St Francis Magazine

Rev Michael Youssef broadcasting on TV in Arab World

2010-06-15T23:31:00.001-07:00

Rev Michael Youssef from Atlanta broadcasts Arabic Christian TV programs to the Arab World on two transponders, namely Hotbird and Nilesat. The channel is called Al Malakoot (the Kingdom) in Arabic. More information on where this channel and many other Arabic Christians channels can be viewed, can be found HERE

Islamic Republic of Sudan

2010-06-10T21:24:00.000-07:00

The Sudanese newspaper Rai al-Shaab (Opinion of the People), owned and controlled by Sudanese opposition leader Hassan al-Turabi, recently published an article that potentially provides new and important insight into Sudan's terrorist ties to Iran. MORE HERE

Egyptian government tries to force Church to change its ethics

2010-06-10T01:05:00.000-07:00

The Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt says there is no power on earth that can force it to violate the teachings of the Gospel. This was affirmed in a communiqué responding to an Egyptian High Court ruling that the Church must grant permission to divorced people to marry again.

Egypt only recognizes civil marriage when it is accompanied by a religious marriage. The Coptic Orthodox Church is continuing with legal appeals to the May 29 decision, according to Bishop Armiya, secretary of Orthodox Pope Shenuda III. The May decision rejected an appeal already presented by the leader of the Coptic Church and reaffirmed a lower court ruling.

The case at hand has been brought to the courts by Hani Wasfi Naguib, a divorced man who wants to re-marry. "There is no force on earth that can oblige the Church to violate the teachings of the Gospel and the laws of the Church based on 'what God has joined together let no man put asunder,'" the communiqué affirmed. MORE HERE

Roman Catholic Bishops Deplore Mideast Christians’ Plight

2010-06-07T00:03:00.000-07:00

In a document presented here on Sunday by Pope Benedict XVI, bishops from across the Middle East called on Christians to become a dynamic minority in a conflict-ridden region and attributed their declining population here to “instability” caused by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the war in Iraq and unrest in Lebanon. It also lamented the rise of “political Islam,” and said Christians suffered in countries where Muslims often “make no distinction between religion and politics.” MORE HERE

Egypt in trouble over Gaza blockade

2010-06-04T23:48:00.000-07:00

The silver lining in the tragedy of Israel's brutal raid on the Free Gaza flotilla is a new urgency about lifting the blockade on Gaza and addressing the territory's humanitarian crisis. Calls for the blockade to be lifted have been made in the Arab world, in Europe and even, albeit more timidly, by the Obama administration. But Israel's siege is not the only thing that has been highlighted: the role of Egypt, Tel Aviv's silent partner in the blockade, has also been brought to the fore. This is an uncomfortable development for Egypt, which denies playing any role in the blockade even as it closed its border with Gaza at Rafah since the June, 2007 Hamas takeover.MORE HERE

Next drought in Africa can lead to war over Nile waters

2010-05-30T22:34:00.000-07:00

Unless the current standoff between the Nile riparian states is broken to provide for a unified management of the Nile basin for the first time then the next great drought could send the region back to the brink of a water was, predicts The Independent HERE

Bangladeah blocks facebook over blasphemy

2010-05-30T00:14:00.001-07:00

Bangladesh says it has blocked the popular social networking website Facebook over a page that urges people to draw images of Islam's prophet Muhammad. Chief telecommunication regulator Zia Ahmed said Sunday that access to the site has been temporarily blocked because it was publishing caricatures that may hurt the religious sentiments of people in the Muslim-majority nation.

Thousands of Muslims protested in Dhaka last week against what they called the website's "blasphemous content" because of a page called "Everybody Draw Mohammed Day" that encouraged users to post images of the prophet.

Pakistan earlier blocked Facebook over the same page.

Osman Mirghani: Arabs neglect their 20 million handicapped

2010-05-26T10:13:00.000-07:00

When one visits a western country, he can see disabled people in the streets, and on buses and trains, and in supermarkets and offices, meeting their own needs and living their lives without feeling isolated or alone. As for our Arab world, we hardly see people with special needs in the street for in most cases they are prisoners in their own homes, unable to leave the house and move around due to the absence of facilities, or they are socially excluded and under the legal guardianship of hospitals and private clinics. MORE HERE

Morocco expelled 100+ missionaries in past 3 months

2010-05-23T14:17:00.001-07:00

Morocco has expelled 100 foreign Christians since March because they allegedly tried to convert Muslims, the harshest crackdown in decades, Worthy News learned Saturday, May 22. Morocco's Islamic Affairs Minister Ahmed Toufiq said in published remarks that the deportations, were needed for "order and calm" and to avoid a clash between faiths.

The latest expulsion was that of Spaniard Francisco Paton Millan, the head of a small energy company, who was ordered last week to leave the country for trying to convert Muslims to Christianity, church workers and European diplomats said. MORE HERE

Pakistan blocks 'blasphemous' web pages

2010-05-23T00:34:00.001-07:00

Pakistan has blocked 800 web pages and URLs to limit access to "blasphemous" material, extending a crackdown that has already banned access to Facebook and YouTube, an official said yesterday. The Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) banned access to Facebook, YouTube and other links, which included restricted access to Wikipedia, in view of what it called "growing sacrilegious content" this week.
"At least 800 individual web pages and URLs have been blocked since the government's orders to shut Facebook and YouTube," Wahaj us Siraj, a spokesman for the Internet Service Providers Association of Pakistan said.
Mr Siraj's remarks came hours after the Facebook user who organised an "Everyone Draw Mohammed Day" competition to promote "freedom of expression" evidently took down the page along with a separate blog about the campaign. MORE HERE

Interview with Gaza's Army of Islam - Palestine is an Islamic Waqf

2010-05-19T22:02:00.000-07:00

"Salafism is not only in Gaza, it is all over Palestine and needs no license to practice in the heart of Tel Aviv or in Washington," Jaish Al-Islam (Army of Islam) leader Omer Al-Ansari told Ma'an during an exclusive interview on Wednesday.

"But enough about the movement, its time to move is subject to its men and their ability to stand in the face of the tyrannies," Al-Ansari said from his secret hideout and weapons store, settling in for an in-depth discussion on the relationship of the movement to Al-Qaeda, tensions with the ruling Hamas party, and its vision for the Palestinian national struggle. MORE HERE

Morocco continues to expel Christian expats

2010-05-17T21:09:00.001-07:00

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that 23 foreigners have been notified of expulsion from Morocco since May 10, marking a second wave of Christian deportations from the country.

A spokesman for the US Embassy in Morocco in an interview with ICC said, “We are very concerned about this. While there were fewer Americans in this round than there were in the first round of this in early March, we’re still following it very closely, and we have expressed concern, as have other diplomatic missions here, to the Moroccan authorities about this.

