Mohammad Sobhi al-Nashef, reportedly a former official with ISIS-linked Amaq News Agency during the group’s rule in Raqqa, has now been appointed Director of Digital Media for Raqqa Governorate. This photo shows him posing in front of beheaded victims,people ISIS branded “infidels” under its extremist doctrine. From ISIS media to an official government media post.

Today, the village of al-Bayda bids farewell to Hassan Jarouj, an Antiochian Greek Christian. To our brothers and sisters in Greece, Cyprus, and across the worldwide Greek Orthodox community: Hassan belonged to the ancient Church of Antioch — the same Byzantine Orthodox heritage that has connected Antioch, Greece, and Cyprus for centuries. As Hassan is laid to rest, the words of Father Elias Asber, priest of St. Joseph Church in Essen, Germany, carry particular weight. Father Elias himself comes from al-Bayda, the same village as Hassan. Speaking to his people after Hassan’s death, he called for a “serious, clear and transparent investigation” and reminded them: “Reconciliation does not mean burying the truth, and Christian forgiveness does not mean abolishing justice.” He urged Hassan’s family, the Church, and the people of al-Bayda to stand peacefully for truth and justice, without revenge or sectarian hatred. Today Hassan is being buried. May God receive his soul, comfort his wife, protect his children, and give his family strength. Christian forgiveness does not erase justice.

Hassan Marwan Jorj was an Antiochian Greek Christian — a member of one of Syria’s ancient indigenous Christian communities. Riding home from work at night, Hassan accidentally collided with an officer. He was then brutally beaten by the officer and his men. He later died from his injuries. The sectarian dimension matters. For centuries, supremacist interpretations of dhimmi status sought to keep Christians visibly subordinate — historically even restricting Christians from riding horses in some places and periods. The horse has become a motorcycle, but the mentality is recognizable: How dare a Christian collide with a Muslim officer? How dare he, even accidentally, offend the authority of a man who sees himself as his superior? Hassan is dead. And this is the supremacist mentality Syrian Greeks must confront whenever it appears in the institutions and armed forces governing their country.

Relatives of Syria’s interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa are accused of harassing Christian women and stabbing two young men in Damascus’ Christian Duwaylaa neighborhood—the same neighborhood where the deadly terrorist attack on St. Elias Church took place. Police filed a report, but no arrests have been made.

Elias Jabour and Raef Shihadeh were reportedly detained by Ahmed al-Sharaa’s General Security after defending Antiochian Greek women in As Suqaylbya. Meanwhile, dozens of armed attackers allegedly stormed the town with AK-47s and grenades, yet no members of the attacking mobs have reportedly been arrested. Selective justice is not justice.

An Urgent Appeal to the Orthodox Nations: Stand with Sqaylabiyah in Syria To the governments and churches of Greece, Cyprus, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Ukraine, Russia, and all Orthodox nations, Today, the Christian town of Sqaylabiyah is calling for your support. For the third time, armed men from surrounding areas have attacked or intimidated this Christian community. Yet instead of arresting those accused of entering the town, harassing its women, and assaulting its residents, the authorities are arresting Christians who defended their families and their town. Your governments and churches have condemned previous attacks against Syria’s Christians. Today, condemnation is needed again—but it must be followed by pressure and action. Some of your governments have difficult relations with the Syrian authorities; others possess strong political, or diplomatic ties. We appeal to each of you to use every means of influence available. Demand the release of the detained Christians. Demand the arrest and prosecution of the aggressors. Demand protection for Sqaylabiyah and every Christian town in Syria. As much of the Western world abandons its Christian identity, the Christians of Antioch still look toward the Orthodox nations as guardians of our shared faith and heritage. Do not abandon Sqaylabiyah. Do not wait until another ancient Christian community is driven from its homeland.

Syrian authorities are arresting Antiochian Greeks from Sqaylabiyah while those accused of harassing women from a neighboring Muslim-majority town remain free. Justice should protect victims, not punish those who defended their community.

Breaking:The attacks keep repeating. Once again, armed thugs reportedly entered the Greek Levantine city of Sqaylabiyah, harassing women and provoking residents. After being driven out, they allegedly returned with more weapons. Security forces are on the ground and can see what is happening. The Syrian authorities bear full responsibility for preventing further escalation. Disarm the thugs. Confiscate their weapons and explosives. Protect civilians before this spirals into more violence.

A vandalism attack targeted the headquarters of the Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarchate in the heart of Damascus’ Old City today. According to reports, intruders stole property and then deliberately smashed and vandalized parts of the premises. This appears to go beyond ordinary theft and raises serious concerns about the security of Christian institutions and holy sites in Syria.

Today marks the anniversary of the massacre in which forces loyal to Ahmed al-Sharaa invaded the Christian and Druze areas of Suwayda and killed these innocent souls. We remember their names, mourn their stolen lives, and demand justice.

Urgent Appeal to the Greek Ambassador in Damascus Once again, the Greek Levantine town of Al-Suqaylabiyah is under threat. After groups from nearby areas reportedly entered the town and harassed residents, locals expelled them in self-defense. Now, new threats are being made to return with weapons. We urge the Greek Embassy in Damascus and the Greek government to closely monitor the situation and intervene diplomatically to help prevent violence against one of Syria’s historic Greek Orthodox communities. Once again, Al-Suqaylabiyah finds itself facing danger. The world must not wait for another tragedy before paying attention.

Rani Halawa, brother of a Greek Melkite priest, was found murdered in the Muslim town of Mlaiha after reportedly being kidnapped from Jarmana, a Christian and Druze town near Damascus. May his memory be eternal, and may justice be done.