June 2017 Persecution Magazine (1 of 4)

WWW.PERSECUTION.ORG
JUNE 2017
PERSECU ION
The dangers of
outreach in the
world’s largest
Muslim country
Indonesia
Underground
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INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN CONCERN

President’s Letter
I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to
advance the gospel, so that it has become known.... Most of the brothers, having
become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak
the word without fear.
Philippians 1:12-14 (ESV)
If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If they
persecuted me, they will also persecute you ... on account of my name, because
they do not know him who sent me.
John 15:18-25 (ESV)
Jeff King, President
International Christian Concern
I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you
have not grown weary.
Revelation 2:3 (ESV)
Pastor Nur (page 14) is the kind of pastor we love to stand behind.
He is involved in outreach to Muslims in a fundamentalist area of Indonesia. Although Indonesia has laws on its books
regarding religious freedom, these are mostly for show and are rarely enforced or used to protect victims of persecution
from the Muslim majority.
Pastor Nur’s work could cost him his life and it already nearly has, but he can’t stop.
You see, Nur has found life in Jesus and must share it with his countrymen. This burden of love compels him to push on
even when those who he wants to be saved are ready to kill him.
Nur stands at the frontlines of a hidden battle between the kingdom of God and Satan, and in this space you see heroes that
are familiar to you because you have read about them in the New Testament and the Book of Revelation.
They cry out, “How long, oh Lord,” and yet they keep serving.
I don’t know about you, but I desperately need them in my life.
Please join with us as we bandage and build His persecuted Church on the frontlines of the battle.
As always, your donations will be used efficiently, effectively, and ethically.
I promise!
Jeff King
President
International Christian Concern
www.persecution.org
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News
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Aftermath of the St. George’s Church bombing in Tanta.
Two Churches in Egypt Bombed on
Palm Sunday
1 | EGYPT On April 9, Palm Sunday, two suicide bombers
targeting Coptic churches devastated the Christian community
in northern Egypt. The first blast hit St. George’s
Church in Tanta, which is located approximately 50 miles
north of Cairo. Several reports indicate that an explosive
was placed under a seat in the church’s main prayer hall
before it detonated during the service. Only hours after
the bombing at St. George’s Church, another bombing
took place at St. Mark’s Church in Alexandria. At the time
of writing, these bombings have killed at least 44 people,
and injured more than 100 others.
Eyewitness reports and video footage of the aftermath
depict a grisly scene. According to an eyewitness of the
St. George’s attack who spoke with ICC, “The church
became dark and there were screams everywhere.” He
continued, “The blood splattered all over the church.”
Egypt’s president called for a state of emergency in
response to the severity of the attacks.
In a matter of
hours after the bombings,
ISIS claimed
responsibility for the
attacks on its website.
Unfortunately, ISISled
violence is nothing
new for Egypt’s
Christian community.
Last December, a suicide
bomber attacked
St. Mark’s Coptic
Orthodox Cathedral
in Cairo. Twenty-five
Christians, primarily
women and children,
were killed in this
incident. ISIS not only
claimed responsibility
for the attack but also
promised to carry
out more attacks on
Christians—a promise
that is clearly being
fulfilled.
These Palm Sunday
bombings are indicative
of the rising violence
facing Egypt’s
Christians. Unless
Egyptian authorities
take decisive action to
protect the already vulnerable
Christian community
and their places
of worship, incidents
of this nature will
likely continue. In the
meantime, let us pray
for all of those affected
by these senseless acts
of violence.
Christian Female
‘Untouchables:’
A Triple Minority
in India
Christian “Untouchables” Form Group
to Promote Rights
2 | INDIA Although technically prohibited by Indian
law, the class structure of untouchables remains
prevalent throughout India. They are often banished
from normal society.
Untouchables, or “Dalits,” qualify for government
benefits, but if they identify as Christians they
lose any benefits associated with their Dalit status.
Unfortunately, more than half of Christians in India
come from a Dalit background.
