Syria
French woman who escaped ISIS lives to tell about its horrors
By Tom Heneghan — March 22, 2016
PARIS (RNS) The Cameroon native who grew up in France felt an emptiness she hoped Islam would fill.
German churches tone down refugee welcome as problems mount
By Tom Heneghan — February 12, 2016
PARIS (RNS) The shifting emphasis from religion to realpolitik marked the end of an unusual period during which many Germans took a firm moral stand to help the desperate refugees.
Evangelical leaders see Syrian refugees as opportunity
By Timothy C. Morgan — January 21, 2016
NAPERVILLE, Ill. (RNS) A meeting billed as the largest gathering of evangelicals on refugees calls on American Christians to overcome anxieties about differences of religion.
Muslim protester slams Trump’s ‘hateful rhetoric’
By Reuters — January 9, 2016
Rose Hamid, who wore a white headscarf, reportedly stood up in the stands directly behind Trump when he suggested that Syrian refugees are affiliated with Islamic State militants.
Refugees from war and persecution speak of hopes for 2016
By Reuters — December 29, 2015
Those who fled are grateful to be alive. Yet, said one, "2016 may be different in some ways, but the truth is the trauma remains."
Priest who survived ISIS: ‘My interfaith work saved my life’
By Rosie Scammell — December 11, 2015
ROME (RNS) Speaking in detail for the first time since his escape, the Rev. Jacques Mourad admitted he didn't always think he would make it: “It was very difficult above all when they said, ‘Become Muslim or we’ll cut your head off.'"
After uproar, German town warms to refugees who took over church
By Reuters — November 26, 2015
When news of the plan to house 50 refugees in the church and suspend Sunday services spread through the town, angry residents pressed church and city officials to reconsider. But nearly a month on, the uproar has died down and residents are beginning to warm to the refugees.
Obama denounces religious test for refugees: ‘That’s not who we are’
By Kimberly Winston — November 16, 2015
(RNS) The president strongly restated his -- and his predecessor's -- belief that a war against ISIS is not a war against Islam.
Hungarian church thanks God, government for fending off migrants
By Reuters — October 2, 2015
Prime Minister Viktor Orban has sealed Hungary's borders with Serbia to stem the influx and pledged not to let mainly Muslim migrants threaten Hungary's Christian traditions.
Vatican City takes in a Syrian refugee family
By Reuters — September 18, 2015
The family of four are Melkite Greek Catholics from Damascus. They arrived Sept. 6, the day Pope Francis called on European parishes to open their doors to refugees.
Obama wants 10,000 Syrian refugees next year
By Gregory Korte — September 10, 2015
"I will acknowledge readily that the scale of the problem will persist long after those 10,000 Syrians have made it into the United States..." said White House press secretary Josh Earnest.
Religious groups push U.S. to take in 100,000 Syrian refugees
By Reuters — September 9, 2015
Groups pushing for this include the Church World Service, representing 37 Christian denominations, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, and the Jewish refugee assistance agency HIAS.
Pope Francis: Every parish in Europe ‘take in one refugee family’
By Reuters — September 6, 2015
The first trip he made after his election in 2013 was to the Italian island of Lampedusa, between Sicily and Tunisia, where many migrants arrive by boat. Vatican City will take two families, he said Sunday.
Mississippi newlyweds arrested, accused of planning to join ISIS
By Reuters — August 12, 2015
OXFORD, Miss. (Reuters) A Mississippi couple, accused of seeking to join the militant Islamic State group on a planned honeymoon trip, remained in custody on Tuesday after being denied bond in federal court.
Islamic State abducts dozens of Christian families at Syrian churches and checkpoints
By Reuters — August 7, 2015
Human rights observers say 45 women and 19 children, including 11 families were taken Thursday. They are among hundreds of residents, Muslims and Christians, whose families have lost touch with them since the militants captured the area.
