Russian Pastor Killed While Leaving Church Building

Pastor Artur Suliemanov

It’s disheartening to note how a Russian Pastor, Artur Suleimanov, 49, the pastor of Hosanna Christian Church in Makhachkala, the largest church in the capital of Dagestan, was killed by gunmen on the evening of 15 July while leaving his church building.


This revelation is contained in separate reports from Mission Network News (MNN) http://www.mnnonline.org/  and Compass Direct News (CDN) http://www.compassdirect.org/ adding that the identity of the shooters remains unclear.

The report noted that in the weeks leading up to the killing, Dagestan media broadcast called for people to take measures against Suleimanov because he was too “active” and converted ethnic Muslims.

“Russian Ministries reports that throughout his ministry he received threats from radical Muslims--he himself being a former Muslim and thus considered an apostate. In countries with high Muslim populations, apostates can be punished by death; Dagestan is 98 percent Muslim,” the report said.

It continued: “As officials investigate Suleimanov's death, though no one has been found responsible, they have not ruled out radicals as the attackers. Not dwelling on his death, Suleimanov's congregation celebrates his life, recalling him as a "strong, supportive and positive leader. He is survived by his wife, Zina, and five children."

It pointed out that Suleimanov founded Hosanna Christian Church in Makhachkala in 1994 and that the church started out as a small prayer group, but now with 1,000 members adding that it is the largest Protestant church in the Northern Caucacus region.

According to the report, 80 percent of the congregation is made up of former Muslims stressing that the congregation established other branch churches throughout Dagestan and a formal Bible study center at the Makhachkala church. “Suleimanov also equipped the church to distribute food and other aid to residents of the poverty-ridden country.”

It also said that Suleimanov death follows the shooting of Orthodox priest Daniil Sisoev of St.Thomas church in Moscow last November, which a Muslim group claimed responsibility for the slaying.

It needs to be noted that Dagestan is a small Russian republic of about 2.6 million people in the Caucacus Mountains on the border with Chechnya. They’re ethnic Avars, Dargins and Lezgins, who are all traditionally Muslim and they make up almost 75 percent of Dagestan’s population. In total, 91 percent of the population is Muslim, with the remaining 9 percent being Christian, mostly Russian Orthodox.

And because of Dagestan’s location, its population is trapped in a long-standing feud between Russia and the Chechen separatists fighting next door. The political realities of the conflict often bleed into Dagestan, resulting in civilian deaths.

Further to that, the Russian government has from time to time cracked down on the Wahhabis, a sect of Sunni Islam with separatist tendencies. The Muslims in turn persecute Christians, because they see Christianity and Orthodoxy in particular, as a Russian religion. Many converts to Christianity have to practice their faith in small, discreet home groups.

Mob Wrecks Home of a Vietnamese Evangelist

Nguyen Minh Triet, Vietnamese Prsident

The life of a Vietnamese Evangelist, Mang Vuong, is in dare danger as mob attacked and ransacked his home and house church twice in six weeks.


This is contained in a report by Release International (RI) http://www.releaseinternational.org/  adding that the Evangelist an ethnic minority Hroi Christian had nearly finished building his home, which doubled as a church, in Xi Thoai village, Phu Yen province, when the mob first attacked.

It said that the youth, angered by Vuong's decision to hold worship meetings in his home, smashed walls and wrecked the interior on July 18 adding that previously, on June 10, they had broken into the house, stolen nearly £2,000 and destroyed much of its contents.

“The violence had been encouraged by local officials who allegedly called the youth to a meeting and 'plied them with alcohol' the night before the first attack. The same gang has continued to threaten and harass Vuong ever since,” it stated.

The report observed that Vuong is part of the Evangelical Church of Vietnam (South), a government-registered church and that he had decided to build a home that would also serve as a church – common practice for Vietnamese evangelists – because the closest Hroi church four miles away was full.

It sated: “Provincial leaders in Vuong's church say they tried in vain to persuade local and regional officials to take action to protect Vuong and now intend to raise the issue with the national Government.”

“We are pleased to report that Ali Golchin, a Christian from Varamin, Iran, who was detained in April, has been released on bail. Ask God to heal Ali, who has reportedly suffered harsh interrogation and solitary confinement. No formal charges have been brought against Ali; pray this remains the case.”

