Middle East Christians Dwindle as Anti-Christian Hate Crimes Rise Globally

Participants from world-wide Christian organizations and churches in Strasbourg, France on September 9, 2014. They met to discuss ways for church groupings to tackle Christian persecution.

Photo by Kim Cain

Anti-Christian hate crimes are escalating globally, says the latest report issued by Aid to the Church in Need UK. The study shows that oppression or persecution of Christians has increased in 75 percent of the countries surveyed in the last two years. The report also shows that Christian numbers in the Middle East have plummeted over the years as they are impacted by conflicts.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) also reports that hate crimes, including graffiti and vandalism in places of worship, are up as well. These included the desecration of cemeteries and arson attacks against churches.

Of particular concern is the plight of Christians in the Middle East where, in several countries, once flourishing communities risk disappearing because of mass migration due to various reasons, ranging from Islamic fundamentalism to discrimination, wars and economic woes.

According to the report, since the foundation of the State of Israel, in 1948, the number of Christians in the Palestinian territories has fallen from 18 percent to under 1 percent of the population, due to ongoing Israeli-Palestinian tensions and economic difficulties.

The Catholic report said the emigration of Iraqi Christians continues today, despite the military defeat of Daesh (ISIS), due to the economic crisis, discriminations and ongoing political instability and insecurity, and cites the primate of the Chaldean Church, Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, who says this exodus is unprecedented and may be the end of the Christian community in the Middle East.

– Ecumenical News