Syrian Arab in Netherlands


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Levant Arabs settled all over the Arabian Peninsula and later migrated to North Africa. They are spread from Israel to Kuwait and as far east as Iran. "Levant" is a broad term that includes several groups of Arabs: the Jordanian, Palestinian, Iraqi, Chaldean, and Syrian Arabs. Each of these speaks a different form of the Arabic language.

Before the Syrian Civil War began in 2011, there were already 18 million Syrian Arabs in Diaspora. This earlier group was mainly comprised of people seeking economic opportunities, though there were also political refugees. Most of these people have financial and educational means. They are (to various degrees) assimilated into a different culture.

Most of the Syrian war refugees are in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey or Germany. They also live in dozens of other countries, including the Netherlands.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Those who have taken refuge in the Netherlands must be able to prove there is a specific danger to them in Syria before they can remain in the country. As the government tightens restrictions, Syrian Arabs become more concerned about being deported.

Syrians will have to either learn the local language and start a new life there or return to Syria after the war ends. Meanwhile, Syrians in the Netherlands are trying to carve out a place for themselves economically and socially.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Most Syrian Arabs in the Netherlands are Shafiite Muslims or Alawites. The Shafiites are one of four schools of Sunni Islam. There are Shia splinter groups among them, namely the Twelvers and Imamis. However, Syrian Arabs also have a strong Orthodox or Maronite Christian presence.


What Are Their Needs?

Recent Syrian refugees often face trauma. They suffer from survivor’s guilt and shame that they couldn’t stop the mayhem. Commonly they lost homes, friends and family members. Many need trauma counseling and people to help them get re-established in a new country.


Prayer Points

Pray for loving Christians to offer trauma counseling and other services to suffering Syrian Arabs.
Pray for the Lord to be the comforter for Syrians in the Netherlands.
Pray that the Diaspora situation will provide Syrian Arabs the chance to embrace the only savior.
Pray for Syrian Arab Christians who will disciple others and teach them to do the same.
Pray for Syrian Arab family leaders to have dreams of the victorious and righteous Christ and share their experiences with many others.


Scripture Prayers for the Arab, Syrian in Netherlands.


References

https://www.arab-reform.net/publication/mapping-the-syrian-diaspora-a-global-player-in-the-reconstruction-of-syria/
https://www.newarab.com/features/syrias-revolution-through-lens-diaspora
https://css.wp.st-andrews.ac.uk/2023/04/18/the-syrian-diaspora-solidarity-and-the-humanitarian-bridge/
https://www.kas.de/en/web/libanon/single-title/-/content/the-new-syrian-diaspora-from-basic-survival-struggles-to-aspirations-of-success-and-integration
https://www.newarab.com/features/syrian-refugees-netherlands-face-stricter-asylum-rules
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01419870.2022.2156805
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7734122/
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/18/magazine/syrian-refugee-netherlands-identity.html


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Arab, Syrian
People Name in Country Arab, Syrian
Natural Name Syrian Arab
Pronunciation SEER-ee-un AE-rub
Alternate Names Arab; Arab, Levantine; Lebanese Arab; Levantine Arab; Palestinian Arab; South Levantine; Syrian Arab
Population this Country 116,000
Population all Countries 20,176,000
Total Countries 38
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 2
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
PeopleID3 15152
ROP3 Code 109662
Country Netherlands
Region Europe, Western
Continent Europe
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Country Netherlands
Region Europe, Western
Continent Europe
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.10 %)
6.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
91.00 %
Non-Religious
1.00 %
Other / Small
2.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Arabic, Levantine (116,000 speakers)
Language Code apc   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Arabic, Levantine (116,000 speakers)
Language Code apc   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Arabic, Levantine
Photo Source James Gordon - Wikimedia  Creative Commons 
Map Source Bethany World Prayer Center  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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