Christianity in North Africa and West Asia

North Africa and West Asia are home to the most ancient expressions of Christianity in the world, but these diverse traditions also face the threat of extinction due to genocide by ISIS and other forms of political violence and pressure. Christians numerically represent a small minority faith in this region, and the discourse around their “minority” status (dhimmitude) within largely Islamic societies is hotly debated. The majority of Christians in the region are Orthodox, of both Oriental and Eastern varieties. Other factors contributing to diversity include the wide variety of Christian denominations among expatriate workers in the Gulf region, and the presence of many Eastern Catholic rites (Chaldean, Coptic, Syriac, Armenian, Melkite, Maronite).