Christians and dictators – allies or enemies?
January 2015It’s an old but live question: should Christians give their support to dictators and regimes with dubious human rights records if that seems the safest option for their own community, or should they join with those voices demanding change – even if it may mean worse conditions for themselves? What would you do? From the perspective of those facing harsh […]
MENA Christians: Long history and present plight (2)
Over 20 centuries, Christianity in the Middle East has developed into varied Church communities in response to multiple challenges from inside and out. Hugh Wybrew completes his quick overview. Read part one of this series Eastern Church members join with the Roman Catholic Church (15th-20th centuries) Later, at various times, some members of all the Eastern Churches entered into communion […]
The Briefing – January 2015
Last month we summarised the major developments in the MENA in 2014. In this Briefing we look at six key questions to highlight the issues and concerns we expect to play a major role in 2015. The year ahead The biggest question for 2015 is the ISIS/Islamic State, Syria, Iraq triangle. While analysts now forecast a decreasing reach for […]
A new spirit for a new year
During Egypt’s celebrations of Christmas and commemorations of the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (3 January), Rt Revd Mouneer Anis, Anglican Bishop of Egypt with North Africa and the Horn of Africa, was struck by signs of a new spirit of friendship between Muslims and Christians. Here is his new year letter: Dear Friends, As I was preparing for the […]
Christmas Schedule Offers Middle East a Sackful of Peace and Goodwill
December 2014SAT-7’s Middle East TV channels have prepared a packed schedule of programmes designed to deliver a message of peace and good will to viewers in some of the world’s most troubled countries this Christmas. Specially recorded interviews and footage from Christian refugees in Erbil, Northern Iraq will be part of the SAT-7 ARABIC programmes, following visits made there last week […]
MENA Christians: Long history and present plight (Part 1)
December 2014The history of the Christian Church in the Middle East and North Africa with its numerous internal disputes and external influences is complex, as all the present conflicts in the region have underlined. In a two-part article, Revd Canon Hugh Wybrew offers an overview of the major events of the past 20 centuries which have resulted in the multi-faceted Christian […]
SAT-7 short films win Best Film and Best Actress awards
November 2014Two short films produced by SAT-7, A Dress and Braids, have won awards at film festivals in Egypt and Mauritania. Both films promote women’s rights and raise awareness of social challenges they face in Middle East and North African societies. “In the light of SAT-7’s mission of defending the weak and being a voice to the voiceless, we produced these […]
Festivals galvanise ministry to region in despair – November 2014
November 2014“Jesus… Jesus… Jesus…” the song that was born at the historic prayer night on September 11, 2011 has become the theme song of any large Christian event in the country. The two largest annual Christian events were held in October this year. Thousands of Christians throughout Egypt anxiously anticipated attending Count it Right and Onething. These are two massive church […]