Middle Eastern Christians have deep historical roots in their homelands. Image Credit: © Ishtar TV (ishtartv.com) – AI-generated illustrative design based on the subject of a Coptic Solidarity article, October 31, 2026.

Ishtar TV – News Reports

A recent article published by Coptic Solidarity on October 31, 2026, warns that the diminishing presence of Christian history in school curricula and official historical narratives across several Middle Eastern countries is contributing to a perception of Christians as outsiders or foreign communities in their own homelands, despite the fact that their roots in the region date back to the earliest days of Christianity.

The article, written by researcher Raymond Ibrahim and titled “How Middle Eastern Christians Became Foreigners in Their Own Lands,” examines the relationship between historical memory and national identity, highlighting what it describes as the marginalization of Christian history in educational curricula and cultural discourse in Egypt, Palestine, Jordan and Iraq.

Egypt: The Marginalization of Coptic History in Education

The article begins by referring to remarks by former Egyptian Minister of Culture Helmy El-Namnam, who recently spoke at a conference in Cairo about the need to establish a specialized center for Coptic studies at an Egyptian university.

He emphasized that Coptic identity is an essential component of Egyptian national identity and that the study of Coptic history should not be limited to church institutions.

The article argues that Egyptian school history often moves from the Pharaonic era directly to the Arab Islamic conquest, overlooking centuries of Christian history in Egypt. This leaves significant gaps in younger generations' understanding of their country's past.

It also cites Egyptian educational researcher Kamal Mughith, who noted that many Egyptians know little about the history of Christians in Egypt, despite their being among the country's indigenous communities.

The article further refers to a 2023 report highlighting the limited presence of lessons and historical material concerning other religions, Christian figures and Jewish historical communities in certain Egyptian educational curricula.

Palestine: Limited Awareness of Christianity's Roots in the Holy Land

Turning to Palestine, the article argues that the limited teaching of local Christian history contributes to a decline in awareness of the historical roots of Christian communities, including among Christians themselves.

It recounts the experience of a young Palestinian Christian who questioned whether returning to Europe might offer an escape from difficult economic and political conditions, religious extremism and an environment in which Christians increasingly feel unwelcome.

The author considers the expression “returning to Europe” a reflection of a historical awareness gap, pointing out that Palestine is the birthplace of Christianity and the land from which the earliest Christian communities spread throughout the world.

The article also quotes Joseph Hishmeh, regional director of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA) in Jerusalem, who observed that Palestinian educational curricula sometimes present history as though it begins with the Arab conquest, without adequately addressing the first seven centuries of Christianity in the Holy Land.

Jordan: Overlooking the History of Arab Christians

The article also addresses Jordan, citing remarks by Dr. Hana Qaldawi at a conference held in Amman in 2016.

She highlighted the significant omission of pre-Islamic Arab Christian history from Jordanian school curricula, as well as historical inaccuracies and unjustified gaps between different historical periods.

According to the article, some textbooks do not adequately address the history of Christianity and the churches in the region. Christianity is also sometimes presented as a Western phenomenon associated with colonialism rather than a faith with deep historical roots in the Middle East.

Iraq: Christians Portrayed as Though They Came from the West

Regarding Iraq, the article cites the testimony of politician Sharara Yusuf Zara, who previously worked in the Iraqi Ministry of Education.

He pointed to the insufficient representation of Iraqi Christian history in school textbooks and said that the information included sometimes contains historical errors and distortions.

He argued that the curricula fail to clearly explain that Christian communities existed in Iraq long before the emergence of Islam. The emphasis on Western Christians, without adequately presenting the history of indigenous Iraqi Christians, may lead some students to believe that Christians came from Europe and are merely guests in the country.

This issue is particularly significant for the Chaldean Syriac Assyrian people, whose historical and cultural roots in Mesopotamia extend back to ancient civilizations predating Christianity. Their churches, heritage and Syriac language form an integral part of the region's history and cultural identity.

History, Identity and National Belonging

The article argues that the marginalization of Christian history does not merely weaken knowledge of the past; it also shapes how society views Christian communities.

It may reinforce the perception of Christians as foreign groups or extensions of Western influence, rather than recognizing them as an indigenous and integral part of the region's social fabric.

The author further suggests that this perception can affect Christians' own sense of belonging, particularly among younger generations who rarely see their communities' histories adequately represented in school curricula and national historical narratives.

The article also highlights the historical complexity of religious and social transformations in the region, noting that some contemporary Muslim families may have ancestors who were Christians before converting to Islam over different historical periods.

Ultimately, the article concludes that preserving the Christian presence in the Middle East requires more than protecting churches and religious institutions. It also requires recognizing Christian history, teaching it to younger generations and incorporating it fairly into each country's national narrative.

Middle Eastern Christians are not foreigners in the region, nor are they guests in their own homelands. They are an integral part of its history and civilization. Protecting their historical and cultural heritage is essential to preserving diversity, pluralism and the shared historical memory of the peoples of the Middle East.