News Archive 2019
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News (Archive-2019)
The conditions faced by the Christian population across the Middle East are important for caring Christians around the world to understand. Major media outlets too often provide us, however, with an incomplete (and sometimes inaccurate) account of events there and their causes. We present herewith a collection of well-written articles on the Christian situation to help broaden your understanding of this important subject. Articles reflect the authors’ research and opinions, not those of SMOTJ.
January 10, 2019
Al Sisi’s 2013 military coup in Egypt brought down its Muslim Brotherhood predecessor. But this article argues that persecution has only become worse for Egypt’s Christians.
by Marlo Safi
Wall Street Journal
A Coptic cathedral opens, but believers still face persecution, even martyrdom. Read more….
February 20, 2019
Jordan’s contributions to stability in the Middle East and aid to Christians are too often ignored by Western media. This article shines a light on those roles and how they evolved. In the second photo below, please note our OSMTH Chaplain General Bishop Younan shaking hands with King Abdullah.
by Taylor Luck Correspondent
CSMonitor.com
Mention religion in the Middle East and what often leaps to mind is conflict: Muslim vs. Jew, Sunni vs. Shiite. But from Jordan, a religious crossroads, comes a forceful call for interfaith harmony. Read more….
March 02, 2019
Egypt’s Coptic Christians are the largest Christian community in the Middle East and the second largest religion in Egypt. Yet they have received scant protection, if any, under the current and the previous governments there. Here are two contrasting views from Western media on the community’s plight.
by Michael Reagan with Michael R. Shannon
Newsmax
Joel C. Rosenberg is the bearer of glad tidings for Christians living in the Middle East and Christians worldwide who are concerned about their brethren there. Read more….
April 08, 2019
The White House on Tuesday welcomes Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al- Sisi for the second time in three years.
by Sara Salama, Opinion Contributor
The Hill
This visit comes on the heels of contested constitutional amendments and legislative reforms that consolidate Sisi’s power and assure his authoritarian rule until possibly 2034. Read more….
May 12, 2019
The report singled out Iran, Iraq and Turkey for fostering a hostile environment for Christians. Read more….
June 26, 2019
In some regions, the level and nature of persecution is arguably coming close to meeting the international definition of genocide, according to that adopted by the UN found The Independent Review of FCO support for Persecuted Christians. Read more….
August 6, 2019
Sharp differences in values underlie the stark contrast between Western laws and Islam’s shari’a law, which could soon intrude more ominously on the rights of Iraqi Christians. The American Secretary of State is underwriting a multi-national effort to counter this drift toward intolerance and persecution. Read more….
August 18, 2019
Islamic State was defeated, but it left the Christian population in Iraq decimated. The support to rebuild that was promised by Western churches and governments has been so poor that the outlook for Iraqi Christians today remains quite bleak, as a well known Italian writer describes here. Read more….
