The Syrian Rebels: A Far Greater Threat to Christians than Assad and the Islamic Republic

By Bobby Darvish, Iranian-American Ex-Muslim, Former Vegan, Former Democrat, Former Socialist, Former CAIR-Columbus Executive Director, Former Muslim Forum of Utah President, Former Pagan, Christian Conservative LDS Priest 

As an Iranian-American who has witnessed firsthand the catastrophic consequences of Islamism in the Middle East, and having lived through the violent persecutions of both the Islamic Republic of Iran and other Islamic extremist groups, I feel compelled to speak out about the brutal reality unfolding in Syria. The situation there is dire, and the danger facing the Christian communities in Syria is nothing short of an existential crisis. What many in the West fail to understand is that the so-called "Syrian rebels" are no better than ISIS, and in fact, they are often more radical and even more barbaric than the Assad regime or the Islamists who rule over Iran.

The mainstream narrative of the Syrian Civil War frequently casts the rebels as freedom fighters, victims of an oppressive regime. However, this portrayal is not only misleading but dangerously naive. The reality is that many of these so-called "rebels" are deeply radicalized Islamist groups with direct ties to ISIS or al-Qaeda. They are no different in ideology from the Islamic State, and their actions show this clearly.

The Syrian rebels, like ISIS, aim to impose a brutal form of Sharia law, and their treatment of Christians and other religious minorities proves their intentions. Christians, who have lived in Syria for centuries, are at direct risk of extermination at the hands of these extremist groups. Churches are destroyed, Christians are executed, and whole communities are displaced. These rebels, with their radical Islamist ideologies, will stop at nothing to eradicate the Christian presence in the region, seeing them as infidels unworthy of life or protection.

One of the most horrifying aspects of this situation is that many Western governments, under the guise of supporting "freedom" and "democracy," have been backing these rebels. This has led to a dangerous empowerment of groups that are no better than ISIS. The Obama administration, for example, sent billions in arms and support to these rebel factions, unaware or willfully ignoring the fact that they were often working in tandem with extremists.

Contrary to popular belief, the Assad regime, while undoubtedly repressive, is not the greatest threat to religious minorities in Syria. Assad has, for the most part, maintained a semblance of stability, albeit under the heavy-handed rule of a secular dictatorship. Christians, though heavily marginalized under his rule, have historically been able to practice their faith, albeit with limitations. The regime's opposition to extremist Islamism, despite its many flaws, has at least provided a buffer against the worst forms of jihadist violence. The rise of these Islamist rebels, however, has proven far more dangerous for Christians.

The Islamic Republic of Iran, too, is a dangerous force in the region, and it supports Assad. However, the threat posed by Iran and its Shia militias is different in nature from the Wahhabi-inspired Sunni extremism of the Syrian rebels. While both are forms of Islamism, the Sunni jihadist rebels represent a far more immediate threat to the religious minorities in Syria. The Islamic Republic's ambitions may be oppressive and expansionist, but the sheer barbarity of the Sunni rebels eclipses any threat posed by Iran.

This crisis should serve as a wake-up call to the international community. Christians and other minorities are being wiped out in Syria, and it is time for the West to acknowledge that not all rebels are the innocent victims they are made out to be. The Syrian rebels are far worse than both Assad and the Islamic Republic, and their jihadist agenda represents a future where religious minorities, especially Christians, have no place. It is crucial that we stop supporting these rebel groups and shift our focus to protecting those who are at the greatest risk of annihilation—Syria’s Christians.

In conclusion, the Syrian civil war has been hijacked by radical Islamist forces that pose a far greater threat to Christians and other minorities than the Assad regime or the Islamic Republic of Iran. These Islamist rebels are not the "good guys" many in the West have been led to believe; they are the embodiment of the same violent extremism that has led to the destruction of countless lives in the Middle East. As someone who has seen the devastating effects of Islamist ideology firsthand, I call on the international community to reconsider their support for these groups and to stand with Syria's endangered Christian communities before it is too late.

Citations:

1. “The Syrian Civil War: How the West Is Failing the Christians of Syria.” The Wall Street Journal, 2017. https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-syrian-civil-war-how-the-west-is-failing-the-christians-of-syria-1495863047.
2. “Syria's Christians Fear for Their Future.” BBC News, 2016. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-37941741.
3. “US Military Support for Syrian Rebels Is Fueling Extremism.” The New York Times, 2017. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/06/world/middleeast/syria-rebels-islamic-state-isis.html.
4. “The Assad Regime and Religious Minorities: A Complex Relationship.” Foreign Policy, 2017. https://foreignpolicy.com/2017/05/04/the-assad-regime-and-religious-minorities/.