Understanding How to Spread Awareness of Global Issues in the Middle East
Although the world is growing increasingly secular, the growth of Christianity remains remarkable. In the twenty-first century, Christians make up almost a third of the world’s population.
However, according to the Pew Research Center, “Christians have been harassed in more countries than any other religious group and have suffered harassment in many of the heavily Muslim countries of the Middle East and North Africa.”
Most of the states in the Middle East such as Turkey, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, and more- are controlled by Islamic heads. Many of these leaders “gave Christians in the area an ultimatum: convert to Islam, pay the discriminatory ‘protective’ jizya tax leveled on non‐Muslims, or be put to death” (CATO Institute).
Hundreds of thousands of Assyrian Christians were forced to leave their homeland to escape such punishment.
In the nation of Yemen, the open persecution of Christians is a common occurrence. The non-profit organization, Open Doors, cites how the current Yemeni Civil War “has allowed radical Islamic groups to expand their operations in certain areas, leading to Christians being abducted and killed.”
The humanitarian crisis in Yemen is currently at its largest, but because relief is distributed through Islamic organizations, the Christian population is the most vulnerable to starvation.
Such persecution increased after the COVID-19 pandemic struck the world. For example, under the guise of social distancing, Iraqi officials “restricted access to communal housing areas where Christians displaced by ISIS reside,” which led to extremely limited access to humanitarian resources (International Christian Concern).
Algeria has also delayed drafting a new constitution, which would have allowed for religious freedoms and civil rights for Christians.
But How Can I Help?
Spreading awareness is key to providing support for these nations. Many American citizens are unaware of the persecution taking place outside of their country.
According to BBC News, even though “the level and nature of persecution is arguably coming close to meeting the international definition of genocide,” people are unaware because of the current “atmosphere of political correctness.”
Thus, the majority of news of Christian persecution comes from Christian organizations and news sites, which are not a part of mainstream media.
By spreading awareness, people become more aware of the urgency of the situation and are able to support organizations that provide help to Christians, such as:
- Christian Aid Mission
- Christian Refugee Relief
- Aid to the Church in Need (ACNUSA)
- Open Doors Non-Profit
Additionally, spending time volunteering at local shelters or donating your time to organizations addressing the humanitarian crisis in Yemen can go a long way.
Sources
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Edited by Amanda Lee, Director of Research Blogging
