While conflict in the Holy Land and the fresh involvement of Iran dominates headlines, a war between generals continues to ravage Sudan, and Türkiye expresses an appetite for change in political leadership.
The Middle East found itself on a knife-edge last weekend after Iran launched 300 missiles and drones at Israel – the Islamic Republic’s first direct assault on Israel from its own soil rather than its proxies. The attack was a retaliation for a suspected Israeli attack (1 April) on Iran’s Syrian consulate which killed seven Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps commanders including Iran’s top general in Syria and Lebanon.
Israel and its allies, including the UK, intercepted almost all of the projectiles. Tehran said it had “concluded” its response but threatened worse if Israel struck back. Allies urged Israel to exercise restraint, fearing a war that could spiral out of control with devastating effect for the wider region. Our urgent prayer is that this will not happen. Israel has said it is weighing possibilities.
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The toll of war
This escalation in tensions came after six months of conflict in Gaza since the 7 October Hamas raid killed 1,200 Israelis and took 250 more hostage. The toll on ordinary civilians in Gaza has been terrible. Over 33,000 have lost their lives, more than 60 per cent of homes have been destroyed and around half the population face famine. For Israel, 133 hostages have not been returned and tens of thousands of residents have abandoned border towns with Gaza and Lebanon. Despite a series of foreign-mediated peace talks there has been little sign of agreement that would deliver a ceasefire. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has announced that a date for a much-feared ground operation in Rafah has been set.
One incident that heightened concern over Israel’s prosecution of the war was the Israeli drone killing of seven aid workers, which led to international condemnation and fresh questions over how Israel discriminates between combatants and civilians. Israel accepted responsibility for the seven deaths and dismissed two army commanders involved. The seven victims joined 196 other aid workers – mostly Palestinians – who have been killed in the conflict. Days before this, the International Criminal Court (ICJ) had ordered Israel to allow the “unhindered provision at scale” of aid including food, water, fuel and medical supplies. After the aid worker deaths, Israel announced it would open a crossing into northern Gaza and Israel’s Ashdod port to increase the aid flow.
Another victim of the war has been Al Shifa, Gaza’s largest hospital. Two weeks of fighting left this in ruins. News came, too, that the nearby Gaza Training Centre of Dar Kalima University, a Christian foundation and a centre for culture, art and design, had been flattened. Theologian and university president Dr Mitri Raheb, said, “Once a place for creativity and hope is now in ruins”. He promised, however, that the work would continue, saying “We are committed to our people in Gaza”.
Subdued Easter
Some Christians in the MENA celebrated Western Easter on 31 March, while others will mark Eastern Orthodox Easter which falls on 5 May. This year’s Easter celebrations across the Holy Land were subdued. In Gaza City, Christians who have found refuge in the Holy Family Church brought palm branches to the Palm Sunday service. One of their priests said the congregation has been “enduring relentless Calvary for months”. SAT-7 broadcast Good Friday and Easter Sunday services live from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bethlehem. The church’s pastor, Dr Munther Isaac, told Al Jazeera English: “In Palestine our Good Friday has lasted way too long, but Easter reminds us that the final word belongs to God… Our belief in the God of the Resurrection means that ultimately goodness, righteousness, justice will prevail”. There were few foreign pilgrims in Jerusalem and most West Bank Christians were denied access under tightened security rules.
Over on SAT-7’s Turkish channel, a service from the Church of Santa Maria in Istanbul was broadcast live on Easter Sunday. The church was attacked by two gunmen during a Sunday service on 28 January; one man was killed in the incident. SAT-7 TÜRK wanted to broadcast from the church at Easter to show solidarity with the congregation after such a traumatic event.
SAT-7’s Easter programming is especially important for those in countries where they are unable to celebrate openly because of persecution and restrictions on religious freedom. This message from Farshid in Iran highlights the importance for isolated believers of being able to receive God’s Word in the privacy and safety of their homes: “Greetings dear brothers and sisters. As we approach Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday, please pray and intercede on my behalf that the old me will be crucified with the Lord, and rise again on the third day with my Lord as a new person. I ask Jesus to guard my heart every day… When I hear the Word of God in my home, it is like a beautiful scent fills the place, so I love God’s Word to be heard in my home every day. Thank you, dear friends, for all your endeavours.” Read more about SAT-7’s Easter programmes here.
