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Expectedly, the anti-Semitic and discriminatory sentiment in the Middle East and Northern Africa against Jews and Christians is on an upswing, according to the State Department’s 2012 Religious Freedom Report.

Florida Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), who is the Chairman of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee (MENA), released a statement expressing her concerns, and mentioning the usual radical Islamist suspects in the region that are responsible for targeting religious minorities, like Coptic Christians.

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Perhaps the most disturbing trend from this report is the continued rise in anti-Semitism, not just in the MENA regions, but worldwide. Holocaust denial and glorification are not only condoned, but have become common practice by government officials, religious leaders and the media in these countries, most notably Egypt and Iran.

Sadly, this report comes as no surprise, as we have witnessed blatant discrimination against various religious minorities throughout that region, particularly against Jews and Christians. In Egypt, Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood cronies systematically target religious minorities, most notably the Coptic Christians, and repeatedly recite prayers that call for the destruction of Jews and their supporters, while Ahmadinejad and the Iranian government continue to deny the Holocaust occurred and blame the ‘Zionists’ for all of the world’s ills.-Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL)

With the rise of the radical Islam throughout the region and its supportive groups like the Muslim Brotherhood, expect anti-Semitism, discrimination, and violent acts of terror to continue to shape the new Middle East.

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