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What is Christian Persecution in Southwest Asia/North Africa? An educational thread:
Major TW // violence, destruction, mass murder etc.
This is a sensitive subject but it must be taught. The ignorance, dismissal, and denial towards it is extremely appalling.
This is a sensitive subject but it must be taught. The ignorance, dismissal, and denial towards it is extremely appalling.
Pervasive persecution of Christians, sometimes amounting to genocide, is ongoing in parts of Southwest Asia/North Africa (known as SWANA)
Populations of Christians in many parts of SWANA have decreased over the past 100 years or so.
Populations of Christians in many parts of SWANA have decreased over the past 100 years or so.
Because most countries of SWANA are Islamic, Christians end up being a very small minority in the region.
(DISCLAIMER: This thread is in no way supposed to insinuate islamaphobia, not all muslim people represent actions of muslim groups or governments)
(DISCLAIMER: This thread is in no way supposed to insinuate islamaphobia, not all muslim people represent actions of muslim groups or governments)
Groups of Christians in SWANA include Armenians, Assyrians, Maronites, Copts, Chaldeans, and more.
Armenian Christian persecution:
Dating back to the Ottoman Empire, Armenians are among the largest Christian population in SWANA and have been heavily targeted for over a century.
The Armenian genocide is a prime example of this: 1.5 million Armenians slaughtered during WW1.
Dating back to the Ottoman Empire, Armenians are among the largest Christian population in SWANA and have been heavily targeted for over a century.
The Armenian genocide is a prime example of this: 1.5 million Armenians slaughtered during WW1.
The recent war also derives from the hatred of Armenians from Turks, rooting back to Armenians being a Christian minority.
In Artsakh (Karabakh), their churches were destroyed as a result of the war. The goal was to ethnically cleanse Christian Armenians from their native land.
In Artsakh (Karabakh), their churches were destroyed as a result of the war. The goal was to ethnically cleanse Christian Armenians from their native land.
(For context, Azerbaijan is a Turkic country — and Turkey helped them massively during the war. The Turkish president promised to carry out and finish the genocide beforehand, and has also stated Azerbaijan as one nation two states)
Even thought the war ended, Armenian captives are still being held in Azerbaijan and are being beheaded, skinned, and tortured.
Assyrian Christian Persecution:
Much like the Armenians, the Assyrians have historically been a target due to their religion. The Ottoman Empire also conducted an Assyrian Genocide between 1914-1920 killing around 275,000 Assyrians.
Much like the Armenians, the Assyrians have historically been a target due to their religion. The Ottoman Empire also conducted an Assyrian Genocide between 1914-1920 killing around 275,000 Assyrians.
For Assyrian Christians in present-day Syria and Iraq, religious persecution has been a constant for much of modern history.
The Islamic State (IS) continues to target Assyrians everyday with militia, declining their populations those countries.
The Islamic State (IS) continues to target Assyrians everyday with militia, declining their populations those countries.
Maronite Christian Persecution:
In the Ottoman Empire, Maronites were also a large target to the Turks, many were killed and many had to flee from their homes.
Maronites now reside in Lebanon and they’ve been divided in the country for being a Christian minority.
In the Ottoman Empire, Maronites were also a large target to the Turks, many were killed and many had to flee from their homes.
Maronites now reside in Lebanon and they’ve been divided in the country for being a Christian minority.
Though built as a Christian state, Lebanon has become less Christian over time.
They’ve been purposely excluded from being represented in their country causing a decline in their population.
They’ve been purposely excluded from being represented in their country causing a decline in their population.
Coptic Christian Persecution:
The persecution of Copts is a historical issue in Egypt.
Much like the other minorities, the Ottoman Empire contributed in the persecution of Coptic Christians, including closing and demolishing churches and forced conversions to Islam.
The persecution of Copts is a historical issue in Egypt.
Much like the other minorities, the Ottoman Empire contributed in the persecution of Coptic Christians, including closing and demolishing churches and forced conversions to Islam.
Copts have cited instances of persecution in recent years, as well as a failure by the Egyptian government to effectively investigate properly and prosecute those responsible.
Since 2011 hundreds of Egyptian Copts have been killed in sectarian clashes, and many homes, Churches and businesses have been destroyed.
The abduction and disappearance of Coptic Christian women and girls also remains a serious ongoing problem.
The abduction and disappearance of Coptic Christian women and girls also remains a serious ongoing problem.
Chaldean Christian Persecution:
Alongside Assyrians, Chaldeans were also massacred by the Ottoman Empire during WW1.
Chaldeans can mainly be found in Iraq but also have a heavily declining population due to persecution.
Alongside Assyrians, Chaldeans were also massacred by the Ottoman Empire during WW1.
Chaldeans can mainly be found in Iraq but also have a heavily declining population due to persecution.
Like other Christian minorities, Chaldeans suffered in Iraq especially during the Islamic radicalization of society in the wake of the March 2003 invasion.
The recent spread of ISIS forces across Northern Iraq has resulted in widespread displacement of the community.
The recent spread of ISIS forces across Northern Iraq has resulted in widespread displacement of the community.
Many of those Chaldean families displaced by the ISIS advance are now living in Iraqi Kurdistan where they face difficulties in finding employment & have many restrictions.
Chaldean Christians face ongoing discrimination, harassment by militia members, kidnappings and attacks.
Chaldean Christians face ongoing discrimination, harassment by militia members, kidnappings and attacks.
I’ve only briefly discussed over a centuries worth of persecution that Christian SWANA minorities have faced and are still facing.
Hatred for Christians in this area date back to the birth of the Christian religion.
Hatred for Christians in this area date back to the birth of the Christian religion.
Please PLEASE educate yourself about these minorities outside of this thread. The international community and especially the western world chooses to ignore, dismiss, and DENY the persecution Christians in the SWANA region face.
Don’t choose to ignore this simply because it doesn’t fit your agenda — the agenda that hating all Christians because you believe all of them are White western evangelicals. It’s disgusting.
Please please share and spread this thread because the normalization of ignoring this is dreadful especially for the members of these minority communities.
Links to help out will be added below.
Links to help out will be added below.
