Contact: Hal, 240-644-5153; Magdi Khalil, 202-725-3091; both with Coptic Solidarity, info@copticsolidarity.org

WASHINGTON, June 3, 2014 /Christian Newswire/ -- Christians in the Middle East represent the remaining indigenous people of the region, and the descendants of the creators of great ancient civilizations. They also represent the oldest Christian churches in the world, where Jesus Christ was born and lived along with His disciples, and where Old Testament prophets dwelt in previous ages.

However, Christians in the Middle East are suffering daily tragedies, being targeted by Islamic extremists, and are subjected to murder, torture, abduction, rape, forced marriage, and forced displacement from their homes, neighborhoods and businesses. Violent attacks are made against their churches, institutions and businesses, and they are being forced to pay tributes. Extremists have apparent designs to exterminate Christians or force them out of the region, while governments not only deny them protection, but are sometimes in collusion with extremists.

Seventy-seven percent of Iraqi Christians have left their country since 1991, and 25% of Syrian Christians departed Syria to live abroad during the current Syrian uprising. During the last three years, 200,000 Christians also left Egypt. Furthermore, tens of thousands of Christians in the East have been killed, and hundreds of churches have been destroyed.

Christians in the East are paying the price for the middle east crises, for mistakes made by the West, and for the escalation of Islamic terrorism over the last three decades. Meanwhile, they have neither the protection nor the support of the international community, which watches passively as these tragedies unfold.

Therefore, about one hundred independent organizations representing Christian immigrants from the Middle East to America, Europe and Australia, as well as representatives from the Middle East, will meet in Washington on June, 26-27, 2014, under the auspices of the Coptic Solidarity organization, to make a fervent appeal to the international community to protect Christians in their ancestral homeland. They will also be joined by a number of politicians, members of the Congress, and public figures.

We call on human rights activists across the world, as well as reporters, media outlets, research centers, clergy and church leaders at local and international levels, along with all those who share our concern for the fate of Middle East Christians, to attend the conference.

Registration and attendance are open to all, and free of charge.
Please register through this link:
www.copticsolidarity.org/register-now

To make a contribution to support the conference, please visit Coptic Solidarity at:
www.copticsolidarity.org

• Thursday June 26: Policy Day (Capitol Visitors Centre)
   
• Friday June 27: Conference Key Bridge Marriott, 1401 Lee Highway, Arlington, VA 22209.; nearer to Reagan Airport)

Please join us to express solidarity with Middle East Christians!

For more information, contact Hal 240-644-5153, Magdi Khalil 202-725-3091 or info@copticsolidarity.org

Christians in Egypt
fikraforum.org/?p=4786

Christian in Syria
www.copticsolidarity.org/cs-releases/2620-the-tragic-situation-of-syria-s-christians

Christian in Iraq
www.copticsolidarity.org/media-news-events/opinion/2624-the-plight-of-christians-in-iraq