The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria has published a message on the occasion of Easter. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, Easter services and traditional customs are cancelled this year in the self-governing area as part of measures to protect the people from pandemic.

"We are all experiencing an incredible change these days. Opportunities for celebration are passing us by because preventive measures must be implemented to ward off potential risks of coronavirus. This is why we are welcoming this year's Easter, the Christian feast of the resurrection, in difficult circumstances. However, this does not prevent us from celebrating this holiday. The Autonomous Administration wishes all Christians in the Autonomous Region and throughout the world all the best in the hope that this pandemic will be defeated and that peace and stability will prevail everywhere. We hope that in the coming year we will be able to revive all our celebrations together, creating a better atmosphere than what passes through our country Syria, our neighbours and the whole world today".