The recent notifications of expulsion are officially attributed to proselytizing, which is illegal under Moroccan law. Earlier this year, the enforcement of anti-proselytizing laws resulted in the deportations of approximately 40 US citizens and many other foreign expatriates from Morocco. However, Moroccan authorities have refused to explain the charges. “[The Moroccan government] has been very cagy about really giving any information to people, which has been disturbing,” said the US Embassy spokesman. “But we understand it’s all based on alleged proselytizing.” MORE HERE

Sudan arrests Hassan al-Turabi - again

2010-05-16T06:28:00.000-07:00

Sudanese authorities arrested Islamist opposition leader Hassan al-Turabi (picture) at his home late on Saturday, a month after the country's first competitive elections in 24 years, his secretary said.
"At around midnight (2100 GMT), a group of security officers arriving in three cars, came and took Hassan al-Turabi from his home," Awad Babakir told AFP.
Turabi, once President Omar al-Beshir's mentor but now one of his fiercest critics, had denounced last month's elections as fraudulent and said his Popular Congress Party would not join a future government.
Beshir was declared winner in Sudan's first multi-party election since 1986, a vote marred by an opposition boycott, logistical problems and accusations of fraud. MORE

Arab Egypt and Sudan vs. Africa over Nile water

2010-05-15T01:57:00.000-07:00

A controversial deal has been signed to share the waters of the world's longest river. But Egypt and Sudan are not happy at four African countries signing a new deal on the Nile. Rwanda, Ethiopia, Uganda and Tanzania signed the new framework on Friday while Kenya issued a support statement. Ten nations share the resources of the river.

Colonial-era agreements gave the biggest share of water to the two downstream countries, Egypt and Sudan. But as Al Jazeera's Mohamed Vall explains, upstream nations are now pushing for a greater share. Watch this TV programs here

Food shortages in Arab World

2010-05-11T20:23:00.000-07:00

ARAB countries need to invest some $144 billion in agriculture over the next 20 years to meet the food demands of the growing population, an Arab agricultural organization has said.

Tareq A-Zadjali, director general of the Arab Organization for Agriculture Development, said much of the funding for agricultural expansion needs to be secured from private Arab investors.

"We have an annual food security gap of between 27 and 29 billion dollars," he told The Media Line. "We want to reduce this gap."

The population in the Middle East, currently numbering around 335 million, is projected to reach some 545 million by the year 2030, creating what A-Zadjali claimed will be a deficit of $71 billion should investment not be secured. MORE HERE

Child labor in Arab World

2010-05-09T20:50:00.000-07:00

From shoeshine boys on the streets of Sana’a to underage labourers on Egyptian farms, a new UN report warns of significant levels of child labour in the Arab world and a lack of effective monitoring to tackle abuses.

Child labour monitors warn that patchy data leave Arab policymakers struggling against a problem that sees young people exposed to toxic agricultural chemicals on farms and life-threatening machinery in factories and workshops.

The UN’s International Labour Organisation (ILO) presents an estimate of 13.4 million child labourers – about 15 per cent of the region’s junior population – but fears the real figure could be much higher because many work off the books.

“Take Egypt as an example; it is visible to any visitor to the country that child labour is a problem. You can see it on the surface – but that doesn’t give a basis for planning,” said Frank Hagemann, the ILO’s policy chief on child labour. MORE HERE

Al Shabaab Militants Execute Christian Leader in Somalia

2010-05-05T21:19:00.000-07:00

(Compass Direct News) - Islamic militants yesterday killed another leader of the underground church movement in Somalia, sources said.

Before he was fatally shot on Tuesday (May 4) in Xarardheere, about 60 kilometers (37 miles) from Jowhar, 57-year-old Yusuf Ali Nur had been on a list of people the Islamic extremist al Shabaab suspected of being Christian, sources who spoke on condition of anonymity told Compass. Al Shabaab, said to have links with al Qaeda, has vowed to rid Somalia of Christianity.

The militants fighting the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) in Mogadishu had been engaged in a two-hour battle with a rival rebel group, the Ahlu Sunna Waljamer, which had taken control of the Xarardheere area, before they came across Nur. Nur had lived in Xarardheere since leaving Jowhar in July 2009.

Eyewitnesses said that after al Shabaab took control of the area, they went from house to house looking for enemy fighters when they arrived at Nur's rented home at about 10:30 a.m. Sources said that upon finding Nur, one of the militants remarked, "Oh! This is Yusuf, whom we have been looking for," before they sprayed him with bullets at close range.

Nur is survived by his wife, whose name was withheld for security reasons, and three children, ages 11, 9 and 7. MORE HERE

Antony Loewenstein: 'Isolating Iran is part of the ‘great energy game’

2010-05-02T23:30:00.000-07:00

Foreign Policy journal on Iran and US foreign policy:

The Middle East is witness to continuous developments these days, such as Iran’s active diplomacy to attract the indispensable 118-member bloc of non-aligned countries to support its nuclear program, the growing isolation of Israel in European countries and within academic circles in the U.S., Arabs’ fears of losing the power game in the Persian Gulf region, and the expansion of illegal settlements of Israel in the West Bank and its unremitting disobedience to United Nations Security Council resolutions. MORE HERE

Publishing books in Egypt

2010-04-30T23:05:00.000-07:00

Mohamed Hashem's officeseems an unlikely home for Egypt's nascent literary revolution: to find it you have to ascend a shabby set of stairs in a downtown Cairo apartment block shared by, among others, the Egyptian Angling Federation and an orthopaedic surgeon. It's a far cry from the slick headquarters of Egypt's biggest publishing houses. Yet on any given day it's here on Hashem's threadbare sofas that you'll find the cream of young Egyptian writing talent, chain-smoking cigarettes, chatting with literary critics and thumbing through some of the thousands of books stacked from floor to ceiling.
"We can't compete with the big firms in terms of profits, but the new wave of authors will always be sitting here," says the 52-year-old with a grin. "Yes, we have poverty and limited resources. But we also have the future." MORE HERE

Islamic Televangelism: Religion, Media and Visuality in Contemporary Egypt

2010-04-25T04:08:00.000-07:00

In the Egyptian hit film Awqaat Faraagh (Leisure Time, 2006), three young college students experience an existential crisis when one of their friends suddenly dies while crossing the street to buy them more beer. Sitting in a souped-up Mercedes Benz filled with hashish smoke and scantily clad girls, the three boys watch in horror as their friend, high and tripping, is hit by a car and immediately falls to the ground, breathing his last with the words: “I am afraid, I am afraid.” Chastened and shocked by this tragedy, they vow to repent their dissolute lifestyles and lead more moral lives. Instead of watching Internet porn, they begin to download and watch together episodes of a religious talk-show by Amr Khaled, an immensely popular Islamic da’iya (activist, “caller” to Islam), who regularly appears on satellite television. MORE HERE

Saudi Arabia wants Nuclear Plant; , Could Have Huge Consequences For U.S.-Iran Relations

2010-04-20T21:27:00.000-07:00

The government of Saudi Arabia has announced a new section of its capital Riyadh is set to be powered solely by nuclear energy. This will be the first nuclear power plant in the Gulf states, and the first in the broader Middle East. If the U.S. government backs Saudi Arabia's bid to build a reactor, they'll be creating the potential for nuclear growth within the GCC, or Gulf Cooperation Council, whose members include Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE, and Oman. MORE HERE

Election in Sudan not up to standards

2010-04-17T02:14:00.000-07:00

The chief of the EU's monitoring mission said Sudan had "not reached all [standards] but some of them".
The polls were intended to effect a democratic transformation in Africa's largest country.
The complicated ballot has already been heavily criticised by the Sudanese opposition and local observers. Final results are expected on Tuesday.
Speaking at a news conference in Khartoum, EU mission chief Veronique de Keyser said: "Turnout is very high, 60%, but with significant deficiencies.MORE HERE

Church bells ringing in Egypt again

2010-04-16T23:57:00.000-07:00

The peal of Russian bells will shortly spread in the neighbourhood of the Egyptian capital, Cairo. The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill presented a group of bells to an ancient Greek, which were especially cast for this purpose by the smiths of the old Russian city of Voronezh. “Let the sounds of these bells remind people about our brotherly love and our unbreakable ties with the Orthodox Church in Alexandria, emphasized Patriarch Kirill. The head of the Russian Orthodox Church traditionally visits local Orthodox churches after he is enthroned. MORE HERE

