Discrimination against non-Moslems is evidenced in the regime’s refusal, for the past 40 years, to grant permission for the opening of a single Christian school. Moreover in existing Christian schools, the law requires that the Principal be a Moslem. Sunday sermons in churches are routinely monitored by the secret police. Violence against Christians often goes unpunished. On 15 October, Naseer Abraham, Christian proprietor of a café in Nasra, asked several Muslim guests, politely but firmly, to leave his premises, after their game of cards had ended in violence. For daring to challenge the unruly Muslims, Naseer Abraham was punished. The following day gang members and a Syrian police officer, Mudhar al-Rahdi, returned to the cafe. They dragged Naseer Abraham from his premises, handcuffed him and then beat him to death. Yalbas Yacoub, a Christian friend, was shot while trying to offer first aid assistance to the victim. Two weeks later in a Damascus hospital he, too, died from his injuries. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! local Christians demanded the arrest of the perpetrators. But their appeals fell on deaf ears. For the Muslim authorities, the death of these two Christians was of no more importance than that of dogs run over by a passing car. Finally some friends of the murdered men took the law into their own hands, burning empty houses and shops belonging to the friends and relatives of the perpetrators. At this point the previously passive law enforcement authorities sprang into action. The police arrested 42 Christians, most of whom had nothing to do with the events. Not until April 2005 were all except four of them released. The murderers of Naseer Abraham and Yalbas Yacoub, however, remain at large. WORLD Magazine cited the case of Samer, a Jordanian Christian, who was jailed in Syria for 50 days with no notification of the nature of his "crimes." He later was released from the Syrian court system and moved to the United States. "I want [people] to understand that there is a false image of Islam as a religion of peace and compassion. Many countries of the Middle East have a good image here in the U.S., but their rules are not what Americans think … When [Islamic countries] talk about human rights and freedom, it's not true – unless you remain in Islam," he said. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! this 15 year old Indonesian girl was almost beheaded by Islamic extremists. Her crime: being a Christian
I love how you point out any event and magnify it. Christians are persecuted in America by some groups, does America persecute them? C'mon man. you could argue Moslems in Israel are persecuted. In fact, the only "discrimination" I see is that the President must be Moslems, but Christians are allowed in other Government offices Syria is the only nation in the ME that has a significant number of Christians apart from Lebanon, but the ONLY NATION in the ME where all religions are united. Why do you think there are Syrian Christians that love Assad, Syrian Christians that I notice on Youtube's videos to be supportive of non-Christians, and generally comments such as "Syria is united" It does bother me however how about your method. You find an event and magnify it so it seems as if Christians being "persecuted" is an occurence all too often, which it most certainly is not. In Latakia my neighborhood was Alawi with some Christians, very few Moslems. We lived peacefully. Syria is the only nation where Christians and Moslems are friends.
Well, in the Middle East, in a predominantly Moslem country, it is the only one. Then again, apart from Lebanon it is the only one that even has a significant number of Christians, but in Lebanon they argue and bicker and hate each other. Not so in Syria, because both Christians and Moslems alike take on a Syrian identity, because no matter what religion, they are all, we are all, Syrian.
The imperative word here is ever had. The population of Christians has steadily decreased ever since they gained the ability to leave, seaks volumes as to their life in Syria.
Disappearing Christians in the Middle East - article by Daniel Pipes Christians earlier in this century represented about one-third of the Syrian population; now they account for less than 10 percent. ... http://www.danielpipes.org/article/1050 Christians earlier in this century represented about one-third of the Syrian population; now they account for less than 10 percent. Emigration represents the end of a long process of exclusion and persecution. On the West Bank, a nearly-permanent Muslim boycott of Christian businesses is the problem. In Egypt, fundamentalist Muslims constantly target Christians. The Lebanese civil war of 1975-90, when reduced to its essentials, represented a successful effort by Muslims to reduce Christian power in the country. But by far the worst situation is in the Sudan, where the civil war that has been raging most of the time since 1956 has led to wholesale atrocities.
Conversion, perhaps? As I said, I know for a fact that most Syrian Christians are proud to be Syrians. Why do you think Syria is the only ME'ern nation called a "unified state"? One thing that all Syrians prize is unity, and you will notice on many videos or presentations about Syria that the viewers band together regardless, because first and foremost Syria comes before religion. And with the relevance of Syria (Damascus, Crusades, etc) within the Christian religion, Christians are welcome in Syria. Yes, there are neighborhoods that are very radical, but for them most part Damascus, Latakia, most cities Christians live side by side with Moslems. There are Christian cities within Syria as well.
Christians earlier in this century represented about one-third of the Syrian population; now they account for less than 10 percent.
Yes, but for those who left or converted, why did they leave? Mexicans flee to the US all the time, is it because they are persecuted? I guarantee you, seeing as I know a number of Christian Lebanese and Syrians, that Christian Syrians love Syria. Go, check out various presentations, and you'll see what I'm talking about when I say that UNITY is the number one aspect of a Syrian
Yes. Christians earlier in this century represented about one-third of the Syrian population; now they account for less than 10 percent, and the number is growing smaller every year.
Yes? I thought it was for economic reasons You keep repeating the same thing. Ah, you know what? They may have, but remember there is a such thing as population growth. I can ASSURE YOU that Christians live happily in Syria, seeing as I LIVED IN A CHRISTIAN-ALAWI NEIBORHOOD IN LATAKIA How can you even doubt it? Ask any Christian Syrian, and they'll tell you they love Syria. This is ridiculous. Unlike other Arab nations, Syria enjoys diversity. Unlike other Arab nations, Syria has the only relevant Chrisitan history. The Assyrians, John (the convert on the Road To Damascus I believe), Syria used to be a Christian nation.
The Syrian Constitution grants freedom of religion, firstly. Secondly, since radicalism is discouraged in Syria, very few Moslems have problems with Christians in Syria. Thirdly, there is a freakin' Bible Fair in Damascus nearly every year! And alot of the attenders are non-Christian but are welcome. And fourthly, there is a sect of Christianity called Syriac Orthodox, in which is very strong in Aleppo and Hama, and Latakia. If you are a Christian in the ME, by far the best nation to live in is Syria.
This is a wonderful example http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2604573.stm I highly suggest reading it. It also talks about how, in Lebanon and Egypt Christians feel persecuted and in danger, whereas one of the most secure ME'ern nations for Christians is Syria, and how Alawi's and Christians have a good relationship (I am an Alawi) Ah, and the largest Christmas festival in the ME is in Syria.
I know. And? My point is that Christians in Syria are very happy for the most part. Yes, there are imperfections but by far the best Arab nation for Christians is Syria It also stated another truth, and that is that Christians, unlike in other countries, freely express their faith and, celebrate and cooperate with Moslems
Wow.......you don't even listen do you? Read the damn article, man. A number of Syrian towns still speak Aramaic, and Christians can freely express their faith. This friendship between Moslems and Christians is encouraged by the secular government.
