THESE are roller-coaster days for religious minorities in the Middle East and their energetic advocates in America. From their point of view,this week has brought both dire and potentially welcome news.rank tidings came from northern Iraq, where the small town of Telskuf was until recently considered a modest success story for resettlement after liberation from the jihadists of Islamic State. It was reported in recent days that 700 Christian families had been forced to evacuate as a result of strife between Iraqi forces and the Kurds. The town had been rebuilt with the wait on of a $2m grant from the Hungarian government.
But advocates of that region’s minorities welcomed a promise from Vice-President Mike Pence of a change in America’s aid policy.
In an emotional speech to an advocacy group called “In Defense of Christians” Mr Pence said the State Department had been told to “halt funding ineffective relief efforts at the United Nations and instead provide support directly to persecuted groups through...
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Source: economist.com