RI through its international network of missions serves persecuted Christians in 30 countries around the world by supporting pastors and Christian prisoners, and their families; supplying Christian literature and Bibles; and working for justice.

For more information on Release International, log on to their website: http://www.releaseinternational.org/

Christians in Bhutan Jittery Over Anti-Conversion Law

Jigmi Y. Thinley the Bhutan Prime Minister

The Christian minorities in the Himalayan nation of Bhutan, a Buddhist populated country located in the Southeast Asia are worried over the proposal by the government to introduce the anti-conversion law.


This indication is contained in a prayer report released by the Prayer Communications team of Open Doors, an organization serving persecuted Christians worldwide, adding that the amendment bill would punish proselytizing that 'uses coercion or other forms of inducement'.

It noted that Christians are afraid that the bill is so vaguely worded that fundamentalists could use it to jail them for living out the basic Christian principles of worship and caring for the needs of others.

"There was always a virtual anti-conversion law in place, but now it is on paper too. Seemingly it is aimed at controlling the growth of Christianity. Sources expect the legislation may be passed during the next session of Parliament, after the National Assembly deliberates on it in the winter session. If convicted, Christians would receive a one-to-three-year prison sentence,” the report said.

It noted that Bhutan with a population of 683,000 people has over 75 per cent of them as Buddhist, while there are only around 6,000 Christians, representing about 2% ofthe population adding that the church is growing gradually through word-of-mouth and the testimonies of those who have received healing from sickness.

The report stated: “Public preaching is tacitly if not legally forbidden. The country does not have a church building or a registered Christian institution. The Bible, however, has been translated into the national language, Dzongkha, as well as into Nepali.”

It observed that two years ago Bhutan held its first ever democratic elections, following more than 100 years of absolute monarchy, and that religious freedom is slowly increasing - although some see the latest development as an attempt by the government to halt that trend.

“Please pray that the proposed anti-conversion legislation would not pass through Parliament and that it would not be used against Christians to stop them practicing their faith. Pray also that God will pour out His Spirit across the country and put an end to the spiritual oppression that many Bhutanese are under,” the report urged.

In over 50 countries, Open Doors is supplying Bibles, training church leaders, delivering Scripture-based literacy programs and supporting Christians who suffer for their faith. In the United Kingdom and Ireland for instance Open Doors strives to raise awareness of global persecution, mobilizing prayer, support and action among Christians.

For more information on Open Doors, log on to their website: http://www.opendoorsuk.org/

Pakistan Killings: Christian Aid Mission Rehabilitates Survivors

A Pakistani Christian affirming his faith in Jesus Christ.
Pix courtesy - Washington Post

Christian Aid Mission (CAM) in an effort to provide succor to the widows and orphans of the recent Pakistan killings - Pastor Rashid Emmanuel and his brother, Sajid Emmanuel, has established an emergency fund for that purpose.


The two Christians, who’re of the same parents, were murdered by masked Islamists during a court appearance in Faisalabad, Pakistan on Monday as the police were about transporting them from the court to jail.

They were heading a non-profit organization called the United Ministries Pakistan at the Warispura Christian community of Faisalabad

This is contained in a release posted on their website: http://www.christianaid.org/  stating that: “Those wishing to help the widows, orphans and other survivors of anti-Christian violence in Pakistan may give online or send contributions to Christian Aid Mission, Box 9037, Charlottesville, VA 22906. Gifts should be designated to fund code 095PERS.”

According to the release, the local GVM Television and other news reports said that after the murders, thousands of Muslims went on a rampage in the nearby Christian communities of Warispura and Daunagar. “Automatic weapons were fire and rioting continued on Tuesday, as police did nothing to stop the looting of Christians’ shops and homes.”

It said that Christian leaders in Pakistan have asked Christian Aid to call upon Christians in America and around the world to pray for them adding that the Pakistani Christian Post had reported that the local government and police were doing nothing to stop the rioters, but sometimes were joining the rioters by beating the believers and shooting tear gas rounds into Christian homes.

“Local believers insist that the two murdered Christian brothers were falsely accused of posting blasphemous posters at a local train station by the single witness of Khurram Shahzad, a Muslim man.”

CAM observed that it’s ironical that the murders took place while the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was in Pakistan as part of her South Asian mission to government leaders in Islamabad and Kabul.

It sated: “No further casualty reports have been made available. Local news reports described the killers of Pastor Rashid Emmanuel and his brother Sajjid as Muslim extremists.”

