Dr. Khalid Al-Shafi
The shocking violation to the culture of coexistence which existed for centuries in the Arab and Islamic world despite the dictatorship, oppression and violence distinguished the political and social development of this region. Religious minorities — whether they were Jews, Christians, Assyrians, Syriacs, Sabeans and Izidies — used to live peacefully in security everywhere in the Muslim world. They used to practice their religious rituals in their churches and temples freely.
These minorities contributed to the development of Arab and Islamic culture over the ages through translation works, philosophy, literature, sciences, and the development of astronomy and medicine.
In the past, these minorities may have faced the problem of citizenship and seeking their legitimate rights. Now, however, they are facing a challenge to their existence due to ethnic cleansing, for no reason but simply because of their faith, sects, and race.
Minorities in the modern Arab states were subjected to persecution, marginalisation, injustice and inequality since the time of the establishment of the modern Arab state, according to Arabi Al Khamisi. They were intentionally marginalised by the policy makers and constitutional experts under successive governments and thus, no justice was done to them, even by man-made laws.
The same governments also adopted policies aimed at the marginalisation of these minorities. Minorities have been subjected to even worse persecution, and exclusion with the emergence of extremist and terrorist movements in the region, such as the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. They have been killed, terrorised and subjected to violence and torture. These terrorist groups have kidnapped them, raping their women, confiscating and destroying their properties, and even forcing them to leave their homelands. Places of worship have also been violated, and their lives turned into hell.
This was the reason why these minorities started looking for somebody to rescue them from their plight which has been worsening by the day.
The British newspaper, The Times, says that radical militants in Iraq had set up a market where they sell Christian and Izidi women and children. They do the same with the women and children belonging to other Iraqi minorities, according to United Nations investigators.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees also said in a report that around 25,000 women and children were put in jail, raped and sold for $10 each, being considered war booty and the ownership of the militants of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
There is a tragic irony in setting the history of civilised Islam and the culture of coexistence decades ago against what is happening now.
The shocking violation to the culture of coexistence which existed for centuries in the Arab and Islamic world despite the dictatorship, oppression and violence distinguished the political and social development of this region. Religious minorities — whether they were Jews, Christians, Assyrians, Syriacs, Sabeans and Izidies — used to live peacefully in security everywhere in the Muslim world. They used to practice their religious rituals in their churches and temples freely.
These minorities contributed to the development of Arab and Islamic culture over the ages through translation works, philosophy, literature, sciences, and the development of astronomy and medicine.
In the past, these minorities may have faced the problem of citizenship and seeking their legitimate rights. Now, however, they are facing a challenge to their existence due to ethnic cleansing, for no reason but simply because of their faith, sects, and race.
Minorities in the modern Arab states were subjected to persecution, marginalisation, injustice and inequality since the time of the establishment of the modern Arab state, according to Arabi Al Khamisi. They were intentionally marginalised by the policy makers and constitutional experts under successive governments and thus, no justice was done to them, even by man-made laws.
The same governments also adopted policies aimed at the marginalisation of these minorities. Minorities have been subjected to even worse persecution, and exclusion with the emergence of extremist and terrorist movements in the region, such as the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. They have been killed, terrorised and subjected to violence and torture. These terrorist groups have kidnapped them, raping their women, confiscating and destroying their properties, and even forcing them to leave their homelands. Places of worship have also been violated, and their lives turned into hell.
This was the reason why these minorities started looking for somebody to rescue them from their plight which has been worsening by the day.
The British newspaper, The Times, says that radical militants in Iraq had set up a market where they sell Christian and Izidi women and children. They do the same with the women and children belonging to other Iraqi minorities, according to United Nations investigators.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees also said in a report that around 25,000 women and children were put in jail, raped and sold for $10 each, being considered war booty and the ownership of the militants of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
There is a tragic irony in setting the history of civilised Islam and the culture of coexistence decades ago against what is happening now.
