The very existence of Christianity in the Middle East is under threat
Legislation in the vast majority of Muslim countries around the globe is inspired by Sharia law. Since the 1980's, Christians are not only discriminated in their daily life (access to education, employment etc.), but are persecuted so as to prevent supposed "blasphemy", "proselytism" or "apostasy" against Islam.
The outlook is grim in these nations that are home to historic Christian populations, including Iraq, Egypt, Syria and Turkey. Christians who live in these countries are subjected to discrimination, government-sanctioned intimidation and routine violence.
The Christians of Syria, although officially protected by the regime of Bashar al-Assad, are exhausted by nine years of continuous conflict. Many are now in exile, with only 744,000 remaining, compared to 2.2 million before the civil war.
The most staggering example is probably Iraq, whose population dropped by 87 % in seventeen years! The precarious state of Christianity in Iraq is tragic. The world may soon witness the permanent displacement of an ancient religion that has been present in this area for two millennia.
Source: atlantico.fr
