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 […]
The Briefing – January 2015
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
SAT-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)
The 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 AWARDS
SAT-7 short films win Best Film and Best Actress awards Two 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 […]
SAT-7 short films win Best Film and Best Actress awards
Two 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
“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 […]
Friend to all – November 2014
In Bethlehem still: same beloved town, same dear place and the same fresh breeze. Autumn foliage is slowly sweeping in as leaves of the trees are turning into shades of yellow, orange and magenta. Scarves, jackets, a drizzle and the chill of a cold evening; the irresistible aroma of coffee, biscuits and freshly baked cakes inside every home; matchless hospitality. […]
Should Christians of the Middle East stay or flee?
These are difficult days for Christians in the Middle East. In many parts of the region, Christians are facing tremendous challenges and even life-threatening situations. In Egypt, last summer we saw how Christians became scapegoats for Islamists when they were forced out of power. Still today, petty criminals plot to seize Christian lands and properties in rural areas of Upper […]
Iranian leaders connect to overcome spiritual famine
“My nation is destroyed because of lack of knowledge.” Mansour Khajehpour, the Executive Director of SAT-7 PARS, quotes the prophet Hosea (4:6) to stress the lack of access to the Bible in his birth country of Iran. He and Deputy Executive Nikoo Ordodary had just returned from the SAT-7 PARS teachers conference (October 2014), a bi-annual event designed, not only […]