A huge thank you to everyone who has been praying for SAT-7’s Egypt studio following the action by the country’s censorship police in October. Following the return of all the confiscated equipment on 28 January, the charges against director Farid Samir have now been officially dropped and the case closed. The staff in Egypt are of course extremely relieved, and […]
Christians of all denominations have celebrated the reopening of a Protestant church only 50 kilometres from where churches have been bombed by so-called Islamic State (IS). Located just 30 kilometres from the Syrian border, the Protestant Church in Mardin, south-eastern Turkey, rang to the praises of a packed congregation some 55 years after persecution and migration forced its closure. Local […]
“War-war” continued apace in Syria as “jaw-jaw” in Geneva was put on hold. Meanwhile, excitement in Tehran contrasted with a sombre mood in Cairo on the fifth anniversary of Egypt’s revolution. News from the region A new series of meetings in Geneva that had brought most parties fighting in Syria to the negotiating table was suspended on Wednesday (3 February) […]
BREAKING NEWS Yesterday afternoon we heard the wonderful news that all the equipment confiscated by the authorities in October from our Egypt Office was returned. We know many people worldwide have been praying for this moment and for the staff in Egypt. Thank you for all your support in prayer during this difficult period. Please join us and the Arabic […]
A turbulent year ended and a new one began with a sharp escalation of tensions between Saudi Arabia and its chief rival, Iran. This month’s briefing looks at the year ahead. The year ahead for the region The New Year began at full speed. The execution of Nimr al-Nimr, a leading Shiite cleric in Saudi Arabia, prompted international condemnation with […]
For the Middle East, 2015 has been another year of head-spinning complexities. In the conflicts and humanitarian crises, Christians have sometimes been the first to be attacked, but have often given the lead in responding to need. This month’s Briefing recaps the year that was. In January we look to see what 2016 might bring. News from the region In […]
Another eventful month saw Russia and Iran join the Syria talks table, a shock election result in Turkey, and a thumbs down for ideas of an autonomous Christian region in Iraq News from the region It has been a year of surprises in Turkey and last week brought the latest. No one, including the ruling AK Party itself, expected a […]
A British intelligence officer has reportedly said he stopped counting the complex layers that form current Middle East tensions after he got to seven. A further combustible layer was added this month by Russia’s military intervention in Syria. News from the Region Russia’s entrance into the ever-thickening complexity of the Syria war has put everyone on edge. President Putin has […]
Four years after Syria erupted into civil war, the domino effects of Syria’s collapse took centre stage in Europe as the refugee crisis reached new levels. News from the region Syria’s civilian exodus rolled on as the country’s troubles continued to proliferate. Last week, Russian jets were spotted in the country, as both Iran and Russia carried on backing the […]
The latest twist in the ever-turning Middle East has been Turkey’s sudden engagement in the war against Islamic State and an unexpected renewal of conflict with Kurdish separatists. Iran’s proposed renewal of relations with the West has also put the cat among the pigeons. News from the region The deal reached on Iran’s nuclear development programme continues to stir a […]