The young man, Elie Simon Takla, was deliberately shot by masked assailants who had been lying in wait for the vehicle he was in. They waited until his father exited the car and turned to open the back door and retrieve a bag before opening fire on Elie as he entered the building, resulting in his martyrdom. The perpetrators then fled the scene.

⚠️ The evidence indicates that this was not a random robbery attempt, but a deliberate targeted attack against him. The motive traces back to ongoing threats received by the son of the jeweler since an incident two years ago, when he faced an attempted fraud/assault inside the jeweler’s shop by two individuals. The two were later arrested by the police and sentenced to prison (it is said—but not confirmed—that one of them died in prison). Since then, the jeweler’s son has received continuous death threats from actors associated with the de facto authority.

• The car used by the assailants was stolen, and the license plates were also stolen from a transport bus.
• 🏴‍☠️ Syria has thus become a hub for gangs and terrorism, where acts of violence and threats against unarmed civilians on a sectarian basis are increasingly systematic and organized.

A solidarity vigil was held at the Holy Cross Church in Damascus for the family of the martyr Elie Simon Takla . Participants voiced their rejection of a culture of crime and gangs, as well as the spread of weapons, and demanded their right to a dignified life.

• 🕊️ In a solemn procession, the city of Mahardah bid farewell to the beautiful young man Elie Simon Najjar (Takla), where prayers were held over his pure body at St. George Cathedral before he was laid to rest in the town cemetery.

May his memory be eternal, and may his soul rest in mercy and peace with the righteous and the saints. Deep condolences to his family, friends, and loved ones.

A minor entered the church carrying a Qur’an and approached the altar in front of the iconostasis, beginning to recite some verses. Church officials and a number of worshippers approached him and asked him to leave, as the mass had already begun. He complied, saying “Peace be upon you,” and was later handed over without any security incident occurring.

This incident is related to events on Friday, 23 January 2026, when a group of young Christians in the church displayed banners expressing their concerns about the ongoing attacks against the Christian community and their right to life and safety. These messages come after a series of violations and massacres targeting the Christian population in Syria since the de facto authorities assumed control, highlighting the continued attempts at suppression in all forms to prevent freedom of expression and the protection of civilian rights.