Christians have endured persecution from jihadists in the Middle East long before the rise of the Islamic State. Their plight has been ignored for far too long, so it is reassuring to see some action in their favor.
The agreement between the two nations follows Hungary’s declared strategy of taking assistance “to the troubled spots where it’s needed, instead of bringing the trouble and instability to Europe.”
Those Western countries that took in migrants should have given more effective aid to Christians, who really were refugees from war-torn areas and victims of persecution. Had peaceful Christians dominated the migrant stream, no trouble would have come to Europe. Instead, European countries flung open their doors to an unvetted multitude of Muslim migrants, who brought with them a belief system that ascribes a lower status to women and non-Muslims, resulting in chaos, violence and exorbitant security expenses.
Regarding Muslim migrants, Europe should have demand that the neighboring Muslim countries, which are better suited for Muslim migrant integration, aid in the crisis. But those countries were unwilling to do so: this was a hijrah.
“Iraqi Archbishop Praises Trump for Aid to Persecuted Christians,” by Thomas D. Williams, Breitbart, December 28, 2018:
The archbishop of Erbil, Iraq, thanked President Donald Trump this week for his administration’s support for persecuted Christians in the Middle East.
“This is the first administration we’ve seen that’s close to us,” Chaldean Archbishop Bashar Warda told Crux, a U.S.-based online Catholic news outlet.
Last June, Vice President Mike Pence promised funding for Christians who have suffered ongoing persecution in the country, and last week Hungary and the United States announced an alliance to assist Christians in the Middle East to “recover from genocide and persecution by the Islamic State.”
The government of Hungary and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on December 18 “to increase coordination to help communities in the Middle East recover from genocide and persecution by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).”
The agreement between the two nations follows Hungary’s declared strategy of taking assistance “to the troubled spots where it’s needed, instead of bringing the trouble and instability to Europe.”
According to Archbishop Warda, the financial assistance is a welcome Christmas present.
“We now have people on the ground from USAID to follow up with the churches and everyone affected by the ISIS genocide,” he said.
The funding is currently being used to rebuild schools but USAID will soon be announcing other projects as well, since Islamic State militants destroyed numerous dwellings as well as basic infrastructure.
“These are tangible results,” Warda said. “We’re seeing it more than before.”
Persecuted Iraqi Christians have long been “forgotten” by the world, and when they see concrete examples of support and solidarity, “it affects them,” the archbishop said.
“Our people need a big ally, someone to tell them you’re not forgotten and we’re watching closely what’s happening on the ground. They need a friend to support them, and we’re starting to see that now,” Warda said.
The day after Christmas, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin met with Iraqi President Barham Salih in Baghdad.
During the encounter, Mr. Salih extended an invitation to Pope Francis to visit the Iraqi city of Ur, the Biblical birthplace of Abraham, for an interreligious summit in 2019….
lebel says
“Regarding Muslim migrants, Europe should have demand that the neighboring Muslim countries, which are better suited for Muslim migrant integration, aid in the crisis. But those countries were unwilling to do so: this was a hijrah.”
Does anyone at jihadwatch actually care about at least being somewhat truthful? In Lebanon alone 1 in 5 is now a refugee! neighboring countries are stretched to the breaking point. Most Syrian refugees are the Middle East:
“More than 5 million displaced Syrians live in neighboring countries in the Middle East and North Africa. Those in Turkey (3.4 million), Lebanon (1 million), Jordan (660,000) and Iraq (250,000) account for about four-in-ten Syrians displaced around the world (41%), according to estimates based on data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). More than 150,000 Syrians also live in North African countries like Egypt and Libya. The number of Syrians living in these countries surged in 2014, from 500,000 to 2.5 million, largely due to a sharp increase in Syrian refugees to Jordan and Lebanon. Turkey also experienced a large increase in both 2014 (from about 560,000 at the start of the year to 1.6 million at the end) and 2015 (from 1.6 million to 2.5 million by year’s end). About 1 million displaced Syrians have moved to Europe as asylum seekers or refugees since the conflict began, according to asylum seeker data from Eurostat, Europe’s statistical agency, and UNHCR data on refugee resettlement.”
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/01/29/where-displaced-syrians-have-resettled/
I invite jihadwatchers to do their own research, it takes 5 minutes on google. Most won’t because they either don’t care or they prefer information that confirms the jihadwatch narrative.
Why does jihadwatch feel the need to spread so many lies if their case against Islam is so strong?
b.a. freeman says
yeah, lebel, we’re all liars here; we make sure that no truth gets through! thankfully, there are millions of refugees housed in arabia, the birthplace of islam. every muslim is free to enter the country at any time and receive help from zakat payments by more fortunate muslims. it is indeed a good thing that the muslims with the most money are making sure that refugees of the ummah receive the support that they need; the rest of the ummah should make sure that rich muslims helping muslim refugees receive more credit!
not.
Ecosse1314 says
How many in Saudi Arabia the UAE . Why are you such a pos
lebel says
Thanks for the insult, really shows a strong argument.
This was the original statement : “the neighboring Muslim countries, which are better suited for Muslim migrant integration, aid in the crisis. But those countries were unwilling to do so: this was a hijrah”
I have proven that the neighboring countries have taken not only a portion but the majority of Syrian refugees. Now we move the goal post to those countries which have not taken as many refugees. Typical jwatch bullshit when caught in a lie, move the goal post. Was the original statement about specific countries? no, it was not. It was a statement made for ignoramuses such as yourself who don’t check facts.
Ecosse1314 says
Stop stirring the pot then. Is there a single thing in islam that you stand agai st?
greyhound fancier says
I have sent monetary support to Middle Easter displaced Christians for years, through the Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East (an Anglican organization).