Dalit Christian women face perhaps the most
discrimination as they are a ‘triple minority.’ They
are discriminated against for their religion, their
gender, and their low-caste background.
As a result, society treats them as the lowest
outcasts and they often struggle financially and face
various obstacles that make everyday life difficult.
The vast majority of Dalit women in rural India
do not receive a proper education, and are therefore
illiterate. This then forces them into menial work.
Tragically, some succumb to human trafficking
because limited prospects make them vulnerable and
easy targets.
In response, a group of approximately 40
Christian Dalit women have banded together to call
for justice. They have formed a network, called the
Dalit Christian Women for Change, to help prevent
abuse and encourage education among local women.
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Indonesian Authorities Ban Three Churches from Meeting
3 | INDONESIA In direct opposition to their declarations of religious freedom, authorities in West Java, Indonesia, have banned three Christian
churches from leading religious services. The churches were told that they are not permitted to meet because “the government cannot guarantee
their safety.” The affected churches are Methodist Church Indonesia, Huria Batak Protestant Church, and a group of Catholics who used a
home for both catechism and Sunday school. This ban came about shortly after a radical Muslim group staged a protest, demanding that the
churches be shut down.
Hassan Muwanguzi was falsely accused of human sacrifice.
Evangelist Falsely Accused of Kidnapping and
Human Sacrifice
4 | UGANDA In late February, an Islamic leader in Uganda falsely
accused a Christian evangelist of kidnapping and making a human
sacrifice of his adult daughter after she converted to Christianity.
After converting, the daughter sought refuge with the evangelist
when her father reportedly abused her for leaving Islam. This led to
the false charges and the evangelist’s subsequent arrest.
Thankfully, after the plaintiff failed to appear in court twice and
because there were no public witnesses, a judge decided to dismiss
the case. Furthermore, the judge encouraged the evangelist to file a
defamation case over the matter.
Primary school in France.
French Teacher Suspended After Reading Bible
Verses to Students
5 | FRANCE A primary school teacher in central France was recently
suspended from his position after a group of parents anonymously complained
that he read Bible verses to their children. The parents wrote a
letter to the school’s headmaster, alleging that the teacher was attempting
to convert the students by promoting his own beliefs. In accordance
with France’s strict secularism laws, the headmaster suspended
the teacher while the school board investigates the matter. While the
teacher’s suspension has been met with mixed reactions, it is one of
several incidents in which Christianity has been pushed out of the public
school system in both Europe and North America.
Asia Bibi’s Anniversary of Arrest
6 | PAKISTAN On June 19, Christians around the world will recognize the beginning
of a painful ordeal for a woman named Asia Bibi. June 19, 2017, marks the
eighth anniversary of the arrest of Bibi. In June 2009, Bibi got into a dispute
with her Muslim coworkers after allegedly drinking from the same water bowl
as them. They claimed that, as a Christian, she contaminated their water. As the
argument escalated, Bibi defended her faith and stated, “What did your prophet
Muhammad ever do to save mankind?”
Shortly after, Bibi was accused of blasphemy and has been sentenced to
death for the crime. Her case has gone through countless obstacles with several
delays along the way, as she continues to wait on death row. Bibi’s case
is widely seen as an international example of the danger and potential misuse
of blasphemy laws.
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Asia Bibi has been on death row since 2009.
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News
Prime Minister Modi of the right-winged BJP.
India Illegally Destroys Christian Homes
on Church Property
1 | INDIA In yet another act of hostility toward religious
minorities, district officials in India illegally destroyed
the homes of 16 Christians living on church property
who had received permission from the church to
live there. The officials did not give the families any
advance notice prior to the demolition, leaving them with
nowhere to go. Due to the lack of warning, the families
were forced to rely on neighbors to provide shelter for
their young children.
Many human rights activists and local Christians have
spoken out in support of the families and to condemn
the injustice of the demolitions. One activist argued that
there is a Supreme Court ruling that specifically protects
church-owned land and, therefore, it is illegal for the
government to seize the land. Since Prime Minister
Modi’s (pictured) rise to power in 2014, there has been
a sharp increase in discrimination and violence against
Christians. Unfortunately, authorities often turn a blind
eye or, in this case, actively engage in the discrimination,
leaving Christians vulnerable to future attacks.
