Bishop Joseph Melki of the Syrian Catholic Church was recently interviewed in Germany on the challenges of Islamization.

Lebanon--Bishop Joseph Melki of the Syrian Catholic Church was recently interviewed in Germany on the challenges of Islamization. Lebanese Christians, either Catholic or Orthodox of Maronite, Syrian, and Byzantine rites, have always been a model of ecumenical co-operation. In a national agreement signed by Christians and Muslims after the 1990 civil war, religious conviction and practice are both free. This distinguishes Lebanon from other Arab countries.

Bishop Melki, however, stated that although Christians and Muslims are good neighbours and mix in business life, political relations are becoming more tense. Muslim symbols and posters are prominent in the streets, the Qu'ran is broadcast several times a day on public radio, and Islamic programs are introduced in the schools. Wealthy oil-producing countries finance the building of mosques and Qu'ran schools at important locations in Beirut. There has also been a great increase in foreign Muslim immigrants.

These developments are making the Christian population uneasy, especially in view of the demographic shift. Christians currently stand at 45% of the population but this decreases daily due to emigration, usually to America. The Christian population also has a lower birth rate than the Muslims.

Bishop Melki fears that creeping Islamization may eventually lead to loss of the Christian presence in the Near East, with an accompanying loss of the values of freedom and democracy. He is very concerned that the current Lebanese government does not want to rock the boat (Lebanon is occupied by the Syrian army), and thus permits the Muslim intrusions on the public scene to continue.