Almost exactly a quarter of a century ago, I wrote a story for the front page of what was then The Independent’s Weekend Review. It was headlined: “Exodus: a story of Christians”. It told the tragedy of those people of the faith who were fleeing the lands of the forefathers.
I interviewed the only hermit left in Lebanon, in a cave in the north of the country, and he said to me: “I am the only hermit left in all the Middle East.” His eyes creased in happiness when I acknowledged his unique theological condition. “I will never leave Lebanon,” he said. “No Christian should leave the Holy Land. Those who have left will come back.”
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I recall reading some years ago Amin Maalouf’s wonderful book, The Crusades Through Arab Eyes, wherein he recorded how the Crusaders, on their way to Jerusalem, stooped to cannibalism. They ate some of the Muslim dead after a pitched battle in a city in Syria. And the name of that city was Homs.
What can I say? Read the book.
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Suggested Reading
The Constitution of Medina: A Symbol of Pluralism in Islam
Book Review: The Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad with the Christians of the World
Is There Coercion in Islam and Christianity?
Two Hundred Verses about Compassionate Living in the Quran
A Message of Compassion and Love from the Holy Bible
Just to complete: the reasons why Christians are leaving the Middle East are manifold. Islamic extremism is one thing. In the occupied territories of Palestine and Israel however equally the treatment of Arabs – Christians or Muslims – by the Israelis is another reason. The economic situation of many Arab countries is another. A large percentage of Muslims would like to leave too, however, it is a bit easier for Christians to obtain visas in Western countries and consequently more Christians are leaving.
Robert Fisk usually gives a complete picture in his articles, but in the above article he sort of did not give the full picture as mentioned in my above comment