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Sudanese Government Condemns
Church Leaders for Speaking About
Persecution
2 | SUDAN As previously reported, 25 churches in Sudan
were notified that their church buildings were marked
for demolition. The government claims that they were
illegally constructed on land zoned for other purposes, but
some church leaders have said that they legally acquired
the land and that the demolitions are part of a broader
crackdown on Christianity in Sudan.
As Christians and human rights leaders begin to speak
out against this injustice, the Sudanese government, as led
by Omar al-Bashir (pictured), is doing everything in its
power to silence the backlash. Sudan’s notorious National
Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) has ordered
church leaders throughout Sudan not to speak about the
pending demolitions or Christian persecution as a whole.
After holding a press conference calling for an end
to the church demolitions,
the chairman of
the Sudan Council of
Churches was told to
report to NISS headquarters
daily, along
with a fellow Christian
leader. They are no longer
required to follow
this restriction, but must
obtain official NISS permission
before speaking
about the demolitions in
the future. A key aspect
of Christian persecution
in Sudan is the ability to
operate in secrecy, so it
is more imperative now
than ever to bring attention
to these issues.
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Sudanese President Omar
al-Bashir
Muslim Mob
Attempts
to Attack
Christian Home
3 | EGYPT Eight
people have been
arrested after a
violent mob began
targeting Christian
homes in southern
Egypt. The conflict
began following
claims from a group
of Muslim villagers
that a Christian
family was holding
its daughter captive
following her conversion
to Islam as a
form of punishment.
However, the family
has denied such
accusations.
Thankfully, police
were able to intervene
and stop the
mob by using tear
gas before they
reached the homes.
However, this led to
a scuffle between the
mob and the authorities
that left four
policemen and seven
Muslims wounded.
Mobs of this nature
have escalated in
Egypt recently, even
leading to death
in some cases, and
caused increased
tension between
local Christians and
Muslims. Although
many of these mobled
incidents do not
end peacefully, it is
a relief to know that
this Christian family
received the proper
protection from
authorities.
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Two Pastors Arrested for Helping North Korean Defectors
4 | NORTH KOREA Two South Korean pastors, ages 66 and 42, have been arrested by Chinese authorities for reportedly smuggling North
Korean defectors out of China. These arrests are only a glimpse at the wider crackdown on missionaries in China who risk their well-being
to assist North Korean defectors. Defectors who are discovered by authorities in China are frequently repatriated to North Korea where they
often face unspeakable retaliation.
Mother and Son Arrested for
Converting to Christianity
5 | IRAN Toward the end of February, a Christian
mother and son were arrested in Iran for converting to
Christianity. When their home was raided, authorities
seized Bibles and other pieces of Christian literature.
Aside from unconfirmed reports that the pair may be
facing medical issues, little else is known about the
fate of these new Christians.
The imprisonment of innocent Christians in Iran
continues to rise, with a particularly harsh crackdown
on those who have left Islam and converted to
Christianity. However, by the grace of God and the
faithfulness of those leading the underground church
movement, Christianity continues to grow in this
closed nation.
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Mother and
Son Murdered
in Somalia
6 | SOMALIA After
a violent attack in
the middle of the
night, a Christian
mother and son in
Somalia have lost
their lives. During
the attack, Islamic
radicals broke into
the family’s home
without warning
and began shooting,
while yelling, “Allah
Akbar.” Although
the mother and son
died in the attack,
three of the other
children were able
to escape and find
refuge in a nearby
town, while their
father recovers in
the hospital from a
shot to the chest.
Pakistan Arrests Three People for
Blasphemy on Social Media
7 | PAKISTAN Three people were arrested in
mid-March for allegedly sharing “blasphemous”
content on social media. The accused faced a
trial before an anti-terrorism court and spent
seven days in custody of the Federal Investigation
Agency. In addition, their computers were confiscated
for investigation. In light of these recent
arrests, the Pakistani government has made several
requests to social media sites, including Facebook
and Twitter, that they remove blasphemous content.
