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Qaa-area Christians form self-defense group against terror

Mideast Lebanon Christians in Peril

(RAS BAALBECK, LEBANON) — The threat of Islamic State has crossed the borders of Syria to neighboring Lebanon, making Christians there arm themselves to defend their land and families from the extremists. International Russian cable channel “Russia Today” goes to the Syrian-Lebanese border, to meet the militants.

Watch here:

“With the Syrian war next door, we have many troubles, many suspicious people come here, we have to be on high alert. We have to defend our land from terrorists, from ISIS and Nusra Front [al-Qaeda branch operating in the area,” Abu Tony, a militia member of the town of Qaa in north-western Lebanon told RT.

Christians maintain considerable power in Lebanon, with estimates suggesting the number is roughly equal to Muslims. The exact percent of Christian believers has been disputed for decades, with the last official census conducted in the country in 1932, but studies show there might be up to 40 percent currently living in Lebanon.

According to a report, published at the start of the year by a group monitoring persecution of Christians worldwide, at least 2,100 Christians died because of their beliefs in 2013. Most of the dead were in Syria, where radical Islamist groups have clamped down on a long-established religious minority.

Source: Russia Today (RT)

Original Article

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Maronite Bishop Mansour Hobeika dies in France

(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — Mansour Hobeika, the Maronite bishop of Zahle, died Tuesday at the age of 73 in a hospital in Paris, France where he was being treated for an illness.

Hobeika was born in 1941 in the town of Hadath in the Baalbeck area of the Bekaa Valley region. He was ordained as a priest in 1968 and became a bishop in September 2002.

Hobeika was also a member of the faculty at Sagesse University, which said he held a degree in Oriental Canon Law from Rome, according to their website.

The bishop was known for urging Lebanese citizens not to sell their land to non-Lebanese in speeches and masses he held both in and outside of Lebanon.

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Lebanese-American Muslim to play Jesus in Bill O’Reilly film

(NEW YORK, NY) — Lebanese-American Muslim actor Haaz Sleiman will play Jesus in a new National Geographic Channel film, an adaptation of Bill O’Reilly’s book “Killing Jesus.”

The Lebanese actor will join Kelsey Grammer, Stephen Moyer, Rufus Sewell, Emmanuelle Chriqui and John Rhys Davies in the project, according to The haaz-sleiman---photoHollywood Reporter.

Sleiman, who was born in the United Arab Emirates, was raised in Lebanon and moved to the United States when he was 21 years old. He previously starred in the 2008 indie drama film, “The Visitor,” where he played an undocumented Syrian immigrant.

Most recently, he had a recurring role in USA Network’s Covert Affairs, and in CBS dramas “Person of Interest” and “Reckless.”

“Traditionally Jesus has been played by a white man and I think the fact that this is a Middle-Eastern actor is significant,” Matthew Belloni, executive editor of The Hollywood Reporter, told ABC News.

One blogger called the selection of Sleiman “shocking.”

“I mean, if you were filming a Martin Luther King, Jr., miniseries, you wouldn’t cast Jim Caviezel or Diogo Morgado in the lead role. It’d be ridiculous and racist and insulting,” wrote blogger David Henson.

O’Reilly, who will serve as executive producer of the film, says “Killing Jesus” is a history book about Jesus the man, not the Messiah.

“The film (Killing Jesus) will break new ground in chronicling the life of the most famous human being who ever lived. The superb cast and script reflect much thought and research. Viewers are in for something very different and very special.”

Killing Jesus will premiere globally on the National Geographic Channel in 2015 in 171 countries and 45 languages.

Watch ABC News’ report about O’Reilly’s new film:

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Christian-Muslim summit hosted in Beirut

(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — A joint Christian-Muslim Summit was held in Beirut at Dar al-Fatwa to discuss the dangers facing Lebanon, including the persecution of Middle Eastern Christians in the face of threats by the Islamic State.

The meeting comes after the election of Lebanese Mufti Sheikh Abdel Latif Derian who stressed on the importance of safeguarding Lebanon from any religious strife.

Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammad Rashid Qabbani said that Christians and Muslims have nothing to fear from each other.

“We in Lebanon today, Muslims and Christians together, pledge to safeguard each other,” Qabbani said in his opening speech. He urged people of different religious groups to avoid conflict and “overwhelm their nation with unity.”

Attending the summit were also deputy head of the higher Shia council Sheikh Abdel Amir Kabalan, Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai, Druze leader Sheikh Naim Hasan and many other representatives of various religious sects.

