GAZA: shroud of despair descends on Christian community

By Elizabeth Kendal

Local Christians in the Gaza Strip claim that two members of their community, Ramez al-Amash (24) and Hiba Abu Dawoud (32), were kidnapped and forcibly converted to Islam.

According to Gaza's Greek Orthodox Archbishop Alexious, when Ramez al-Amash disappeared his parents filed a police complaint, but the police ignored it after learning that the mastermind behind the alleged kidnapping was a senior cleric identified with Hamas. Christians are blaming Salem Salama, chairman of the Palestine Scholars Association. 

Hamas officials, however, tell a different story. They claim Ramez al-Amash and Hiba Abu Dawoud converted of their own free will.

Ramez and Hiba's families are absolutely adamant that they did not convert freely. "If my son is not kidnapped, why don't they just let him go home with me?" asked Huda Amash, mother of Ramez. “My son was brought up as a Christian. His love of Jesus is strong enough to keep him Christian.  He cannot change his beliefs all of a sudden."

Shortly after Hiba Abu Daoud disappeared, she sent a message to her husband's mobile phone informing him that she, along with their three daughters aged 12, 9 and 7yrs, had converted to Islam.

According to her now-estranged husband, Khaled Hilal, Hiba had complained during her university studies that her fellow students were constantly pressuring and hounding her about Islam and about why she should convert.

Hiba's mother also said that her daughter had been stalked by fellow employees at the Islamic University, who said she needed to become a Muslim. "My daughter lived in a struggle with them. She did not do this of her own choice."

So convinced are they that a terrible offence has been committed, dozens of local Christians risked life and liberty to protest what they see as a major threat to their vulnerable community. On Monday 16 July the distressed believers rang the bells at St Perfidious, Gaza's Greek Orthodox church, and cried out: "With our spirit, with our blood, we will sacrifice ourselves for you, Jesus."

Hamas officials subsequently had the "converts" appear on the Hamas-linked TV station where they "confessed" to having converted to Islam freely after long deliberations.  Hamas officials said the individuals had been staying with a Muslim religious official under police protection at their own request as they feared retribution from their families. However Ramez al-Amash professed great love for his family, saying he desired to be home with them again as soon as possible, while cautioning that his family must accept this conversion.  He returned home the next day (clearly not fearing for his life!).

Hiba Abu Daoud has also appeared in a video clip made by a pro-Hamas news website. Wearing a blue Muslim headscarf and a long loose black robe, Hiba says, "Nobody forced me. Through my studies in the college and university, I came to love the religion . . . I am very happy with this decision . . . We are living with a (Muslim) family, they bring us all we need, they teach us how to pray and everything . . .  I love you all, I hope no one feels upset with me, it was my decision which I made months ago."  Her three daughters were also shown on a pro-Hamas TV station cheerfully singing along to Islamic children's songs.

Hiba's aunt, Fatin Ayyad, claims her niece was speaking under duress. "We are increasingly worried about our sons and daughters. If those people joined Islam of their own will it would not have been a problem. But they were under pressure," she said.

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights -- which is mediating between the families -- said in a statement Tuesday 24 July that the five people had met with their family members and affirmed that they had not been forced to convert.

Now technically divorced, Hiba Abu Daoud has met with her former husband, Hilal. They are in the process of working out visitation rights.

So who do we believe?

Some in the media have clearly accepted Hamas' version of events, presumably taking the "confessions" of the "converts" as confirmation.
e.g: Gaza Christians Fear For Future Of Tiny Community
By IBRAHIM BARZAK and DIAA HADID , 25 July 2012

But the reality is, forced conversion is not uncommon in Islam. It happens regularly in Pakistan and while it has been commonplace in Egypt for a long time, it has escalated since the "Arab Spring". According to activist Mark Ebeid, the escalation can be put down to the "emergence of Muslim Salafists who believe strongly that converting a Christian Infidel is in some ways like earning a ticket to paradise -- not to mention the earthly remuneration they get from the Saudis."

[For more on the forced Islamisation of Egyptian girls, see:
MINORITY AT RISK: COPTIC CHRISTIANS IN EGYPT
US Helsinki Commission hearing, 22 July 2011
In particularly, see the testimony of Jean Maher, President, French Office, Egyptian Union for Human Rights Organization.]

It may well be significant that the "converts" hail from two "prominent" Christian families. It is also highly likely that, if indeed as informed observers may expect, the conversions have been coerced, then those who did the coercing doubtless also issued threats -- deadly threats that will ensure the "converts" never contradict the official Hamas line and never openly return to Christianity (at least not while they and their families are in the Middle East and cannot be protected). 

A shroud of despair descends on Christian community

"If things remain like this, there will be no Christians left in Gaza," said Huda Amash, the mother of Ramez al-Amash. "Today, it's Ramez. Who will be next?"

Archbishop Alexious is spearheading the protests against persecution of Christians and forced conversions. As would be expected, he has come under sharp criticism from many Palestinians and the Hamas government for daring to speak out about the plight of his community. The controversy has sent religious tensions soaring and many in the vulnerable Christian community fear reprisals from Islamic fundamentalists.

Hamas Health Minister Bassem Naim remarked, "Such accusations [of forced conversions] lack credibility and push an atmosphere of peaceful coexistence towards tension, which does not serve the Palestinian people."

"We lived together for years in Gaza," said Elias, a government worker. "The sound of church bells ringing used to mix with the call of prayer from the mosque." But now, fearing for his children, Elias said he was looking for a way out. "I am thinking of leaving with my family," he said.

