Christian world

Christians of Tripoli not intimidated by ISIS graffiti

Just as Father Samir Hajjar concluded his Sunday sermon at the Syriac Orthodox Church in Tripoli, he received a call asking him to step outside. Huddled around the outer wall of the parish, members of the Lebanese security forces drew Hajjar’s attention to freshly scrawled graffiti. “The Islamic State [of Iraq and Greater Syria] is Coming,” he read.

“I was very surprised when I saw it,” Hajjar told The Daily Star.

Syrian Orthodox village under threat of destruction

The “Jabhat al-Nusra” extremist terrorist group has already for a month been besieging the Syrian village of Muhradah also known as Mhardeh, 25 kilometres from the city of Hamah—the majority of its population being Orthodox Christian, report the news agencies.

The Christian village in central Syria, surrounded by takfirist militants on three sides, has been living under threat of physical destruction for a month now. The village was deprived of electricity by the extremists as early as July 24 when an “al-Nusra” shell hit the local thermal power-station. 43 people, including women and children, fell victim to the subsequent shellings. Should there be another siege, the village is threatened with a local humanitarian catastrophe, experts are convinced.

Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II Visits His Excellency Mr. Karim Senjari – Minister of Interior in the Region of Kurdistan

On August 25, 2014, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II visited His Excellency Mr. Karim Senjari, Minister of Interior in the Region of Kurdistan. His Holiness was accompanied by their Eminences Mor Nicodemus Daoud Sharaf, Archbishop of Mosul and Environs, and Mor Dionysius Jean Kawak, Patriarchal Office Director.

His Holiness demanded shelter for the refugees and displaced Christians that are currently homeless in the region of Kurdistan. He emphasized the humanitarian aspect of the crisis and the necessity to take care of the refugees and preserve their dignity.

Hungary Urges International Community to Save Iraq’s Assyrian Christians

Hungary proposes that the matter should be included in next week’s agenda of NATO’s North-Atlantic Council, Szijjarto said. Hungary will also initiate that the European Council should discuss the issue at its next session, he added.

Hungary’s foreign ministry has decided to put together a contingent of aid, which will be delivered to Iraq in cooperation with the US, the state secretary said.

Assyrians Demonstrate Worldwide Against ISIS Persecution

Thousands of Assyrians held demonstration in major world cities today to support the Assyrians Christians of Mosul, who have been completely driven from the city by the Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS). Demonstrations were held in Sydney, London, New York, Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Jonkoping (Sweden) and other cities.

France Offers Asylum To Iraqi Christians

France says it is ready to welcome Christians from northern Iraq who have been told by Islamic extremists ruling the region to either convert to Islam, pay a religious tax, or face death.

France’s foreign and interior ministers said in a joint statement in Paris on July 28 that “we are ready, if they wish, to facilitate their asylum on our soil.”