The head of the Chaldean Catholic Church has questioned the motive behind supporting regime change in Iraq, Egypt, Syria and Libya, saying that Islamic fundamentalist regimes are “even worse” than authoritarian ones. Instilling democracy and a culture of freedom, said Chaldean Patriarch Louis Sako, requires education and a sound strategy for the long term. But Read more
Posts Tagged ‘Egypt’
Persecution driving Christians out of Muslim world
Tuesday, May 14th, 2013The mass exodus of millions of Christians from one part of the Islamic world to another as the result of persecution by Muslims has reached epidemic proportions, according to a Middle East and Islam expert. “This matter of Muslim persecution of Christians is a humanitarian crisis at this point,” said Raymond Ibrahim. He said the Read more
Global state of religious freedom is ‘dire’
Tuesday, May 7th, 2013
The state of religious freedom around the world is “increasingly dire”, according to the chairperson of a United States agency that monitors threats to this human right. The reasons include the rise of violent religious extremism and the actions and inactions of governments, according to Dr Katrina Lantos Swett of the US Commission for International Read more
Swarm of locusts in Egypt recalls biblical plague
Tuesday, March 12th, 2013With Passover only weeks away, the timing of a massive swarm of locusts in Egypt is striking many Israelis as downright biblical. Millions of the grasshopper-like insects have swarmed Israel’s southern neighbour, damaging crops. Some have since made their way to southern Israel. On the eve of Passover, which this year begins at sundown on Read more
The post-revolution struggle for the Arab soul
Friday, December 7th, 2012
The rise of political Islam following the Arab Spring has many worried that the democratic achievements of the revolution could be lost. In Egypt and Tunisia alike, citizens are once again taking to the streets. But this time they are opposing Islamism. Does secularism still stand a chance? Egypt’s strongman was sitting in the first Read more
Christians quit work on Egyptian constitution
Tuesday, November 27th, 2012Representatives of Egypt’s three main Christian churches have jointly decided to end their participation in writing a new Egyptian constitution because it will not reflect the pluralistic identity of the Muslim nation. A primary concern is an article enshrining the “principles” of shari’ah law as the primary source of legislation. “The only ones who can Read more
New Coptic Orthodox Church pope chosen
Tuesday, November 6th, 2012
In the climax of a selection process that took nine months, a blindfolded boy in an altar ballot has drawn the name of the new pope of the 18-million-member Coptic Orthodox Church. Bishop Tawadrous of Beheira was chosen on November 4 — his 60th birthday — to be the 118th Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch Read more
Bishops urge Egypt to help Sinai asylum seekers
Tuesday, August 14th, 2012
Violence on the Israeli-Egypt border has opened up an opportunity for Egypt to rescue African asylum seekers who are being kidnapped on the Sinai Peninsula, according to the Catholic bishops of the Middle East. Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi has declared that Egypt will “control all parts of Sinai”, where clashes have been occurring between militants Read more
New president of Egypt meets Christian leaders
Friday, June 29th, 2012
Egypt’s newly-elected Islamic President Mohammed Morsi has met with Catholic leaders and assured them that all Egyptians will be protected by the administration. The meeting came one day after he met the interim leader of Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Church, which makes up the vast majority of the roughly 8 million Christians in the country. The Read more
Egypt: Christians must convert to Islam
Monday, June 4th, 2012According to the popular Egyptian website, El Bashayer, Muhammad Morsi, the Muslim Brotherhood presidential candidate, just declared that he will “achieve the Islamic conquest (fath) of Egypt for the second time, and make all Christians convert to Islam, or else pay the jizya,” the traditional Islamic tax, or financial tribute, required of non-Muslim “dhimmis.” Continue Read more