CT’s Top 13 Stories from the Greater Middle East

Selected by CT editors, below is our coverage of significant developments in 2023 for Christians in the Greater Middle East and North Africa, arranged in chronological order of publication:

Amid economic crisis and political turmoil, Christian worship, teaching, and sermons rival popular music on the nation’s airwaves. But while some see hope in the use of local dialect, others spot controversy and wonder if the content is sufficiently Arab.

View further reporting on Lebanon.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine sparked a simultaneous exodus of both nations’ Jewish populations. Whether from fear of war or persecution, believers in Jesus debated if a final destination in Israel represented a biblical commandment, a divine blessing, or a simple personal choice.

View further reporting on Russia, Ukraine, and Messianic Jews.

Clandestine visits by an Orthodox bishop began nearly a decade ago. But as the kingdom begins to publicize the holiday, its two million foreign Christian workers wonder if the privilege given to Egypt will result in greater religious freedom for all.

View further reporting on Saudi Arabia.

While the February earthquake in Turkey and Syria elicited millions of dollars in emergency aid for Ankara, sanctions against Damascus prevented a similar outpouring of support. A temporary US waiver—now expired—aimed to ease regulations, but critics blamed a “chilling effect” for curbing global generosity.

View further reporting on Syria.

Violence that began in April between the national army and its formerly-aligned paramilitary force followed coups and pro-democracy demonstrations that once promised greater religious freedom. Now, scattered believers seek the Scriptures to make sense of the chaos in their troubled country.

View further reporting on Sudan.

Claiming to defend freedom of speech rights in the West last June, a Christian-background Iraqi immigrant in Stockholm offended the sentiments of Muslims worldwide. As protests raged back home and elsewhere, believers from his dwindling religious community faced pressure to condemn him.

View further reporting on Iraq.

Naming their disaster relief efforts after the biblical patron of widows—also known as Dorcas—evangelicals played an outsized role in serving their Muslim neighbors. And just as Peter raised the biblical heroine from the dead, the church hopes God will revive the nation’s ancient Christian testimony.

View further reporting on Turkey.

Last August, leadership of the global association of believers participated in a United Nations side event. Critics accused the move as whitewashing the Islamic Republic’s offenses against freedom of religion. Intending to aid the underground church, the WEA sparked debate about best advocacy practices.

View further reporting on the World Evangelical Alliance.

Arab believers are generally subject to Islamic Sharia in its ban on adoption. In Jordan, an evangelical ministry lobbied church leaders to include it in a bid to reform religion-based family law, while a scandal that ripped a Coptic orphan from his family marred Egypt’s promotion of foster care. Lebanon is best off, while Syria struggles.

View further reporting on adoption and Sharia law.

Customs require feeding large crowds of mourners, but Muslims and Christians alike struggle to pay for the cultural expections during times of economic crisis. A local pastor in the Hashemite kingdom calls on evangelicals to honor the deceased but to give the money instead to the poor.

View further reporting on Jordan.

While not officially recognizing an indigenous Christian convert community, the Atlas Mountain kingdom generally lets it exist in peace. But September’s earthquake spurred believers to live their faith publicly in the provision of aid, amid differences on the degree to which they should also evangelize.

View further reporting on Morocco.

Offended by the near-unequivocal pro-Israel support of fellow believers, Arab Christians issue several statements condemning the high civilian death count in Gaza. But how do their views compare to global and American statements backing the Jewish state, in recognition of greater context?

View further reporting on the Israel-Hamas war.

Many in Iran suffer from the psychological toll of living under an authoritarian regime that cracked down on women protestors. Christian converts bear a further burden of family rejection and government oppression. Diaspora ministry enrolls hundreds of believers preparing to pastor accordingly.

View further reporting about Iran.

Check out the rest of our 2023 year-end lists here.