Videos of Christians forgiving Islamic State go viral in the Arab world
SAT-7 Egypt Director says ‘Resistance through forgiveness’ videos of a 10-year-old Iraqi displaced by Islamic State (IS/ISIS) and of a brother of two Egyptian labourers beheaded in Libya, both voicing forgiveness for their persecutors, have been watched by a million viewers and drawn the attention of mainstream Arab media which rarely cover Christian news. Under the title ‘Iraqi Girl Myriam Faces IS with Love’, pan-Arab broadcaster Al Arabiya told how the clip of young refugee Myriam had spread via social media and was impressing ordinary viewers and media commentators. A columnist in Lebanese newspaper Al Nahar said the SAT-7 interview with her ‘should be presented in Lebanese schools as a lesson in humanity’. Farid Samir, Egypt director of Christian satellite channel SAT-7, which made both clips, said: ‘The massive interest in them shows the impact of resisting violence through forgiveness’.
Syria: Four years since teenage graffiti sparked civil war
Four years ago this week a group of young teenagers with a can of paint sprayed messages on a wall in Daraa city. They couldn’t have known it but, over the next nine days, their graffiti started the Syrian civil war, which reaches its fourth anniversary on 15 March. The sprayed messages said ‘the people want to topple the regime’- echoed in other countries during the Arab Spring. The Syrian government was quick to act. It arrested the 15 boys, aged 10 to 15, interrogated and tortured them. Thousands turned out on the streets and the boys were released. The protests continued and spread to cities across Syria before turning violent and developing into full-scale civil war. The first protestors to die were killed on 18 March, - by security forces trying to stop a rally. At least 220,000 have lost their lives according to the most recent UN figures, including over 10,000 children.
Israel: Victorious Netanyahu – next steps
The next step following the Israeli election is to form a coalition government. The final results of the ballot boxes will be known by Friday as the soldiers’ and diplomats’ votes need to be counted. After that the country will be faced with a period of uncertainty, during which the president will choose the candidate whom he believes has the highest prospect of setting up a coalition. Then this candidate will negotiate with his prospective coalition partners. Once a deal is reached the new government will be formed and the various ministerial portfolios will be distributed according to the agreement. That could take some time. Benjamin Netanyahu has not made himself beloved of his people, many leaders in the free world hoped and he would be pushed off Israel’s stage. Following weeks of tension between the White House and the Prime Minister’s Office, there is now a need to push the reset button.
Libya: IS kidnaps 20 medical workers
A group of 30+ gunmen attacked the Ibn Sina Hospital in Sirte and abducted 20 workers. The hospital workers had decided to leave the city because of the poor security situation there and the Islamic State wanted them to stay because they were the only people able to treat its wounded fighters. IS murdered 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians in Libya last month and took control of Sirte last year. Libya's security situation has disintegrated. Warring tribes and interest groups provide fertile ground for IS success. IS kidnapped nine foreign oil workers and reportedly beheaded eight guards earlier this month; they also killed oil workers and took hostages in February. They are causing Libya to become more dangerous by the day. These latest attacks don’t bear the hallmarks of militias driven by local grievances or political rivalry, as seen in the past. Their aim is to instil fear, mark territory and wreak havoc.
