Sunday reflection: the fate of Christians in the Middle East
Not all that long ago there were a wide range of religions and cultures in the Middle East.
These included Christian and Jewish communities which had been there for thousands of years.
In the last couple of decades, thanks to the barbarism of DA'ESH (the self-styled "Islamic State" caliphate) and other extremists this is ceasing to be the case.
Five years ago there were more than 15,000 Christians in Mosul, the third largest city in IRaq, and their community had been there for 1,700 years.
Then DA'ESH arrived and gave these who didn't flee three choices - concert to Islam, pay a "Jirga" tax, or die. Most fled. Since the liberation of Mosul Only about forty have returned.
Jews, Bahai's and those Muslims who belong to the "wrong" traditions, such as Ahmadi Muslims, have also faced persecution.
"Christianity in Iraq, one of the oldest Churches, if not the oldest Church in the world, is perilously close to extinction" according to a speech made by Bashar Warda, Archbishop of Irbil in Iraqi Kurdistan in London in May.
"Those of us who remain must be ready to face martyrdom".
Warda asked Britain's political class,
"Will you continue to condone this never-ending, organised persecution against us?"
A powerful article on the issue can be found here.
Any civilised society should protect freedom of religion (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the right not to believe in any faith, a right which is also in danger in the Middle East, where in some countries being charged with atheism can carry the death penalty.)
There is no easy way to deal with this problem but I believe the West, including Britain, should give a higher priority to putting diplomatic pressure on those states which allow or encourage any form to religious persecution to desist from doing so.
These included Christian and Jewish communities which had been there for thousands of years.
In the last couple of decades, thanks to the barbarism of DA'ESH (the self-styled "Islamic State" caliphate) and other extremists this is ceasing to be the case.
Five years ago there were more than 15,000 Christians in Mosul, the third largest city in IRaq, and their community had been there for 1,700 years.
Then DA'ESH arrived and gave these who didn't flee three choices - concert to Islam, pay a "Jirga" tax, or die. Most fled. Since the liberation of Mosul Only about forty have returned.
Jews, Bahai's and those Muslims who belong to the "wrong" traditions, such as Ahmadi Muslims, have also faced persecution.
"Christianity in Iraq, one of the oldest Churches, if not the oldest Church in the world, is perilously close to extinction" according to a speech made by Bashar Warda, Archbishop of Irbil in Iraqi Kurdistan in London in May.
"Those of us who remain must be ready to face martyrdom".
Warda asked Britain's political class,
"Will you continue to condone this never-ending, organised persecution against us?"
A powerful article on the issue can be found here.
Any civilised society should protect freedom of religion (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the right not to believe in any faith, a right which is also in danger in the Middle East, where in some countries being charged with atheism can carry the death penalty.)
There is no easy way to deal with this problem but I believe the West, including Britain, should give a higher priority to putting diplomatic pressure on those states which allow or encourage any form to religious persecution to desist from doing so.
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