Statement on the Bombing of St. Elias Church
The Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM) extends its sincere condolences to the families of the victims of the suicide attack that targeted St. Elias Church in the Douela neighborhood of Damascus, and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured. SCM also expresses its profound solidarity with the families of the victims and all those affected by this crime.
This crime cannot be viewed in isolation from the broader context in Syria, where hate speech, sectarian incitement, and the dehumanization of religious and ethnic minorities have been spreading amid the continued failure of the state to take effective deterrent and accountability measures. The ongoing tolerance of such discourse and violations, often dismissed as “isolated incidents,” has helped foster an environment ripe for the recurrence of such crimes and has deeply undermined the sense of safety and justice among Syrians.
SCM recalls the State’s legal and moral obligation to protect the right to life of every individual on Syrian territory, without discrimination based on religion, sect, or any other affiliation. This obligation includes protecting individuals from violations by third parties, taking effective preventive measures against attacks, explicitly and systematically addressing hate speech and incitement, and ensuring independent and transparent investigations into any crime. It also includes holding perpetrators accountable, guaranteeing victims and their families the right to truth, justice, and full reparations. Fulfilling this duty also requires reviewing security policies and practices, as well as preventing impunity, since these are essential elements of any serious effort to ensure the non-recurrence of such violations and rebuild public trust in the government institutions.
SCM calls on the Syrian authorities to:
- Fulfill their obligations under the constitutional declaration and international law by ensuring the protection and safety of all Syrians, without any form of discrimination.
- Provide psychological and legal support to survivors and the families of victims, and ensure their meaningful participation in processes of investigation, justice, truth, and reparation in ways that respect their dignity and needs.
- Declare the crime a national tragedy, announce a day of mourning, and take immediate and transparent steps to conduct a comprehensive and independent investigation into the incident, with findings made public.
- Treat the attack site as a crime scene and preserve it to safeguard evidence and prevent tampering, thereby supporting accountability efforts and reinforcing public confidence in the justice process.
- Publicly and unequivocally condemn hate speech and incitement against minorities, and enact laws and implement practical measures to criminalize and hold accountable those responsible, in line with Syria’s international human rights obligations.
- Temporarily suspend and investigate the local security officials in the area where the attack took place, due to their failure to prevent the attack and their mismanagement of the crime scene, as documented in circulating images and videos showing chaos and a lack of basic crime scene protection procedures.
- Promote a national discourse based on equal citizenship, accountability, and non-discrimination as a fundamental condition for fostering civil peace and rebuilding trust among all components of Syrian society, and for preventing the recurrence of such tragedies.
Mercy to the souls of the victims, a speed recovery to the wounded, strength and solace to their families, and safety to all Syrians
