My family’s relationship with the tiny Mediterranean country of Lebanon is probably as long and as complicated as the history of the country itself, although our collective memories only stretch back a hundred or so years. In the early 1900s, a Lebanese man arrived at Ellis Island in the Upper New York Bay. Fleeing Ottoman Muslim persecution, Boutros Salim Aziz, […]
One family and 100 years of crossing continents – February 2015
The Briefing – February 2015
Some words of Sir Winston Churchill, whose funeral 50 years ago was remembered last month, remain as relevant as ever: “To jaw-jaw is always better than to war-war.” While brutality and war-war continued to dominate news from the MENA region, talks and common sense pulled others back from the brink. News from the Region The war in Syria continues in […]
Dancing With Refugees
What is it like for families to live as refugees without schools or work to go to and only canvas between you and the elements? SAT-7 Lebanon producer Johnny Jalek set out to answer these questions for his viewers when he began planning a filmed a visit to Syrian refugees. Johnny knew that, while many Lebanese have reached out to […]
SAT-7 Founder: Why I Am Not Charlie
As debate continues over the extents and limits of freedom of expression following January’s terrorist attacks in Paris, Terence Ascott, International Chief Executive of SAT-7, gives his views on how to use our freedom wisely – to win hearers rather than lose them. At least 3.5 million people of different faiths and races and leaders of 40 nations marched in […]
Freedom – to do what?
As debate continues over the extents and limits of freedom of expression following January’s terrorist attacks in Paris, Terence Ascott, International Chief Executive of SAT-7, gives his views on how to use our freedom wisely – to win hearers rather than lose them. At least 3.5 million people of different faiths and races and leaders of 40 nations marched in […]
Bleak mid-winter – January 2015
A snow storm is coming, be cautious! Quick, get all the bread in the stores, purchase all the food you can and store everything for the next few days. It is the 7th of January 2015, and it seems that everyone started panicking having heard the news of the imminent snow storm. With no one coming or going, life all […]
Christians and dictators – allies or enemies?
It’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 […]