Resources
Migration Of Palestinian Christians: Drivers And Means Of Combating It
Institution: Palestine Center for Policy and Survey Research
Publication Date: 8/6/2020
The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PSR) conducted a public opinion poll among Palestinian Christians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip during the period between 27 January and 23 February 2020. The poll sought to explore the reasons that drive Christians to emigrate from their homeland in Palestine to other countries and the various means that could potentially stem the flow. Total size of the sample is 995 Christian adults interviewed face to face in 98 selected locations in seven Palestinian governorates. Margin of error is +/-3%.
Minorities in Turkey on edge amid threats, attacks
Author: Ayla Jean Yackley
Publication Date: 2/6/2020
Source: Al-Monitor
Ethnic and religious minorities in Turkey are on edge after a series of threats and attacks, with both government officials and their critics warning society’s most vulnerable are being targeted to foment strife.
Kurds, Christians and others have all faced intimidation or outright violence in recent weeks in what appear to be mostly unrelated incidents. Yet they coincide with growing economic uncertainty and political tensions wrought in part by the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 4,500 people in Turkey and hammered the economy.
Egyptians outraged by fatwa against charity to non-Muslims
Author: Shahira Amin
Publication Date: 22/5/2020
Source: Al-Monitor
“I live in a foreign country; should I give zakat to non-Muslims?”
The question was posed by a Muslim man in a Q&A video session livestreamed on Dar al-Ifta's Facebook page May 12. The cleric hosting the session, which was later deleted, replied that the annual alms required under Islam should only be given to Muslims, while "sadaqah," a less formal type of Islamic charity, can be given to non-Muslims.
Kuwait puts off reopening of Churches
Author: Ramadan Al Sherbini
Publication Date: 13/6/2020
Source: Gulf News
Christian leaders in Kuwait have said that the churches in the country will remain closed due to the spread of the novel coronavirus.
On Wednesday, mosques in Kuwait were reopened for congregation prayers, except for the Friday prayers, about three months after they were shut down to contain the virus incidence. The Friday prayers are held only inside the Grand Mosque in Kuwait City with the participation of its employees and broadcast live on the state television.
Archbishop Hinder: Amid economic crisis and Covid-19, priority given to safeguarding Christians of Arabia
Publication Date: 4/6/2020
Source: AsiaNews.it
In a critical context due to the economic crisis and the new coronavirus pandemic, it is "important to preserve the links between Christian communities,” notes Msgr. Paul Hinder, apostolic vicar of southern Arabia (United Arab Emirates, Oman and Yemen), recently appointed apostolic administrator vacant seat of northern Arabia (Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain).
The assignment was entrusted to him due to him following the death after a long illness of Msgr. Camillo Ballin, in mid-April at the age of 76.
Bishop Warduni: Baghdad Christian refugee centre closed because of COVID-19
Publication Date: 16/6/2020
Source: AsiaNews.it
The coronavirus outbreak is “getting worse in the capital,” and other parts of the country. "The situation is becoming more and more precarious, day after day,” this according to Mgr Shlemon Audish Warduni, Auxiliary Bishop of Baghdad.
Speaking to AsiaNews, the prelate noted that Christians too are becoming victims of the COVID-19 pandemic, more every day. What is more, the largest Christian centre for displaced people in the capital, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, was shut down by the Human Rights Commission.
Christians, Muslims hope Mosul project helps rebuild trust
Author: Dale Gavlak
Publication Date: 3/6/2020
Source: Crux Now
Christians and Muslims hope a project to reconstruct Mosul’s iconic places of worship, badly damaged by Islamic State militants during their 2014-2017 occupation of the city, will also help to rebuild trust between Iraq’s fractured religious communities.
“Walking in the streets of Mosul, I saw a young neighbor, probably born after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, who never knew peace time in the city,” French Dominican Father Olivier Poquillon told Catholic News Service from the northern Iraqi city of Irbil.
Lebanon: Shia Mufti calls for scrapping the Taif Agreement
Publication Date: 27/5/2020
Source: Middle East Monitor
A senior Shia religious figure has called for scrapping Lebanon’s decades-old power sharing system, part of the Taif Agreement, in a speech during Eid Al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan.
The speech, by Grand Jaafarite Shiite Mufti Sheikh Ahmad Qabalan, has ignited divisions among Lebanese over what is the best form of governance to prevent the country sliding into sectarian conflict.
