From Azekh (Idil in Turkish) to the village of Anhel (Yemisli), there have been worrying cases of violations of the rights of Assyrian-Chaldeans. In addition to private homes, a guesthouse belonging to the Syriac Orthodox Church has also been targeted. At the centre of the controversy is a (Christian) mayor elected with the DEM who has now switched to the AKP.
Whilst the ceasefire is holding, the war that restarted a few days ago marks a shift in the balance of power in the Caucasus. Recent killings and beheadings show a pattern similar to that of IS Jihadis. Azeri forces appear to include Jihadis and Turkish Grey Wolves. Russia is concerned about the war and IS fighters on its doorstep. The US, EU, and UN are absent from the picture.
Msgr. Hinder reports that so far there has been no official communication on the fate of the Salesian kidnapped in Yemen. The prelate thanks all for the demonstrations of solidarity from many parts of the world. April 4 in Bangalore a vigil marking one month since his capture was held. Salesian Vicar: a "testing time" to help us overcome "fears and divisions".
The Vatican press office said that the idea is being considered, but does not confirm dates or details. The Pope has been invited by the Greek-Orthodox Synod and the Greek president. Both Orthodox primate of Greece Hieronymos and Bartholomew, confirm their presence on Lesbos.
At the end of a meeting in Erbil, Iraqi prelates call for a plural and pluralistic Iraq. Patriarch Sako and the Chaldean bishops praised the recent military victories against the Islamic State group, hopeful that this might be a prelude to Christians going back to their homes. A the same time, they called for urgent economic action to create jobs and fight poverty. They also expressed concern over financial and political corruption.
As Turkey’s president rejects outsiders’ "lessons in democracy", journalists are arrested, and lawmakers and scholars are accused of terrorism. Until a few years ago, Erdoğan seemed to favour European Union membership, human rights and protection for religious minorities. Now he seems bent on establishing a quasi-dictatorship.
The first is "an inner grace that only the Holy Spirit can make ", the second is a "negotiated", "hypocrite" harmony, in which money plays a key role. "When there is harmony in the Church, in the community, there is courage, the courage to bear witness to the Risen Lord".
The trio will have to serve a sentence of six months in prison. Upon expiry of the terms of custody they will be expelled. They have also done business, economic and political, "without the necessary permits." A satirical cartoon and an offensive placard further exacerbate relations between Beirut and Riyadh.
Global growth is 1%. US top spenders, followed by China, then Saudi Arabia and Russia. The drop in oil prices has levelled military spending in Venezuela and Angola. Nevertheless, spending increases in Algeria, Russia, Vietnam. Saudi Arabia has so far spent 5.3 billion dollars on its intervention in Yemen. In the period 2006-2015 Iraq has increased military spending by 536%.
For the heads of the Eastern Churches, meeting in Bkerké, the election of a new president is “a question of the highest importance”. Political leaders must solve the "economic and social crisis" that has brought the country to the brink of collapse, unable to handle the migrant emergency. For Card al-Rahi, "only mercy save Lebanon”.
The names of about 140 world politicians and others, including Chinese President Xi’s brother-in-law, Li Peng’s children, the emir of Qatar, and close friends of Vladimir Putin, pop up in some of the 11.5 million leaked records. They all used the services of Mossack Fonseca, a Panama-based law firm, to hide their finances from the taxman.
Riad Sargi, a Catholic engineer, spoke to AsiaNews about the recent festivity, celebrated in a “fantastic” atmosphere, with churches "crowded with the faithful”. Christians and Muslims exchanged visits and greetings, wishing for a return to a "normal life”. A French delegation saw Syria’s multi-cultural nature and the ideal of "Arab secularism".
Inspired by the solemnity of the Annunciation Francis says that "we all, throughout each day, have to say 'yes' or 'no' and think if we always say 'yes' or if we often hide, with our head down, like Adam and Eve for ... do not say 'no', but pretend to be those 'that do not understand ... that do not understand what God is asking".
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