Once a world leader in medicine, mathematics and science, the Arabic-speaking world today struggles to meet the education, health and societal needs of its citizens. Brutal conflicts have left millions out of school and have increased pressure on host countries that are running shift systems for local and refugee children. But the “education gaps” in the region aren’t only the […]
The Briefing – July 2017
After three years of waiting and nine months of relentless conflict, the fight against so-called Islamic State (IS) has seen two major breakthroughs in the last couple of weeks. News from the Church in the region, meanwhile, revealed differing pressures and examples of believers showing great perseverance and responding to adversity with compassion and careful reflection. Iraq’s second city […]
Breaking the cycle of “an eye for an eye”
As the Middle East Christian community faces increasing attacks, SAT-7 Founder and International CEO, Dr Terence Ascott, grapples with a question that is asked more and more often – how should believers respond to violence? The recent brutal gun attacks and suicide bombings in Egypt have left many of our brothers and sisters there grieving, despairing, angry, and feeling vulnerable. SAT-7 plays a unique role in […]
The Briefing – June 2017
Just when we might have thought the Middle East had seen it all in terms of possible crises, a move by several members of the Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC) to bring the small but ambitious country of Qatar into line has triggered another. After last month’s visit to Saudi Arabia by President Trump of the USA, and his apparent support […]
“BRIDGES” GIVES A VOICE TO SUFFERING COPTIC CHRISTIANS
As Egypt’s Coptic community was left reeling from yet another deadly attack, SAT-7 ARABIC’s current affairs programme Bridges presented a vital Christian viewpoint on the threat believers face from extremists. The show aired on 27 May, the day after 29 Christians were killed in a violent gun attack on a bus travelling from Minya province to a monastery. The gunmen demanded […]
Home-based discipleship in Morocco
It isn’t easy to define “religious freedom” in Morocco. On the one hand, the Moroccan Constitution “guarantees the free exercise of worship for all”. Foreign Christian residents can attend officially recognised Catholic, Evangelical, Anglican or Orthodox churches, and Morocco’s 3,000 to 4,000 Jews generally go about their lives freely. On the other hand, the law does not allow Morocco’s estimated […]
Pope Francis visits Egypt: “Important for all Egyptians not only Christians”
SAT-7, 27 April 2017 Egyptian Christians look forward to welcoming Pope Francis to their country this Friday 28 April with eager anticipation, says SAT-7 Arabic Channels Programme Director, George Makeen. “With the current developments in Egypt and several attacks on Christian churches and properties, this visit is very important to Christians and to others too,” Makeen said. The recent incidents […]
Egypt: The cry of a Church under pressure
Population: 94.7 million; 90% Muslim; 10% Christian Literacy: 82.2% men; 65.4% women A two-day visit to Egypt by Pope Francis (28-29 April 2017) was arranged to bring a message of unity and give hope to the country’s Christians, still grieving after several church bombings. SAT-7 will cover the visit, including a communion involving an expected 21,000 people, and a visit […]
Turkey: The cry of isolated believers
Minority report Population: 77 million; 99.5% Muslim; 0.5% Christian These are difficult times for Christians in Turkey. The country has suffered an increase in terrorist attacks in major cities and been in an extended state of emergency following the attempted coup in July 2016. The far-reaching repercussions included mass sackings, arrests and the closure of hundreds of media outlets. The […]
Palm Sunday bombing: survivors and clergy reflect
On Palm Sunday, midway through a special service for the start of Holy Week, a suicide bomber detonated his device, killing 27 worshippers at St George’s Coptic Orthodox Church in the Nile Delta city of Tanta. SAT-7 field reports producer Ramy Samir spoke to eyewitnesses at the scene and the channel’s Egypt studio broadcast a programme of reflections and prayer […]