Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

During the special Synod of Bishops on the Middle East, held in Cyprus, the author presented a working paper from the Catholic churches in the Middle East and a summary of this paper.

 

The paper tackled Christians’ condition in Arab and Islamic countries and their problems and challenges in a region he described as unstable.

The most important point in the paper is the fear from Islamic political vision, and the famous slogan “Islam is the solution.”

 

The paper asserts that Islam is a religion and a political system, considering all Arab and Islamic countries as Islamic countries, except Turkey which is a secular state.

The paper underlines that Christians in these countries face a main challenge, which is the Islamic movements, and countries which stipulate that Islam is the official religion of the state and Sharī‘ah is the source of laws.

 

“Considering all Arab and Islamic countries as Islamic countries is not true and contradicts the reality, as most of these countries are secular, but the paper unveils a fear of Islam in general and anything linked to it,” the author said.

 

“There is a support from the Catholic Church of secularism and (the positive secularism) which respects religion and its role in the society, but separates between the religious and political systems,” he added.

 

“The paper highlights the importance of Christian’s role in society and in political life. It notes that Christians have to play their political role besides their religious one within their positive role in the society,” he explained.