Tag: Syria

Most of today’s wars are in Muslim countries

May 18, 2016 Global News -- No Particular Country Afghanistan, Islamic extremism, Middle East, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Yemen

Most wars across the world are taking place in majority-Muslim countries, with Muslims mainly fighting each other, says . In 2012, there were six civil wars worldwide. All took place within Muslim countries: Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sudan, Somalia, Syria and Yemen. Of the nine rebel groups in these conflicts, seven had . . . Read More

Religion-driven hostility to Christians follows them to German refugee centres

May 13, 2016 Afghanistan, Chechnya, Europe, Iran, Migrants, Refugees, Sweden, Syria

Mahan, 2, an Iranian Christian refugee who along with his parents is seeking asylum in Germany, peeks from behind a glass partition in the dining room at the Spreehotel refugee centre in January 2015 in Bautzen, Germany. About 200 refugees, many from Syria and Tunisia, but also from Chechnya, the . . . Read More

US religious-freedom report urges government to add 7 countries to worst-offenders list

May 2, 2016 Global News -- No Particular Country Africa, BJP, Boko Haram, Central African Republic, China, Egypt, Eritrea, Europe, India, Iraq, Middle East, Myanmar, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Taliban, Turkmenistan, USA, Uzbekistan, Vietnam

What is happening? The primary US government agency on global religious freedom issued its annual report 2 May. It says “religious freedom abroad has been under serious and sustained assault” during the past year, and says America should add seven countries to its list of worst offenders: Central African Republic . . . Read More

Aleppo Christian areas shelled, scores casualties

April 28, 2016 Syria Aleppo, Armenians, Children, Civil War, Kurds, Syria

Despite a fragile truce helped by both US and Russian efforts, at least 19 people have been killed and scores injured this week in continued shelling in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo. Coinciding with the 101st anniversary of the Turkish genocide of Armenians and other Christians, areas of notable . . . Read More

IS destroys Christian landmark in Mosul

April 27, 2016 Iraq Iraq, Islamic State, Mosul, Qaryatain, Syria

The ‘Islamic State’ has completely destroyed another historic Christian landmark in an area under its control, this time in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. Quoting “local residents,” “the terrorists … blew the Clock Church fully after booby-trapping it from all sides and the evacuation of nearby houses in the . . . Read More

Church names 21 Christians IS killed in Qaryatain

April 25, 2016 Syria Islamic State, Qaryatain, Raqqa, Syria

The Syriac Orthodox Church has published names of the 21 Christians it said were killed by the ‘Islamic State’ during its 8 month occupation of the Syrian town of al-Qaryatain. IS had captured the town (92 km southeast of Homs) in August 2015, before it was recaptured by the Syrian . . . Read More

UK Parliament votes that Islamic State commits ‘genocide’

April 21, 2016 Europe, Genocide, Iraq, Islamic State, Syria, UK

The UK Parliament has joined US Secretary of State John Kerry, US House of Representatives, the European Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in describing the actions of Islamic State (or Da’esh) as genocide. A motion, passed on Wed 20 April by 280 votes to 0, . . . Read More

Demonstration remembers kidnapped Aleppo Bishops

April 20, 2016 Syria Aleppo, Boulos Yazigi, Kidnapping, Syria, Yohanna Ibrahim

The kidnapped Aleppo Bishops, Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim and Boulos Yazigi, were last seen three years ago this week. A multi-faith demonstration to remember them was held in Beirut, Lebanon 19 April, . There has been no news of the two men since their abduction on 22 April 2013, near the Turkish . . . Read More

REPORT: The impact of Christians leaving Middle East

April 18, 2016 Iraq, Islamic State, Migrants, Refugees, Syria

War and persecution has led to a haemorrhaging of Christians from the Middle East, particularly from Syria and Iraq. A new report highlights what the region stands to lose should Christians continue to leave. The report, compiled by a trio of Christian charities and a university, argues that Christians are an . . . Read More

Patriarch in ‘freed’ Syrian town: ‘IS killed 21’

April 11, 2016 Syria Islamic State, Jacques Mourad, Paolo Dall’Oglio, Qaryatain, Syria

A visit by the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch to the Syrian town of Qaryatain has shed light on on the town, . Twenty-one Christians were murdered and another 300 Christians remained in the town after IS over-ran it in August 2015, . The Syriac Orthodox Patriarch said some died while trying . . . Read More

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