What it’s like for minority Christians in Syria, after the fall of the longtime dictator

What it’s like for minority Christians in Syria, after the fall of the longtime dictator

It’s been four months since the fall of longtime dictator Bashar al-Assad marked the beginning of a new era in Syria. While the strongman’s toppling has brought hope, incidents of sectarian violence - like the ones that tore through Syria’s coast last month - have increased fears that the country’s ethnic and religious minorities could be targeted.

In Post-Assad Syria, the Legacy of a Narco-State Lingers

In the dimly lit basement of a Damascus hotel, the bass line of techno music echoes through the air, as dozens of young Syrians sway in rhythm, far from the political turmoil outside. Amid the pulsating beats, small white pills of Captagon — an inexpensive, amphetamine-type stimulant that has become synonymous with Syria’s illicit drug trade — are circulating freely, a stark reminder of the legacy of former President Bashar al-Assad’s narco-stat…

Four and a half months after the fall of Bashar Al-Assad’s regime in Syria, interim authorities have begun to take formal steps toward political reform. In a speech to the Security Council on Friday, the UN special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, said that “the challenges are enormous and the situation is […]

For Syria’s Christians, The First Easter Since Assad’s Ouster Brought Wary Celebration

On a hot Sunday morning, families and friends strolled into the compound of a towering white church in the Damascus neighborhood of al-Qassaa, one of the city's Christian hubs. Decorations dotted the area, as people posed for photographs in front of cardboard cutouts and paintings. In the background, chants from the church echoed through a loudspeaker, resonating through the streets."Christ has risen.""Indeed, he has."It was Easter, or what one …

Syria gets first shipment of wheat since fall of former ruler Bashar al-Assad

Syrian authorities said a wheat shipment arrived on April 20 at the country's Mediterranean port of Latakia, the first since the December ouster of former ruler Bashar al-Assad.