By Michael Gryboski, Christian Post Reporter, March 25, 2014|8:51 am
Washington – A religious freedom-themed panel organized by a liberal group stated Monday that the American left should focus more on the issue of persecution of Middle Eastern Christians.
Experts brought together by the Center for American Progress spoke of the need to spread awareness on the plight of Christian communities in the Middle East. Marwan Kreidie, professor at Villanova University’s Center for Arab & Islamic Studies, told The Christian Post that “progressive organizations” have not effectively grasped the religious component of the Middle East.
“The Middle East is all based on sectarianism, so religion is going to be a way of life,” said Kreidie, adding that Americans should play “a more dynamic and more thoughtful role” in the region.
“The Christians in the Middle East have kind of been the invisible victims. Not many people know about them,” said Kreidie. “We don’t understand what the impact of America does to Christians over there and we need to play a more dynamic and more thoughtful role.”
Kreidie was part of a panel brought together for an event titled “The Impact of Middle East Transitions on Christian Communities” held at the CAP office.
“The Middle East uprisings and political transitions that began in 2011 have raised questions about political pluralism and support for religious freedom,” reads the event’s online description in part. “Over the past several years in the region, some of the oldest Christian communities in the world have faced new challenges resulting from changes in the security, political, legal, and social environment.”
Read in full on Christian Post here:
Liberals Ignoring Plight of Middle Eastern Christians, Says Liberal-Organized Panel