The release stated that almost daily threats of violence and physical attacks have occurred against Christian Pakistanis over the last two weeks and that the wife and children of one pastor were killed by mob violence before the Faisalabad murders.

“In August last year, seven Christian women and children were burned to death when Muslim mobs set fire to a church and the homes of 60 Christian believers in nearby Gojra.”

The CAM’s Field Director for South Asia was quoted as saying: "We will continue to send help to persecuted believers in Pakistan, just as we have done for many years. Contributions are needed to help make these ministries possible."

It needs to be noted that Christian Aid Mission as a mission agency seeks to establish a witness for our Lord Jesus among unreached people groups by assisting highly effective native missionaries who already know the languages and culture and are getting the job done for less cost.

And to learn more about CAM, log on to their website: http://www.christianaid.org/

Let's pray for the persecuted Christians!

It's really disheartning to note what our Christian brethren pass through on a daily basis in most of the Moslem countries. It calls for unceasing prayers!


The case of Brother Jamaa Ait Bakrim, a Moroccan Christian who has been imprisoned for his faith since 2005, readilly comes to mind. He did practically nothing to deserve such inhuman treatment from his Moraccan countrymen. His "sin" - just because he stood strongly for His Master - Jesus Christ!

Please lets take out time to pray for this Brohther Jamaa and by extension all persecuted Christians all over the world. Let's cry to God on his/their behalf and believe HIM for a divine intervention. You may learn more about his case and many other Christian persecution cases by clicking this link: http://www.allvoices.com/users/success4u

May God continue to bless you as you dedicate yourself to prayer for these Christian brethren - the persecuted Christians.

And if the good Lord's leading you to be of support to our mission work here in the Philippines, southeast Asia, may be as a monthly or one-time supporter, please click this link also and follow all the instructions: http://kmointer.webs.com/giveyourdonation.htm  

Thanks so much for your life and your dedication to His service. Till He comes back, remain on top now and always!

Kanayo and Ngozi Uchime
Website: http://www.kmointer.webs.com/

How Morocco Unlawfully Jailed a Christian for 15 Years

Jamaa Ait Bakrim
imprisoned because of his faith

It’s regrettable the kind of injustice Christians in Morocco are going through on a daily basis in the hands of the security officials as the government has continued to violate international agreements they agreed to. This fact is further supported in the case of Jamaa Ait Bakrim, a Moroccan Christian who has been imprisoned for his faith since 2005.


In a statement by the Advocacy Officer, International Christian Concern (ICC), Logan Maurer, he said that fresh details emerged recently on how the bulk of Jamaa’s 15-year sentence came from the mere accusation of “destruction of the goods of others.”

He stated: “The sentence Jamaa is serving is in blatant contradiction to international law agreed to by Morocco. This is the first time Jamaa Ait Bakrim’s case has been able to get out to the west and I am hopeful it signals the beginning of an effort that will bring freedom for Jamaa. He has already served five years for ‘destroying’ two unused electric poles; it is time Morocco be held accountable for the façade they have used to unjustly imprison a man for his faith.”

He noted that on June 17, ICC issued a press release covering the basic information: Jamaa (prisoner number 26574) was imprisoned in 2005 for his faith and is currently in Prison Centrale, located in Kenitra, Morocco.

“In actuality Jamaa burned two unused wooden posts that were blocking access to his house. He requested permission from local authorities and heard nothing until his arrest,” Maurer also said.

He noted that Jamaa’s case has recently come to the attention of the US Congress stressing that in a June 17 Congressional hearing on “Human Rights and Religious Freedom in Morocco,” Jamaa was referenced by Congressman Frank Wolf (VA-10) and Senator James Inhofe (OK-R) as an example of the ongoing persecution of Christians in Morocco.

According to him, Morocco is bound to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which it ratified on March 27, 1979. And Article 18 of the ICCPR states that everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, including the freedom to change their religion. This freedom includes the right to manifest the individual’s belief in public or private.

A professor who had known Jamaa since childhood stated: “Fifteen years for two abandoned posts, it is scandalous. Jamaa presented a serious problem for the authorities. He displayed his convictions in broad daylight and it is for this reason he underwent a crackdown.”

He continued: “Jamaa is a Christian who is convinced of what he believes; he is far from being mad. The business of two burnt posts gave the authorities an excuse to rid their city of a man they hated.”

