Protestant Christian Palestinian in Syria describes statelessness, bullying and search for identity

The writer, who describes themself as a Christian Palestinian living in Syria, recalls growing up with a sense of distinction. As a child, they believed that being the only Christian Palestinian refugee in Syria was something to be proud of. Later, they describe learning that this sense of distinction brought isolation rather than pride.

In their account, Palestinians in Syria face a difficult position. The writer says Syria has not granted them citizenship, and that the Palestinian Authority does not really remember them. They add that a Christian Palestinian in Syria also struggles to find a place among Palestinian communities there, and has not been able to integrate fully among Syrian Christians. The writer describes repeated experiences of persecution and bullying, and says that hiding one’s identity or avoiding conflict did not prevent them from recurring.

The writer also says that, as a Protestant, they experienced bullying from Orthodox Christians at a rate they describe as twice as high as the racism they faced from Muslims. The writer states that this was the most confusing and surprising part of their experience. They say they did not expect a idealized picture of coexistence in Syria, noting that racism exists there despite what is said in the media about peaceful coexistence and patriotism.

Over time, the writer says, they came to feel that they had no identity and no homeland, and at one point felt stateless. Withdrawing into their room, they wrote to organizations, churches, and societies around the world. Their messages, as quoted in the essay, began with a greeting, gave their name as Asaad, described them as the only Christian Palestinian in Syria, and asked to be helped to leave the country. (Comfort reaches those who have been unheard and left in isolation, and the writer’s account shows a long season of waiting and sending messages without reply; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4.)

The writer says they spent about two years in their room, hoping that one of the organizations they wrote to would respond. They say these attempts failed, and that they lost hope and came to believe that no one cared about them. They then decided to go back out and face the world again. They returned to their university, their work, and their previous routine.

In that return, the writer reports a coincidence. One day, they recognized a girl who was also a Christian Palestinian.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Arabic)