Original Garden of Eden? U.N. Recognizes Wetlands in Iraq As World Heritage Site 

By Garrett Haley on July 25, 20166 Comments

IRAQ – A vast complex of wetlands and marshes in the Middle East, believed by some to be the original Garden of Eden in Genesis, has been designated a world heritage site by the United Nations.

Last week the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) announced the addition of eight new sites to its world heritage list. One of the sites is the Ahwar of Southern Iraq—a place described by UNESCO as a “refuge of biodiversity” in southern Iraq.

“The Ahwar is made up of seven sites: three archaeological sites and four wetland marsh areas in southern Iraq,” UNESCO said in a statement last Sunday. “…The Ahwar of Southern Iraq—also known as the Iraqi Marshlands—are unique, as one of the world’s largest inland delta systems, in an extremely hot and arid environment.”

Although the Iraqi marshlands were severely damaged in the 1990s by Saddam Hussein, aggressive restoration efforts have revitalized the area.

Rest of the article here. http://christiannews.net/2016/07/25/original-garden-of-eden-u-n-recognizes-wetlands-in-iraq-as-world-heritage-site/

 

Muslim attacks on Christians in Egypt spiralling out of control

Muslim attacks on Christians in Egypt spiralling out of control.

Full story here.

http://www.christiantoday.com/article/muslim.attacks.on.christians.in.egypt.spiralling.out.of.control/91414.htm

 Ruth Gledhill CHRISTIAN TODAY CONTRIBUTING EDITOR 25 July 2016 

Christians mourners of Minya, Egypt following a mass execution by Islamic State

A senior bishop has issued a warning of an exponential spiralling of attacks on Christians in Egypt, home to three-quarters of all Christians in the Middle East.

Bishop Angaelos, head of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom, said in a statement that Egypt had become more vulnerable to a disturbing wave of radicalism because of recent events.

"It is regrettable that the time has come yet again to speak of heightened, targeted attacks against Coptic Christians in Egypt. Tensions against Egypt's indigenous Christian community have again escalated over the past few months, and will spiral even further if not immediately addressed," he warned.

The main catalysts were inflammatory false rumours of affairs between Christians and Muslims, of new churches being built and a growing trend of directly targeting priests and their families.

"At their most brutal, these recent attacks have culminated in the burning of churches and places of worship, the stripping and public parading of 70-year-old Souad Thabet, and the senseless murder of Father Raphael Moussa," he said.

Downing Street

Bishop Angaelos of the Coptic Orthodox Church at an Easter reception with former prime minister David Cameron

Thabet was paraded naked through the streets by a mob in Menia, Egypt and a number of Christian homes looted and destroyed in May. No charges have been brought against perpetrators.