Is Religious Freedom Still an International Controversy in the Middle East?

Dawit Kim

Published 27 June 2025

Christian Solidarity International (CSI) has called on the United States to declare warnings for genocides against Christians in the Middle East since the early 2010s. The most apparent example may be the current Syrian crisis, but the underlying tensions are playing out in most Middle Eastern countries to this day. USA Today reports that Syrian Christians are being subjected to murder, rape and kidnappings within rebel-held towns and cities, such as its capital, Damascus. Just a week ago, on 22 June, a suicide bomber attacked a Syrian church service, claiming the lives of 25 Syrian Christians.

The unravelling of the Syrian crisis was initially a rebellion against the autocratic government of former President Bashar al-Assad (2000-2024). However, the so-called rebels exacerbated targeted attacks against opposing sectarian groups, which led to the persecution of religious minorities. In 2011, Christians made up about 10% of Syria’s population, but as of 2024-2025, the number has plummeted significantly to the point of extinction as a result of the Syrian Civil War and the rise of extremist groups like Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), previously known as the Nusra Front, whose ongoing control in parts of Syria threatening religious minorities. Beyond Syria, groups like Boko Haram in Nigeria, as well as militants in Somalia, Libya, Eritrea, Pakistan and Yemen have been actively slaughtering thousands of Christians under false accusations of blasphemy and the active practice of their faith.

Additionally, it’s vital to notice that the ongoing suppression of religious freedom in the Middle East is not only a humanitarian disaster but also a geopolitical challenge. Religious minorities would face the impossible dilemma of choosing to endure the ongoing persecution or flee their homeland to find refuge in neighbouring countries. On the other hand, other Arab nations must confront the logistical burden of accommodating the refugees while already taking risks in resolving the internal sectarian tensions; in that case, either option would have them face a dual challenge.

The United Nations must first mobilize humanitarian aid to assist the displaced religious minorities and to rebuild the destroyed communities. They must also take a firm stance in demanding that Arab governments uphold international human rights standards, specifically religious freedom, followed by recruiting global advocacy to pressure groups like HTS so that extremists can refrain from causing further harm, such as the Christmas tree burning incident in HTS-controlled Syria in December 2024. Journalist Sahar Dadjoo also agrees that diplomatic efforts and human rights would have to compel extremist groups to “adhere to international norms on religious freedom.”

There are some expectations that Middle Eastern governments like Syria would find political complexities in addressing the ongoing human rights violations against religious minorities. To break the cycle, the Human Rights Council must take a more active role in easing tensions by documenting the violations of HTS, similar to that of the previous strategy, so that they may be pressured to respect minority rights. This would allow civil society initiatives to gain stronger ground in building local resilience to promote co-existence and tolerance of Christians and other religious communities. If this works out, doors will be open to more economic support for religious minorities so that it may mitigate their financial pressures.

The broader solution to this conflict would be the constitutional reforms that prohibit religious discrimination. This is to ensure equal rights in education, work, and government participation so that religious minorities may live lives as secure as those enjoyed by members of the majority. The United Nations must not only support inclusive peace-building efforts with Middle Eastern governments on behalf of minority groups but also establish international oversight services that advocate legal safeguards for those people in local and regional areas.

Another solution is to protect equal rights for all people, regardless of religion, while simultaneously preserving broader fundamental rights. By adopting a multidenominational or multicultural approach, Middle Eastern governments would permit religious expression in the public sphere, while also ensuring that financial policies such as tax exemptions do not grant unfair benefits to a particular group. Alongside this, other religious and nonreligious individuals should be under legal protection, which establishes the idea of an inclusive society. The overarching goal is to guarantee Arab governments that neither public nor private religious freedoms would infringe upon the rights of others. It is to emphasize an equality-based legal system that fosters social unity among different religious and ethnic groups.