Attack in Syria's Christian Valley: candidates withdraw from election amid mass protests

A brutal attack took place in Syria’s Valley of Christians (Wadi al-Nasara), killing two young Christians and seriously injuring one. The event sparked a wave of popular anger, mass protests and led to several Christian candidates withdrawing from the upcoming Popular Assembly elections in protest.

According to Syriac Press, the incident took place on Wednesday evening in the Christian city of Anaz. Unidentified gunmen opened heavy gunfire on young men sitting outside the office of the village chief. The killings threw the community into a state of shock and mourning, with residents expressing fury at what they see as yet another attack on the valley’s Christian population.

In response to the incident, spontaneous protests broke out in the region. According to local reports, residents set fire to a General Security checkpoint, blocked roads and called a general strike that spread throughout the valley. At the call of community leaders and clergy, bells rang in all churches in Wadi al-Nasar, turning grief into a collective expression of defiance.

The crime had a major impact on the political environment in the run-up to the elections. Several Christian candidates announced their withdrawal. One of them, Ghassan Yousef al-Shami, called on the People’s Assembly to pass urgent laws to combat the proliferation of weapons in Syria, emphasizing that repeated attacks on unarmed civilians require immediate legal and political action.

On the evening of Thursday, October 2, residents of the valley organized a candlelight procession in memory of the victims. The procession, which began at St. Elijah’s Church, ended at the site of the tragedy in Anaz, uniting the community in grief and determination.