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Exposing the role that Islamic jihad theology and ideology play in the modern global conflicts

The Islamic war on Christians in the Middle East

Apr 21, 2014 8:44 pm By Robert Spencer

Egypt-Christians-APThis piece is generally good, as there is far too little attention paid in the mainstream media to the escalating Muslim persecution of Christians, but Prosor, the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, manifests the same ignorance (or refusal to speak explicitly) that hamstrings the free world’s response to the jihad threat. “Radical Islamists in the northern Syrian city of Raqqa,” he writes, “are using an ancient law called the ‘dhimmi pact’ to extort local Christians. The community is faced with a grim choice: pay a tax and submit to a list of religious restrictions or ‘face the sword.'”

Prosor is either unaware or unwilling to say that dhimmitude is actually not just some “ancient law” that “radical Islamists” have unaccountably decided to revive. It is, on the contrary, a Qur’anic imperative, and therefore is something that at least some Muslims will always take seriously. “Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.” — Qur’an 9:29

“The Middle East War on Christians,” by Ron Prosor, Wall Street Journal, April 16:

This week, as Jews celebrate the Passover holiday, they are commemorating the Bible’s Exodus story describing a series of plagues inflicted on ancient Egypt that freed the Israelites, allowing them to make their way to the Holy Land. But over the past century, another exodus, driven by a plague of persecution, has swept across the Middle East and is emptying the region of its Christian population. The persecution is especially virulent today.

The Middle East may be the birthplace of three monotheistic religions, but some Arab nations appear bent on making it the burial ground for one of them. For 2,000 years, Christian communities dotted the region, enriching the Arab world with literature, culture and commerce. At the turn of the 20th century, Christians made up 26% of the Middle East’s population. Today, that figure has dwindled to less than 10%. Intolerant and extremist governments are driving away the Christian communities that have lived in the Middle East since their faith was born.

In the rubble of Syrian cities like Aleppo and Damascus, Christians who refused to convert to Islam have been kidnapped, shot and beheaded by Islamist opposition fighters. In Egypt, mobs of Muslim Brotherhood members burn Coptic Christian churches in the same way they once obliterated Jewish synagogues. And in Iraq, terrorists deliberately target Christian worshippers. This past Christmas, 26 people were killed when a bomb ripped through a crowd of worshipers leaving a church in Baghdad’s southern Dora neighborhood.

Christians are losing their lives, liberties, businesses and their houses of worship across the Middle East. It is little wonder that native Christians have sought refuge in neighboring countries—yet in many cases they find themselves equally unwelcome. Over the past 10 years, nearly two-thirds of Iraq’s 1.5 million Christians have been driven from their homes. Many settled in Syria before once again becoming victims of unrelenting persecution. Syria’s Christian population has dropped from 30% in the 1920s to less than 10% today.

In January, a report by the nondenominational Christian nonprofit organization Open Doors documented the 10 most oppressive countries for Christians; nine were Muslim-majority states noted for Islamic extremism, and the 10th was North Korea. These tyrannical regimes uphold archaic blasphemy and defamation-of-religion laws under the guise of protecting religious expression. In truth, these measures amount to systematic repression of non-Islamic groups.

Last year in Saudi Arabia, two men were prosecuted for the “crime” of converting a woman to Christianity and helping her flee the Islamic kingdom. According to the Saudi Gazette, one of the men, a Lebanese, was sentenced to six years in prison and 300 lashes, and the other man, a Saudi, was sentenced to two years and 200 lashes. Those are relatively mild sentences in Saudi Arabia, where conversion to another religion is punishable by death.

The “justice system” in other Islamic nations is not particularly just for Arab citizens, but it is uniquely oppressive for Christians. Radical Islamists in the northern Syrian city of Raqqa are using an ancient law called the “dhimmi pact” to extort local Christians. The community is faced with a grim choice: pay a tax and submit to a list of religious restrictions or “face the sword.”…

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Comments

  1. David says

    Apr 21, 2014 at 9:33 pm

    This is a generally good article, although it could and should be stronger to better reflect reality of how Muslims, deriving inspiration from their religious books and applying its system of jurisprudence, are having much graver consequences than suggested.

    Anyway, one comment of interest is that the articler wrote, “The Middle East may be the birthplace of three monotheistic religions, but some Arab nations appear bent on making it the burial ground for one of them”. That should be corrected to, “some Arab nations appear bent on making it the burial ground for two of them”.

