War and persecution has led to a haemorrhaging of Christians from the Middle East, particularly from Syria and Iraq. A new report highlights what the region stands to lose should Christians continue to leave.
The report, compiled by a trio of Christian charities and a university,
argues that Christians are an essential part of Middle Eastern history
and culture, and that they continue to contribute powerfully to society,
particularly in the fields of education, medicine, science and
engineering.
For Syria and Iraq to lose Christians altogether, the report says,
would not only damage the fabric of the society, but negatively impact
upon the two countries’ economies.
“In the Middle East, the Church is under severe pressure and Christians
face increasing marginalization, though their presence in the region
dates back two millennia,” it says. “Many are choosing to leave in a
desire to ensure a more certain future for their families, but others
remain committed to their countries and their homes. Nonetheless,
Christians in Syria and Iraq continue to contribute to their societies
in a variety of ways, including education, culture and arts, social
affairs, politics, economics, humanitarian assistance and religious
activities.”
Before 2011, Syrian Christians comprised around 8-10% of a 22 million
population, notes the report, though 40-50% of those Christians have
since left. Meanwhile, there were approximately 1.5 million Christians
in Iraq before 2003, but estimates now range from 200,000 to 500,000.
“Approximately 30-35 million Christians worldwide are members of Middle
Eastern church families, but only 15 million of these reside in the
Middle East,” it adds. “While there is a high level of emigration, there
are also many Christians committed to staying in their countries.”
One common concern about the long-term effects of conflict in Syria is that the current diversity of Syria will be lost.
Why are they leaving?
International Christian organisations have been trying to “source the
support needed to stem a growing sense of hopelessness”, it says, but
“increased poverty is one of many factors encouraging emigration”.
Increased marginalisation is another factor. “In many countries
Christians face increasing marginalisation, and perhaps nowhere is this
strain felt as strongly as in Syria and Iraq,” the report states.
“Whoever has the ability to leave is leaving. The Christians have a
greater sense of insecurity because they cannot integrate into the
changing scenery. Other community members could integrate into the new
social scene, but not the Christians.
“Christians who emigrate are at an advantage for integration compared
to other minorities … because they are mostly being resettled into
communities where Christianity is the dominant faith, and also because
of strong diaspora communities already in place, ready to receive them.
So it may be that they will be less likely to return to Syria than
Muslims when and if the conflict ends.”
The report says that Christians in Syria and Iraq have “generally
enjoyed freedom of worship”, but that the current crisis this has
changed.
“In the current changing political landscape, the few Christians who
still live in areas under the control of the so-called Islamic State or
other Islamic groups often have to agree to pay a jizya tax, an Islamic
religious tax imposed on non-Muslims, and face a variety of other
restrictions to church buildings and to engaging in religious
activities,” it says. “In these areas, many Christians have fled or are
fleeing; those who remain have become extremely vulnerable, with their
churches, homes, businesses and very lives at times targeted.”
In Iraq, the report says Christians have an “ancient history” and have
been free to practise their faith and rites, but that “in some less
stable regions … Christian communities are frequently the target of
extremist Islamist attacks, including a number of instances of deadly
church bombings since 2003 and brutal treatment by the so-called Islamic
State.”
What impact?
“One common concern about the long-term effects of conflict in Syria is
that the current diversity of Syria will be lost,” says the report.
“Christians add a diversity of perspectives to public discourse and
thus help encourage critical thinking in society. Without Christians …
there would be little space in Iraq for intellectual curiosity and
critique … Perhaps most distinguishes Christians in Iraq is their high
average level of education.”
The report adds that many Muslims in the Middle East “appreciate
Christians as encouraging secular and liberal thinking, and [say] that
the high representation of Christians in the arts and intellectual
circles may be attributed to the relatively liberal education enjoyed by
many Christians. Many fear, therefore, that the loss of a Christian
influence in Syria could open a greater space for extremism.
“There is a strong tendency among many rebel factions toward
Islamisation and the building of a predominantly Sunni Muslim society,
but many Syrians, including members of the Muslim majority, do not want
this.”
“Christians can be found in most if not all economic sectors ... [they]
have a reputation for quality work, and attracted investment into Syria
during the decade before the current crisis,” says the report, although
it adds that “their economic influence is not as visible as it once
was”.
It says “areas that were managed by Christians were better managed,
they knew better how to use the resources and provide services.”
Meanwhile, “Christian schools are widely acclaimed as the best and most desirable educational institutions,” it says.
The report, Salt of the Earth, was compiled by Open Doors, Middle East Concern, Served and the University of East London.
Courtesy: World Watch Monitor
Photo courtesy: World Watch Monitor
No comments:
Post a Comment