Newsfeed
Istanbul middle school pressures students into religious conformity
Author: Ferhat Yaşar
Publication Date: 19/2/2020
Source: Duvar
The administration of the İsmail Tarman Imam Hatip Middle School pressures students into religious conformity, parents of the central Istanbul school claim. One parent, whose daughter is Christian, is forced to attend an Islam-focused religion class. Another parent says that teachers tell female students to avoid laughing, dressing “chic” and social media.
Lebanon’s economic collapse spells doom for Mideast Christians
Author: David J. Malloy, Gregory Mansour and Abdallah Elias Zaidan
Publication Date: 2/3/2020
Source: New York Post
Last month, the US Senate confirmed America’s new ambassador to Lebanon, Dorothy Shea. She will need all the help she can get. Although the ambassador is well-respected for her regional expertise, she is dealing with a country on the verge of economic “implosion,” according to the World Bank, and one mired in formidable humanitarian and security challenges. Lebanon’s Christian community, the largest in the Middle East (excluding Egypt), is at risk.
Patriarch Sako: Pandemic strengthens Islamic-Christian spirituality and solidarity
Publication Date: 23/4/2020
Source: AsiaNews.it
During the coronavirus emergency, even in Iraq "there have been episodes of great help and solidarity between Christians and Muslims", a "human and social proximity" that has materialized "in many ways: in the same neighborhood a richer person distributes food bags to the needy”.
This is what the Chaldean primate, Card Louis Raphael Sako, tells AsiaNews, recounting the situation of the Arab country in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has so far caused almost 1700 infections and 83 official victims. "Even the Iraqi Church - added the cardinal - worked hard by donating 90 thousand dollars, distributed to the various parishes and that the priests used to help people, without distinction of religion".
Egypt foils possible terrorist plot against Coptic Christians
Publication Date: 15/4/2020
Source: Al-Monitor
Egyptian security forces killed seven suspected militants in the capital, Cairo, the Interior Ministry said Tuesday.
A police officer died and three others were wounded following a shootout that erupted when Egyptian security forces raided a hideout in the Amiriyah district in eastern Cairo. After the hourslong standoff, officers found ammunition, weapons and explosives.
Doha Christians mourn the death of Bishop Ballin, Vicar of northern Arabia
Publication Date: 14/4/2020
Source: AsiaNews.it
Catholics in Persian Gulf countries are mourning the death of Bishop Camillo Ballin, Apostolic Vicar of Northern Arabia (Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain). The prelate passed away at the Comboni Generalate in Rome, a few weeks shy of 76th birthday, on Easter Sunday following a long illness.
The Italian-born prelate was a leading Church figure in the mostly Muslim Gulf region. In a note sent to AsiaNews, Doha Catholics underlined his “life spent entirely in the service of God" and his illness, which he “carried with faith” and led him “into the glory of paradise”.
Man attempts to burn down Istanbul church, blames Christianity ‘for spread of coronavirus’
Publication Date: 9/5/2020
Source: Duvar
Istanbul police have detained a man for attempting to burn the entrance door of Dzınunt Surp Asdvadzadzni Armenian Orthodox Church in the Bakırköy district, daily Sözü reported on May 9.
“I burned it because they brought the coronavirus [onto Turkey],” the man was quoted as saying in his testimony to the police.
COVID-19: Christians in UAE use technology for worship, prayer meetings
Author: Alex Abraham and Ashfaq Ahmed
Publication Date: 31/3/2020
Source: Gulf News
When the coronavirus outbreak took place and places of worship in the UAE were closed as a precautionary measure, Christians in the country wondered how they would attend regular worship services or prayer meetings.
Two weeks on, most people are worshipping, attending prayer meetings and holding Bible classes from the comfort of their homes thanks to the use of technology. In fact, attendance to many of the prayer meetings has grown online because people are not limited by time and space. Without having to budget time for tackling traffic or looking for parking in crowded areas, the faithful can now hear a sermon or take part in a prayer meeting along with the entire family from their home by logging in to an app or visiting the church website.
Syriacs mark Easter in Turkey amid safety fears
Author: Ayla Jean Yackley
Publication Date: 19/4/2020
Source: Al-Monitor
MIDYAT, Turkey — The lone priest tending a remote monastery in southeastern Turkey gave uninvited visitors food and water when they darkened his door in 2018. The men were Kurdish militants, authorities said, and for his act of charity, Sefer Bilecen now faces charges of terrorism.
Subdued celebration of Easter as Lebanon’s Christians cope with COVID-19 lockdown
Author: Samar Kadi
Publication Date: 12/4/2020
Source: The Arab Weekly
Lebanese Christians’ celebration of Easter this year was different from any previous Easter celebration. The COVID-19 lockdown meant there was no one going to church, no family reunions and no Easter egg hunts for children.
All churches have been closed since March 15 and Christian shrines that are normally visited by the faithful are shuttered, as authorities seek to forestall the spread of the deadly respiratory disease.
Erdoğan extends Easter wishes to Christians
Publication Date: 12/4/2020
Source: Hurriyet Daily News
Turkey’s president on April 12 released a message marking the Christian religious holiday of Easter.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan extended his best wishes to "all Christian citizens and the Christian community on the occasion of Easter."