No more school bells in Somalia

2010-04-16T02:17:00.001-07:00

The Shabab, Somalia’s most powerful Islamist insurgent group, outlawed school bells in a southern town on Thursday after deciding that they conflicted with Islam, residents said.
School principals in the town, Jowhar, about 55 miles north of Mogadishu, the capital, had been summoned to a meeting and informed that the bells could no longer be used because they sounded like church bells, according to one principal.
“There was no bell rung in our school today,” said Hamdi, a student at the Kulmis Primary and Secondary School, who asked that her full name not be used out of fear for her safety. “Some teachers were hitting the doors as the period finished. It is really confusing.” MORE HERE

Teaching as a tentmaker in Saudi Arabia

2010-04-13T08:02:00.000-07:00

For expatriates looking to work in Saudi Arabia, there are many types of job options to choose from. Industries such as IT, Construction, Banking, Finance, and Oil & Gas etc are buzzing with jobs. However, education industry also attracts a lot of qualified personnel into Saudi Arabia. There are many teaching jobs in Saudi Arabia to be taken up. Since the expatriate population is quite high, and they come from all over the world to work in Saudi Arabia with their families there are many international schools that are running here to cater to the children of these expatriates. Apart from that the local schools in Saudi Arabia also required qualified teachers for subjects such as English and Math. MORE HERE

Growth of Church in North Nigeria

2010-04-11T01:36:00.000-07:00

Nigerian Anglican archbishop told 825 mostly Anglicans and Episcopalians that included 20 bishops and three archbishops that the outbreaks of violence in Northern Nigeria is a result of tens of thousands of Islamists becoming Christians resulting in the formation of 49 new dioceses.

The Rt. Rev. Edmund Akanya, Archbishop of Kaduna and Bishop of Kebbi from the Anglican Province of Nigeria told conferees at the New Wineskins conference for Global Missions that outreach to Muslims in Nigeria with the gospel is "second nature" to Nigerian Anglicans and that Anglicans "face this challenge every day."

"After experiencing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior I went into mission. Up to 20 years ago we were dependent on missionaries. Now we have a thriving church with our own missionaries reaching out to Muslims, animists and pagans," he told the missions-minded audience many of whom had come from half way around the globe to plan mission strategies to reach the world for Jesus Christ. MORE HERE

Morocco must end harassment of Sahrawi activists

2010-04-10T03:52:00.000-07:00

Amnesty International has called on the Moroccan authorities to end the ongoing harassment and intimidation of Sahrawi activists, as five of six who have been detained since last October began the fourth week of a hunger strike in protest at their detention without trial.
The hunger strikers are among a number of Sahrawi activists who have faced harassment and intimidation after visiting refugee camps in Algeria administered by the Polisario Front, which calls for the independence of Western Sahara and has set up a self-proclaimed government-in-exile.

One group was beaten with batons at Laayoune airport last Wednesday when they returned to Western Sahara from the Tindouf refugee camps. MORE HERE

Hungriest part of the Arab World: Sudan's new disaster

2010-04-08T18:50:00.000-07:00

The UN mission in Sudan is warning of a food crisis in the south, with failed rains and tribal clashes laying the foundation for a humanitarian crisis. Skeletal children and elderly people who are too weak to walk tell of impending tragedy. Watch video HERE

Arab Christians from Jordan risk all for Easter Sunday pilgrimage to Israel

2010-04-04T23:22:00.000-07:00

Many of the Arab Christians flocking to holy sites in Israel this Easter Sunday come from neighboring Jordan. But they do so at a price.
Those who make the trek – and, as part of a broader rise in religious tourism, more are making it every year – risk their professional reputation and their family’s disapproval.
For a country whose 1994 peace treaty with Israel was never accepted at the popular level, receiving an entry stamp, let alone a visa from Israel, is considered “treason” to the Arab cause.
But despite a growing movement to discredit those involved with the “Zionist enemy,” hundreds of Jordanians risk their careers and reputation to complete a pilgrimage to holy sites in Israel’s occupied territories.
“I cannot help it,” says Daoud Yazeed, a Jordanian Christian who disguises his pilgrimages as business trips. “Jerusalem is calling.” MORE HERE

Morocco - Christians at risk

2010-04-04T23:18:00.001-07:00

In early March, observers watched as around 20 long-time Christian orphanage workers were expelled from the country they called home. The incident, and others which followed it, have brought to light the debate surrounding Christianity in the Kingdom.
While the official Moroccan line is that 98.7-99 per cent of the population is Muslim (the remainder being approximately 1% Christian and 0.2% Jewish), that statistic includes ethnic Europeans residing in Morocco. Proselytizing is illegal, as is conversion away from Islam. Still, foreign Christians are allowed to practice freely, and a number of churches, mostly from the era of French colonization, remain. In contrast, the country's tiny Jewish population is almost entirely native, and is also allowed free practice of their faith. MORE HERE

Elections in Sudan: 11-13 April - What is at stake?

2010-04-03T03:43:00.001-07:00

Sudan is to hold its first national democratic election in 24 years when voters head for the polls from 11-13 April to elect their next president.
They will also vote for members of the 450-seat National Assembly and governors for the county's 25 states, as well as members of state assemblies.
Voters in the semi-autonomous southern region will additionally elect a president of the South Sudan government and members of its 171-seat Assembly.

What is at stake?Democracy
When President Omar Hasan al-Bashir seized power following a bloodless coup in 1989, the activities of all political parties and trade unions were frozen for 10 years. Moves towards the restoration of democracy led to the registration of political parties from 1999. Most opposition parties however boycotted the 2000 elections in which Mr Bashir was declared winner amid widespread claims of rigging. MORE HERE

American Christian couple deported from Morocco

2010-03-30T00:37:00.000-07:00

They knew it was a possibility, but never really believed it would happen to them. Eddie and Lynn Padilla say their family was torn apart when the Moroccan government deported them and other Christian workers at an orphanage in the Islamic country.

Now they worry about the future for little Samir and Mouhcine, the two Moroccan boys they were raising. "If I think about it too much I just start crying. I look at their pictures and I just can't believe that I'm not with them," Lynn Padilla said.

She and her husband Eddie Padilla moved to Morocco 4 years ago to work at the Village of Hope in a rural area about 5 hours northeast of Casablanca. The orphanage in the village of Ain Leuh took in children who were usually abandoned because they were born out of wedlock. They are children who might have otherwise died or been left to fend for themselves living on the streets. MORE HERE

Al-Qaeda wants to attack Saudi oil industry

2010-03-26T07:42:00.000-07:00

The Saudi Interior Ministry announced yesterday that it had uncovered a plot to attack Saudi oil facilities and arrested 113 suspected members of al-Qaeda. The 113 militants reportedly were organized into three cells and had been planning suicide attacks on oil and security facilities in Saudi Arabia’s oil-producing Eastern Province. Fifty two of the suspects were from Yemen, which has become the primary base for Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula after many cells based in Saudi Arabia were uprooted in previous Saudi crackdowns. MORE HERE

Church in problems in Egypt

2010-03-26T03:20:00.000-07:00

Egyptian Christians have requested our prayers following violent incidents against Christians in Marsa Matrouh, near the Libyan border, and in Luxor, southern Egypt.

