Christians flee Lebanon amid signs of growing Islamic fundamentalism

Published: 2007-04-17

BEIRUT, Lebanon (CNS) -- Christians are fleeing Lebanon to escape an ongoing political and economic crisis amid signs that Islamic fundamentalism is on the rise in the country. Forty-three percent of Maronite Catholics -- the largest of the country's 12 Christian denominations -- polled recently said they were considering emigrating. Nearly a third of them have applied for visas in the last six months, according to the study by Information International, an independent Beirut-based research body. The study, which was to be published in May, was released early to Catholic News Service. "Some 60,000-70,000 Christians have left the country in the last six months," said George Khoury, executive director of Caritas Lebanon, the local agency of the Caritas Internationalis confederation of Catholic relief, development and social services organizations. "In some ways Lebanon is becoming increasingly Islamized because of the demographic shift." The high emigration statistics also are impacting Lebanon's Muslims, many of whom are thought to have left Lebanon since last summer's war between the Iranian-backed Shiite militant group Hezbollah and Israel.

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