It needs to be observed that Jamaa, after receiving a bachelor degree in Political Science from Rabat, he moved to Europe where he converted to Christianity. In 1993 he applied for political asylum in the Netherlands but was refused and was expelled back to Morocco when his visa expired.

Jamaa returned to his Moroccan village and his family thought his conversion was a religious crisis and would soon pass. In 1994 he spent seven months in jail for “proselytizing,” (case no. 919/95) and then forced internment at the mental hospital of Inezgane although he had no mental instability. Two years later he was again prosecuted for putting up a Christian cross in public and spent a year in jail.

When he was released Jamaa was rejected by his family and forced to move away from his home village to the city of Massa. He refused to bow to pressure to convert, and instead, put representations of the cross and verses from the Bible on his business storefront. When Jamaa burned two defunct wooden posts that had been unused for three years, it gave the authorities the excuse they needed.

Although he contacted local authorities to obtain permission, he was charged with “destruction of the goods of others” and “proselytizing.” Sentencing was delivered at the court of Agadir on December 28, 2005, condemning him to 15 years imprisonment.

For more information on this case and other persecution stories, log on to the website of ICC: http://www.persecution.org/  OR www.persecution.org/prisonerfocus

Two Pakistani Christians Killed by Moslem Extremists

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari

Pakistan a country in South Asia has continued with its hard posture on the Christian minorities as two Christians who were accused of blasphemy were brutally shot dead outside the court in Faisalabad.


This revelation was made by the International Christian Concern (ICC) in a release by its Regional Manager for Africa and South Asia, Jonathan Racho, adding that the two Christians Pastor Rashid Emmanuel and his brother Sajid Emmanuel were shot dead by masked Islamists as the police were transporting them from the court to jail.

He noted that a policeman accompanying the Christians was also seriously wounded by the attackers who escaped immediately after the shooting stressing that Pastor Emmanuel and his brother Sajid were arrested on July 2 after some Muslims accused them of writing a pamphlet with blasphemous remarks about the Prophet Muhammad.

According to Racho, the charges were based on hand-written and photo-copied pamphlets with remarks about the prophet Muhammad that the Muslims consider offensive adding that Rashid and his brother’s names and phone numbers were printed on the pamphlets.

“It’s outrageous that the Islamists managed to kill the Christians while they were under police custody. This is another indication of the value and the status of Christians within Pakistan. We call upon the international community to hold Pakistan responsible for its mistreatment of Christian minorities,” he also stated.

Responding to this ugly incidence, the Editor of the Pakistan Christian Post, Nazir Bhatti, said that during the court hearing the police expert witnesses indicated that the handwriting on the pamphlets doesn’t match Rashid or Sajid’s hand writing.

“We condemn the killing of the two Christians and we appeal to the Pakistani president to repeal the blasphemy law by executive order to stop the killings of Christians in Pakistan,” he added.

In Pakistan Islam is recognized as the state religion by the Constitution and the census data indicates that 97% of the population are Muslims. There are small non-Muslim religious groups: Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsis, Bahá'ís, Kalash and others totaling 3%.

Although Pakistani Christians have not restricted themselves to any one area of activity, they have traditionally made an outstanding contribution in health, education, railways and the police force. They are also playing a growing role in the civil service and defense services.

ICC is a Washington-DC based human rights organization that exists to help persecuted Christians worldwide. It provides awareness, advocacy, and assistance to the worldwide persecuted Church.

For additional information on ICC, log on to their website: http://www.persecution.org/

Iran Intensifies Attacks on Christians

The Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

Iran has intensified its attacks on the Christian minority with the recent crackdown on the growing influence of the Protestant Churches in the country as it has condemned to death a well-known pastor.


This revelation is contained in a report by Open Doors UK http://www.opendoorsuk.org/  adding that Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani is facing execution after two judges agreed to make him ‘liable to capital punishment.’

It noted that Pastor Nadarkhani was detained in June along with his wife, Fatemeh Pasandideh, in the northwestern city of Rasht, because of their Christian activities.

“A senior pastor of the Church of Iran movement said that judges had ‘already signed’ an Islamic order that would potentially allow a death sentence for Nadarkhani, pending further investigations,” the report said.

It observed that the news of Pastor Youcef’s arrest overshadowed the joy over the release of several other Christians, including two Church of Iran believers and two, identified only as ‘Brothers Mehdi and Afshin’.

