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Is it best for Christians to leave the Muslim world?

| Wednesday, 11 Nov. 2010 | 18:06 - 19:00 GMT

We're asking this question as there appear to a number of different groups of people who would answer this question with 'yes'.

1) Muslims who want Christians gone. 2) Muslims who regret the attacks, but think that for Christians to leave is the easiest way to difuse the tension. And 3) Christians who feel it is no longer safe for them to stay in the Muslim country where they live.

Do you agree with any of those points of view? Or should everything be done to ensure that Christians can continue to live safely in the Muslim world?

Ben's original post:

Half of all Christians in Iraq have fled the country since the invasion in 2003, after today’s attacks in Baghdad the remaining 450,000 must be living in fear for their lives.

Syriac Orthodox Archbishop Athanasios Dawood in Britain is urging Iraqi Christians to fee their homeland.

I say clearly and now — the Christian people should leave their beloved land of our ancestors and escape the premeditated ethnic cleansing. This is better than having them killed one by one.
We’ve spoken about the issue on the programme before but the situation is obviously deteriorating. Are Christians the most oppressed minority in the Middle East? Many church leaders inside Iraq are urging the two thousand year old community to stay but others are urging them to flee. What do you think? Should they leave?

Your comments

  1. Comment sent via host

    That''s all for today''s show. We''re going to be talking to Ebikabowei Vikton, alias General Boyloaf - Senior figure in Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND). Send your question here - - or text +447786206080.

  2. Comment sent via Facebook

    Kapungwe on Facebook - I live in Zambia where Islam is growing rapidly. But should we all behave like them here?

  3. Comment sent via Facebook

    Mohammed - It's unthinkable. Why should d closest brethrens to muslims now leave muslim lands because of some extremests?

  4. Comment sent via Facebook

    Ineffable Kebbs on Facebook - Muslims are frightened that people are being converted to christianity and a possibility of actual peace thus there is a drop in suicide bombers.

  5. Comment sent via SMS

    As Moslems are killing Christians in the middle- east..do they expect us to treat them with love elswhere?.

  6. Comment sent via YOURSAY

    Shaun called - Why don't all the senior religious leaders in the world get together and instruct their followers on how to live peacefullly?

  7. Comment sent via Facebook

    Sibabalo on Facebook - Christians must try to 'Blend in' but if it's bad and risky for their lives than it's best to leave the country

  8. Comment sent via Facebook

    Makafui posted on Facebook - The Christians can move out of there and do their thing somewhere else

  9. Comment sent via YOURSAY

    Iliya in Nigeria emailed - Iraq christians are safer than french muslims, It is people against people and government against people respectively.

  10. Comment sent via Facebook

    Francis on Facebook - The constant attacks on christians in the muslim world is a direct reprisal on the koran-burning incident in the United States. The media is partly responsible with their insatiable thirst for sensational news

  11. Comment sent via BLOG

    Saut on the blog - You cannot begrudge the international support given the Iraqi Christians. That is just the way how help/support is voluntarily and expeditiously given.

  12. Comment sent via BLOG

    Steve on the blog - Oh please, when you attack a church and then claim it's not an attack on Christians, it makes me question your honesty

  13. Comment sent via YOURSAY

    Brian emails - Do christians living in the state of israel have full rights? Half rights? I'm interested to know.

  14. Comment sent via Facebook

    Johnson Oluga on Facebook - Christians shouldn't leave. Islamic nations should learn to co-exist and tolerate. For the meantime christians in such areas should adjust and not put themselves in harms way.

  15. Comment sent via BLOG

    Ibrahim on the blog - the locally-inflicted troubles in the Middle East are mainly due to corrupt leadership that is not accountable or responsible to its people. All the peoples living under these regimes are at risk, more so the minorities.

  16. Comment sent via Facebook

    Onecan in Nigeria posted on Facebook - Christians have the right to live in any part of the world.I hate the fact that some muslim fundamentalists couldn't allow them to enjoy their freedom

  17. Comment sent via Facebook

    Sol posted on Facebook - Christians are facing similar persecutions in muslim lands as did the jews for the last century and they should follow the example of the jews and move to either israel or anywhere outside the middle east.

  18. Comment sent via Facebook

    Cutecandycreamiecoolbabyboi Habeeb Ameen - Why the sentiment xristians muslim have the same belive.why cant they live under one roof.

  19. Comment sent via SMS

    Iraq is one country.. What is the different between chrisain and muslim in IRAQ?

  20. Comment sent via Facebook

    Chuks on Facebook - Christians leaving a muslim world is not good. We are living in a world where there is freedom of worship.

  21. Comment sent via Facebook

    Romeo on Facebook - We should learn to live in peace and harmony. Tolerance is the keyword here.

  22. Comment sent via SMS

    muslims are insecure.saudi arabia does not authorise the building of churches within their borders and yet they seek to build mosques in christian nations.if iraqis think islam is the best religion, there is no need to feel threatened by christians. from monta in zambia

  23. Comment sent via YOURSAY

    Baldwin emailed from Lilongwe, Malawi - Iraq chritians are living like sheep among the wolves. Just want to encourage all chritians in Iraq - don't lose heart

  24. Comment sent via SMS

    I am unable to protect myself, so how am I supposed to protect my Christian brothers and sisters ? Lubna

  25. Comment sent via YOURSAY

    Chuck in the Netherlands called - Christians shouldn't leave, they are Iraqis and they are part and parcel of the society there. If you afraid that is no good.

  26. Comment sent via SMS

    The radical islamic extremists are on bak pedal. President Obama is winnin ova the moderates. Even the extremists dont now kno who their enemy is. SoonPalestine will be a state at peace with the state of Israel. Wats happenin in Iraq are last kicks of a dying horse.