The news of the beheading of 21 young Egyptian Copts by the Islamic State (IS) in Libya has plunged Egypt into sorrow and mourning. The families of those killed remain prostrate in a suffering that is even physical, comforted by their communities in prayer. Many Muslims also share in their pain. It is clear, as pointed out by many thinkers and political leaders that the events resulted in unifying the nation more strongly.
The “grave conflict” was the focus of Francis’ speech to Ukraine’s bishops. Three separate copies were handed out to the prelates who are in Rome for their ad limina apostolorum visit. The Pope said he finds it painful that “misunderstandings and injuries” exist among Christians.
A colored photocopy of a smiling, blond toddler is the only thing adorning the bare walls of the tiny room where Ayda Abada, her blind husband, and four children shelter after they were chased out of their Christian village in Iraq by Islamic State extremists.
Christina Khider Abada, 3, as seen on a poster last year. The child was seated beside her Christian mother on a bus in Qaraqosh, Iraq, when captors from the Islamic State snatched her and took her away.
The Supreme Court will only issue a judgement on procedure and can cancel the previous verdict. In April, the defence will file a petition to examine the case.
This is according to Bishop of Giuzeh who spoke to Fides news agency: “This is how they celebrated their victory, a victory no butcher can ever take away from them. It sealed their martyrdom in a way”.
The Catholic Centre for Studies and Media (CCSM) in Jordan, on Monday, February 16, strongly denounced the brutal massacre committed by the terrorist gangs of the ISIS in Syria and Iraq which led to the martyrdom of 21 Copts who have been working in Libya.
In 2001, after the September 11 events, the then-US President George Bush said: “It is a ‘crusade’ on terrorism.” After several protests on the term, he said:”The word 'crusade' is a slip of the tongue.” Some reactions said: “He used the term ‘crusade’ which no longer means a religious war. It merely means a “campaign” designed for the welfare of humanity." The crux of the issue is that it has remained a disputable issue. Yet, some electronic websites still use the term “the 10th Crusade” which emerged this time from Washington.
The barbarity shocked not only the Egyptian Christian community, but the more numerous Muslim authorities have also harshly condemned the beheading of 21 Coptic Christian Egyptians who had had been held hostage for weeks by Libyan jihadists affiliated with the so-called Islamic State. Video of the execution was broadcast on the internet throughout the day on Sunday.
Francis said this during his audience with the Moderator of the Church of Scotland (Reformed): “the blood of our brothers is a testimony that rings out”
The Israeli mayor of Jerusalem, Nir Barkat, made a press conference last week during which he admitted that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had allocated nearly one billion dollars to rejuvenate the old city. The concept is to make it attractive to the four- billion potential tourists who would love to visit the sacred places.Part of the five-year master plan is to impose a Jewish character to the old city, irrespective of Islamic or Christian historical monuments or places of worship.