In a statement, the summit members declared they would form a joint committee that will meet with Arab heads of state and religious leaders to tackle the various challenges especially the displacement and persecution of Christians in the Arab world.

“Lebanon needs a president who has the ability to lead the Lebanese toward common values,” the head of the dialogue committee, Mohammad al-Sammak, said.

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri hailed a Lebanese Christian-Muslim summit which convened Thursday, particularly its call for a swift end to the presidential vacuum.

“I particularly praise the call released by the attendees to elect new president,” Hariri said in a statement.

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Death threats shouted at Our Lady of Lebanon Church in Sydney

(SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA) — Maronite church-goers in Sydney, Australia are left shaken after four assailants in a vehicle bearing the flag of the Islamic State drove past Our Lady of Lebanon Church shouting death threats, according to media reports.

“Four youth in an unknown car and waving the flag of ISIL drove by the church threatening church-goers with murder and with slaughtering their children,” Monseigneur Shora Maree said.

Maree says he contacted police ahead of the church’s 7pm mass on Wednesday night. Officers were sent down to patrol the Harris Park church while hundreds took part in mass inside.

The assailants caused panic among people as the Australian police is investigating the incident to identify the four youth.

“This is now in the hands of police who are fully investigating. Please do not respond to or circulate any other version of the truth on social media as it creates unnecessary panic,” Maree said in a social media statement.

On Thursday, Australia’s largest ever counter-terrorism raids detained 15 people and foiled a plot by Islamic State jihadists to conduct “demonstration killings”, reportedly including beheading a member of the public on camera.

The Australian government believes up to 60 Australians are fighting alongside jihadists for Islamic State, while another 100 were actively working to support the movement at home.

The latest raids followed the arrests of two people last week in Brisbane who were charged with allegedly recruiting, funding and sending jihadist fighters to Syria.

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Senator Ted Cruz booed offstage at “In Defense of Christians” summit

(WASHINGTON, DC) — United States Senator Ted Cruz was booed offstage at the “In Defense of Christians” Summit Wednesday night after saying that “Christians have no greater ally than Israel.”

Cruz, the keynote speaker at the sold-out D.C. dinner gala, began by saying that “tonight, we are all united in defense of Christians. Tonight, we are all united in defense of Jews. Tonight, we are all united in defense of people of good faith, who are standing together against those who would persecute and murder those who dare disagree with their religious teachings.”

Cruz was not reading from a teleprompter, nor did he appear to be reading from notes.

“Religious bigotry is a cancer with many manifestations,” he continued. “ISIS, al-Qaida, Hezbollah, Hamas, state sponsors like Syria and Iran, are all engaged in a vicious genocidal campaign to destroy religious minorities in the Middle East. Sometimes we are told not to loop these groups together, that we have to understand their so called nuances and differences. But we shouldn’t try to parse different manifestations of evil that are on a murderous rampage through the region. Hate is hate, and murder is murder. Our purpose here tonight is to highlight a terrible injustice, a humanitarian crisis.”

“Christians have no greater ally than Israel,” he said, at which point members of the crowd began to yell “stop it” and booed him.

Cruz went on to say, ““Those who hate Jews hate Christians. If those in this room will not recognize that, then my heart weeps. If you hate the Jewish people you are not reflecting the teachings of Christ.”

Cruz exited the stage in dramatic fashion saying, “If you will not stand with Israel and the Jews, then I will not stand with you. Good night, and God bless.”

In Defense of Christians’ president, Toufic Baaklini, blamed a “few politically motivated opportunists” for the furor and said they were “made no longer welcome,” according to Politico.

Watch the video below:

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PHOTOS: Defense of Christians Summit opens in Washington

idc6(WASHINGTON, DC) — A three day conference dedicated to aiding the Christians in the Middle East opened yesterday in Washington, DC. The “In Defense of Christians” Summit (IDC) will bring together lawmakers, Eastern and Western churches, community leaders and various Christian groups to address the issues that concern Middle Eastern Christians.

Lebanese Patriarch Beshara Rai is participating in the conference.

Patriarchs praying at the In Defense of Christians conference in Washington, DC.
Patriarchs praying at the In Defense of Christians conference in Washington, DC.
Andrew Doran, the executive director of In Defense of Christians.
Andrew Doran, the executive director of In Defense of Christians.

“Christian institutions provide social service, health care and education for millions throughout the region. Christians are not only the lawyers, doctors and businessmen in their communities, they are also the servants…their very presence is the source of pluralism that has a moderating influence throughout the region,” said Doran.

