Crusader Hirelings or Loyal Subjects? Evolving Jihadist Perspectives on Christian Minorities in the Middle East

IF 0.4 2区哲学 0 RELIGION Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations Pub Date : 2022-07-03 DOI:10.1080/09596410.2022.2096761

Brynjar Lia, Mathilde Becker Aarseth

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引用次数: 1

Abstract

ABSTRACT In contrast to common assumptions, jihadist movements’ view of Christian minorities in the Middle East has been neither unambiguous nor static. It changes according to the overall political conflict in the region and is characterized by specific, unpredictable struggles that arise locally. By studying the official statements of al-Qaeda and ISIS, their ideological and strategic writings and their conduct vis-à-vis indigenous Christians in the Middle East, this article seeks to paint a more complex picture of how jihadists perceive this minority. One key finding is that the Christians of the Middle East and the foreign Christian ‘Crusaders’ are not a single phenomenon or foe in the conceptual worldview of jihadists. Second, rather than seeking to eradicate Christians completely, jihadist movements wish primarily to demonstrate the dominance of Muslims and their role as legitimate rulers over Christian minorities. Third, terrorist attacks on Christians and churches have been devastating and deadly, especially in Egypt and Iraq, but local Christian minorities are not a top priority target for most jihadist groups.

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十字军佣兵还是忠诚的臣民?不断演变的圣战分子对中东基督教少数群体的看法

与通常的假设相反，圣战运动对中东基督教少数群体的看法既不明确也不稳定。它根据该地区的总体政治冲突而变化，其特点是在当地发生具体的、不可预测的斗争。通过研究基地组织和ISIS的官方声明，他们的意识形态和战略著作以及他们对-à-vis中东本地基督徒的行为，本文试图描绘出圣战分子如何看待这一少数群体的更复杂的图景。一个关键的发现是，中东的基督徒和外国的基督教“十字军”在圣战分子的概念世界观中并不是一个单一的现象或敌人。其次，圣战运动并不是要彻底消灭基督徒，而是主要希望证明穆斯林的统治地位，以及他们作为基督教少数群体的合法统治者的角色。第三，恐怖分子对基督徒和教堂的袭击是毁灭性的和致命的，特别是在埃及和伊拉克，但当地的基督徒少数群体并不是大多数圣战组织的首要目标。

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来源期刊

Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations RELIGION-

CiteScore

1.90

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0.00%

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期刊介绍： Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations (ICMR) provides a forum for the academic exploration and discussion of the religious tradition of Islam, and of relations between Islam and other religions. It is edited by members of the Department of Theology and Religion, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom. The editors welcome articles on all aspects of Islam, and particularly on: •the religion and culture of Islam, historical and contemporary •Islam and its relations with other faiths and ideologies •Christian-Muslim relations. Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations is a refereed, academic journal. It publishes articles, documentation and reviews.