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Today, an urgent inquiry was directed to the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy, Ms. Kaya Kalas, by MEP and member of the European Parliament’s Security and Defence Committee, Professor Nikolas Farantouris. His query pertains to the alarming incidents of Islamic terrorism that occurred yesterday, June 22, in Damascus, resulting in the deaths of numerous Greek Orthodox individuals in Syria.
A suicide bomber, affiliated with the Islamic State, detonated himself after opening fire in the Holy Church of Prophet Elijah in Damascus during Sunday services, claiming dozens of Greek Orthodox lives.
“I am devastated. I know the church of Prophet Elijah in Damascus. Last night, I reached out to the Greek community and my Greek Orthodox friends in Syria. Communities with a 2,500-year history are on the brink of extinction. They are engulfed in terror and fear. The situation is spiraling out of control, as I have previously warned,” said Nicholas Farantouris late Sunday via social media.
The Greek MEP condemned the recent massacre as yet another grim instance of violence amid ongoing attacks on schools, churches, and public spaces, either tolerated or directed by the new Islamist regime in Damascus. He urges the European Union to intervene.
“I have raised alarms about the ongoing situation and potential future implications both during my visit to Damascus on March 7-8, where I witnessed the massacres of thousands of Alawites and Christians, and in subsequent discussions,” he added.
In his urgent inquiry, the Greek MEP requests that the High Representative and Vice-President of the European Commission consider the following measures:
a) Send a delegation of European officials to Damascus on an urgent basis,
b) Deploy a team of inspectors immediately to document attacks and atrocities,
c) Reassess the framework for cooperation and the lifting of EU sanctions on the Damascus government, and demand that the Jolani regime hold elections within a specific timeline.
Appeal to the Greek Government
“I urge the Greek Government to take immediate action, to abandon any retreat, and to initiate serious efforts to halt the violence against Greek Orthodox and all national and religious communities in Syria,” stated Nicholas Farantouris.
He also calls on the Greek state “to deploy Security Corps members to the Greek Embassy in Damascus to evaluate the situation on the ground and provide detailed updates to the government and European institutions.”
Lastly, Mr. Farantouris asks Athens “to swiftly arrange a bipartisan mission to Damascus with members of both the Greek and European Parliaments to assess the situation and convey to the Jolani regime that the ongoing massacres cannot be tolerated.”
He concludes: “They look to Greece, their second home, for support. Greece must step forward in Europe and on the global stage, advocating for the respect of human rights in Syria as a prerequisite for Brussels-Damascus relations.”
The Islamist Jolani regime
The downfall of the Assad regime in late 2024 paved the way for Al Jolani (Al-Sara), a former Al-Qaeda member whose organization (HTS) comprises jihadists and extremists from nations like Turkey, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan. Under his leadership, a wave of persecution and massacres against Alawites and Christians along the Mediterranean coast, particularly in cities such as Laodicea and Tarsus, has begun.
Nicolas Farantouris had previously submitted a question to the European Commission on January 23, seeking a commitment from Damascus to protect ethnic and religious communities. He visited Damascus on March 8-9, coinciding with the massacre of thousands of Alawites and Christians, where he met with the Greek community, Patriarch John I of Antioch, community leaders, and transitional government officials.
During his visit, he documented the escalation of violence and extremism directed towards Alawites and Christians, often appearing under the oversight or approval of the Jolani regime. Following Assad’s fall, the EU and the US considered lifting sanctions on Damascus, contingent upon the respect for Syria’s diverse religious and ethnic communities.
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