Why the Media is Ignoring the Crisis in Syria

Colossians 3:12 (NIV) says “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience”. As new technology connects us more and more to the most troubled parts of the world, it feels like all these aspects of our Christian character are being pushed to their limits.

The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Syria seems endless, and endlessly complicated. But as conditions worsen, Charles Newington of Family Voice Australia says the media coverage of the issue is decreasing. He caught up with 20Twenty’s Neil Johnson to explain why. Read on or listen to their conversation below.

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According to the Wall Street Journal’s Walter Russell Mead, “the long and bitter Syrian civil war has shifted into an ugly new stage.” Around 4 million refugees are desperately fleeing Syrian government forces and their Russian allies, as they fight for control of Syria’s north-western provinces.

Turkey, which has already taken in more than 4 million Syrian refugees, has now closed its borders. And it seems as though the world is closing its hearts to those left in the firing line. “With more than 400 thousand dead, 5.6 million refugees, and 6.2 million people displaced within its borders,” Mead writes, “Syria has exhausted the world’s compassion.”

Charles Newington believes the Western World is disengaging with Syria partly because it feels like nothing we do can have a positive impact. But he says it’s also because there’s so much else vying for the headlines. “I think that editors have made a decision that this is not a matter of what we might call general public interest.”

“We’re concerned about Coronavirus. We’re concerned about whether we’re going to have a deficit or a surplus budget. And that’s what our papers are focusing on. And these things are important. There’s no doubt about it. But I think it’s important that people are conscious that while we are concerned about these local issues, something of desperate proportions is happening in the world.”

In recent times, the US has been thought of as “the world’s policeman”, stepping in to forcefully de-escalate conflicts when they arise in other parts of the world. But amid ongoing debate over the long-term efficacy of this policy, last year US President Donald Trump decided to withdraw the majority of US military presence in Syria.

“In their relative absence now,” Newington said, “Russia has moved into the vacuum. Iran has a new confidence and boldness. Turkey has a new confidence and boldness.” Turkey’s government is largely controlled by orthodox, or Sunni Islam, where Iran, which is increasingly taking control in the region, represents Shi’a or sectarian Islam.

Of course, more than 70 per cent of Syria’s Muslim population are Sunni. “And the challenge here is that Sunni Islam is not intervening in any way to protect the Sunni Muslims. There’s sort of a collapse of political will here, and they’re just letting this situation resolve to its final, tragic conclusion.”

But Newington also reminds us that along with the centuries of conflict within Islam, this area also holds historical significance for Christians. Aleppo has been associated with the ancient city of Antioch, one of the first cities to respond to the Christian message, and the first place where Christians were called Christians.

This is an important symbolic reminder that anyone who is suffering, regardless of their own religion, is someone who needs God in their lives, and someone whom we should care for as we would our own family. “It’s part of our faith,” he said, “that our brothers and sisters are all implicated in this terrible sweep.”

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Tune into 20Twenty and join the conversation with Neil Johnson, weekdays on Vision Christian Radio. Click here for your local times and more interviews.

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