Christmas Carols Soothe Fear of Christians in Libya
Christians in Tripoli are finding solace in Christmas carols amid their fears in the war-torn capital of Libya.
Since the ouster of dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011, fears for the Tripoli residents' safety have increased and the jihadists' reported slaughtering of Christians in Libya only served to worsen those fears. However, community members continue to visit Saint Francis church during the day off every Friday to pray for each other, according to an AFP report published on Your Middle East.
In August 2014, an Islamist militia group overran Tripoli and caused the government to escape to the far east side of the country. While most Westerners left Libya after that incident, there are still some workers from Asia, Middle East, and Africa who have opted to stay because of lack of stable income in their hometowns, the report relays.
Egyptian priest Father Magdi said there used to be more than 100,00 Christians in Libya before the uprising in 2011. However, there are only around 5,000 left in the country, and less than 1,000 in Tripoli, he added.
Meanwhile, the terror group Islamic State has taken advantage of the political chaos in Libya to strengthen its control over the country. Just this year, it reportedly executed 21 Coptic Christians mostly from Egypt and 28 Christians from Ethiopia.
As Libya continues to be riddled with conflict, the international community is pushing the nation's rival administrations to unite against the Islamic State extremists. The United Nations has brokered a deal between the rival factions as part of a bid to help fight the Islamic State and bring stability to Libya, NBC News reports.
On Sunday, Pope Francis re-echoed the call to end the ongoing civil war in Syria and form a united government in Libya. Speaking to a crowd in St. Peter's Square, the pontiff said he approves of the agreement that the international community came up with.
Amid all the chaos this season, Christian expats in Libya can only turn to the church and find solace in their gatherings and simple Christmas celebrations to allay their fears and anxieties.
