MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on urgent need to protect religious minorities in Syria, following the recent terrorist attack on the Mar Elias Church in Damascus

8.7.2025 - (2025/2798(RSP))

with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 150 of the Rules of Procedure

Nikolas Farantouris, Özlem Demirel
on behalf of The Left Group

B10‑0325/2025

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on urgent need to protect religious minorities in Syria, following the recent terrorist attack on the Mar Elias Church in Damascus

(2025/2798(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to Rule 150(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. Whereas on 22 June, a terrorist attack on the Greek Orthodox Church of Mar Elias, in Damascus, killed at least 25 people and injured at least 60;

B. whereas this attack follows a deeply alarming pattern of sectarian violence, and human rights violations; whereas in March, coordinated assaults resulted in the deaths of nearly 1,200 civilians, mainly Alawites; whereas the attacks against them continue; whereas in April, sectarian violence targeted the Druze community and under the pretext of defending them, Israel has increased its military attacks in Syria;

1. Strongly condemns the terrorist attack on the Greek Orthodox Church of Mar Elias and the sectarian violence committed in Syria and extends its solidarity with the families of the victims and people in Syria;

2. Calls on the Syrian transitional authorities to protect religious and ethnic communities and to take actions to halt sectarian killings, hate speech, forced displacement and abductions, restore security, and guarantee non-discriminatory protection for all;

3. Reiterates its strong support for a genuine Syrian-led democratic transition which must centre on rule of law, justice for victims, non-discrimination, inclusive governance, and safeguards against impunity;

4. Calls on the transitional authorities to present a specific timeline for organising credible, free, fair and inclusive elections the soonest possible;

5. Affirms that an inclusive Syria must guarantee representation of all communities in all areas of public life; calls for a constitutional process in which all ethnic and religious parts of the multi-ethnic state must be integrated;

6. Calls for an immediate, rigorous, independent and transparent investigation into past and ongoing sectarian violence, and for the perpetrators to be brought to justice;

7. Calls to facilitate access for independent human rights bodies to investigate sectarian violence in Mar Elias and other regions;

8. Calls on the EU to draw up a plan for the protection of religious communities in Syria;

9. Calls on the EU to stress the importance of appliance of international law and human rights during official relations with HTS-led government; reiterates that human rights, should never be undermined by migration management or geostrategic interests;

10. Condemns the decision by many Member States to suspend the processing of asylum applications submitted by Syrians, the pressure on them to accept “voluntary returns” and the intention to review the protection status granted to Syrian refugees; calls on EU Member States to reverse these decisions immediately;

11. Firmly condemns territorial incursions and expansionist ambitions of Israel and Turkey; underlines that Syria's stability begins with the respect for International Law and its internationally recognised borders;

12. Calls on the EU to take action to prevent the signature of the agreement between Türkiye and the Syrian transitional authorities for the designation of an EEZ that would violate the sovereign rights of EU Member States and International Law;

13. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the EU institutions, Member States, and the Syrian transitional authorities.