Toufic Baaklini, the president of In Defense of Christians.
Toufic Baaklini, the president of In Defense of Christians.

“Our brothers and sisters are suffering terribly,” Baaklini said. “Our duty, the moral duty of the hundreds of you that are here today from all over the world, is to stand together under the banner of our common cause, the cause of faith, existence and tranquility.”

John Ashcroft, former U.S. Attorney General
John Ashcroft, former U.S. Attorney General

“We are here because there are those who are the victims of individuals around the world, who are victimized because people seek to impose on them their idea of some construct of God, some construct of morality, some construct of human existence,” Ashcroft said.

Cardinal Leonardo Sandri
Cardinal Leonardo Sandri

“It is very significant that the meeting is taking place between people of different Christian denominations and people of religion who believe as Christ the value of the freedom of the human person,” the Cardinal said.

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Lebanese Patriarch speaks at DC Christian conference

(WASHINGTON, DC) — Eastern patriarchs said the international community must work to protect Christians by taking firm measures against extremism during a Christian solidarity summit in Washington, DC on Wednesday.

Speaking at the opening ceremony Tuesday, Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai called on the United States and the United Nations Security Council to “take a clear stance and more aggressive steps to protect the Christians who are being slaughtered and displaced at the hands of ISIS and terrorist organizations.”

“We came to Washington, the hub of international decision, to say that it is not right to let down humankind as if we were thrown back into the Stone Age,” Rai said in reference to the flight of Christians in the face of advancing ISIS militants in Mosul and north Iraq.

“The Orient is home for Christians who have been there for more than 2,000 years. Today Christians are threatened with extermination, and no power in the Arab or Western world has moved a finger,” Rai lamented. “How is it possible that no one could stop the advancing monster?”

The Maronite prelate stressed that world powers should assume their responsibility in curbing extremist organizations and ensuring the safe return of displaced Christians to their homes in Iraq and Syria.

“The Muslim, Arab and international communities have no right to idly watch violations of human rights being committed. Either we have justice in this world, or we are living under the law of the jungle,” Rai said.

“We came here to say that we are humiliated not only as Christians, but as human beings. We say all the displaced should return to their homes and live in security and dignity.”

The conference, which opened in U.S. capital Tuesday, was held upon the initiative of the Washington-based Association for the Defense of Christians in the Orient.

The patriarchs of Oriental churches sounded the alarm last month over the persecution of Christians at the hands of ISIS, who have captured large swaths of land in north Iraq and Syria and forced non-Muslims to convert or face persecution and death.

The patriarchs called on the international community to intervene militarily in Iraq and Syria to curb the militants and protect Christians who had fled their homes in the face of rampant ISIS violence.

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DC summit to spotlight plight of Christians in the Middle East

omni-hotel-washington-dc(WASHINGTON, DC) — The deteriorating situation facing millions of Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East will be the focus of a bipartisan and ecumenical conference in the nation’s capital this week.

The global summit will take place from September 9 to September 11 in Washington, D.C.

The three-day event sponsored by In Defense of Christians (IDC) will feature speakers from all over the globe. The IDC Summit for Middle East Christians, whose theme is “Protecting and Preserving Christianity, Where It All Began”, will be the first occasion in history where six Christian Patriarchs from the Middle East will gather together in the United States.

“For too long, Westerners have stood by, silent or unaware, while Christians and other groups in the Middle East have endured discrimination, persecution, and religious cleansing,” said Toufic Baaklini, the president of IDC.

“Today, as the Islamic State continues its genocidal campaign against Christians in Iraq and Syria, the globe is finally awakening to their plight. IDC exists to give voice to these voiceless people. In this hour of their greatest peril, they are in desperate need of support. We must act now.”

Summit attendees will have the opportunity to meet with Members of Congress and their staff, policy makers, diplomats, human rights activists, and religious leaders.

“This summit will empower the Middle Eastern Christian Diaspora and energize the American people to stand in solidarity the ancient Christian communities of the Middle East. Their survival is vital to stability in the region, and their ability to flourish in their countries of origin has national security implications for the United States,” Baaklini said.

Speakers include: Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Rai; Syriac Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II; Archbishop of Washington Donald Cardinal Wuerl; Leonardo Cardinal Sandri of the Vatican’s Prefect of the Congregation for Oriental Churches; Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX); Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Congressman Ted Deutch (D-FL); Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL); Dr. James Zogby; and Nina Shea, Director of the Hudson Institute’s Center for Religious Freedom.

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