The violence in Marsa Matrouh occurred on Friday 12th March. The incident started at a church which also hosts a clinic and other social service activities. Local Muslims launched an attack in which 28 people were injured (24 Chrisians and four Muslims), two of them seriously, and in which 17 houses, 12 cars and two motorcycles owned by Christians were destroyed or damaged. The violence was reportedly encouraged by the leader of a local mosque because building work on church property was deemed to be blocking a road.

Police took several hours to disperse the crowd and bring the sitution under control. Many Christians had taken refuge inside the church, 16 of whom were subsequently taken to a police station and detained. Four were released the next day because they were minors. The 12 adults remain detained whilst claims of riotous behaviour are investigated.The Egyptian Christian newspaper Watani quoted a church leader as saying, "Even if the Church had violated the law - which is not the case - then the law should have been upheld and legal procedures ought to have been taken. It should never have been left to a fanatic preacher to take the law in his own hands, inciting such violence, damage and pain."

On Thursday 18th March another incident occurred in Luxor. A large-scale redevelopment project is currently underway which involves the demolition of various buildings, including a Presbyterian church compound. The owners of these buildings are currently negotiating with the authorities over compensation payments. Although negotiations with the church are still ongoing, several buildings within the church compound were demolished, including the pastor's residence. The pastor and his family were forcibly evicted from their home and the pastor was assaulted. Egyptian church leaders are organising a petition to protest the mistreatment of the pastor. (c) MEC

Arab rights groups call on Mideast leaders to help guide Sudan

2010-03-23T00:50:00.000-07:00

A coalition of Arab rights groups from 20 countries called on the Arab League to "show leadership on Sudan" by getting involved during the potentially volatile upcoming year of elections and referenda.
The groups ask the Arab states to take steps like prioritizing a ceasefire in Darfur and supporting the inclusion of Arab civil society in monitoring elections and the upcoming referenda.
The call comes prior to the Arab Summit, to be held on March 26, 2010 in Seret, Libya, in an open letter addressed and delivered to Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa.
The letter comes out of a meeting more than 100 civil society organizations in Morocco, held March 6-7, 2010. It reminds the Arab leaders that during 2009 more than 2,500 people were killed in South Sudan and 391,400 displaced while in Darfur there were 40,000 new displacements in recent weeks and at least 60% of the population continues to require humanitarian assistance. MORE HERE

'Allah' on Facebook is angering Muslims

2010-03-17T22:26:00.000-07:00

Thousands of Muslim Facebook users have pushed to remove an Arabic-language Facebook page created by a user taking on the identity of Allah, or God. The user claimed he/she was an atheist and believed in no God but him/herself, saying that Muslim prophets would be able to connect with users through the site and answer their questions, according to news reports.

The page, displaying warped Koranic verses and making fun of Islam, soon garnered a 600,000 strong following and drew thousands of responses to its status updates, many of them scolding the creator. Campaigners who said it was an insult to Islam and to God demanded Facebook remove the page and some even urged users to boycott Facebook altogether. MORE HERE

One of largest Islamic websites in crisis as employees in Egypt stage sit-in

2010-03-16T23:06:00.000-07:00

The future of one of the largest Islamic websites in the world was in doubt today after hundreds of staff walked out, accusing new managers of trying to hijack the site in order to promote a hardline, conservative agenda., writes The Guardian:

IslamOnline, which draws over 120,000 visitors a day and is one of the most popular internet destinations in the Middle East, was plunged into crisis following an attempt by the website's senior management in Qatar to wrest control of the site's content away from its editorial offices in Cairo.
Insiders claim that the move, which would involve many of the site's 350 Egypt-based staff losing their jobs, is part of a broader effort by conservative elements in the Gulf to reshape the identity of a media outlet long viewed as a bastion of liberal and reformist voices within the Islamic world.
"This is not an issue of money," journalist Fathi Abu Hatab told the Guardian via telephone from the website's offices, which are currently under occupation by staff. "It's a matter of editorial independence and media ethics, and we are not going to back down. They are trying to hijack IslamOnline, and we are resisting." MORE HERE

New York Times on preaching Jesus through the Qur'an

2010-03-15T21:59:00.000-07:00

January was an ugly month in Malaysia. At least 10 churches were firebombed or vandalized, as was a Sikh temple. Severed boars’ heads — particularly offensive to Muslims, who are not supposed to eat pork — were found on the grounds of two mosques. The cause of this inter-religious strife was a court battle over whether non-Muslims may use the Arabic word “Allah” to refer to God.

The reports from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s capital, described events that we imagine could never happen in the United States, where free speech is supposed to guard against such conflict. But we have fights over religious language, too, even if the violence rarely rises above name-calling.

On Feb. 3, Ergun Caner(photo) president of the Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, in Lynchburg, Va., focused attention on a Southern Baptist controversy when he called Jerry Rankin, the president of the denomination’s International Mission Board, a liar. Dr. Caner has since apologized for his language, but he still maintains that the “Camel Method,” a strategy Dr. Rankin endorses for preaching Christianity to Muslims, is deceitful. MORE HERE

Morocco planning to expel more missionaries

2010-03-13T09:07:00.001-08:00

(Compass Direct News) - Moroccan authorities deported more than 40 foreign Christian aid workers this week in an ongoing, nationwide crackdown that included the expulsion of foster parents caring for 33 Moroccan orphans.

Deportations of foreign Christians continued at press time, with Moroccan authorities expressing their intention to deport specifically U.S. nationals. Sources in Morocco told Compass that the government gave the U.S. Embassy in Rabat a list of 40 citizens to be deported.

The U.S. Embassy in Rabat could not comment on the existence of such a list, but spokesperson David Ranz confirmed that the Moroccan government plans to deport more U.S. citizens for alleged "proselytizing."

"We have been informed by the Moroccan government that it does intend to expel more American citizens," said embassy spokesperson David Ranz. MORE HERE

Fighting between Muslims and Copts in Egypt

2010-03-12T22:30:00.001-08:00

At least 24 people were injured in northern Egypt when fires were started and fighting broke out between Christians and Muslims Friday, an official said on Saturday.
"Security was able to control fires that erupted in three homes and two cars," Ahmed Hussein, governor of the northern governorate of Marsa Matrouh, told state television. Relations between Egypt's Muslims and mainly Coptic Christians are usually calm but can become strained and sometimes erupt into violence over issues such as inter-faith relationships and land.
Christians make up about 10 percent of Egypt's roughly 78 million people. The rest are mostly Sunni Muslim. (c) Reuters

Amnesty International asks: When Will Egypt’s State of Emergency End?

2010-03-10T20:45:00.001-08:00

The Egyptian government went before the United Nations Human Rights Council last month and insisted that there is no torture and that State of Emergency provisions are used only against terrorists.
Tell that to Dr. Taha Abdel Tawab.
The doctor, a well-known supporter of former Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency Mohamed ElBaradei, was allegedly taken to a state security office and tortured for his support for ElBaradi, who is frequently named as a potential opposition presidential candidate. According to the Arab human rights organization ANHRI, Tawab was transferred to Senorus hospital in serious condition.
ANHRI has asked government officials to investigate the incident but say they have not received a response. Egypt has a long history of failing to provide public, independent investigations of security officers accused of torture.
The incident comes just days after Amnesty International called upon the Egyptian government to implement UN recommendations that would end torture and other abuses done in the name of security.
The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights’ findings, made public on March 9, criticized abuses made in the name of national security in Egypt. The report criticized the wide discretion allowed to the SSI and commented that “SSI officers in practice enjoy carte blanche in deciding on whom to arrest”. MORE HERE

Morocco - Islam before humanness?