    • kikorikid says

      Apr 22, 2014 at 2:27 pm

      “First Saturday then Sunday.”

  2. max publius says

    Apr 21, 2014 at 9:33 pm

    Weird start to second paragraph:

    “The Middle East may be the birthplace of three monotheistic religions, but some Arab nations appear bent on making it the burial ground for one of them.”

    I’m pretty sure that should read “for TWO of them,” and its not Arab nations, its Muslim nations committing genocide.

  3. Bradamante says

    Apr 21, 2014 at 10:03 pm

    Glad to see this at least getting some press attention. We need to be raising the issue in our own churches — those of us who go to church. I’m going to be talking with a local priest about it later this week (he doesn’t know that’s the topic yet — I just asked for an appointment).

    • dumbledoresarmy says

      Apr 21, 2014 at 10:21 pm

      good on you!

      (Do you have a copy of “Getting Through” yet?

      Try very, very hard to be brief, cool and calm and “just the facts ma’am” (say I, whose Irish and Scots blood tends to boil when I start talking about these subjects!).

      Let us all know how you went, afterwards – whether the meeting turned out well or badly.

    • Kepha says

      Apr 22, 2014 at 5:07 am

      @Bradamante–those of us who are Evangelicals/fundamentalists (and a “fundamentalist” is just an “Evangelical” whom a liberal writer doesn’t like) have never had a problem with seeing Islam as an enemy. if Jesus Christ is the way, truth, and life, there’s no room for a new revelation of God coming after him.

      We are also keenly aware of the problems faced by our brothers and sisters in Muslim-majority countries, especially since we are now seeing Christians who are ex-Muslims, as well as descendants of people who have been Christians since ancient times.

      However, one problem we have here in the West is that we are subjected to “lawfare” by the LGBT’s who wish to impose their lifestyle on the rest of us and the American equivalent of the League of the Militant Godless, who’d like to return my natal state of New Jersey to Great Britain because its signor of the Declaration of Independence was a Christian clergyman. We also face constant vilification in the popular culture, and a hostile MSM.

  4. jewdog says

    Apr 21, 2014 at 10:45 pm

    After reading a biography of the great Jewish scholar, Maimonides, it may have been the case that there was actually less discrimination against Christians in the twelfth century than today , despite contemporary battles with the Crusaders.
    In the twelfth century, there were abuses, and Christians were dhimmis under Sharia, whereas now the abuses seem more widespread and there is little pretense of following Sharia protocols as Christians are often killed outright, their churches burned, and entire ancient communities driven out.
    In the 20th century the Jews were expelled; in the 21st century it’s the Christians’ turn. What’s left won’t be a civilization worth the name.

    • Kepha says

      Apr 22, 2014 at 5:22 am

      Jewdog, I think more or less discrimination against the Dhimmi then rather than now may well have depended on where in the Islamic world one happened to live. The Islamic Spain that Maimonides and his family left was a pretty close approximation of what the Qaida and Muslim Brotherhood sorts want to see everywhere. Some sources I’ve read have even suggested that Maimonides and his family may have been forced converts to Islam prior to their relocation in the relatively more tolerant climate of Egypt.

      • jewdog says

        Apr 22, 2014 at 7:33 am

        That’s true, Kepha. Twelfth century Spain came under the control of the hard-line Almohads, who were Berbers, when the young Maimonides lived in his native Cordoba. The Almohads were fanatics, similar to the present-day Iranians. Maimonides’s family fled to Morocco, which was also under extremist rule, then Egypt, which was more liberal.
        Egypt was under the Shiite Fatimids at the time, but eventually the Sunni Abuyyids took control under Saladin. The Fatimids encouraged philosophical study, but the Sunnis tended to follow Al Ghazali and were more dogmatic. After their ouster by the Sunnis, Shiite suicide attackers took revenge. The Shiite militants were thought to be under the influence of hashish, and hence were called Hashishine, whence the modern term assassin. Saladin’s forces defeated them.
        Maimonides was Saladin’s physician, one of 21 in the royal court – 8 Muslim, 8 Jewish and 5 Christian physicians. Despite battling the Crusaders, Saladin retained his Christian doctors, and Christians and their churches were not the widespread objects of vengeance or expulsion as they undoubted would be were the Crusades to take place today.
        At that time, Jewish and Muslim scholars collaborated closely. Islamic culture had not yet been overwhelmed by the pervasive ignorance, intolerance and fanaticism we see today, though all of those elements were present in some place to varying degrees.