According to the report, they were part of a group of eight believers arrested last month adding that one, Fatemeh Kojouri Tork, remains in Tehran's notorious Evin prison, while her husband, Behrouz Sadegh Khanjani, who was one of a group of seven arrested on 11 January, is still being kept in isolation in a security prison in the southwestern city of Shiraz.

It stated: “Concerns remain over the wellbeing of a number of other believers, including Pastor Behnam who remains in detention.”

It continued: “Over the last decade the Iranian church has grown significantly and Open Doors now estimates the total number of Christians in Iran to be about 450,000. The government has intentionally sought to stop this growth and make it impossible for Christians to practice their religion.”

The report said that, although churches connected to minority groups, such as Armenians and Assyrians, are allowed to teach their own people in their own language, it is forbidden to minister to people with a Muslim background i.e. speaking Farsi.

“Please pray and ask God to strengthen these persecuted Christians physically, emotionally and spiritually, so that they will be a ‘light in the darkness.’ Also thank God that despite the horrendous circumstances for Christians in Iran and the opposition they face from the government that the church is growing. Pray for the house church movement, which is responsible for much of the growth of the church, ask God to protect its leaders and give them wisdom and understanding.”

As a Christian organization Open Doors provides Bibles, Christian literature, training and practical support to the persecuted church worldwide. It’s the world's largest outreach to persecuted Christians, working in the most high-risk places.

Fore more information on their other activities log on to their website: http://www.opendoorsuk.org/

How Christians Persecution in Pakistan Remained Unabated

The Pakistani President Asif Ali ZARDARI

It’s very agonizing to note the immense persecution most Christians go through in Pakistan just because of their Christian faith. And the irony of it all is that all these happen in the full glare of the government who is supposed to protect the rights of all citizens in the country.


This is country where the law mandates that "blasphemies" of the Qur'an are to be met with punishment and this has put the 1.5% Christian population into a very serious jeopardy. And it was under this law that one Ayub Masih, a Christian, was convicted of blasphemy and sentenced to death in 1998. He was accused by a neighbor of stating that he supported British writer, Salman Rushdie, author of The Satanic Verses.

Then just recently it was reported by Mission Network News (MNN) about 250 families in Pakistan are being evicted from their homes in Khanewal District by their Muslim landlords. The reason given for this unwholesome act is simply because they stood up in defense of their rights.

Further to that Release International (RI) also reported that their partner in Pakistan intervened to rescue a Christian family - one Yousaf Masih and his wife Suria Bibi, when an angry mob accusing them of blasphemy surrounded their home in Lahore.

The Attack on a Christian Couple

The couple, with their daughter and son-in-law was snatched to safety as an ugly scene developed outside their home in Punjab's capital. They were summoned with mosque loudspeakers, and there and then hundreds of angry Muslims began protesting and in the ensuing protest, one of Yousaf's neighbors accused them of blaspheming against the Koran.

Reports have it that the accusations on the family followed the discovery that the couple, who live in poor, rented accommodation, had made a temporary roof for their bathroom out of a 'banner' which, unknown to them, bore a Koranic verse.

In another incidence in October 2001, gunmen on motorcycles opened fire on a Protestant congregation in the Punjab, killing 18 people and until date, o one knew for sure who the gunmen were but officials think it might be a banned Islamic group.

Christians Killed in a Church in Islamabad

Also in March 2002, five people were killed in an attack on a church in Islamabad, including an American schoolgirl and her mother, while in August of the same year, masked gunmen stormed a Christian missionary school for foreigners in Islamabad, six people were killed and three injured. None of those killed were children of foreign missionaries.

Again in the same period grenades were thrown at a church in the grounds of a Christian hospital in north-west Pakistan, near Islamabad, killing three nurses and while the Christians were recovering from it, two terrorists entered the "Peace and Justice Institute", Karachi, where they separated Muslims from the Christians, and then murdered seven Christians by shooting them in the head.

The Death of Three Young Christian Girls

Most agonizing was the death of three young girls in December 2002, who were blown apart when hand grenade was thrown into a church near Lahore on Christmas Day. While in November 2005 3,000 militant Islamists attacked Christians in Sangla Hill in Pakistan and destroyed Roman Catholic, Salvation Army and United Presbyterian churches.

