Pray for our persecuted family in the Middle East this Easter

The Easter season is a time when the church around the world often faces extra dangers and the possibility of violence. Our brothers and sisters have already felt the pain of these additional vulnerabilities this week. Many Palm Sunday celebrations in the Middle East were cancelled because of the threat of persecution and conflict in the wider region, bringing despondency and fear in Holy Week to believers who have already suffered so much over the years. 
 

Six young Christians arrested 

In Syria, Christians were targeted when violence broke out in the western city of As Suqaylabiyah on Friday, sparked by two young men from a nearby village harassing a Christian young woman. When Christian young men came to her help, a fight began that quickly escalated, with a large group of around 100 people destroying shops, damaging cars and verbally abusing Christians. The video below was shared by a local source (please note – you might the footage distressing).
  Terrified for their safety, families hid in their homes and prayed for safety. For hours, there was no help from the security forces. It was only when security forces reinforcements arrived from Hama that control was regained.  

Six Christians were arrested, while none of those who attacked the village were taken into custody. Church leaders – who have since reached out to local Islamic leaders with the aim of restoring peace to the community – have received assurances from the security forces over the young men’s imminent release.  

In a separate incident over the weekend, two men on a motorbike were seen filming inside the village of Mahardeh, close to As Suqaylabiyah, while mocking a statue of Jesus and later posting the video on social media. Many people responded to it with deeply offensive comments against Christians. 

  “It’s really scary what we see on social media,” a young Christian girl from Mahardeh said. “What we’re discovering in the hearts of people around us feels like darkness.” 

And in another incident this week, Christian graves in Al-Rawda village, in Tartus province, have been damaged, with crosses ripped from some of the headstones. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has condemned the vandalism and (in their words) ‘stresses the danger of targeting places of worship and sectarian cemeteries, as this fuels tensions between local communities.’ 

Given the fear of attack and concern over the authorities’ ability to provide protection, several outdoor Palm Sunday celebrations in Syria were cancelled. 
 

Celebrations silenced 

Meanwhile, in northern Iraq, thousands of Christians were left saddened after a large Palm Sunday celebration – a high point in their calendar – was cancelled because of conflict in the wider region. The interdenominational occasion typically involves a procession behind a cross and features flags, singing, traditional clothing and prayers.  

However, given that the country neighbours Iran, as well as the presence of Iranian-backed militias, church leaders made the difficult decision to cancel the celebration. Militias have already attacked towards the autonomous Kurdistan Region, where many Christians reside, and in the Nineveh Plain, where most Christians live, militias are being targeted. Consequently, believers are in the crosshairs, bringing fear, confusion and instability.  

The decision was termed a ‘pastoral responsibility’, with churches encouraged ‘to live the feast in the spirit of faith, prayer and fraternal solidarity, and to refrain from excessive manifestations of joy and celebrations as an expression of solidarity with the suffering and those affected by the scourges of war first, and to preserve everyone’s safety second,’ Bishop Mar Benedictus Younan said. This extends to all gatherings over Easter.  

“This year, I feel sad, discouraged and disappointed, because we can’t celebrate as we used to,” a Christian lady shared, echoing the sentiment of many Iraqis and others across the Middle East who look forward to their Easter celebrations. Similar strictures are taking place for believers in most countries in the region. 
 

Remembrance over Easter  

As many of us gather in the coming days to remember Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, please pray for our family in the Middle East who are unable to mark the occasion as they long to do so – their freedoms hindered, their remembrance marred by fear, their celebrations silenced.  

And across the world, please pray for all of our persecuted family, in places like Nigeria, North Korea and Afghanistan. Many will meet at grave danger of exposure and attack, with others understandably too afraid to gather at all. Some will feel too worn down by pressure and persecution to even celebrate.  

Whatever their situation, please pray that Christ Jesus, the man of sorrows (Isaiah 53:3, ESV), will comfort every heart, and that the glorious, inexpressible light of resurrection morning will breathe fresh hope into their lives.