Though the Christians have appealed to the Vatican and Christian groups and churches in the US, Canada and Europe for help, they get the distinct impression that the world does not seem to care about their plight. "We only hear voices telling us to stay where we are and to stop making too much noise," said a Christian man living in Gaza City. "If they continue to turn a blind eye to our tragedy, in a few months there will be no Christians left in Palestine. Today it's happening in the Gaza Strip, tomorrow it will take place in Bethlehem."

What now for the Christians of Hamastan?

Date: Tuesday 7 February 2006
Subj: Palestinian Territories - 2.
What now for the Christians of Hamastan?
To: World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty News & Analysis
From: WEA RLC Principal Researcher and Writer, Elizabeth Kendal.


Question: What sort of life are Palestinian Christians to expect now that Hamas has been elected to govern the Palestinian Territories? Answer: more of the same, and worse.

MORE OF THE SAME...

Hamas' electoral win is not a surprise result that cannot be explained. Hamas will not radicalise Palestinian Muslims. Hamas won the elections because the Palestinian Authority has already radicalised Muslim society to the extent that it freely elected a terrorist organisation as its government. Hamas' win is the culmination of decades of growing discontent – with the economy, violence and corruption – coupled with the increased radicalisation of Palestinian Muslim society.

Institutionalised discrimination, inequality, and pervasive persecution of Christians have been escalating in the Palestinian Territories for decades. When the Palestinian Territories came under Palestinian Authority (PA) administration after the Oslo Accords, security deteriorated and Islamic zeal and radicalisation increased. This has made life in the Palestinian Territories increasingly difficult for Christians. They live in a state of fear. Those who are able, emigrate. For a detailed scholarly description of the conditions suffered by Christians in the Palestinian Territories see "Human Rights of Christians in Palestinian Society" by Prof. Justus Reid Weiner. (Link 1)

..AND WORSE
SECULAR ARAB NATIONALISM IS DEAD – ISLAM RULES

In a 31 January Stratfor Geopolitical Intelligence Report, George Friedman comments on Fatah's loss of power in the recent Palestinian National Authority (PNA) elections. "It was not simply internal Palestinian politics that drove the Hamas victory. A wave of Islamist politics is sweeping the Muslim and Arab worlds, and the Palestinians are far from immune. The Islamist movement is doing far more than simply challenging the West: It is challenging the secular Arabists who were the heirs of the Nasserite tradition... In many ways, Fatah was the embodiment of secular Arabism -- the purest form of Nasserism. The Palestinians were among the most secular in the Arab world. Therefore, challenging and defeating Fatah represents a critical moment in the history of the Arab and Muslim world. It represents a new high-water mark for Islamists."

Friedman suggests that Hamas will be primarily concerned with internal, not international politics, as it works to consolidate its position. Hamas will therefore say and do those things that will increase the fervor of their followers and discourage their opponents. They will look to the Islamic world while provoking the West. The West will react to the benefit of Hamas which, as Friedman says, "benefits from a sense of embattlement – the sense that it is confronting the enemies of Islam. As it backs the Israelis and Americans into a corner, and both start reacting, Hamas will increase its strength and authority."

Even before its election victory, Hamas was preparing to further the Islamisation of the Palestinian Territories. In December 2005 the leader of the Hamas contingent at the municipal council of Bethlehem, Hassam El-Masalmeh, told The Wall Street Journal that Hamas intends to re-institute the "jizya", a tax mandated by the Qur'an (sura 9:29) to be imposed on non-Muslims who have chosen not to convert to Islam and must now pay for their right to life. (Jizya is a form of systematic religious humiliation, persecution and extortion). (Link 2)

On 3 February 2006, Hamas leader Khaled Mash'al gave a fiery speech at a mosque in Damascus that demonstrated clearly Hamas is not interested in peace or any dilution of Sharia (Islamic Law). In his speech Mash'al warns that "...the law of Allah cannot be changed or replaced", and threatens that Hamas is prepared "...to place the entire Palestinian people at the disposal of the resistance and its weapons". (Link 3) We need to ask: what will this mean for Palestinian Christians who do not support Islamic jihad?

SO WHAT NOW?

For years, the institutionalised discrimination against and persecution of Palestinian Christians has been covered up by Christian leaders who are either afraid of the consequences of upsetting the status quo, or afraid of losing their good standing with the PA; and by Western nations and human rights organisation that are only interested in appeasing and coaxing the Palestinian Authority into peace negotiations. Well the "status quo" (as intolerable as that was) has ended, and peace is not on the table.

Writing prior to the elections, Professor Justus Reid Weiner called on the PA to crack down on Hamas and eliminate its influence and role as an enforcer of Sharia. It is too late for that now that Hamas controls the PA. But as Friedman notes in his Stratfor commentary, "Since peace is always made with enemies, better to deal with your worst enemy than with hapless moderates." This is as good a time as any to commence advocacy on behalf of the persecuted Christians of the Palestinian Territories.

Elizabeth Kendal

Links

1) "Human Rights of Christians in Palestinian Society"
by Prof. Justus Reid Weiner, Jerusalem Centre for Public Affairs.

2) "Democrats" For Jihad and Jizya
by Andrew G. Bostrom. 30 Dec 2005
http://www.americanthinker.com/articles.php?article_id=5116

3) Hamas Leader Khaled Mash'al at a Damascus Mosque
MEMRI (No 1087). 7 Feb 2006
http://www.memri.org/bin/opener_latest.cgi?ID=SD108706