Special Report from Jerusalem
August 2007
As I woke up this morning in Jerusalem and looked out of my hotel room window, I got the chills that just about everyone gets when they first set their eyes on the Old City.
Three different religions Christianity, Judaism, and Islam have important spiritual and physical ties to this city. For Christians, this is where Jesus was crucified and where His ascension to Heaven occurred. For Jews, the remains of the Second Temple at the Temple Mount the Western Wall is the most important physical site in Judaism. For Muslims, just look over the city and youll see the golden dome of the Dome of the Rock sitting on top of the original site of the Second Temple.
Even with the tension between Islam and both Judaism and Christianity that has been displayed throughout history with war, fighting, and terror attacks, the Israeli government has done everything possible to give all three religions the opportunity to worship the way they want and an opportunity to preserve their holy sites in Jerusalem.
Unfortunately, in many countries surrounding Israel, the freedom to worship is not a protected right. Even in places like Egypt, a man who has been a Christian for almost 10 years has no legal remedy to officially declare his conversion so that his family can worship without fear and his children can attend Christian schools. This man, who is only 25 years old, has risked his life and is now in hiding because he wants to bring this issue to court in Egypt. As Im typing this right now, he is hiding out, fearing for his life (read more on this matter).
Stories like this are starting to appear in the media across the world. In the Gaza Strip, Hamas militants forced a Christian university professor to convert to Islam and cut-off relationships with her family (read more on this matter). In Saudi Arabia, a Christian doctor was imprisoned by religious police because of his religious beliefs and was just recently released back to his home in Egypt (read more on this matter). In Iraq, a Christian dentist received an Islamic terrorist group DVD which depicted the decapitation of a man because he would not renounce his Christian faith (read more on this matter).
These are just a few of the stories coming out of the Middle East which serve as a reminder of why it is so important for all of us to take action and let the world know about this religious persecution. Here in Israel, freedom of religion and worship is a guaranteed right. Yet, in many countries surrounding Israel, Christian communities that have existed for hundreds -- even thousands -- of years are facing complete destruction.
As Christians, we must take a stand against these atrocities and never forget that those who are carrying out these murders and threats in the Middle East have set their target on the United States and the West. To stand for freedom and help stop the religious persecution of Christians in the Middle East, please click here.
Please note that in discussing political issues, candidates positions and political party statements, Jordan Sekulow is offering analysis in his individual capacity as lawyer and commentator. He is not speaking on behalf of the American Center for Law & Justice. The ACLJ does not endorse or oppose candidates for public office. Nothing contained in this article should be construed as the position of the ACLJ.