2010-03-10T10:48:00.000-08:00

All of the 33 children in the Village of Hope orphanage in Morocco will be abandoned by their foster parents. Twenty multinational staff were given 3 days to leave the country without any explanation of what would happen to the children. Simultaneously in various cities workers and national believers have been questioned and some booked for a night. A total of 30 Christian workers have been deported, in some cases without a chance to go home and pick up some clothes. This is part of a crackdown on Christian activities in Morocco. :)
Many are fearful they would be next.

Morocco is a democratic monarchy. They pride themselves of allowing freedom of religion. This crack down has been caused by pressure from Muslim extremists against missionary work.

Malaysia: When ‘Allah’ was not the only word banned

2010-03-09T22:49:00.001-08:00

By Debra Chong (Malaysia Insider)

KUALA LUMPUR, March 10 — Allah is not the only word banned by the Home Ministry from use by non-Muslims.

The Malaysian Insider recently obtained a copy of two letters sent out in 1986 by the ministry through its publishing division and addressed to the Council of Churches Malaysia (CCM).

It lays down a laundry list of words the federal government claimed — and still claims — are sensitive to Muslims who make up the biggest group in multi-religious Malaysia.

The first letter was dated April 1, 1986 and was undersigned by one Tengku Ali Tengku Chik on behalf of the secretary-general of the home ministry, better known by its initials in Bahasa Malaysia, KDN (Kementerian Dalam Negeri).

Tengku Ali wrote: “I am instructed to inform that this Ministry is concerned with the use of Islamic phrases in the translated Bible (Bahasa Malaysia) in which use of those words could confuse followers of the two religions. For example, ‘Tuhan’ is translated as ‘Allah’ in which the term has been used in the religion of Islam and have always been mentioned in the religion of Christianity as ‘God’ or ‘Tuhan’ only.

“Therefore, the Ministry requests your cooperation to refrain from using those words considered sensitive. As a guide, a copy of Appendix A is attached with suggested phrases for your use when translating into Bahasa Malaysia. Other terms, if any, will be told later,” he added.

“For your information, recently the Ministry had similarly chided a publication in Sabah, that is ‘Catholic Sabah’ to stop from using those confusing words when making translations,” he highlighted.

The appendix listed 16 words that were considered “sensitive to Muslims” and came out with their replacement without apparently consulting the CCM beforehand. They are:

“Al-Kitab” to be replaced with “Baibel (Bible)”.

“Allah” to be replaced with “Tuhan (God)”.

“Firman” to be replaced with “Berkata (Say)”.

“Rasul” to be replaced with “Utusan (Massanger – sic)”.

“Syariat” to be replaced with “Ajaran”.

“Iman” to be replaced with “Percaya (believe)”.

“Kaabah” with no suggested replacement.

“Ibadah” to be replaced with “Amalan (worship)”.

“Injil” to be replaced with “Baibel/ Bible”

“Wahyu” to be replaced with “Revelasi”.

“Nabi” to be replaced with “Propet”.

“Syukur” to be replaced with “Terima kasih”.

“Zikir” to be replaced with “Mengingatkan/ Menyebut”.

“Solat” to be replaced with “Sembahyang”.

“Doa” to be replaced with “Memohon”.

The ministry’s instructions do not stop there. In a separate column, it also notes the whys behind the ban.

“Maksud Al-Kitab ialah Al-Quran. Oleh itu istilah nama ini tidak boleh digunakan (The meaning of Al-Kitab is Al-Quran. Therefore the term cannot be used.)

“Firman ialah kata-kata mulia khusus bagi Allah sahaja (Firman is a specific noble word for Allah only).

“Rasul ialah nama panggilan kepada Utusan Allah yang disebut dalan Quran. Nama Jesus Kristas tidak disebut di dalam Al-Quran (Rasul is a name for Allah’s Messenger as mentioned in the Quran. The name Jesus Christ is not mentioned in the Quran).

“Syariat dikhaskan kepada Ugama Allah sahaja (Syariat is specially for the religion of Allah only).

“Injil yang sah sudah tidak ada masa ini (A legitimate Injil no longer exists).

The ministry noted there were no replacement words for “wahyu” and stated that only the word “revelasi” could be used.

The curt tone adopted in the letter appeared to suggest a superiority complex towards the practitioners of religions other than Islam, in particular, Christians who are considered by Muslims elsewhere in the world as fellow Children of the Book with a shared history.

The home ministry letter also claimed that the “Injil” no longer exists because the Muslim understanding of it is limited to the Old Testament; for Christians, the focus of their religion is in the teachings of Jesus Christ which forms the New Testament

The apparent arrogance was summed up in the afterword to the appendix, which ironically is sub-headlined “Panduan Umum” or general guide.

“Bible ditulis dalam Bahasa Inggeris (dan Bahasa Latin Romawi). Bahasa rasmi Agama Kristian ialah Bahasa Inggeris (dan Bahasa Latin Romawi). Jadi ‘Bible’ hendaklah ditulis dan disebarkan dalam Bahasa Inggeris (atau Latin). Jangan gunakan sedikitpun Bahasa Arab dalam Bible kerana Bahasa Arab adalah bahasa rasmi Agama Islam. Menggunakan Bahasa Arab

dalam ‘Bible’ boleh mengelirukan dan mempengaruhi orang Islam kepada Agama Kristian. [Bible is written in the English language (and in Roman Latin). The official language for the Christian religion is English (or Roman Latin). So ‘Bible’ must be written and disseminated in English (or Latin). Do not use even a little bit of Arabic in the Bible because Arabic is the official language of the religion of Islam. Using Arabic in the Bible can confuse and influence Muslims to Christian religion.]”

In that brief paragraph, the home ministry also explained the real reason why words of an Arabic origin are “exclusive” to Islam.

It also appeared to have seen fit to decide, on behalf of both Muslims and Christians, how they should each practice their respective religions although the Federal Constitution states the Malay monarchs hold sway over Islamic practices in their own states.

The Federal Constitution also states Malaysians who are not Muslim are free to practise their own faith, which most would sensibly understand that their religions are not subject to Islamic interpretations.

Eight months later, the ministry sent out another letter, this time addressed to Christian publications.

This time, it was undersigned by one Hassan Jantan on behalf of the ministry’s secretary-general. A copy of the letter was also forwarded to the police Special Branch director at Bukit Aman.

Dated December 5, 1986, the letter refers to a “confusion” that has happened within the community over the use of “Islamic words” used in the Bahasa Malaysia edition of Christian publications.

The letter then states the federal government had decided to allow Christian publications to use 12 words — from the original list of 18 banned words — on the condition that the books or pamphlets to be distributed or sold carry the word “For Christians” on the front cover.

The 12 Arabic-origin words allowed for use are: “Al-Kitab, Firman, Rasul, Syariat, Iman, Ibadah, Injil, Wahyu, Nabi, Syukur, Zikir, Doa”.

The ministry remained unconverted on four other words: “Kaabah”, “Batitullah”, “Solat” and “Allah”.

This time, the ministry did not give a point-by-point explanation on why certain words could now be used.

Instead, the letter said the federal government had relaxed its stand “only to preserve public peace and avoid misunderstanding between Muslims and Christians”.

At the same time, it reminded the Christian publications that the state Islamic councils had the power to decide on all Islamic affairs in their respective states, which is redundant because that fact is already laid down in the Federal Constitution and the Christian publications had no tried to impose their views or rules of their beliefs on anyone who was not a Christian, let alone a Muslim.

