Which is the only country in the Middle east where Christians are not persecuted for their religious beliefs?

Question

Palestinian Greek-Orthodox minister Naim Khoury, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Bethlehem, claimed that the only country in the Middle east where Christians are not persecuted for their religious beliefs is Israel.

He described how his church was repeatedly firebombed by Islamic jihadists.

He also asked why the European Union has refused to defend Christians in Lebanon and the Palestinian Authority.

According to Khoury there is a growing anti-Semitism and sentiments of anti-Christianity in the Middle East and in the Palestinian territories in particular. Regarding Bethlehem, he stated “I think maybe two percent [are Christians]." “I can see around us in the whole area [that] Christians are leaving.”

The Muslim apologists are having a field day on this one. But they cannot deny facts. Although they try.

The Quran goes so far as to state: "O you who believe (Muslims)! Do not take the Jews and the Christians for friends; they are friends of each other; and whosoever among you takes them for a friend, then surely shall become one of their number; surely Allah does not guide (those Jewish and Christian) people." - Sura 5:51

So why would anyone be surprised that the good Muslims are firebombing their Christian neighbors?

The real question should be why the world tolerates Islamic terrorism--first in the Middle east and then worldwide.

International Christian Concern confirms the Muslim persecution of Arabs under the Palestinian Authority. See http://www.persecution.org/suffering/countryinfodetail.php?countrycode=36&PHPSESSID=de36de899c275726a328c13ce8ba8152

Answer 1

Here are some examples of the disgraceful persecution of Arab Christians by Arab Muslims in the Palestinian Authority and other Arab places:

1. PA: The Christian rate of emigration from the Territories has accelerated and the Christian population of the Territories has dropped from 15% in 1950 to barely 2% today. Many fear that soon few if any Christians will be left in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, or in Nazareth, though they once were Christian majority cities.

2. PA: Muslim conversion to Christianity is a crime in the PA. Muhammed Bak’r, a Muslim convert to Christianity, was jailed and tortured in a PA prison for distributing Bibles to Muslims. His hands were tied behind his back to a rope connected to the ceiling and he was left hanging there for several days.”

3. Jordan: Muslim women are often killed by their own families for marrying Christian men. A court in Jordan ordered a Christian widow sent to jail because she refused to hand over her two young children to be raised as Muslims.

4. Lebanon: Once over half the Lebanese population, Lebanese Christians now make up 30% of the population. Civil war, persecution and anti-Christian violence have led to mass Christian emigration.

Answer 2

Christians can live in peace in Islamic countries as long as they SHUT UP about their beliefs. The Egyptian answerer failed to tell you that the that Christian preaching is illegal, that Christian organizations are limited to social work, that it's very difficult for Christians to obtain permits to build churches, and that Muslim converts to Christianity are imprisoned or tortured. And this is only an example of discrimination. Christians are actively persecuted in Pakistan, Indonesia, and Sudan, persecuted as in attacked by armed militias like the Janjaweed. All over the Islamic world, Christianity is decreasing. In Lebanon it fell from 60% to 40% in 40 years and 15% to 6-10% in Egypt, and that's Christianity's two former strongholds here. In Iraq Christians were 1.4 million in the 1980s and 800,000 today.
The Jordanian is also incorrect. Christians are 6% of the population, not 12, according to Wikipedia.
As to Israel, I would say you're absolutely right. That country has a better record with regards to freedom of religion. Even a Muslim visitor was amazed, look here. http://www.aish.com/jewishissues/israeldiary/A_Muslim_in_a_Jewish_Land.asp

Answer 3

Muslims and Christians have been living in Peace for hundreds of years throughout the middle east. The only place that Christians don't practice openly and comfortable is in Saudi Arabia. the Bush cabinet and the payed off media is pulling the greatest deception in world history second to Hitler's campaign with the Media and Misinformation.

Answer 4

Christians are openly persecuted by the Islamic religion, especially in the Middle East.

Muslims aren't bad, though... they're just doing what they're religion commands them to do.

If you are a Muslim believer and doubt what we are saying, please read the Quran carefully. We don't mean to say that every Muslim follows these commandments, but you should AT THE VERY LEAST acknowledge your own teachings and not disown them. If you are ashamed of your religions teachings [not followers], then why believe in it?

Just search it on any engine: "christians persecuted in the middle east"

Or search it on any news site (Cnn.com, foxnews.com, msnbc.com, etc.)

http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=christians+persecuted+in+the+middle+east&fr=yfp-t-501&toggle=1&cop=mss&ei=UTF-8

Answer 5

This is a false claim, and I dont think he ever said that

Christians are not persecuted in most middle eastern countries; they live peacefully amongst everyone else (this is part of the teachings of Islam)

such countries include: Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, UAE, Libia, Algeria, Sudan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Palastine...etc

Answer 6

there is muslims living there, and they can do it without a permision from government as anyother palces.

bethelehem used to be all christian (100%) but according to the situation a lot of people immegrated.

Answer 7

i visited family in egypt, and one of my cousin's best friends was christian. I think the media in the west is doing westerners a disservice and creating misconceptions.

Answer 8

HE IS RONG BECAUSE IN JORDAN THERE IS APROX. %12 CHRISTIANS. AND WE LIVE TOGETHER SHARING EVERYTHING WITHOUT HATE...

Answer 9

you spread hate