Are Syrians Christians in danger?

Akram, Angry Arab's chief correspondent in Syria, sent me this assessment:  "In Syria, are Christians in danger? A very sensitive question that must be examined carefully. Throughout the previous months, some media outlets reported about the besieged Christians in the Homs and Al-Qossair being abused. According to a report of Fides, Christians in Al-Qossair were told by the gunmen to evacuate the city within six days, an account that hasn't been confirmed.

In general, what's happening in Homs is unclear and subject to speculations. And it seems the confusion about this issue is now among the Christian clerical body itself:

1. Another report dated to June, 6^th 2012 cited a French priest, introduced as "a greek-Catholic Melkite Archimandrite", describing how bad the situation is in Homs where all All Christians (138,000) have fled to Damascus and Lebanon, while others took refuge in the surrounding countryside. In the same report he, also, described how the armed gangs try to discover the religious identity of people by asking them to cite the genealogies dating back to Moses. And they ask to recite a prayer that the Alawites removed. The Alawites have no chance to get out alive.

2. But according to this piece (French), Philippe Tournyol isn't even a priest, has never been in Homs and, consequently, he can't be a witness of the alleged oppression of Christians there. But this isn't all.

3. Today, (June, 28^th), Fides offered documents confirming that he is actually a priest and that neither the Holy See, nor ROACO (Assembly of Aid to the Eastern Churches) have expressed an official position on the Archimandrite’s story (that is, they haven't denied it as said in the previous peace).

What can be said about this is the following (and this is of course my personal estimation):

1. Though Christians evacuated Homs, but they weren't alone in this. In fact, many Muslims did so.

2. So far, armed gangs don't target them per se. I can confirm, however, that Alawites are chased and executed on the sole basis of their religious identity. According to a friend in Al-Furat Petroleum Company, Muslim employees working in the fields in Deir-Ezzor teach their Alawite colleagues (Christians weren't concerned) some essential Islamic prays and verses of Quran so they can hide their religious pertinence when stopped by rebel check points on the road to Damascus.

3. Sectarian tensions aren't common among average Syrians. I, personally, oppose the regime though I don't consider myself as activist. People I know and meet, on daily basis, are of different sects and range between proponents and opponents. And I can assure, that, while we discuss politics openly, we never talk sectarianism.

4. Furthermore, I, strongly, believe that what seems to be sectarian mass killings, regardless of the perpetrators (regime or rebels are both suspects), are artificial and designed to provoke hostile reactions that, thanks God, haven't happened... yet.

5. On the other hand, kidnapping and counter kidnapping events happen. But they are motivated more by "tribal" rivalries (between neighboring (pro and anti regime) villages than by sectarian ones. In most cases, those events end up by hostage exchange.

Back to the main question. Are Christians in danger? On the short term I don't see any clear danger. On the long term, if (not likely to happen) a Taliban-like regime ruled in Syria, not only Christians will be in danger: such a regime would be a great threat to all Syrians, but also to the whole region.

Finally, I believe that, in an exploded environment, being cautious and avoiding addressing issues in an enticing and way is the best behavior."