The following information was provided during a 5 July 2000 telephone interview with a professor at the Centre des hautes études sur l'Afrique et l'Asie moderne in Paris, who is also a former editor of Arabies and Jeune Afrique magazines.

The professor stated that Christians is Syria enjoy freedom of religion and are well protected by the régime. They maintain very good relations with the authorities and do not face discrimination in employment; many of them hold high ranking positions in the military and the government. The professor added that Christians face restrictions if they attempt to conduct missionary activities among Muslims in Syria. This information is also reported in Le Monde (13 Oct. 1997).

In a report on Syria, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), a Christian organization based in Cyprus with offices in several countries of the Middle East that conducts studies on human rights, justice, and peace and interreligious dialogue, stated that

From the day Syria first declared its independence in 1920, the state has consistently respected all religious confessions. In the administration of government, religion is not a factor. All citizens, of whatever religious affiliation, are equal before the law which is administered impartially, and in the state administration no religious group is given preferential treatment or precedence. Every religious group is sustained in its right to self-development, and laws are in place to prevent any trespass upon these rights (News Report Oct.-Nov. 1997, 35).

MECC added that

Christians in Syria are free to practice their religion openly. As is the case during Muslim feasts, so too during Christian festivals religious services are broadcasts on Syrian TV. These include sermons of the three patriarch and the archbishops resident in the capital, as well as other bishops and leading clergy of the churches throughout the country (ibid.).

In Persecution of Christians Around the World, Tom White provided the following information on the Christians of Syria.

In this secular state, Muslims are still given preferential treatment in many areas of society. The Emergency Law of 1963 allows authorities to conduct "preventative" arrests and hold detainees without any legal safeguards. Christians find it difficult to spread the gospel freely under such conditions. Missionaries are not allowed visas, so Christians are able to exhibit their faith only in professional and informal friendship settings (June 1998).

According to AFP, Christians in Syria "lost an ally" with the death of President Hafez al-Assad in June 2000 (12 June 2000). Quoting Greek Orthodox Patriarch Ignatius Hazim, AFP reported that "there were no difference between Christians and Muslims during Assad's rule and Christian parishes were treated equally to Muslim institutions" (ibid.). For example, many "ancient churches and place of worship across Syria" were restored under Assad (ibid.). The régime also gave "Christians key positions in the political hierarchy, including Gebran Kuriye, a long-time political advisor and spokesman [to President Assad], and Assad Elias, adviser for foreign press affairs" (ibid.). This information is also provided by AP, which quotes Roman Catholic Archbishop Ibrahim Neima of Homs (north of Damascus and close to the Lebanese border) as saying that "Christians serve in senior government posts, including the Cabinet" (12 Feb. 2000). According to Archbishop, "there is no religious persecution [in Syria] (AP, ibid.).

Reports on the number of Christians in Syria vary. AFP indicated that there are approximately 2 million Christians in Syria and half of them are Greek Orthodox, while AP estimated the number at 1.7 million out of 17.4 million (AFP 12 June 2000; AP 12 Feb. 2000). Le Monde estimated their number at one million (13 Oct. 1997).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Agence France Presse (AFP). 12 June 2000. Salim Yassine. "Syria's Christians Lose a Friend in Hafez al-Assad." (NEXIS)

The Associated Press (AP). 12 February 2000. "A Look at Christian Minorities in Five Arab Nations." (NEXIS)

Le Monde. 13 October 1997. Jean-Pierre Hugoz Peroncel. "La Fiereté des Chrétiens de Syrie." (NEXIS)

News Report. October-November 1997. Vol. 9, No. 10-11. Lewis R. Scudder Jr. "Syria." Publish by the Middle East Council of Churches.

Persecution of Christians Around the World. June 1998. Tom White. http://www.chalcedon.edu/report/98jun/white_christians_world.html [Accessed 21 July 2000]

Professor at the Centre des hautes études sur l'Afrique et l'Asie moderne in Paris, and the former editor of Arabies and Jeune Afrique magazine and specialist of Lebanon. 5 July 2000. Telephone interview.