Originally published in barnabasaid An alliance of parties considered broadly liberal and secular has stemmed the tide of success for Islamists in post-Arab Spring politics by winning the most seats in the Libyan election. The National Forces Alliance (NFA), a coalition of more than 40 smaller parties headed by ex-interim […]
Middle East
Israel blames Iran for deadly attack on Israeli tourist bus in Bulgaria
Originally published in CNN A deadly explosion on a bus carrying Israeli tourists outside an airport in Bulgaria was “clearly a terrorist attack,” Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak said yesterday (Wednesday). Key Israeli politicians pointed to Iran as the likely instigator, but Israel’s US ambassador acknowledged they had no proof. […]
What will Islamic Brotherhood election victory in Egypt mean for Israel, Christianity in region?
[notice]The election of Mohammed Morsi to the Egyptian presidency may usher in a new era for the Middle East, says INcontext Ministries in its latest World In Motion newsletter.[/notice] Early last week Israeli warplanes carried out three raids on the Gaza Strip following rocket attacks on Israel by Palestinian militants. […]
Muslim Brotherhood’s Morsi declared Egypt president, sparking fears for religious minorities
Originally published in Christian Post The Muslim Brotherhood candidate in the Egypt presidential elections, Mohamed Morsi, has been officially declared the winner by election regulators. However, the result has immediately sparked concerns for religious minorities in the country, and whether the Brotherhood will look to build a conservative Islamic state. […]
Syrian Christians fear for safety in conflict between Islamic groups
Originally published in AINA (AP) — Inside the besieged Syrian city of Homs, where hundreds of civilians are caught up in a fierce battle between rebels and government troops, a small group of Christians is making its own desperate pleas for safety. Christians, who make up about 10 percent of […]
Christians hail dissolution of Egyptian parliament
Election irregularities cited in election that ushered in Islamist majority By Wayne King — Compass Direct News Christians in Egypt welcomed yesterday’s court decision to dissolve the Islamist-controlled parliament due to election irregularities. The decision offered hope for Christians, many of whom were convinced the country was about […]
“Terror” campaign to intimidate Christian voters in Egyptian elections
Originally published in barnabasaid Egyptian Christians are said to be victims of a “terror and intimidation” campaign intended to prevent them from voting for the Muslim Brotherhood’s rival in the presidential run-off. Many Christians voted for the secular former prime minister Ahmed Shafiq in the first round of the country’s […]
Islamists in Egypt blame Christians for voting for old-regime candidate
Originally published in AINA The official results of the first round of the Egyptian presidential elections were announced today, the run-off will be between Mohamed Morsy, the Muslim Brotherhood candidate, and Air Marshal Ahmad Shafik, Mubarak’s last PM, who served for less than one month during the revolution and before […]
Israel blasts South African proposal to label goods produced in Jewish settlements
Originally published in Fox News The Palestinian campaign to boycott goods produced in Jewish settlements in the West Bank has received a boost from abroad with an unprecedented South African proposal to have the name of Israel dropped from labels on merchandise made in the settlements. The South African government […]
Death penalty for blasphemy in Kuwait
Originaly published in Barnabas Aid Kuwait’s Islamist-dominated parliament has passed a bill that would make insulting key Islamic figures and the Quran punishable by death. The amendment, intended to strengthen the country’s existing blasphemy legislation, gained overwhelming support in the second – and final – vote on 3 May. It […]