Middle East
Unrelenting killing of Coptic Christians intensifies debate over martyrdom
By guest — October 13, 2017
CAIRO (RNS) — 'We need to stop viewing this harassment toward us with pride and saying terrorism gives us a chance to play the same role our ancestors did like in those Sunday school stories about the torture of martyrs,' said Bassem Al-Janoubie, an Egyptian Coptic Christian.
Some think interfaith dialogue goes nowhere. A veteran rabbi begs to differ.
By Lauren Markoe — October 3, 2017
JERUSALEM (RNS) – 'No one living in Northern Ireland, South Africa or Bosnia-Herzegovina 30 or 40 years ago believed their conflicts would end, but they did,' said Rabbi Ron Kronish.
Attackers bomb Ayatollah Khomeini tomb and Parliament; Saudis blamed
By Reuters — June 7, 2017
LONDON (Reuters) The attacks are the first claimed by ISIS, a hard-line Sunni Muslim militant group, inside the Shiite Muslim country.
Masked gunmen kill 28 in attack on Christians in Egypt
By Reuters — May 26, 2017
CAIRO (Reuters) - The Copts were massacred as they were traveling to a monastery. Many children were among the victims.
Trump’s views on Islam ‘continue to evolve,’ says secretary of state
By Gregory Korte — May 22, 2017
JERUSALEM (USA Today) Rex Tillerson said the president's visit to Saudi Arabia this week has already begun to soften his attitudes about Islam.
Iraqi Christians return to ransacked town with fear and hope
By Reuters — April 14, 2017
QARAQOSH, Iraq (Reuters) With the Islamic State group expelled, Iraqi Christians are trickling back to the ransacked town of Qaraqosh, beset by anxiety for their security and yet hopeful they can live in friendship with Muslims of all persuasions.
Pope visit to Egypt to go ahead despite blasts but security big concern
By Jerome Socolovsky — April 10, 2017
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Diplomats and Vatican sources cautioned that the trip could be put in jeopardy or parts of it changed if the security situation worsened.
Rage at abandonment by the state as Egypt’s Christians dig graves after bombing
By Reuters — April 10, 2017
TANTA, Egypt (Reuters) - ISIS claims responsibility, warning of more attacks and boasting of the number of people killed by three church bombings it says it has carried out since December: 80.
Explosion at Egypt Nile Delta church kills at least 25, injures 60
By Ahmed Tolba — April 9, 2017
(Reuters) There was no immediate claim of responsibility and the cause of the blast, just one week before Coptic Easter and the same month that Pope Francis is scheduled to visit Egypt, was not known.
Egyptian Copts finally fulfilling ‘dream’ of traveling to Jerusalem
By Mina Nader — March 26, 2017
AL-KOSHEH, Egypt (RNS) For decades, Copts couldn't make the pilgrimage to Jerusalem because of a church ban on travel to Israel. But many are now fulfilling a central tenet of their faith after Tawadros II, who became pope in 2012, went there himself two years ago.
ISIS’s intriguing silence about Donald Trump’s approach to Muslims
By Tom Heneghan — March 17, 2017
PARIS (RNS) With his anti-Muslim rhetoric and planned travel bans, you’d think President Trump would be a favorite target for Islamic State’s propaganda. Well, think again.
Egypt’s Sisi orders Cabinet to help resettle Sinai Christians fleeing Islamic State
By Reuters — February 25, 2017
(Reuters) Hundreds of Christian families and students have fled to Ismailia, north Sinai's neighboring province, after seven Christians were killed in Arish between Jan. 30 and Thursday.
Trump is right: It’s moral and legal to prioritize persecuted Christians
By Johnnie Moore — February 7, 2017
(RNS) For far too long, our country has not done enough to help religious minorities in the Middle East via safe zones or refugee resettlement.
Chaldean archbishop urges Iraqi Catholics to stay and help rebuild
By Yonat Shimron — January 18, 2017
PARIS (RNS) Iraq’s Christian population has plummeted from about 1.5 million in 2003 to less than 300,000 last year.
Pope pays tribute to Iraqi Christians persecuted by Islamic State
By guest — December 26, 2016
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) Francis paid tribute to Middle East Christians who have clung to their faith during persecution by Islamist militants, saying there are more Christians martyrs now than in the Church's early days.
