene and detain multiple residents of Suqaylabiyah.
According to local accounts, the Sunni Muslims initially detained by residents were later permitted to leave the town, though no official explanation has been provided for their release.
Later that night, Sunni Muslim terrorists attacked a café in the town, firing multiple shots and throwing a sound grenade before fleeing. The incident sparked widespread panic. In response, security forces boosted patrols throughout the town and shut down several access routes.
A young Greek Orthodox Christian named Elias Jabbour sustained a head injury amid the unrest and was hospitalized. After his discharge, he was arrested. Authorities also detained Dr. Ra’if Shehadeh, which sparked considerable anger among residents.
As tensions escalated, residents of Suqaylabiyah organized a sit-in to demand the release of detainees. They condemned what they called “holding the victims responsible for what happened” and called for a transparent, independent investigation to uncover the full details of the incident and ensure accountability for everyone involved, regardless of their affiliation.
The question submitted by Farantouris to Kallas:
“In recent hours, credible reports of new incidents of sectarian violence have increased. According to international news agencies, armed Sunni groups have been attacking residents, harassing women, causing property damage and vandalizing places of worship.
“The authorities have reportedly arrested members of the local Christian community who attempted to protect their families and property, while leaving the perpetrators unpunished!
“The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and other Christian Churches are calling for a full and impartial investigation.
“As I stress in my written question, these incidents raise serious concerns about the state of human rights, religious freedom and the protection of Syria’s indigenous Christian communities, which are an integral part of the region’s historical and cultural heritage.
“I therefore call on the EU High Representative:
“a) To state in writing whether she considers that the Syrian authorities are meeting the necessary requirements for the protection of human rights.
“b) To apply the principle of conditionality to all forms of economic cooperation with Damascus, with a focus on the effective protection of religious and ethnic communities.
“c) To take concrete initiatives to ensure that European policy for the stabilisation of Syria is accompanied by credible guarantees for the security, equality and rights of the country’s indigenous Christian communities.”
Farantouris visited Damascus on March 7-9, 2025, denouncing the attacks against Christians and Alawites. He met with the Patriarch of Antioch, John X, and members of the local Greek Orthodox community, while warning about the risks of extinction for historical religious minorities, speaking of thousands of victims and violence by paramilitary groups.
Home to approximately 18,000 people before 2024, Al-Suqaylabiyeh is a predominantly Greek Orthodox Christian town in Hama province’s north-west countryside. The modern name derives from the ancient Hellenistic city of Seleucia ad Belum (also known as Seleucia-near-Belus or Seleucobelus), founded by the Seleucid Empire (likely under Seleucus I Nicator or his successor) near the Orontes River. It functioned as a trade depot and was associated with the larger nearby city of Apamea.
The precise location is uncertain, but many scholars link it closely to the site of modern Al-Suqaylabiyah. The ancient settlement was abandoned due to a major earthquake in 1157 AD.
After this abandonment, the site remained largely deserted until Greek Orthodox Christian families resettled it in the 19th century, establishing the modern town of Al-Suqaylabiyah. Many were emigrants originally from the Hauran region in southern Syria who had fled Ottoman persecution in the late 18th century; they first settled in places such as Ayn al-Kurum in the coastal mountains before moving to the tell (mound) of Al-Suqaylabiyah for its strategic, defensible location. They were joined by Christian families from nearby coastal mountain villages (including Ayn al-Kurum, Maradash, Anab, Dabbash, and Arnaba).
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