Arab Spring was captured by opportunists, says Patriarch of Jerusalem

March 30, 2012

Latin-rite Patriarch Fouad Twal of Jerusalem believes that at its inception, the political ferment that came to be known as the Arab Spring “was a healthy sincere movement.” But over time the movement changed, he said.

“Even those who did not take part wished to reap the fruits of what was going on. And nothing was the same again.” As a result of the uprisings in many Arab countries, Christians are fearful, Islamic militants are gaining power, and religious freedom is shrinking.

In an broad-ranging interview about developments in the Arabic world, Archbishop Twal questioned the policies of the Western world regarding the Arab Spring uprisings. He was particularly critical of Western military intervention in Libya, saying: “I asked myself how it could have taken these countries 43 years to realize that Gaddafi was ‘bad.’”

 

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Further information:

• The Arab Spring and Christian fears (Vatican Insider)