The anti-terror operation targeting SOS Chrétiens d’Orient comes after years of damaging allegations by left-wing media over its activities in Syria.
By Hélène de LAUZUN
SOS Chrétiens d’Orient, which has devoted twelve years to supporting Christians in war-torn and persecuted regions of the Middle East, now faces an unprecedented judicial assault fueled by false accusations published by the left-leaning investigative outlet Mediapart.
Recently, officials from the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office arrived at the organisation’s Boulogne headquarters near Paris, conducting a detailed search of premises and employee computers. A number of volunteers—among the 3,300 individuals deployed on SOS Chrétiens d’Orient missions since its inception—were interrogated, along with contractors and partners. Those questioned described the heavy-handedness of the inquiry as excessive.
The allegations date back to 2019 when Mediapart issued a quartet of articles aimed at discrediting the humanitarian group, accusing it of backing Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria. Subsequently, in 2022, the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office initiated an investigation into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity tied to these reports, culminating in recent searches and interviews.
The organisation faces claims of channeling donations collected in France to the National Defence Forces (NDF), pro-Assad militias accused by Syrian NGOs of pillaging villages, bombing civilians, and recruiting child soldiers.
SOS Chrétiens d’Orient categorically rejects these charges. Its chairman, Charles de Meyer, emphasizes that the charity is subject to rigorous oversight like many other nonprofits and can confirm full transparency and traceability of its financial contributions, none of which support Assad’s faction.
“SOS Chrétiens d’Orient has always been extremely transparent about its activities in Syria, assisting civilians in all areas where they were harassed by Islamist forces, amid total indifference from the French political authorities,” reads an official statement issued following the raid. Their aid consisted of emergency medical equipment, foodstuffs, and blankets—not weapons funding, contrary to misleading claims spread on X.
This action clearly has a political dimension. Charles de Meyer, founder and president of the association, is noted for his right-wing affiliations and closeness to conservative MEP Marion Maréchal. Political bias also influences the Syrian context: when Mediapart published its articles, it accused SOS Chrétiens d’Orient of “taking a political stance” by aiding victims of Al Qaeda in Syria, known locally as Jabat Al-Nosra—a group then regarded leniently by the French government for opposing Assad. The X Arab Intelligence account, which tracks Middle Eastern news online, highlights that French NGOs linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, which collaborated with Al-Nosra at the time, were never subjected to similar scrutiny.
Franco-Syrian intellectuals are responsible for the so-called revelations submitted to Mediapart and echoed in other outlets including France Info and L’Express. These individuals have been sued for defamation by SOS Chrétiens d’Orient.
Currently, SOS Chrétiens d’Orient operates across nine countries, primarily in the Middle East, with Ukraine joining as a recipient in 2022. Their innovative model, alongside veteran organisations like L’œuvre d’Orient and Aid to the Church in Need, relies heavily on dispatching young volunteers to territories where Christian communities face persecution.
Beyond standard aid like clothing and medicine, they also implement heritage and education initiatives, including French language instruction for Christian populations, reflecting France’s enduring historical involvement in the region.
SOS Chrétiens d’Orient has become a significant presence within the French charitable sector and is a vital voice in combating Christianophobia. This explains the hostility from a substantial segment of the Left and media towards its mission.
Original article: europeanconservative.com
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