The spirit behind the 2011 Arab protests that saw the ousting of old rulers was alive and kicking again this month. When the ailing president of Algeria announced he was going to run for a fifth term in office, nationwide strikes and protests erupted. Since a stroke in 2013, President Bouteflika, a veteran of Algeria’s war of independence, has made […]
In Sudan, a country often ranked among the world’s worst for gender equality, many women are deprived of their rights. Now, a new SAT-7 ARABIC show is offering them a platform for their voices to be heard. Hosted by three female Sudanese presenters, Woman and Mirror is giving women hope by showing them their true worth – reflected not in […]
The first ever visit by a Catholic Pope to the Arabian Peninsula gave an important boost to religious coexistence in the region this month. During a three-day trip to Abu Dhabi (UAE), Pope Francis met with the Crown Prince, took part in a two-day “Conference on Human Fraternity” attended by 600 religious leaders and opinion shapers, and led a mass […]
While calm is beginning to return to parts of the region, the challenges of rebuilding politically, socially and physically are deep. Meanwhile, key regional players like Saudi Arabia and Iran face new political and economic pressures that could restrain their influence. The year began with attempts by US defence staff and international allies to come to terms with President Trump’s […]
A Christian choir asked to perform at an inter-governmental meeting in Sudan in order to promote peace and goodwill have appeared on SAT-7 ARABIC for the second time. Viewers of the first appearance by Sudan’s Candlelight choir deluged the channel with enthusiastic comments, delighted by the multiracial choir’s lilting praises. Keep on Singing producer Andrew Gamal therefore had no hesitation […]
Just when we might have thought the Middle East had seen it all in terms of possible crises, a move by several members of the Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC) to bring the small but ambitious country of Qatar into line has triggered another. After last month’s visit to Saudi Arabia by President Trump of the USA, and his apparent support […]
This Easter, as we remembered the death and resurrection of our Saviour, world events continued to present us with the sharp contrasts of suffering and hope – the darkness of the present moment and the promise that all things will be made new in Christ. It’s a message that is more important than ever for the people of the Middle […]
The region continues to see seismic shifts, the campaign against Islamic State, persecution of Christians, and worrying signs of famine in Yemen. The fighting in Syria grows ever more complex. Turkish troops and Turkish-backed groups recaptured the border town of Al-Bab from so-called Islamic State (IS), also achieving Turkey’s aim of interrupting the line of territory held by Kurdish forces along its […]
Basheer from Sudan moved to his own apartment just to watch SAT-7 and worship his Lord freely Watching SAT-7 has become a companion for him in his walk with God. “I seized the opportunity of having five days off work to read the Bible that I had borrowed from a friend. The Word of God refreshed my soul, so I […]
After two lengthy civil wars, Sudan’s Christian and animist southern states finally parted company with Khartoum’s Arab-Islamist government in July 2011. But the consequences for Christian witness in Sudan itself have been severe. Wissam al-Saliby, Development and Partner Relations Manager at Arab Baptist Theological Seminary (ABTS), Lebanon, unpacks these and explains why it remains vital to support Christian ministry there. […]
