Dokument #1331548
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Autor)
The Christian population in Syria is
estimated to be about 12% of the total [ Kurian G.T. ed. 1987,
Encyclopedia of the Third World, New York: Facts on File:
1879-1882.]. While in the past Christians have been the targets of
violence directed against them, the State is now officially secular
and proselytizing is strictly forbidden [ United States of America,
Department of State, 1989, Country Reports on Human Rights
Practices for 1988, Washington: Government Printing Office:
1513; please find this document at your regional Documentation
Centre.].
The ruling Ba'ath Party is generally
secular in its outlook and it is believed that such secularism
prevents blatant religious discrimination from becoming party
policy [ United States of America, DOS, 1989: 1513.]. It has been
pointed out however, that constitutional guarantees of religious
tolerance do not necessarily correspond with the treatment of
minority religions, and religious freedom is said to be
"restricted" in practice [ Gastil R.D. et al. 1988, Freedom in
the World: Political Rights and Civil Liberties 1987-88, New
York: Freedom House: 391.].
Since 1960, it is estimated that anywhere
between thirty thousand and three hundred thousand Christians have
emigrated from Syria [ Kurian, 1987: 1882, indicates 30 000
Christian émigrés from 1960 onwards.
Also: Nyrop C. ed. 1979, Syria: A Country Study, Washington:
The American University: 75, notes that 50% of the 600 000
Christian community of Syria has emigrated between 1958 and
1968.].