The remains of an ancient Nestorian Christian monastery and church on Sri Bani Yas Island in the United Arab Emirates have been opened for public viewing, providing an important glimpse into the pre-Islamic history of the region.

The site was unearthed in the early 1990s and is believed to be the only permanent settlement ever established on the island, which is 160 miles southwest of Abu Dhabi.
 
Catholic News, December 15, 2010

The issue of Christians in Iraq really hits home, particularly the week before Christmas. These "Assyrian" or "Chaldean" Christians form one of the oldest Christian communities in the world, dating back to biblical times-long before the rise of Islam.

And, sad to say, the action or inaction of the U. S. government has played a major role in the situation.

Chuck Colson, December 17, 2010

On Wednesday night, Americans tuning into Cornerstone TeleVision, a Christian network, will hear what has become a familiar narrative to Christian communities over the last seven years: the hardship story of their fellow Iraqi believers.

“Undercover with Persecuted Christians,” which promises to take “viewers to places where believers suffer most for their faith,” opens with an episode about Iraqi Christians.

By Tom A. Peter, Christian Science Monitor, June 2, 2010

A 4th or 5th century church in eastern Saudi Arabia has been fenced off ever since its accidental discovery 20 years ago and its exact whereabouts kept secret.

By DONNA ABU-NASR, AP, Sep 1, 2009

Thousands of Iraqi Christians living in the northern city of Mosul fled for their lives this past week, many leaving behind everything and, as one refugee put it, taking “only our souls”.

At least 744 Christian families, or about 3,750 people, fled the city dubbed by US and Iraqi commanders as the last urban stronghold of Al-Qaeda for refuge with relatives in churches and at Christian centres in several towns and villages to the north and east of Mosul, according to the UK-based persecution watchdog ministry, Barnabas Fund. Some are even sleeping in their cars.

These displaced Iraqi Christians are said to be in desperate need of food, clothing, bedding, personal hygiene items and other basic necessities.

by Michelle A Vu, Christian Post, October 14, 2008

Two Christian men were killed Saturday in Mosul, contributing to a "climate of panic" among the small community there, reports AsiaNews.it.

Hazim Thomaso Youssif, 40, and Ivan Nuwya, 15, were both killed in the Iraqi city, contributing to a long list of attacks against Christians in the war-torn country. Youssif was ambushed in front of his clothing store, and Nuwya was shot to death in front of his home, located near the local mosque of Alzhara.

Zenit, Iraq, OCT. 5, 2008

The Arab emirate of Qatar witnesses the building of the first church since the coming of Islam. Conservative Muslims are furious, but the reform-minded emir of Qatar thinks it is time to show that Islam is a tolerant religion.

"If all goes well, we will celebrate Easter in our new church", says father Yashun of the almost completed church of the Virgin in the Qatari capital Doha. The Catholic church, which will open next month, is the first church to be built in Qatar since the coming of Islam 14 centuries ago.

Radio Netherlands Website, Feb 8, 2008

A director who shares the ideas of Iran's hardline president has produced what he says is the first film giving an Islamic view of Jesus Christ, in a bid to show the "common ground" between Muslims and Christians.

Nader Talebzadeh sees his movie, "Jesus, the Spirit of God," as an Islamic answer to Western productions like Mel Gibson's 2004 blockbuster "The Passion of the Christ," which he praised as admirable but quite simply "wrong".

Breitbart, Jan 13, 2008

There is neither a cross nor a sign on the heavy metal gate to indicate that this is the official residence of one of this country's most prominent Christians, the first prelate in Iraq in modern times to be elevated to the rank of cardinal by the Roman Catholic Church.

The simple structure, in a dilapidated neighborhood of this capital, across from empty former ministry buildings, is the home of Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly, whom the pope named on Oct. 17 to the college of cardinals along with 22 others from around the world.

The only outward sign that this compound is Christian is in the garden, where a carefully watered lawn surrounded by roses and zinnias is watched over by a graceful white statue of the Virgin Mary.

By Alissa J. Rubin, International Herald Tribune, Nov. 2, 2007

After 20 years of requests, and opposition of extremist Wahabbi Muslims, land was granted by the Emir of Qatar for the building of a parish church. Catholics now number 100,000 in Qatar.

Asia News, March 30, 2007