        • Defcon 4 says

          Apr 23, 2014 at 3:57 pm

          @Jewdog

          I frankly don’t believe your characterization of Saladin. It
          stinks of historical revisionism.

      • jewdog says

        Apr 22, 2014 at 7:34 am

        That’s true, Kepha. Twelfth century Spain came under the control of the hard-line Almohads, who were Berbers, when the young Maimonides lived in his native Cordoba. The Almohads were fanatics, similar to the present-day Iranians. Maimonides’s family fled to Morocco, which was also under extremist rule, then Egypt, which was more liberal.
        Egypt was under the Shiite Fatimids at the time, but eventually the Sunni Abuyyids took control under Saladin. The Fatimids encouraged philosophical study, but the Sunnis tended to follow Al Ghazali and were more dogmatic. After their ouster by the Sunnis, Shiite suicide attackers took revenge. The Shiite militants were thought to be under the influence of hashish, and hence were called Hashishine, whence the modern term assassin. Saladin’s forces defeated them.
        Maimonides was Saladin’s physician, one of 21 in the royal court – 8 Muslim, 8 Jewish and 5 Christian physicians. Despite battling the Crusaders, Saladin retained his Christian doctors, and Christians and their churches were not the widespread objects of vengeance or expulsion as they undoubted would be were the Crusades to take place today.
        At that time, Jewish and Muslim scholars collaborated closely. Islamic culture had not yet been overwhelmed by the pervasive ignorance, intolerance and fanaticism we see today, though all of those elements were present in some places to varying degrees.

  5. Salah says

    Apr 22, 2014 at 12:27 am

    “Christians are losing their lives, liberties, businesses and their houses of worship across the Middle East.”

    There’s one exception: Egypt.
    After only one year of the Muslim Brotherhood rule, the egyptian people realized that islamic parties must never again rule the country. Christians and Muslims united, drove the MB out and decided to live in peace and harmony as it was back in the days of Nasser.
    Nasser was a pro USSR. That’s why the MB and all islamic parties were either in jail or banned from the political life.
    Then came Sadat and Mubarak, both pro USA, that’s when things started to go wrong for Christians. The USA forced these rulers to legalize islamic parties because of the so-called “human rights” farce. It was the biggest mistake back then, and it still is. A mistake that empowered islamic parties (the true face of Islam) and led to the persecution of Christians. A mistake that will eventually lead to the extinction of the Western Civilization itself.
    Rest assured that whenever and wherever a pro West government is in power, Christians will be persecuted.
    My dearest hope is that the next president of Egypt (probably Al Sisi) will not fall in this trap and will be able to liberate his country from the US influence. I also hope that the people in the West will do the same and liberate itself from the PC traitors, the true enablers of the jihad movement.

    Islamic parties ruling Egypt… NEVER AGAIN!
    PC leaders ruling the West…TIME TO GO!

    http://crossmuslims.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-end-of-muslim-brotherhood.html

    • Defcon 4 says

      Apr 23, 2014 at 3:59 pm

      So Christians aren’t being persecuted in Egyptistan? They aren’t treated as second class citizens by the muslonazis who run the place? Gee, that doesn’t seem to jive w/what I’ve heard from the expatriate Coptic Christians I’ve met.

    • gravenimage says

      Apr 23, 2014 at 7:36 pm

      Salah wrote:

      “Christians are losing their lives, liberties, businesses and their houses of worship across the Middle East.”

      There’s one exception: Egypt.
      After only one year of the Muslim Brotherhood rule, the egyptian people realized that islamic parties must never again rule the country. Christians and Muslims united, drove the MB out and decided to live in peace and harmony as it was back in the days of Nasser.
      ………………………………….

      I know you’re a good guy, Salah, but I get tired of this.

      Firstly, Muslims and Christians did not “live in peace and harmony” during Nasser’s rule—it was just somewhat less oppressive than it would be subsequently. Egypt still had the vestiges of civilized laws and customs at the time left over from colonialism—like most former colonies, it would take decades for these laws to be fully eroded.

      And the implication that the resurgence of Islam is due to “US influence” is just absurd.

      Most of all, though, the idea that Christians are not in danger in Egypt today is just *way* off base. Christians are still being attacked, kidnapped, murdered, and having their churches burned down.