The ongoing dispute pitting Muslims and Christians has been raging these past 20 years behind closed doors without the public being any wiser until the churches, seeing no other avenue to have their case heard by a neutral panel was forced to take it up with the court.

It has been reported that the National Fatwa Council, which oversees the practice of Islam throughout the country but has no authority over the practice of other religions, had suddenly in 1982 declared certain words, including “Allah” as exclusive to the religion of Islam.

But “Allah” is the only word the Christian churches are seeking to use. They have not laid any claims on “Baitullah”, “solat”, or “Kaabah”, church officials say.

They argued that then Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s Cabinet issued an order which has effectively curtailed the freedom of non-Muslims in the practice of their religions.

Christians Expelled from Morocco for 'Proselytizing'

2010-03-09T20:21:00.000-08:00

Foreign Christians working in Morocco have been expelled by authorities. Among the 20 deported foreigners, 16 are workers who cared for abandoned and orphaned children.

In a Sunday raid, police seized Christian literature and CDs at the "Village of Hope," near Meknes. They accused workers of trying to convert minors to Christianity, which is against the law in Morocco.

According to the Village of Hope Web site, all foreign workers had to go. "They have not told us how long we have left, but it will be between one and three days," Village of Hope member Chris Broadbent wrote.

"This is despite the fact that we have always been open about our faith to the authorities and for 10 years they have allowed VoH to take in and foster children abandoned by this society," he added. "Children who would otherwise be killed or placed in state run 'mega' orphanages." The group left behind 33 children who'd been in their care.

Morocco's official news agency said police were enforcing laws to preserve the nation's religious and spiritual values. The country's constitution protects Islam as the official religion. Morocco's population is 99 percent Muslim.

(c) CBNNEWS.COM

Fear Of Muslim Collective Punishment Grips Christian Villagers in Upper Egypt

2010-03-08T23:34:00.001-08:00

Fear has gripped the inhabitants of the upper Egyptian village of Sheikh Telada in Samalout, 250 kilometers south of Cairo, as they anticipate collective punishment against them by the village Muslims, in the wake of two sectarian incidents which took place in the village during February. They fear their fate would be similar to that of Farshout, Nag Hamadi and Bahgoura, where Muslims destroyed, burnt and looted Coptic homes and properties prompted by incidents provoked by Muslims against only one Copt.

State security forces have forced the Coptic villagers to remain indoors, and place a news blackout on the village. The presence of state security in the area is viewed with suspicion. Activist Mariam Ragy of the advocacy group Katibatibia sees in their presence "a way to keep Copts prisoners in their own homes and not for their own protection." Rafaat Samir of the Egyptian Union Human Rights Organization sees in it a slow death for the Coptic villagers. "Is the state security incapable of protecting the Copts so as to force them to remain indoors and abandon their work and schools?" asks Coptic activist Wagih Yacoub. "Is security so powerless every time the Copts are placed under siege by a mob imposing collective punishment on all village Copts?" MORE HERE

Arab World not impressed by elections in Iraq

2010-03-08T22:52:00.000-08:00

Elections across this region have long been viewed as not much more than window dressing to tidy up the image of authoritarian leaders and absolute monarchs eager for greater legitimacy.
So from the outset, when Iraqis poured into the polls on Sunday to elect a new Parliament, the mere act of voting was not seen as a step toward democracy. That perception, combined with Election Day violence, American occupation and Iranian influence, left few analysts and commentators in the Middle East declaring the elections a success and Iraq on the road to stability.
“Iraq is a failure and a big mess,” said Hussein al-Shobokshy, a columnist for the Saudi Arabian owned pan-Arab newspaper Asharq Alawsat. “Iraq is a scary model right now,” he added. “It is so divided, vulgarly so. MORE HERE

Church asks Christians in Iraq to vote, in spite of attacks

2010-03-06T04:18:00.000-08:00

Rome, Italy (CNA) -- With elections just days away, and after weeks of violence by Muslim extremists that have left numerous Christians dead, the Chaldean Patriarch of Baghdad, Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly, called on "all Iraqis to cast their votes for the good of Iraq."

Speaking to the Italian news agency SIR, the cardinal said, "We are praying that everything will take place orderly and without violence. We will do everything in our power for the good of the country and the people."

He then condemned the violence of recent days, which has pitted "Iraqis against Iraqis, parties against parties, each one fighting for his own interests ... These are internal struggles that are leaving many victims."

The Patriarch also commented on his recent visit to Mosul, where Muslim extremists recently killed eight Christians. "I met with the Christian population and with civil officials from local communities who came to the chancery to speak with me. They are all in agreement about working and collaborating to restore calm and safety to the city," he said.

"For our part, we are praying for peace and reconciliation. We have the Synod for the Middle East on the horizon, which will be an occasion to work not only for Iraq but for the entire region," he added.

Also urging participation in the elections was Auxiliary Bishop Shelmon Warduni of Baghdad who told the Fides news agency, "We exhort all Christians to vote and to elect candidates who will work for the good of Iraq, so that human rights and religious freedom will reign again in the country."

Morocco to be first Arab nation in EU summit

2010-03-05T23:16:00.000-08:00

Morocco will this weekend become the first Arab country to hold summit-level talks with the European Union when it meets the 27-nation bloc in Spain, which holds the EU presidency, officials said.

The meeting starting Saturday in the southern city of Granada will be a chance for the EU to grill Morocco on its human rights record and lack of development, including high rates of illiteracy, a European diplomat said. MORE HERE

Chritsians escaping from Mosul

2010-03-04T22:52:00.000-08:00

The United Nations humanitarian arm reported today that 4,320 Iraqi Christians have been displaced following recent unrest in the northern city of Mosul. The latest figure, as of yesterday, represents an increase of about 200 people since Saturday, according to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, which added that the influx of displaced Christian families from Mosul city to nearby districts in the Ninewa governorate has slowed down over the past few days.
OCHA noted that there are protection concerns for the Christian families remaining in Mosul, including unconfirmed reports that they are confined to their homes out of fear for their safety.
In addition, Christian university students are reportedly not attending classes and workers are not attending their places of work.
In October 2008, more than 12,000 Christians fled Mosul, Iraq's second largest city, following an upsurge in attacks, threats and intimidation, with some returning later after hearing that the security situation had improved.
Deadly attacks against Christians in the city occurred again in December 2009.

Copyright (C) 2010, Assyrian International News Agency.

Historical analysis predicts Middle East earthquake

2010-03-03T21:58:00.000-08:00

An Israeli geologist says there is a strong risk of a major earthquake in Israel, Palestine, Jordan and surrounding areas, writes Alasdair Soussi the Irish Times.
AS IF the Middle East wasn’t in enough difficulty, an eminent Israeli scientist has warned that another, geological-based disaster could hit the region in the very near future.
Research carried out by Dr Shmulik Marco, an academic at the Department of Geophysics and Planetary Sciences at Tel Aviv University, has suggested that an earthquake of at least the same magnitude as those which recently devastated Haiti and parts of Chile is a real threat to Israel, Palestine, Jordan and the surrounding area.
“A strong earthquake in the Holy Land might well be imminent,” says Marco, a visiting professor at the Department of Earth Sciences at England’s Durham University. “After a period of major earthquakes about every 400 years (in roughly the first millennium) we’ve had a period of 1,000 years of no significant earthquakes, and this is what’s making me worried.”MORE HERE

Arabic Music - based in Orthodox Liturgy

2010-03-02T21:17:00.000-08:00

Assumptions bother me. Especially when they generalize a culture that has such a diverse history. I am speaking of course about the Arab world. More so in particular about the Levantine area which includes the countries of Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Israel, and Jordan. This area is also known by such names as, Bilad il-Sham, Al-Mashriq, or Greater Syria. Most people ASSUME that since I am an Arab, I am Muslim. While I have nothing against my Muslim brothers and sisters, I am Christian, and more specifically an Orthodox Christian. Many people fail to realize that most of the Levantine area was Orthodox Christian before the rise of Islam. So how does music fit into all this?

