Christian exodus contributing to rise of militant Islam in Middle East: Maronite Patriarch
April 28, 2015
The steady exodus of Christians from the Middle East is weakening the position of moderate Muslims, warns Maronite Catholic Patriarch Bechara Rai.
The Lebanese prelate told a UNESCO audience in Paris that if Christians disappear from the Middle East, “Islam will fall into the hands of fundamentalists.” He urged European leaders to take action to preserve the Christian presence.
The Maronite Patriarch also made a plea for help for the refugees who have been forced from their homes because of the bloodshed in the region. He said that Lebanon is now providing shelter for more than 1.5 million refugees from Syria—a figure equivalent to roughly one-third of Lebanon’s native population.
Cardinal Rai pleaded for world leaders to push for a negotiated end to the fighting in Syria, as well as in Iraq and Yemen. Above all, he said, “Stop supporting the belligerents with arms and money.”
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