Updates

We seek to keep you literally "updated" on movement in terms of truth and justice in the Middle East in general with a particular eye on Palestine. The links below will take you to various articles and websites that offer the perspective of leaders in the religious, NGO, and human rights communities. Additionally, Al-Bushra, ever vigilant, provides links to regular reporting as well as opinion pieces by journalists. The dates given here indicate when the link was posted; the most recent posting is at the top. Check the article itself for the date the information was released by the source.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Churches will have to do more

The dynamics of the “Arab Spring” and its impact on migration in the Middle East brought some significant revelations. Presenters [at a three-day World Council of Churches (WCC) regional conference in Beirut, Lebanon] from the region as well as the hosts shared their views about the complexity of political developments, due to which many people are choosing to migrate.

Amidst the current wave of migration, where people are fleeing political turmoil, conflict and persecution, promoting respect for religious minorities and initiating meaningful interreligious dialogue is especially pertinent, according to the participants.

Dr Audeh B. Quawas from Jordan, a member of the WCC Central Committee and member of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem commented, “To promote respect for religious minorities and to initiate a positive dialogue especially among Christians and Muslims, churches will have to do more.”

“Churches in the Middle East are called to defeat fear and the sense of insecurity among the communities who choose to migrate, as this causes a serious threat of ‘brain drain’ in our countries,” he said.

The above is an excerpt from the World Council of Churches article:

Migration changes ecclesial landscapes



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