To start, lets take a brief Western music history lesson. Music in Western civilization has its roots within the Catholic church. The Catholic church had a huge influence on all aspects of life in Western history including music. Out of the religious musical tradition we start to see the emergence of secular music in the West around the end of the Medieval period and the beginning of the Renaissance period The same thing can be said about "Eastern" or Arabic music. This is one instance were "East" mirrors "West". As I have stated in previous posts on this blog, Arabic music has its roots in the Byzantine Church. If we you listen to Orthodox Liturgical chant, you can easily hear similarities with Arabic music such as, style, melodic shape, intonation, and maqamat (modes).

Now let me show you how Arab music has its roots in the Orthodox Church. Before reading any further, listen to this video (click here). The video from YouTube is an excellent example of Byzantine in the Orthodox Church. There are eight modes or "tones" in Byzantine chant. Tones 1 and 5 are close to maqam bayati in Arabic music. Tones 2 and 6 are close to maqam hijaz. Tones 3 and 7 are mix of maqams ajam and jiharkah. Tone 4 is a variant of maqam sikah. Tone 8 is close to maqam rast. Without going in to all the theology and theory behind Byzantine chant, the basic differences between each tone or mode is the tone treats that certain maqam or mode. In the video example it is clear that the choir is chanting in tone 2 or in Arabic music we would say this sounds like maqam hijaz. While the choir is not singing the hijaz scale as it would be sung or performed in Arabic music with regards to tuning, it has many things in common with its treatment of that maqam. The "dominant"* note in tone 2 and maqam hijaz is the fourth scale degree. The treatment of the notes below the tonic of the the mode share common principals. In Arabic music maqam hijaz usually plays the tetra chord below the tonic as maqam rast. For example if I were to play maqam hijaz on "D", the notes below the tonic would be G, A, B half-flat, C, and D. This would sound like maqam rast in Arabic music. In the YouTube video the choir does almost the same thing with the notes below the tonic. They do not complete the rast tetra chord at first by going all the down to the G, but they still use the "quarter tone"** on the second note below the tonic, about 50 seconds into the chant they do complete the rast tetra chord starting from the fifth note below the tonic and ascending upwards to the tonic again with differences in tuning from the Arabic tradition. Another way we know that tone 2 is close to hijaz in the video is by listening to the intervals between the second and third note of the mode. While again there is a difference between the Arabic tuning of the hijaz scale and the Byzantine tuning, there still is a wider interval between the second and third note of the mode which is characteristic of maqam hijaz.

Aside form the similarities in modes or maqams and their treatment, there is also a stylistic similarity. Listen to these two videos, one of a priest chanting (click here), and the other of a violin taqasim*** performed by Sami Al Shawwa (click here). If you listen carefully you will hear that Arabic music and Byzantine chant share many similarities when it comes to ornamentation and phrasing. This can be illustrated by observing the Ornaments the priest does with his voice and comparing them to the ornaments done in the violin taqasim. Other similarities include the use of drones, sliding and bending of notes, and of course modulations in and out of the maqams or modes. It is much easier for some one who has grown up listening to Arabic music and Byzantine chant all his or her life to spot these similarities. For those who are not well versed in either type of music, the best thing to do would be to really listen to each detail of both types of music. The principals of both styles of music are the same, and that is to uplift the listener, or in other words, Tarab. Tarab is used in both Byzantine chant and Arabic music. Tarab in Byzantine chant is used to elevate the listener to a higher state of prayer while Arabic music uses tarab purely as an affect on the listener so that he or she may enjoy or apperciate the music on a deeper level. In any case both genres of music are intended to impact the listener in one way or the other.

As I have stated in the second paragraph, Western music has its roots in the Catholic Church which was the dominant religion in the West at the time. In this blog I have shown how Arabic music and Byzantine chant are alike. The similarities are clear, and it is a fact that the Orthodox Church was the main religion in the Arab world before the rise of Islam. It would make sense that Arabic music has its roots in the Byzantine Church. Religion has always been there to witness and be a part of a cultures growth and expansion. We see this not only in the Arab world, but with the Greek, Russian, and European civilizations as well. So it comes to no surprise that a religion such as the Orthodox Church would have some hand in the development of Arabic music. But then again, I may be assuming.

* Dominant is a term used in Western music that is used denote the fifth scale degree. The dominant in Arabic music is not fixed like Western music, it could be the fourth, fifth, an even the third scale degree.

** Quarter tone is a generic term for notes between whole steps that are not in the Western tuning system. These notes are not necessarily in between half steps, the maqam or mode would usually determine the tuning of the "quarter tone"

*** A taqasim is an improvisation in Arabic music that starts and ends on the same maqam or mode.

(c) Arabic Music

St John of Damascus: Orthodox teacher under the Umayyads

2010-03-01T20:44:00.000-08:00

Dr Asad Rustum (1879-1965), official historian of the Apostolic Church of Antioch, wrote this long article on the Melkites and how they suffered under the Umayyads. St John of Damascus is treated extensively. Worth reading!

This is a difficult epoch during which the Jacobites (اليعاقبة) took advantage of the ongoing wars between the Byzantines and the Umayyads (Muslims, as they were called at the time), in that they pointed to Muslims that the Byzantine Christians of the Middle East were indeed Melkites—King=Melek in Semitic, hence, Melekites/Melkites=Subjects of the Emperor—and they charged them with spying on behalf of the Byzantine Empire. As a result, the Umayyads persecuted the so-called Byzantine Melkites and prevented them from appointing Patriarchs in the Apostolic Thrones of Antioch, Jerusalem, and Alexandria. Previously, it was stated that the following Patriarchs of Antioch (Macedonius, Georgios I, and Makarios) ruled the Apostolic Throne of Antioch from as far as Constantinople. This preventive measure which was imposed by the Umayyads affected four Patriarchs of Antioch, namely: Theophanes I (681-687), Stephanos III (687-690), Georgios II (690-695), and Alexandros II (695-702). It is probable, although not concretely evident, that the last two of these Patriarchs returned to Antioch (1). Ironically, during this period as well, the Jacobite Patriarchs also ruled their throne while they were placed far from Antioch, in places like Diar Bekir and Malatia. Interestingly, one of the Jacobite Patriarchs, namely, Elias, won the favor of the Umayyads and was granted their permission to build a church in Antioch, yet nonetheless he was prevented from dwelling in that city. MORE HERE

The Future of Islam, by John Esposito

2010-02-26T22:04:00.000-08:00

President Barack Obama travelled to Cairo in June 2009 to promise a new beginning between the US and the Muslim world based on “mutual interest and mutual respect”. In The Future of Islam, John Esposito has written the handbook for this new age of engagement. Intolerant of the extremists bent on provoking a clash of civilisations – western Islamophobes and violent Islamists alike – Esposito’s book is a calculated appeal to the moderate middle ground upon whom the success of Obama’s policies depends. MORE HERE

Iraqi Christians killed in Mosul

2010-02-25T21:39:00.001-08:00

Last week we requested prayer for Iraqi Christians in the city of Mosul and surrounding areas. Recall that several had been murdered and at least three kidnapped.

