ICC Note: The presence of Christianity of any significant size in the Middle East appears to be in danger of disappearing, unless there are significant changes in the realities on the ground. The population of Christians in both Iraq and Syria have shrunk dramatically. Iraq, down from 1.5 million to just some 250,000 and Syria has lost likely nearly 500,000 of its population over the past five years as well.
11/09/2015 Middle East (Fox News) – The dwindling Christian population of the Middle East could vanish completely within a decade unless the global community intervenes, say alarmed aid groups who say followers of the Bible are being killed, driven from their land or forced to renounce their faith at an unprecedented pace.
The world has largely stood by as a dangerous tide of intolerance has washed over the region, according to a new study by the international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need. The study includes disturbing data about the plunging numbers of Christians in the part of the world that gave birth to the faith, and makes a dire prediction of what could happen.
“It’s an answer that depends on the response of the world,” Edward Clancy, director of outreach for the New York-based Aid to the Church in Need, told FoxNews.com. “What response is there going to be toward us if we act?”
While Christians are under siege from Islamic State radicals in war-torn Syria and Iraq, the report notes that the religion is being targeted throughout the region. Christians who have managed to escape ISIS have fled to places like Europe and Lebanon, while members of the faith also are under increasing pressure in Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations.
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