Election upset
Nationwide local elections in Türkiye revealed deep dissatisfaction with the party that has dominated Turkish politics for over two decades. President Erdogan’s AKP (Justice and Development Party) won only 35 out of 81 municipalities and saw opposition CHP (Republican People’s Party) candidates win the mayoral contests in five of the nation’s largest cities, including the most influential: Istanbul and Ankara. In Istanbul, where Erdogan himself rose to power, Ekrem Imamoğlu defeated an AKP candidate for the second time, despite President Erdogan’s prominence in city rallies to retake the city. Commentators said Imamoğlu’s victory would give him hope of winning the next presidential election in 2028.
As the CHP celebrated its best result since 1977, claiming 38 per cent of the national vote, the AKP lost the popular vote for the first time, gaining 35 per cent, down from 44 per cent in 2019. While some Turks are keen for the country to veer away from Erdogan’s Islam-influenced politics, years of very high inflation (which reached 85.5 per cent in October 2022) are seen as the biggest cause of discontent with the status quo.
Displacement crisis
It is now one year since rival military leaders, General Al-Burhan and Mohamed Dagalo, plunged Sudan into a disastrous civil war. The fighting between the Sudan Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces has created the world’s worst displacement crisis, scattering 8 million people within Sudan and across its borders. Earlier this month, a coalition of anti-war groups known as Tagadum (“Progress”) and comprising political parties, civil society and professional unions, met in Ethiopia, chaired by former Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok. From two days of meetings they outlined a vision for peace that would include a comprehensive ceasefire, inclusive negotiations and regional monitoring. However, Sudan’s acting president, General Al-Burhan, and his officials were in no mood to listen. Public prosecutors filed criminal charges against coalition leaders and Al-Burhan gave a message to the nation saying there would be no return to the pre-war era. This has been seen as a rejection of both former President Al-Bashir’s Islamising rule and the three-year transition towards civilian government.
As in many conflicts around the globe, women and children are disproportionately affected by the war in Sudan. Women are at risk of gender-based violence, particularly those who have been displaced, and around 14 million children are in now need of humanitarian assistance. SAT-7’s Easter appeal drew attention to the plight of Sudanese women, and showed how SAT-7 is helping to tell their stories of faith. Read more here.
Hope for women
Fresh moves are under way to improve women’s rights and equality in Morocco. Twenty years ago, campaigning by women’s groups achieved major reforms to the country’s traditional Family Code. This 2004 Family Law gave women rights to divorce, to child custody and to marry without a guardian’s approval. It also imposed restrictions on polygamy, raised the legal age of marriage from 15 to 18 (with exceptions), and outlawed sexual harassment. Today women in Morocco play an increasing role in public life. Girls’ enrolment in primary education is 100 per cent and growing numbers of women lead business ventures and hold political positions (17 per cent of parliamentary seats went to women in 2021).
King Mohammed lV, the country’s highest religious and political authority, is backing further reform. He has described the 2004 law as “a major step forward” but said “there are many hurdles which stand in the way of completing this process.” Child marriage, for example, continues with 19,000 cases in 2021. It is unclear whether the new proposals will tackle the most controversial area of family law: that of inheritance rights. Existing law (in line with Islamic law) allows women to inherit only half a man’s share. Where there is no male heir, other male relatives often claim a share to the disadvantage of a man’s widow or daughters. Since the 2021 defeat of the previous Islamic-leaning government, religious influence is waning and equality campaigners see this as a moment for legislation to become consistent with Morocco’s amended 2011 constitution that grants equal rights to men and women.
Stoning to return in Afghanistan?
Sadly, the dire situation for women in Afghanistan only deteriorates. Near the end of last month the nation’s state television broadcast a voice message from the Taliban’s Supreme Leader in which he promised to reinstate the public flogging and stoning to death of women for adultery. Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada described this as part of the Taliban’s battle against western democracy. A female former civil servant told The Telegraph how constricted life in Afghanistan has become since the Taliban’s return in 2021. “We, the women, are living in prison,” she said, “And the Taliban are making it smaller for us every passing day.” Afsoon, a young female SAT-7 viewer, got in touch to say: “If only I had wings, I would fly to a place where I would be allowed to go to school and study, because here in Afghanistan I am not allowed to study.” Pray for Afghanistan’s women and ask that the threatened punishments will not go ahead.