Although it has not been confirmed, Pakistan
reports that Facebook complied with their censorship
requests by removing 85% of blasphemous
content, while Twitter has refused to accommodate
their demands.
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Your Dollar$ at Work
Christian
Literature
for Farida in
Karachi
Bibles
Farida is a widow and an evangelist in
Karachi, Pakistan. For years, she sold
Christian literature and items encouraging
Christianity in the area while managing
to support her children…until Muslims
forced her to stop evangelizing in the
streets. They beat her and her children,
threatening them with continued beatings
if they did not quit evangelizing.
Later, a Muslim mob, angered by Farida’s
continued spread of Christian materials,
attacked her home. The mob beat Farida
again and damaged almost all of the merchandise
that was to be sold. In response
to the attacks and threats, Farida was
forced to move her struggling family from
the neighborhood.
Farida, the primary breadwinner for
her family, no longer had the resources to
provide for her children. She didn’t know
how she and her children would survive.
ICC stepped in to provide financial assistance
in order to initiate a business for
Farida. With your help, ICC provided
materials such as crosses, books, CDs,
DVDs, calendars, and more, so Farida
can provide for her family once again.
The financial gain from this business
will empower her to cover her expenses,
provide for and educate her children, and
encourage her and her family.
Pakistan is notorious for persecuting
Christians and limiting the levels of
free speech in many different situations.
Unfortunately, many Christians
find themselves in Farida’s position.
Living in poverty and fear, not knowing
what type of persecution may come
next, these Christians are unable to
live full and free lives. With your partnership,
ICC will continue to provide
practical aid and spiritual encouragement
to those who are suffering unjustly
in Pakistan.
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Business to
Iraqi Christian
Community Rebuild
At just 20 years old, Ibrahim has become
the primary income earner for his family.
Ibrahim lost his father years ago and
has since dropped out of school to help
out at home.
In 2014, Ibrahim and the rest of his family
had to flee their home in Qeraqosh, Iraq,
when ISIS attacked. Since then, Ibrahim
has struggled to find work. Unfortunately,
he was treated poorly at his job because of
his faith. Ibrahim does not regret any of
these sacrifices because they have helped
keep his family safe; however, he needs a
more stable income.
To enable Ibrahim to provide for his
family’s livelihood, ICC helped him to
obtain a car that he can use as a taxi. He
has done very well with his taxi business
and is now adding delivery services. He is
now able to provide for his mothers and
younger siblings.
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Karnataka
Church Repair
Community Rebuild
Hindu radicals attacked a church located
in Kondhapally, inside the Chitradurga
district of Karnataka, India. During the attack,
the radicals destroyed worship items, including
an amplifier, speaker boxes, chairs and
the church’s pulpit. Furthermore, intending to
cause “maximum damage” the Hindu radicals
secured gasoline and set fire to the church
building. Once the attack was over and the
incident was reported to police, authorities
instructed the pastor to not conduct worship in
a rental building. With no other options to hold
services, the pastor looked for a tent to rent
every week. However, it was difficult for the
church to maintain the rental expenses.
In response to their plight, ICC was able to
assist the Karnataka church by replacing items
that were destroyed during the attack and provide
a tent for their worship service. Now, the
Karnataka church congregation can worship in
a place that is expense-free.
Taxi Business to
Afghan Pastor
Underground Pastors
M
ost Christians in Afghanistan suffer
from unemployment due to social and
economic discrimination. This persecution
leaves churches and their leaders unsupported.
Pastor Aarif and his church are no exception
to this scenario. The 35-year-old father of five
lost his job and has since been unable to support
both his church and his family. Despite
his lack of employment, Aarif did not stop his
ministry, visiting and teaching the Gospel in
surrounding cities.
