Declining number of Christians in Aleppo, Syria

The number of Christians in Aleppo, Syria seems to far less than previous thought. "Ehsani" in Syria Comment explains: "The exact number of religious minorities in Syria is difficult to ascertain," but the dwindling number indicates the plight of the Christian population in Aleppo. "The findings will point to the fact that this particular minority seems to have suffered from a precipitous drop in its numbers measured as a percentage of the population. Low fertility rate, abysmal economic growth, unfavorable laws, regional dynamics and frightening language from some extremists have combined to deal this minority a remarkable blow when it comes to their numbers at least within the ancient city of Aleppo."

Ehsani refers to a meeting held a couple of years back with a noted Christian Priest who remarked how Christian youth were leaving in larger numbers than ever before. "He proceeded to argue how the lack of job opportunities, low wages and exuberant housing prices had combined to drive the youth in his congregation to move abroad. His attempts to convince his young men to stay in Syria fell on deaf ears. The result has been a migration of alarming proportions. And this has been going on for years."

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