Note: The following is a book review of The Last Supper: The Plight of Christians in Arab Lands, by Klaus Wivel. A shorter version of the review first appeared in the Middle East Quarterly (Fall, 2016, vol. 23, no. 4). Danish journalist Klaus Wivel is to be commended for shedding light on an important but ignored topic, the plight of present-day, Arabic-speaking … [Read more...]
Saudis Arrest and Deport 27 Christians for ‘Conducting Christian Prayers’
Coptic Solidarity Saudi Arabian officials recently arrested 27 Christians—among them several women and children—for the crime of "conducting Christian prayers" and being "in possession of Bibles," reports Arab media. The group of Christians, most if not all of whom were Lebanese nationals, were celebrating a Virgin Mary feast day when authorities stormed their … [Read more...]
Maronite Church Invaded, Hole Dug by Altar
In late February, "unknown persons” invaded Mar Elias, an ancient Maronite church in Bekaa, Lebanon. Along with damaging one of the church’s windows, they destroyed a portion of the flooring, as they dug a large hole near the altar (see pictures below). According to Maronite Bishop Joseph Mouwad, much of the church’s sacred items were left intact and not stolen. Instead, … [Read more...]
Lebanon: University Students Protest Appointment of Christian Director
Tripoli, Feb. 3 - A number of students closed off the entrance of the College of Business Administration in Tripoli, Lebanon, calling for the immediate resignation of the newly appointed director of the school, Antoine Tanus. His crime? He's a Christian. In the words of the National News Agency, the students are protesting "over the hiring of a Christian director to manage … [Read more...]
Lebanon: Church Bombed
Once an ancient Christian center, and until recently the only Christian-majority nation in the Middle East, Lebanon is the latest country in the region to experience an attack on a church. Last Monday, a firebomb attack on Mar Zakhya Cathedral in Ajaltoun, took place at 6:30 pm. An unidentified attacker targeted the reception area of the newly built cathedral of the town’s … [Read more...]