The reality of Christian Genocide in the Middle East

http://aleteia.org ^ | 10/19/2016 | Caitlin Bootsma

[heterosupremacist]

How many of us grew up believing that the Holocaust would never happen again? After listening to our parents or grandparents recount war stories, empathizing with stories such as that of Anne Frank’s, and learning of the horrific ways Jews and other minorities were degraded, tortured and killed, we thought we could safely say that we had learned our lesson. Of course, that is not the case. There have been a number of genocides since the 1940s; in fact, one is happening right now.

I’m speaking of the elimination of Christians in the Middle East. Consider that in 2003, Christians were one of the largest minorities in Iraq, equaling 1.5 million. By 2014, that number had diminished to about half a million, due to the many who had fled from violence or been forced out. Since ISIS has targeted them however, only 200,000 Christians remain in Iraq, one of the oldest Christian communities in the world - that’s about 87% gone in a mere 13 years.

And as you may know, it’s not just Iraqi Christians who are suffering persecution. In Iran, over 550 Christians have been arrested and detained arbitrarily since 2010 (U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom 2016 Annual Report). In Syria, churches are being closed or destroyed by ISIS, Christians are being attacked and kidnapped—including two orthodox archbishops. Even in Turkey, Christians continue to struggle against inequality.

Several months ago, what Pope Francis is now calling the “martyrdom” of Fr. Jacques Hamel shook the hearts of many. But Fr. Jacques is not alone. ISIS currently has a Christian sex trade menu, wherein Christian women as young as 9 years old are farmed out against their will for prostitution...

[heterosupremacist]

"It is important to know that even though we hear little about this crisis, it is happening, and we can have an impact on the genocide of our Christian brothers and sisters. In the words of Olney, “We are asking Americans to bring the next wave of advocacy and awareness to the halls of Congress, to the executive branch, and to decision makers around the world.”

Perhaps now, more than ever because of the internet and social media, we have the opportunity to refuse to be silent about this holocaust. We can raise our voices—in prayer, to our legislators, and to our friends and neighbors. Just because the genocide of Christians is not front page news, does not mean it isn’t happening."

[wtd]

Though not directly related to this particular report, the following historic account illuminates a long established pattern of behavior:

Searching a site specializing in newspaper archives for NYS, I came across this gem in:

• The Malone Farmer, Sept. 29, 1915, Page 1, Image 1

  Titled: SELLING MUNITIONS (President Theodore Roosevelt in Metropolitan Magazine.)

  "It has been the settled policy of Germany to drive all other countries out of the business of manufacturing arms and supplies, because, of course, if this were once substantially accomplished, the rest of the world would be completely helpless before Germany; and Germany has made it evident that she knows no such things as international morality and looks upon all other nations, including the United States, merely as possible prey.

  The Americans who are now striving to prevent the sale of munitions of war to the countries endeavoring to secure the redress of Belgium's wrongs, that is the allied powers, are playing the game of a ruthlessly militaristic and anti-American Germany against their own country as well as against the interests of humanity at large.

  It was Germany which for decades supplied Turkey with the means of keeping the Christians of the European and Asiatic provinces in a state of dreadful subjection.

  *****

  That "subjection" is better known as "DHIMMITUDE"