Religious Communities Face Persecution and Call for Western Support
The plight of religious minorities in the Middle East and Africa continues to intensify, as highlighted by activists and experts at the sixth annual International Religious Freedom Summit. The call for Western intervention and support has become more urgent than ever.
At the summit, Karmella Borashan from the Assyrian International Council voiced a grave warning about the future of Assyrian Christians in the Middle East, stating that their survival is in jeopardy. She criticized Western nations, saying, “the West has repeatedly failed Assyrian Christians.”
Assyrian Christians’ Dwindling Numbers
Speaking on a panel titled “Voices from Underreported Religious Communities Caught Amid Conflict,” Borashan outlined the challenges faced by Assyrian Christians since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003 and the Syrian Civil War. She explained that the community is subjected to systematic persecution from both jihadists and Kurdish forces, leading to the depopulation of once-thriving villages.
“In Iraq, they face violent attack by Islamist extremists,” Borashan noted, adding that ancient Assyrian archaeological sites are being vandalized. Minority laws that forcefully convert children to Islam further threaten their existence, she lamented. The community has dwindled from 1.5 million to less than 300,000.
Borashan emphasized the need for pluralism and democracy in the region, noting that Assyrian Christians have a rich history and were once an integral part of societies in Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Turkey.
Challenges in Sudan
Kamal Fahmi, an advocate with Set My People Free, highlighted the dire situation in Sudan, where religious minorities face severe persecution. The country ranks fourth on Open Doors’ 2026 World Watch List for Christian persecution (Open Doors). Converts from Islam are at risk of violence and often must flee the country, yet relocation efforts are hindered even by international organizations like the U.N.
Fahmi outlined the impact of the ongoing civil war and military coup on religious freedoms, with millions displaced and suffering from hunger. He criticized the lack of international attention and aid.
Persecution in Yemen
Keyvan Ghaderi, representing the Baha’is of Yemen, recounted his imprisonment for his faith in 2008. He explained that religious freedom and equality are crucial for Yemen’s recovery from conflict. According to Open Doors, Yemen is the third worst country for Christian persecution (Open Doors), with non-Islamic groups unable to register and apostasy punishable by death.
In Yemen, Christians face numerous dangers, including the risk of death, family separation, and the lack of legal protection.
Ryan Foley is a reporter for The Christian Post. He can be reached at: ryan.foley@christianpost.com
This article was originally written by www.christianpost.com
