The Marrakesh declaration contrasts with the World Watch List 2016 of Open Doors, released on January 13, 2016, in which 50 countries, mostly Muslim, are listed as countries where Christians are persecuted most. Open Doors is identifying Islamic Extremism as the main persecution engine in Egypt without sufficiently weighing the efforts Muslims carry out to counter this such as in the Bayt al-Eila in Egypt. In our view persecution is primarily related to states with a weak rule of law which gives groups in society the opportunity to lash out, for various reasons, at the minorities in their midst. This includes Christians in different Muslim countries.

Arab-West Report received this message from Dr. Brian Grim, president of the Religious Freedom & Business Foundation (US) and friend of Arab-West Report. We like to share this with all our readers. The Marrakesh Declaration is truly important since it shows a dedication of Muslim leaders to combat hostility to religious minorities in their countries. We hope this to be an encouragement for Christian leaders to fight Islamophobia in their countries.

Cornelis Hulsman,

Editor-in-chief Arab-West Report