Christianity in Crisis in Syria and Egypt

Christians in the Middle East have been subjected to terrible acts of violence in the aftermath of the Arab Spring. Islamist rebels have driven Christians out of the ancient Syrian city of Homs and have murdered Christians in Maaloula. Islamists are demanding jizya payments from Copts in Egypt.

 

Here are just a few of the articles documenting the terrible acts of violence and suffering endured by Christians in Egypt and Syria.

 
Syria

Jihadists force Syria Christian to ‘convert at gunpoint’, (AFP, September 10, 2013)

Christians Will Be Massacred: If Syrian army leaves Aleppo, faithful will be killed, Chaldean Catholic leader warns, (Catholic Online, September 10, 2013)

Kass: Syrian Christians largely ignored in debate over U.S. intervention, (Chicago Tribune, September 10, 2013).

Syrian Christians Pack Passports Fearing Islamist Onslaught, (Bloomberg, September 10, 2013).

Syria Islamist rebels take control of historic Christian town of Maaloula, (CNN, September 9, 2013)

Egypt

Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood to Coptic Christians: Convert to Islam, or pay ‘jizya’ tax, (Washington Times, September 10, 2013)

Egypt’s largest Christian community threatened as Islamists take over town, (NBC News, September 6, 2013)

Coptic Christians Killed for Ransom in Egypt, (Christian Post, September 6, 2013)

Amid Unrest, Egypt’s Christians Pay a Heavy Price (Slide Show), (New York Times, August 20, 2013)

Islamists Step Up Attacks on Christians for Supporting Morsi’s Ouster, (New York Times, August 20, 2013)

Egypt’s Christians Get Trapped in a Crossfire, (Wall Street Journal, August 20, 2013).

Conclusion:

During much of the past decade American media outlets have been reluctant to address Muslim acts of violence against Christians in the Middle East. The story seems to have finally broken through this veil of reluctance.

Christians in the Middle East have paid the price for the longstanding lack of coverage with their lives.

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