Baroness Warsi, who became Britain’s first female Muslim cabinet minister, told BBC Radio 4 that Christianity is at risk of extinction in some parts of the world due to growing persecution of minority communities. Christians were in danger of being driven out of countries, such as Syria and Iraq, where the religion first took root, she added. Syria’s civil war and the instability in Iraq has seen many leave.
She told that the BBC that in some cases, Christians were being targeted for “collective punishment” by majority groups in retaliation for what they perceive as the injustices committed by Western powers. “I am concerned the birthplace of Christianity, the parts of the world where Christianity first spread, is now seeing large sections of the Christian community leaving and those that are remaining feeling persecuted,” she told Radio 4’s Today. “Tragically, what’s happening is they are being seen as newcomers, being portrayed as an ‘other’ within that society, even though they have existed there for many, many centuries… We need to speak out and raise this with the countries where this is happening,” she said.
She had already had “very frank conversations” with ministers in Pakistan, telling them senior politicians must set a standard for tolerance. “Politicians do have a responsibility to set the tone, to mark out legal parameters as to what will and will not be tolerated.” Prince Charles has echoed the Baroness Warsi saying he was “deeply troubled” by deliberate targeting of Christians in the Middle East.
Source: BBC News
BIBLE STUDY: Psalm 74:21-23
PRAISE: God that a Muslim Peer is willing to stand against Islamic persecution of Christians. Pray that leader’s consciences may be awakened.
