Group Calls for International Action to Help Persecuted Christians

Group Calls for International Action to Help Persecuted Christians

-

Aid to the Church in Need recently published a report that called for international intervention to help persecuted Christians, particularly in the Middle East.

In the 2019 edition of “Persecuted and Forgotten?”, the Christian charity disclosed that Christianity is disappearing from ancient towns where the faith first took root. The invasion of ISIS in Qaraqosh in northern Iraq in 2014 caused the displacement of religious minorities. Many Christians were killed, kidnapped and tortured during the Islamic militants’ reign.

Iraq, which had 1.5 million Christians in 2003, now has about 150,000 believers. Some estimated that it may have been as low as 120,000, by mid-2019. The report said, “if security can be guaranteed,” there may be a chance of preserving Christianity in Iraq.

Syria is another country where experts saw a steep decline in the Christian population. There was a two-thirds drop in the number of Christians from 2 million in 2011, before the civil war began.

In addition, the “Persecuted & Forgotten?” report identified other countries of concern—India, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar. The Easter Sunday bombing in churches in Sri Lanka this year killed 300 people and injured 500 more. In 2017, there were 477 anti-Christian incidents in India. Terror attacks continue to hound Christians and places of worship in some South and East Asian countries.

Despite the grim situation of Christians in different parts of the world, the report noted that “the international community has shown unprecedented concern about the persecution of the region’s Christians.”

The Catholic charity is not the only organization calling for international intervention to help Christian minorities.

Persecuted Christians at the #WeAreN2018 congress called on the United Nations to act on the discrimination and threats against believers.

Father Gabriele Firas shared his experience as a persecuted Christian after converting and becoming the first Iraqi priest of the Syrian-Catholic rite. He said young Christians in Iraq worry about their safety, asking “If I don’t go into exile, who can guarantee a future for me in Iraq?”

The cleric said, “We need a future far from extremism and violence in order to create a new society. We need to build bridges, not walls.”

spot_img
Joyce Dimaculangan
Joyce Dimaculangan
Joyce has more than 15 years experience writing news, industry articles and blogs for the private and public sectors. Most of her career was spent writing technical documentation for a software company in the Philippines. She earned a B.A. in Communication Arts with a concentration in writing from the University of the Philippines, Los Baños. During her leisure time, Joyce pursues her interest in reading fiction and playing with her dogs. She can be contacted at [email protected].
West Palm Beach
mist
57.8 ° F
60 °
55.5 °
98 %
3.5mph
100 %
Thu
66 °
Fri
62 °
Sat
66 °
Sun
70 °
Mon
68 °
spot_img

Palm Beach

How to Start and Run a Thriving Dinner Club this Year

In today’s fast-paced world, finding meaningful ways to connect with others can feel like a lost art. But what...

Hoffman Adding Buoyancy to Seafarers at the Port of Palm Beach

When one thinks of the sea, words such as power and awe, intense and majestic, and even serene come...

Brad Finch Now Leading SoB at First Pres North Palm Beach

Brad Finch of North Palm Beach, who hails from Taupo, New Zealand, has recently (Jan, 2023) taken the helm...

A Growing Movement: Backyard Food Forests

There’s something happening. A revival of sorts. A harkening back to old ways. Skills that have been on the...

Holy Water Hits Top Charts in Christian Music

In spite of the controversy over the subject of "Holy Water" by We the Kingdom, the song is reaching...

Palm Beach

Juno Beach Pier Service: A Twenty Year Tradition

A vivid, early-morning sun rising over the ocean greeted...

Palm Beach County Breaks All-time Record for Sea Turtle Nests

Palm Beach County hits record-breaking number of sea turtle nests with still three months left in the nesting season.
- Advertisement -spot_imgspot_img
- Advertisement -spot_imgspot_img

You might also likeRELATED
Recommended to you