The people of the Middle East often seem to have more than their share of the world’s tragedies. Some make it to the news, others barely, but all leave deep scars and questions of whether their lives have value, or whether they and their families have a safe and prosperous future. Last weekend, a fuel tanker explosion at an Iran–Afghanistan […]
The Briefing’s Middle East analyst outlines the factors that will shape the next year in the region. Another year starts with hopes, fears, anxieties and prayers. It is almost impossible to remember that last year began with the US strike against a major Iranian defence figure, Qassim Soleimani, which led many to think that 2020 could bring war with massive […]
After an extraordinary year of hardship and isolation, a SAT-7 ARABIC Christmas special will join Christians across the Middle East and North Africa together in joy and service to others. Families from Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria will participate from their homes, in a celebration that will give aid to struggling and homeless families in Lebanon. “During hard […]
SAT-7 KIDS viewer Anthony recently called in to popular children’s programme Bible Heroes to share a prayer in which he brought all his concerns to God: Hi, Karen and Elie, how are you? I’m Anthony Attia from Syria. Today I want to pray for all the needy and the water crisis happening here in Al Hasakah. Lord Jesus, if you […]
Middle East leaders and peoples have been as interested in the outcome of the US presidential elections as have those in the West. Although it is too early to see what a Biden policy towards the Middle East will be, the goals and policies of US administrations for the region affect the lives of millions. It is expected that Biden […]
A long-contested enclave on the fringe of the Middle East hit the headlines this month as a new upsurge of fighting claimed at least 300 lives in Nagorno–Karabakh. This mountainous enclave (known as Artsakh by Armenians) neighbours Iran, is near neighbour to Turkey, Russia and Georgia, and sits between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Despite its majority Armenian population, it was made an autonomous zone within Azerbaijan when both states came under Russian control in the 1920s. There have been cycles of clashes since the collapse of the Soviet Union and a 1988 decision by the enclave to become as an independent republic. Full-scale fighting between 1992 and 1994 killed tens of […]
A young Syrian woman who grew up with SAT-7 KIDS is living proof of the channel’s lasting positive impact. Sarah, who devotes her time to serving children, credits the Christian broadcaster with helping her develop her faith and strong values – even as she spent her entire adolescence in a warzone. Everything I do today, I learned from SAT-7 KIDS.” […]
Syria desperately needs its Christian community, but they must be active in witness and service wherever they have opportunity. In a one-hour interview for SAT-7, Revd Joseph Kassab, President of the Supreme Council of Evangelical Churches of Syria and Lebanon, appealed to Syrian believers to remain in their homeland as a “sign of hope” despite their falling numbers. Revd Kassab was speaking as Syria, already ravaged by nine years of war, is now battling the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2011 Syria’s estimated Christian population […]
Like a house built on sand that barely survives a storm, those lacking stability have been most badly shaken by 2020’s global pandemic. Refugees, people with mental health problems, domestic violence victims, and millions of daily-wage workers are among those worst affected. Several SAT-7 programmes have been raising the profile of these groups and trying to assist them where possible. […]
With war coming ever closer to their home in Syria, Revd Wael Haddad and his wife, Maram Nafe Tahhan, turned to God for guidance and began seeking to migrate to the Gulf. But every door they tried suddenly closed, until God intervened at the eleventh hour. Wael and Maram told their story on a special edition of the SAT-7 […]
