European Parliament to Host Conference on Future of Syrian Christians

The European Parliament is scheduled to host a conference on September 8 titled "The Future of Christians in Syria: Religious Freedom, Political Representation, Common Future." The event aims to address the challenges facing Christian communities in Syria, including concerns regarding security, property rights, and the impact of long-term displacement and emigration on their presence in the region.

Organizers, including the European Centre for Law and Justice and the European Syriac Union, intend to discuss the necessity of constitutional protections and equal citizenship for all Syrians. Thibault Van Den Bossche, an advocacy officer for the ECLJ, stated that the conference will emphasize the importance of a neutral, democratic state rather than relying on sectarian privileges to ensure the safety of minority groups.

The program features keynote addresses from EU special envoy Mairead McGuinness and former U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom chair Nadine Maenza. Two panels will follow, featuring various church leaders and policy experts, including Bishop Georges Assadourian and Archbishop Georges Masri, to explore the intersection of religious freedom and political representation in Syria's ongoing transition.