On urgent need to protect religious minorities in Syria, following the recent terrorist attack on the Mar Elias church in Damascus

B100335/2025

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on urgent need to protect religious minorities in Syria, following the recent terrorist attack on the Mar Elias church in Damascus

(2025/2798(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to Rule 150 of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas Syria´s different ethnic and religious groups have a long history and tradition of peaceful coexistence; whereas the Assad dynasty preserved its power through systematic sectarian and religious division, patronage and violence;

B. whereas the overall security situation in Syria is volatile and violent events, notably sectarian violence such as the attack on St. Elias Church in Damascus in June 2025, the massacre in the Alawite- dominated coastal region in March 2025, and the clashes between government-affiliated forces and Druze militias in May 2025, are increasing;

1. Strongly condemns all violent attacks in Syria, notably those targeting particular ethnic and religious groups, killing over a thousand innocent civilians, fuelling further violence and sowing distrust between the various segments of Syrian society and ultimately undermining the country´s peaceful transition; expresses its solidarity with all victims, their families and loved ones;

2. Calls for all actors across the country to cease violent acts and respect international humanitarian and human rights law at all times;

3. Is concerned about Syria´s fragile security situation which undermines efforts to unite, reconcile, and rebuild Syria following over five decades of brutal Assad rule, including 14 years of war;

4. Calls on the Syrian interim authorities to transparently and impartially investigate all acts of violence, including intimidation and sectarian hate speech, hold perpetrators to account and increase its efforts for peace, dignity and justice which are essential to the Syrian people;

5. Calls on the Syrian interim authorities to increase efforts to rein in violent factions, curb the trafficking of illegal weapons and protect all Syrians - regardless of their ethnicity or religion - from violence and ensure their right to live in safety;

6. Reiterates the importance of Syria´s territorial integrity to provide all segments of Syrian society with a stable and peaceful framework;

7. Calls on the EU to convey to its Syrian counterparts that transitional justice - past and present - remains at the core of the EU´s commitment to supporting Syria´s transition, economic recovery, and stabilisation;

8. Reiterates that Syria is not a safe country for the return of refugees and asylum seekers in Europe and around the world; reiterates the EU´s position that any return needs to be truly voluntary, safe and dignified in line with international law;

9. Welcomes the lifting of EU sanctions, the humanitarian response as well as the announced 175 € million for the social and economic recovery;

10. Underscores the indispensable contribution of Syrian civil society, notably women-led initiatives, to advancing an inclusive and just political transition; calls on the European Commission to give priority to holding the “Day of Dialogue Conference” with Syrian civil society as soon as possible, closely involving CSOs in the preparation, implementation and follow-up;

11. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the interim-government of Syria;