Christian Concerns of Religious Persecution in the Middle East
Religious freedom activists gathered in Washington this week (September 9-11) to speak out against the persecution of Christians across the Middle East by ISIS and other groups. The “In Defense of Christians” summit was attended by patriarchs and bishops of ancient Middle Eastern churches who described the suffering of their people and urged American officials and church leaders to do more to help.
Watch excerpts of statements from Princeton Professor Robert George, vice-chair of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom; Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria; Mar Bechara Boutros Cardinal Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch; His Holiness Catholicos Aram I of the Holy See of Cilicia of the Armenian Apostolic Church; Patriarch Ignatius Joseph III Younan, Syriac Catholic Patriarch; and Nina Shea, director of the Hudson Institute’s Center for Religious Freedom.