      I know you want to believe that this is just some tiny, short-lived vestige of the MB, but the fact is that persecution is widespread—and while the Al-Sisi regime is somewhat better than the Muslim Brotherhood, they are doing very little to protect Christians.

      • Salah says

        Apr 24, 2014 at 1:45 am

        “I know you’re a good guy, Salah, but I get tired of this.”

        Thank you, and…sorry about that.
        I am closely watching every single info coming out from Egypt on a daily basis, and I can assure you that Egypt is on the right path. It’s not perfect, but it’s getting better and better every day. Christians are and will be much, much better in the new Egypt than ever before.
        That’s my opinion, and, unless things change, I am going to stand by it.

  6. boakai ngombu says

    Apr 22, 2014 at 9:54 am

    the author, Prosor, resisted using the gloss – “Golden Years of Islam”

    [ a glimmer of light among journalistic effort to avoid writing from a handout]

    those were the years where 30,000 churches were destroyed around the Med.

    those were the years when truly ancient libraries were destroyed.

    those were the years and beyond where: est. 270 million humans were murdered; millions were enslaved, especially blond virgins; several known genocides were completed.

    all this, by poor misunderstanders of Islam

    at least by avoiding the gloss he was able to describe somewhat the present situation and worldwide activities of the adherents to SHARIA

  7. Walter Sieruk says

    Apr 22, 2014 at 11:30 am

    Since last Sunday was Easter Sunday it’s therefore fitting to keyboard that one reason that Christians are hated by Muslims to such an extreme was shown at last Sunday when the world was reminded of the great events that people associate with Easter. For these events are the part of the basic teaching of Christian doctrine and are also in great contrast to the teaching of Islam.. That may be one reason so many Muslims hate Christians. Islam denied that Jesus even went to the cross. Likewise, Islam denies that Jesus died on the cross, was buried, and on the third day after he was buried Jesus rose from the dead.
    Thus Islam is great contradiction to God’s Word, the Bible. For the Bible teaches that Jesus did, in fact, go to the cross, was buried and then roses again on the third day after he was buried. As seen in First Corinthians 15:1-8. Romans 10:9,10. First Peter 3:18. Philippians 2:5-11. This is also shown in Matthew 27;32-65. Also, the whole chapter of Matthew 28 likewise shows this. The other three gospel’s likewise teaches this. As Isaiah 8:20 explains “To the law of the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” [KJV] In conclusion, Islam is part of the world of darkness and is also a false religion, Proverbs 14:12. John 3:16,17,36. 14:6. First John 2:22,23.

    • Kepha says

      Apr 22, 2014 at 4:55 pm

      Good post, my friend.

  8. charleston says

    Apr 22, 2014 at 4:05 pm

    seems Prosor is doing something the Vatican is unwilling to do-protect Christians and Christianity in muslim lands

    Jews have enough problems with muslims and the Christians who hate them if not more than muslims do

    • gravenimage says

      Apr 23, 2014 at 7:39 pm

      charleston, it is Muslims who are trying to destroy Israel and who are attacking Jews in Europe—not Christians.

  9. Defcon 4 says

    Apr 23, 2014 at 3:52 pm

    Outside of Israel, Mid-East Christians are going the way of Mid-East Jews and for EXACTLY the same reasons.

  10. gravenimage says

    Apr 23, 2014 at 7:18 pm

    The Islamic war on Christians in the Middle East
    ……………………………

    Yes—it *is* good to see the Wall Street Journal covering this. But it is also—as noted—depressing to see how clueless the otherwise very decent Ron Prosor appears to be when it comes to the history and aims of Islam.

    More:

    The Middle East may be the birthplace of three monotheistic religions, but some Arab nations appear bent on making it the burial ground for one of them
    ……………………………

    Actually, this is not about “Arab nations”, but all about Muslim ones.

    And Islam aims for the Middle East to be the burial ground of *both* other monotheistic faiths—Mr. Prosor appears not to have noticed that Jews have been murdered or driven out of *every* country in the Middle East except for Israel, and Muslims want to destroy the Jewish state, as well.

    But despite the shortcomings of this piece, I am glad to see it.

    And I believe that it is notable that it is a Jew who cares about this genocide against the Christians—certainly, no Muslim is going to comment on it, except for those who are lauding the slaughter.

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