SIGNIS World Congress 2014
Media for a Culture of Peace:
Creating Images with the New Generation
Christians in the
Middle East
Facts & Challenges
Jacques F. El Kallassi
Tele Lumiere/Noursat
Wednesday 26/2/2014
The Middle East is the land of:
1. Civilization & different cultures
2. Fascinating & captivating history
3. Diversity of religious denominations
BUT…
The dilemmas we are facing today in
the Middle East are an extension of
the main problem:
WE ARE NOT ABLE TO LIVE TOGETHER
- Neither between religions
- Nor inside the nations
- Nor between the countries
Our Middle East is experiencing
fundamental changes in its socioeconomic-political structure ever…
To start with, I am sure you know that:
All the constitutions in the ME region
(with the exception of Lebanon) include
a clear clause stipulating:
1. “Islam is the state religion”
Or/and
2. “The primary religion of the state is
Islam”
Or/and
3. “Sharia is a source of the state's
legislation, laws and regulations.”
From that emerges a never ending
series of divisions, persecutions and
sufferings…
Same ongoing story since 2000 years…
Arab Christians find themselves the
target of constant harassment
for no reason other than their
religious faith.
From Sudan, to Nigeria, to Egypt to
Iraq, to Iran, to Syria, to Turkey to
Yemen….. Christian minorities are
living with permanent fear…
* Fear of a darker tomorrow
* Fear to speak-up
* Fear of threats & provocations
* Fear of Muslim fundamentalists
* Fear of Muslim terrorists
* Fear of a religious media war
* Fear of forced migration
We Have been saying/ singing/ praying
"Peace on Earth" for 2000 years
We have been greeting each other with
Assalamou Alaykom
‫السالم عليكم‬
“Peace be with you” for 1400 years
But 1000 persons fall victims to killings
& wars everyday in the Middle East…
No need to remind you that
1213 Syrian Christians were martyred
in 2013
No Need to remind you that
Priests, Bishops & nuns were kidnapped
& some were brutally killed
No Need to remind you that
many Christians in the ME do not
dare to wear the Cross in public
No need to remind you that
one million Christians have
disappeared from Iraq
No need to remind you that
half a million of Christians have left Syria
No need to remind you that
hundreds of Christians died in
revenge of the Prophet cartoons
No need to remind you that
hundreds of Christians died in revenge
attacks following the wars in Afghanistan
A pivotal question arises at Noursat live
talk shows or in the viewers’ questions:
Why isn't the West outraged???
The only reaction we have seen is when
French President, German Chancellor,
and British Prime Minister declared that
multiculturalism has failed…
Why do most of the West NOT realize
that the Islamic world
was the Christian world once????
We do not want to play the victims’ role,
or weep and cry…
We do not want to blame the West for
not defending the Christian minority of
the East
All we want is to show the world that we
are not a minority… We are a majority
belonging to a Universal Church of 2.5
billion Christians around the globe.
Moreover, we do not want our
Churches and convents to become old
history museums…
We do not want to appear one day in a
TV program, called “vanishing
civilizations”
We have a natural right to preserve our
heritage, culture, history and religious
traditions.
It is not by chance that we are born in
the Middle East.
Jesus wanted us there because we
have a role to play…
I am afraid time will come,
same will happen in the west…
Don’t be surprised…
Be surprised when you listen to the
Christian leaders of this world speak
about PEACE, while …
they know NOTHING about the
Prince of Peace,
Jesus-Christ…
and
the Christian values
One of the most revolutionary
expressions ever said:
“Love your enemies…”
We cannot celebrate the Lord of love
without resolving to be more like Him…
The risk in not acting is much greater
than the risk in acting
In December 2010, a young Tunisian,
Abu Azizi, a street vendor,
burned himself to death…
His action triggered a series of events
that did not settle yet…
TVs and Social Media played a
decisive role in spreading the socalled “Arab spring” by showing the
“Power of Images”…
It is true that media has an important
role to play… and that should be
through…
Creating images and stories for
peace,
to give people opportunities to see
that living together is possible.
Creating images that respect the
values and traditions
will strengthen inter-cultural and
inter-religious UNDERSTANDING
Creating images that determine
responsibilities
giving those who have been
silenced, access to media in order to
make their voice heard.
Creating images that can sow love,
harmony, solidarity, and hope…
will enable people to be more aware
of each other, and to respond to the
threats of life.
Creating images that can help the
Christian become a better Christian
and
the Muslim become a better Muslim
and
the Jew become a better Jew
TV still remains the most important
source of news and information in
most of the Arab countries.
The Middle East & North Africa
consists of a population of 360
million in 24 Arab speaking
countries
50% of that population are youth
below the age of 18.
60% of that population are youth
below the age of 21.
In the past:
- The youth was considered as not
having any role in the society.
Today:
- The youth is building up the
countries again…
Media is responsible in helping the
youth build bridges of understanding
and tolerance.
Media is responsible in helping the
youth find “joy” again and acquire
the capacity of knowing the
difference between Good and Evil.
The main & unique gate towards
change and prosperity passes
through MEDIA and images
TVs are moving societies…
The Christian Media is a guarantee
for moderate images
There is an absolute necessity to a
media strategy for the ChristianJewish-Muslim relations
We need images that show
religion is a peace-making mean
We need images that
does not pour oil on fire
We need an interactive media that
creates a climate in which most
people will motivate themselves to
exchange experiences, and learn
from each other…
The world is changing too fast to rely
on old solutions, and it is useless to
run if we are on the wrong road…
Accept the challenges
Do the impossible
God is always next to the strongest
battalion
In fact, with small and simple
changes in your media strategy you
can make a tremendous difference
in the societies around you.
Few hours per week or per month
is all it takes to make a difference
in your Church, in your
community, in your country and in
the countries around you
Governments, leaders of this
world, and wise people can no
longer claim that they did not
know, or they did not see
Media of today is showing images of
hunger, war, persecutions, sufferings,
diseases… in our living rooms
Broadcasting
the "Good News"
through positive images, is a step
towards creating a domino effect to
millions of individuals who will start
making a difference themselves too
Vaccinate your TVs with spiritual
programs and
Strengthen "a dialogue of
experiences" including religious
experiences
In fact through its portal, live streaming
and social media…
And through specialized channels
launched during the last two
years…
Nour News 24/24
Christian News and Documentaries
Nour al Kodass 24/24
Masses
Tele Lumiere & Noursat became a
daily bread and hope for the Christian
minority
in
the
Middle
East,
as well as a source for 17 million
viewers from different religions &
denominations.
Noursat has become
the link to a Universal Church
Noursat has become
a tool of unity among all Churches
Noursat has become
the echo of all Churches in the West and
East and that of the emigrated Arabs.
It is true that there is no success
without the help of God
but remember that God needs your
help to succeed in His Salvation project
Do not fear for the Christians if
they leave the Middle East…
Fear for the Middle East if the
Christians leave it…
THANK YOU