The plight of Christians in the Middle East

Five in the morning, a lazy sun is slowly rising from behind the majestic chain of mountains that separates Lebanon from its neighbour country, gradually illuminating its quiet towns. In a few minutes, the chants of muezzins and the melodic rhythm of church bells will wake the villages and cities of a country that, now more than ever, seems to be the only pseudo-haven left for the Christians of the Middle East. Earlier this month, a church in the Karrad neighbourhood of Baghdad was attacked by suicide bombers: at least 43 worshipers were killed, and even more were injured.

The assault happened on a Sunday night, at around 7 pm, just when mass was starting. The service was at first disturbed by explosions – nothing unusual. Terrorist then penetrated the church, instantly killing two priests who tried to negotiate with them, and took the 100 worshippers hostage.  This inhumane massacre was rapidly condemned by all sides; Muslim communities everywhere denounced this barbaric act, the pope was outraged and called once more for the protection of the Christians of the East, the International community immediately showed its unconditional support for the victims. However, this carnage has opened up old wounds and has raised once more a very bitter question: is there a future for Christians in the birthplace of Christianity? Asking this would be unthinkable in a country like Lebanon, where the Maronite church has as much power as any other political faction: it is even considered an offense to mention the possibility of all Christians leaving the country for good.

It is still, nonetheless, starting to haunt a community that is growing smaller and smaller. In countries like Iraq or Palestine, the fate of the Christian is sealed: leave, hide, or suffer the consequences.  In Saudi, earlier this month, 12 Filipino and a priest were arrested for holding a mass in a country where Christianity is banned. Almost everywhere in that region, Christians are reduced to second class citizens: what was once the birthplace of their religion is now slowly turning into hell on earth for them.  

This is more a result of Western meddling in the Middle East then a proof that co-existence between religions is impossible. Christians seldom had any problems in the region before the first crusades; since then, they have been associated with the western invaders and have been persecuted. More recently, the politics of the Bush administration in the region has aggravated their situation. Such an event in Baghdad would have never happened under Hussein’s regime: back then, even if Christians did not enjoy full freedom of religion, they were still able to attend mass without fear of any repercussions.  

A few decades ago, Christians were still regarded as a valuable asset in the region. Now, they are merely agents of the West, as put by the Islamic State of Iraq, the extremist group that claimed responsibility for the attacks of the church in Baghdad. Even in Lebanon, where Christians hold a considerable amount of power unmatched anywhere in the Middle East, some still do not feel completely secure ever since the civil war that tore the country apart from 1975 to 1990: skirmishes still occur  sometimes. They are very rare, mostly isolated events, but still add to the list of the numerous discriminatory acts suffered by Middle Eastern Christians.  Exile is becoming the only possible option for many Lebanese Christians, regardless of the status that they enjoy in their home country. Similarly, the Christian population in Jordan is gradually leaving the country, even though they are not really subject to any form of discrimination and are represented in the Parliament. They no longer feel at home in that region: they do not identify with the Arabic culture, and feel the weight that their difference brings.

Copts in Egypt are even sometimes offended to be called that, and only consider themselves Egyptian. They actually find themselves closer to the West.  Ironically, no one really knows in the West that Arab Christians actually exists.

A widespread assumption in Europe and the US is that all Arabs are Muslims; they are always surprised and sometimes disturbed to hear of Christians living in that region. So what is left for Arab Christians? It’s hard to say. Their exodus will surely not stop; the majority will still look for a more peaceful life in exile.  Christians in countries like Iraq, Saudi or Palestine will surely take any chance to flee countries where they are not welcomed. The future of the Christian community in that region seems grim. Its last hope remains in countries like Egypt, Lebanon and Jordan. The first step Christians should take in these countries is to stop considering their religion as their identity, and embrace their true origins. They are Middle Eastern, regardless of what religion they belong to. But most importantly, both sides should prove that coexistence is possible and that, in the words of a contemporary French author: “What keeps us from living side by side is just our foolishness, not our differences.”