Meet persecuted Christians in The Middle East

Christians in the Middle East are often marginalized and discriminated against because of their faith in Christ and some suffer from military activities in their areas.

Many are also under threat from Islamic extremists in the region who view them as having sympathies with the West.

By providing training, counselling and Scripture resources, Open Doors' teams are helping to strengthen believers across the region.

Meet Myriam from Bethlehem

• Widowed with two children
• Home temporarily requisitioned by soldiers and damaged

Myriam lives in Bethlehem. Following the 2002 siege, her home was left in ruins.

All Myriam's furniture was destroyed, broken glass strewn all over the floor, and the whole house covered in dust and debris.

"Why did they do this to me?" asks Myriam. "I am just a poor widow and I have two children to look after."

Myriam had saved up for months to buy a new fridge. During the fighting in 2002, the shelves were broken and the door buckled.

Myriam is grateful to have the support of local church leaders, who visit her regularly.

Meet Shaiboub from Egypt

• Framed and wrongly convicted of murdering his cousin, also a Christian
• Sentenced to 15 years at hard labour
• Wife and children bereft

In June 2000, Shaiboub was framed and convicted of murdering his cousin and another young Christian in a village in Egypt.

Shaiboub was made the scapegoat in a flagrant police cover-up, and was sentenced to 15 years' hard labour - the maximum penalty for manslaughter under Egyptian law.

Shaiboub is incarcerated in a high-security prison in Cairo. His family lives 330 miles away and is allowed to visit him only once a month, for just 30 minutes.