In order to assist Aarif, ICC was able to
provide a used car, both to serve his ministry
and business alike. As a business, Aarif can
use the car as a taxi. For his ministry, the car
will quickly and safely transport him to different
churches. The taxi service will ensure that
he and his family have a sustainable income
while also allowing Aarif to shepherd a congregation,
disciple new believers, and even
plant other churches.
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Your Dollar$ at Work
ICC Opens an
Electronics
Store in
Pakistan
Community Rebuild
F
or 20 years, Hasan operated an electronics
store in Pakistan, gaining a reputation for
honesty and outstanding work despite working
in a market dominated by Muslims. People
consistently chose to hire Hasan and shop at
his store rather than some of his Muslim competitors.
Frustration and resentment developed
among his neighbors.
Envious competitors continually asked
Hasan to close his shop on Fridays and join
in Islamic prayers. On some Fridays, they
would force him to close his shop, but he
would not go to the mosque. He refused, saying,
“I cannot betray Jesus.” More recently, a
group tried to force Hasan to convert to Islam
or leave his business.
Fearing for his life, Hasan left his successful
business to work as a day laborer. Without
a steady income, Hasan could not reopen
his business and struggled to provide for his
family. ICC recently moved Hasan to a safe
location and provided a microfinance loan to
purchase the necessary equipment for Hasan
to start an electronics shop again, including
lights, light bulbs, testers, fans, safety kits,
switches, plates, wiring, and more. ICC also
provided rent and food aid.
Fulani destruction in Agatu, Nigeria.
ICC Helps
Widow and Her
Six Children
Suffering Wives & Children
I
n February 2016, Islamic Fulani militants
initiated a series of attacks that destroyed
homes, property, and the stability of predominately
Christian Nigerians.
During the attacks, approximately 500 people
were killed, and hundreds of homes, property
and farms were destroyed in a number of
villages in the Agatu Council Area.
The Fulani attack in Agatu village cost one
woman her husband, brothers, home, and
livelihood. As a result, the widow, Laraba,
and her six children were forced to relocate
to an internally displaced persons (IDP)
camp. They were in desperate need of
assistance and shelter.
ICC aided this family by building a sixroom
home for Laraba and her six children,
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Your Dollar$ at Work
Church Support in Indonesia
Underground Pastors
I
n 2012, an Indonesian pastor was preaching
in an underground church when a
group of radical Muslims entered and threatened
the church. “Children were crying,
people were so afraid,” he told ICC. The
church was forced to leave and they spent the
next two to three years avoiding further persecution,
holding services in various homes.
Now, the church meets on the second floor of
an unmarked building. The entire first floor is
left empty to give no clues as to the use of the
building. It is an expensive building to rent
but it’s secluded and church members feel
safe. ICC has helped the church by providing
speaker systems, a laptop, and a projector for
Sunday school lessons.
with plans to also provide a self-sustaining
business. Not only did ICC want to move the
family out of the IDP camp, but also to demonstrate
the compassion and love of Christ,
while encouraging her to trust in the Lord.
ICC plans to rescue other Christian families
like Laraba’s who have suffered at the
hands of the Islamic Fulanis.
Please continue to pray that the Agatu
village will be safe from the brutal attacks
of the herdsmen’s militia, and that God will
open doors for supplies and resources to
reach the hundreds of other families who
lost their homes during the attacks.
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Assistance to the Family of
Blasphemy Victim Ali Masih
Suffering Wives & Children
I
n September 2016, a 16-year-old Pakistani
Christian, Ali Masih, was falsely accused
of blasphemy. He was imprisoned for ‘liking’
an image on Facebook that authorities found
to be insulting to Islam. Later, in February
2017, Masih was denied bail and forced to
stay in prison until his hearing.
Throughout Masih’s persecution, his family
has suffered severe threats and has been
unable to financially support themselves.
Forced to move from their home neighborhood,
the family had no possibilities for
income. To aid in this situation, ICC provided
the struggling family with a small motorcycle
taxi, a business that is completely mobile in
case they have to relocate again.
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