This year's Easter celebrations among Christians in Syria were marked by a significant absence of joy, limited to prayers inside churches due to violence in the city of Al-Suqaylabiyah. These events have greatly affected the usual festive atmosphere.
Churches in Damascus have canceled their Palm Sunday celebrations, limiting activities to masses, following tensions and violence in the predominantly Christian city of Al-Suqaylabiyah in Hama province.
The head of Syrian internal security in Hama, Brigadier General Muhannad Al-Shantout, convened a meeting with several bishops and local dignitaries in Al-Ghab region to address rising tensions in Al-Suqaylabiyah. This meeting follows an incident that raised concerns among residents and led to the detention of the main perpetrator.
The Antiochian Patriarchate has announced the cancellation of Easter celebrations in Damascus for churches following the Western calendar. This decision comes after security tensions in the town of Al-Suqaylabiyah in Hama province prompted a shift to private prayers only.
On Saturday, residents of Al-Suqaylabiyah in Hama countryside held a massive protest to express their condemnation of the violent events that occurred in the city the previous night. The demonstration reflects the growing concerns over security tensions in the area.
The Antiochian Orthodox Patriarchate in Syria condemned the attacks targeting the residents of Al-Suqaylabiyah in Hama countryside, highlighting gunfire directed at the Virgin Mary shrine. These incidents occur amid rising tensions in the region.
Residents of Al-Suqaylabiyah in western Hama staged massive protests against sectarianism and rampant gun violence, calling for accountability for those involved in recent clashes in the city.