Yes, Muslim countries have Syrian and Iraqi refugees. However, the Christian refugees in Jordan are not allowed to work legally. They only had the clothes on their backs when they arrived, however the “charitable” Jordanians did not offer them anything. Fortunately, the western Christians were aware of the refugees. They have provided all the food, health care, lodging, and education needed by the families.
I for one am not impressed by the muslims’ charity toward the refugees. The wealthy Arabs and other muslims won’t spend their money on helping non-muslims (obviously) but even the Syrian and Iraqi muslim refugees are not supported by wealthy muslims. Don’t brag on them! They want Europeans and North Americans to support the refugees, so they send them on – they can’t be bothered to help their fellow muslims.
The European says
1. So, Lebel, you wrote that about 1 million Syrians went to Europe as asylum seekers. That may be approximately right. In Germany, we took in about 1,5 million, but not all of them were from Syria. More than 700 000 of those who claimed refugee status have been denied asylum so far. According to German law, they are to be expelled, but this doesn’t happen., and more than 80% of them are living on welfare benefits. Would you,Lebel, approve of asylum seekers in your country, if their request had been legally denied? Would you accept to pay for them, years and years?
2. Most of these asylum seekers had been living in refugee camps in neighboring countries like Jordan, Turkey, and Lebanon, true. But in the springtime of 2015, there was suddenly a shortage of food in these camps which were run by the UNHCR. Has the UNCHR been short of food or money? By no means, but supplies destined for the refugee camps were withheld. they simply didn’t arrive. This caused panic among the refugees and set in motiion the refugee crisis with millions of Muslims headed for Central Europe. Was this a pure coincidence,or was it a machination of someone who pulled the strings behind the stage? Your answer may show you as somebody who still believes in Santa Claus or as someone who knows the world..
lebel says
@theEuropean
1. No I do not approve of asylum seekers who have been denied staying in Europe. Why would I? if you are an economic migrant and you are claiming asylum you are taking the place of someone who needs asylum. My understanding is that some of these such as Afghans are being returned to Afghanistan but I certainly don’t think that German taxpayers should pay for economic migrants.
2. I do not believe that there was a conspiracy to withhold food aid. The migrant crisis happened because of the civil war in Syria and the war in Iraq (Thanks George Bush!), Merkel’s decision to accept Syrian refugees which as you say brought others who were not refugees and the opening of the Northern Route through Libya with the removal of Qaddafi. Looks like it’s Father Christmas for me.
Good day
Crusades Were Right says
Odd that lebel mentions Lebanon as an example of a “Muslim country”. That one used to be mainly Christian until not too long ago.
I wonder what could have happened to change that?
Google search “Brigitte Gabriel Lebanon”, for example, for the answer.
; ¬)
Rufolino says
The Pope invited to an “inter-religious summit in Iraq” in 2019 ?
I can just imagine it. The Pope will be in his favourite element.
Makes you feel sick.
Carol the 1st says
And the Christians always get to stay put (Bill Warner from 2016,7:40-10:12):
Interview with Dr. Bill Warner Ph.D — Israel, Islam and EndTimes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojZ-0HZNXP4
gravenimage says
What Muslim countries are reaching out to refugees and giving them sanctuary–including citizenship?
Michael Copeland says
When jihadis massacred the worshippers during mass at the main church in Baghdad (31 Oct 2010) – 58 killed and 78 maimed – the BBC news DID NOT EVEN MENTION IT.
They dd not mention it the following day.
The day after that it was mentioned, with Clive Myrie referring to it as a “disaster”.
Older Canadian says
Thank you President Trump!
James Lincoln says
“Hungary’s declared strategy of taking assistance “to the troubled spots where it’s needed, instead of bringing the trouble and instability to Europe.”
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has addressed the assistance issue many times in the media. He is very bright and articulate – and speaks the truth about the Muslim migrant invasion and multiculturalism. Check out some of his YouTube videos for the last year or so. They are fantastic.
gravenimage says
Iraqi Archbishop thanks Trump for aiding Christian victims of the Islamic State
…………………….
Great to hear!
ronyvo says
Good news. Thank you Mr. Spencer for letting us know.
ronyvo says
I pray that such acknowledgement would be extended to the Copts of Egypt, who are the most hated Christians of the ME by Muslims due to the fact of the peaceful resistance against the Ugly Islamic genocide.
For over 1400 years the Copts are enduring a horrible discrimination and violent attacks from the long time invaders (the Muslims).
KWJ says
Jordan and Lebanon took in a lot of Syrian refugees. There is a large refugee camp-King Abdullah finally said they were so overwhelmed which was true. Many would like to go back to Syria-they want their homes back or to rebuild them. Syria is pretty nice…it’s got beaches, more temperate weather, lots of ancient history (whatever ISIS didn’t destroy) and Damascus hasn’t been affected much. There are night clubs where men and women dance together and alcohol. No dress requirement for women. It’s people from villages that are more conservative. Aleppo was “modern” and had a university but it’s now destroyed. The Christians supported Assad because he treated other religions fairly and he is an Alawite. He was educated in Britain. They weren’t in debt like to the IMF and such and produced a lot of things for themselves. Still, though, they somewhat placate the religious conservatives, something Iraq is having trouble with that now…clerics and Iran supported Shia clerics. An Muslim Iraqi immigrant told me they sell alcohol though it’s mostly Christians selling it but in the last year or two the government has cracked down in them. (They were legal businesses.) You get the picture…
Ade Fegan says
Iraqi Arch Bishop .. says it all .. clearly a very brave man