Christians in historic Syrian town reflect on new moment in the country

Syria’s Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa is in France for talks. French President Emmanuel Macron says he’s willing to help the new government, as long as it respects the rights of all Syrians. In the town of Maaloula in western Syria, which has long been a center of Christianity in the country, residents speak Aramaic, the language believed to have been used by Jesus. Years of conflict and displacement forced many of them to flee the town, which also has a small Muslim population. But as The World’s Shirin Jaafari reports, they continue to push to keep their language and religion alive.

Will you support The World?

The story you just read is not locked behind a paywall because listeners and readers like you generously support our nonprofit newsroom. Now more than ever, we need your help to support our global reporting work and power the future of The World. Can we count on you?