WI:The Caliphate activly persecuted Christians.

Prefrence

Banned
What if after the Arab conquests of Syria, Mesopotamia, Palestine, and Egypt, the Muslim Victors began persecuting Christians in their realm.

How would this affect conversion rates, and the future of the near east?

Would the Christians in the near east convert quicker? or would the Muslims face a violent determined resistance? Is it possible for Christian revolts to help restore the Byzantine Empire to its old frontiers?

Also how would this effect Islam eslewhere?
 
Considering the large amount (often majorities) of Christians in North Africa, Egypt, the Levant, Mesopotamia, and even Persia, many of which communities lasted until very recently, I doubt the Islamic invaders would even get very far.
 
Considering the large amount (often majorities) of Christians in North Africa, Egypt, the Levant, Mesopotamia, and even Persia, many of which communities lasted until very recently, I doubt the Islamic invaders would even get very far.

That. Without the active cooperation of many Christians in Syria and Egypt, there will be no Caliphate. They provided its administrative base, its civilian skill set, labour pool and tax base, and they would be unlikely to do that willingly if actively persecuted.

It's just about possible to see persecution coming in at a time when Muslim rule is established - IIRC a few of the Fatimid caliphs and the Almohads did that - but in the first few centuries, it's a losing proposition.
 
That. Without the active cooperation of many Christians in Syria and Egypt, there will be no Caliphate. They provided its administrative base, its civilian skill set, labour pool and tax base, and they would be unlikely to do that willingly if actively persecuted.

It's just about possible to see persecution coming in at a time when Muslim rule is established - IIRC a few of the Fatimid caliphs and the Almohads did that - but in the first few centuries, it's a losing proposition.
Not only would it not make economic or political sense, it would be heretical. Mohammed specifically enjoined tolerance for 'Peoples of the Book' (i.e. Jews and Christians, later extended to all pre-existing 'higher' religions).
 
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