We regret to report that further murders have occurred, including at least one of those kidnapped on 16th February. On Tuesday 23rd February a Christian man and his two adult sons were shot dead by gunmen who forced their way into the family home. His wife and daughter witnessed the murders. This incident brings the number of Christians known to have been killed in Mosul in the past two weeks to nine.

Many Christian families are now leaving Mosul, with one report quoting the Chaldean Archbishop of Mosul stating that "hundreds" left on Wednesday (24th). Most are moving to the "Nineveh Plains", the area north and east of Mosul. Many of the villages in this area have a significant presence of Christians who can assist those fleeing Mosul. Some have moved to areas with Christian communities within the nearby region controlled by the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) of northern Iraq. The KRG-controlled areas are, in general, less volatile than Mosul.

There is no news of the Christian man abducted on 13th February and whose family had received a large ransom demand.

This violence is part of a general flare up of sectarian tension in the run up to the parliamentary election scheduled for 7th March. There has also been an increase in attacks on other religious communities.

In October 2008, in the run up to municipal elections in January 2009, at least 15 Christians were killed in Mosul and an estimated 1,600 Christian families fled, though some subsequently returned.

Iraqi Christians supporting these believers request our prayers that:
a. The bereaved will know the Lord's comfort and presence
b. The wounded and traumatised will know the Lord's healing and peace
c. The authorities would do all they can to improve security for all citizens of Mosul, and to promote multi-religious tolerance
d. Those who have relocated will find places of safety to live, quickly adjust to their new surroundings and find employment in order to support their families
e. The election process will lead to greater stability and a reduction in violence across the country in general and in Mosul in particular
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Web site: www.meconcern.org

Syrian Daily Challenges Egypt's Status in Arab World

2010-02-24T21:54:00.000-08:00

In recent years, and especially since the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Al-Hariri, Syria-Egypt relations have been very tense, owing to essential disagreements on the issues of Palestine, Lebanon, and Iran – to the point of a 'cold war' between the two countries. Even today, when Saudi Arabia and Jordan, Egypt's allies in the moderate camp, have drawn closer to Syria, Egypt has not changed its positions, and along with Iraq it continues to constitute an opposition to Syria within the Arab world. In fact, in the past year, it has acted as the main buffer thwarting Syria's efforts to draw close to the Arab countries and to form with them a solid front based on the approach of resistance to Israel and the U.S., which Syria is championing.
The tension between Syria and Egypt is evident in the statement of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad that "anyone who is party to the siege on Gaza is responsible for [spilling] Palestinian blood." Another reflection of it is the failure of the Saudi efforts to arrange a meeting between President Assad and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, as recently revealed by Saudi Foreign Minister Sa'ud Al-Faisal. MORE HERE

Disappearance of Christians from the Middle East

2010-02-22T22:25:00.000-08:00

Christians in the Arab world who played an important role in developing pan-Arab movements in the 1950s and enriched its culture have serious concerns about their future in the Middle East.

Hundreds of thousands of Christians have left and many Christian communities were uprooted. The reasons behind the mass exodus differ from one country to the other, but one common factor is the collapse of pan-Arab nationalism and the rise of Islamist movements.

Al Sharqiya satellite television in Baghdad reported that out of the 1.4 million Iraqis Christians who lived in Iraq before 2003, only 800,000 remain. Al Jazeera English also reported that over half of the estimated 20,000 Christians who lived in the city of Mosul in northern Iraq prior to 2003 have already left. MORE HERE

Anglican leader worried about Christians in Middle East

2010-02-20T07:48:00.000-08:00

BAPTISMAL SITE, Jordan -- The Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams has voiced grave concern over the eroding Christian presence in the Holy Land at the start of a four-day pilgrimage to the region.
Williams, who is the spiritual leader of the Anglican community worldwide, was surrounded by hundreds of faithful at the River Jordan on Saturday as he dedicated the cornerstone of an Anglican church. Tradition says Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist at the site.
Williams said he "worried deeply" about the dwindling numbers of Christians in the Mideast. He said it was the church's duty to support Christians who face hardship from the region's conflicts.MORE HERE

Anti-Christian violence in Iraqi Mosul

2010-02-17T12:27:00.005-08:00

Iraqi Christians have requested our prayers following a series of incidents in the northern city of Mosul and the areas nearby. Tensions are heightened following the start of campaigning for the parliamentary election scheduled for 7th March.

On 16th February two Christians students were shot in a drive by shooting, killing one and injuring the other. Later that day two Christian students were kidnapped, though it is unknown if a ransom has been sought. On 15th a Christian man was killed in front of his shop in a drive by shooting. On 14th another Christian man was killed in his home by an armed man who forced his way into the house. There are unconfirmed reports that three other Christians have been killed whilst attempting to leave Mosul.

On 13th February one Christian was abducted. His family have received a large ransom demand. The usual practice in Iraq is that if a ransom is not paid then the victim is killed. However, there is scope for negotiation, and the ransom paid is often much less than the initial demand.

There has been a pattern of violence against Christians in Mosul since October 2008.

Iraqi Christians supporting these believers request our prayers that:
a. The bereaved will know the Lord's comfort and presence
b. The wounded and traumatised will know the Lord's healing and peace
c. The authorities would do all they can to improve security for all citizens of Mosul, and to promote multi-religious tolerance
d. The election process will lead to greater stability and a reduction in violence across the country in general and in Mosul in particular

---------------------------------
Web site: www.meconcern.org

Anti-Christian violence in Iraqi Mosul

2010-02-17T12:27:00.003-08:00

Christians converts from Islam imprisoned in Iran

2010-02-15T09:53:00.001-08:00

Three believers from a Muslim background (BMBs) remain detained in Evin prison after being arrested, along with 12 others, on 24th December close to Tehran. Although all were initially released, some were ordered to return to sign papers in early January, and three were re-arrested. The group had gathered for a Christmas celebration in a home 20 kilometres (12 miles) southeast of Tehran. The authorities searched the homes of all 15 believers, confiscating their Christian books, other literature and computers.

A few days later the sister of one of those detained near Tehran was also arrested, together with another BMB, in the central city of Isfahan.

On 11th January six BMBs, together with another Christian, were arrested in the south-western city of Shiraz. Three of these seven were visiting from other cities. It has been reported that all have been offered release on bail. However, bail has been set at a prohibitive level - more than US$30,000 each for five of them, and a little less for the other two - and all seven remain detained.

Four associates of those detained in Shiraz have also been arrested in the northern city of Rasht. One arrested at the end of January and another arrested in October remain in custody. Two others arrested at different times in January were held for about two weeks and then released.

All those detained are being denied family visits and access to legal representation.

Christians supporting these believers request our prayers that:

a. Those detained will know the close presence of Jesus, and be strengthened in their faith

b. The purposes of the Father will be worked out in an through them

c. All still detained will be released and reunited with their families

d. Those released will not face charges or further court hearings

e. BMBs across Iran will be able to meet together without fear

f. All officials involved will act justly and mercifully, and make the same choice to follow Jesus

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Web site: www.meconcern.orgThree believers from a Muslim background (BMBs) remain detained in Evin prison after being arrested, along with 12 others, on 24th December close to Tehran. Although all were initially released, some were ordered to return to sign papers in early January, and three were re-arrested. The group had gathered for a Christmas celebration in a home 20 kilometres (12 miles) southeast of Tehran. The authorities searched the homes of all 15 believers, confiscating their Christian books, other literature and computers.