This very attack was over a flimsy allegation of violation of blasphemy laws by a Pakistani Christian and the attacks were widely condemned by some political parties in Pakistan.

Just recently, in March this year to be precise, the Washington, D.C. based International Christian Concern (ICC) reported that a Pakistani Christian man, Arshed Masih, died after he was burnt alive by some Muslims and as if that was not enough a Muslim policeman raped his wife.

Christian Rights Groups Speak Out

And reacting to the gruesome murder, the ICC’s Regional Manager for South Asia, Jonathan Racho, said “We are outraged and deeply saddened by the murder of Masih and the rape of Martha by the police. As this case clearly indicates, Pakistani Christians are treated as less than animals by the Muslims. We urge the president of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zadari, and other high level government officials to bring the perpetrators of the attacks to justice.”

According to Greg Musselman of Voice of the Martyrs, Canada, women in Pakistan have virtually no rights, and so these abuses go on all the time and any attempt to get justice is always very difficult.

And it’s regrettable that the Christian population in the country has lost every hope in the government and its legal system as they’ve never lived up to their expectation in protecting life and property of the marginalized Christian people – they never get justice, even when they’re wrongly accused. But the only source of hope left for the people is a continuous looking up to God, who’s the author of life.

How Christians are Being Persecuted in Indonesia

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
of Indonesia

Indonesia a Moslem country located in the South East Asia has continued to intensify its persecution effort of the Christian minorities despite spirited cry by the people, as the Islamist hardliners in Bekasi are out to stop the spread of the gospel.


In a report by the Release International (RI) www.releaseinternational.org it noted that the Islamist hardliners are using fighting talk about the 'Christianization' of Bekasi, amid rising interfaith tensions in the city.

“Nine Islamic groups meeting in the West Javan city have reportedly joined forces in a campaign to prepare local mosques to 'wage war’ on the growing Christian influence in the city,” it said.

RI said that the group is recommending that each local mosque should form its own laskar or 'paramilitary unit' to enforce Sharia - a strict Islamic practices on local Muslims adding that they’re insisting that the Bekasi administration's policymaking should reflect this code.

According to the report the hardliners said they are reacting to what they see as a concerted attempt by the church to extend its reach in Bekasi, a commuter city for Jakarta and that the mass baptisms of Christians who were raised as Muslims are cited as a particular issue for concern.

It stated: “On June 20, the Pondok Timur Indah Church in Mustika Jaya subdistrict was shut down. A spokesman for the mayor of Bekasi confirmed that the church closure was a response to demands from Islamist hardliners, who had declared the church 'illegal'. A church-run school in Bekasi was attacked last month, after blasphemy allegations against a 16-year-old blogger.”

It observed that the church leaders are now calling on President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to defend the Christian minority in the face of mounting intimidation.

“Praise God that the church in Bekasi appears to be thriving. Ask Him to protect His people in this city. Also pray against moves to revive religious tensions in a nation still recovering from conflict fuelled by jihadists,” the report added.

Release International is a United Kingdom based Registered Charity. The organization serves persecuted Christians in 30 countries around the world by supporting pastors and Christian prisoners, and their families through its international network of missions. It supplies Christian literature and Bibles and also works for justice.

For more information on them visit their website: www.releaseinternational.org Or log on to the Persecuted Church Blog: http://churchpersecution.blogspot.com

Eight Nigerian Christians Killed by Moslem Fundamentalists

The remains of the last Jos violence


No fewer than eight Christians were killed in Kaduna and Plateau States of Nigeria by some Moslem fundamentalists in a renewed violence on the Christian community, when there villages were attacked, while five Christian homes were burnt down.


In statement by Regional Manager for Africa and South Asia, International Christian Concern (ICC) http://www.persecution.org/,  Jonathan Racho, he said that on the night of July 3, several Muslims attacked Kizachi village in Kaduna State and killed five Christians, including a primary school teacher and mother of six children.

“Nigerian sources told ICC that the police had stopped protecting the village on July 2 after the government failed to pay their salaries,” he stated.

He noted that in the second attack, on the night of July 4, 200 Muslims armed with guns and machetes invaded Ganawuri community, near Jos adding that three Christians are feared dead.

Many Christians Killed in Northern Nigeria

Racho said that this latest violence came on the heels of a March 7 jihad attack against Christians in Jos in which over 500 mainly women and children were murdered. “It is estimated that many more thousands of Christians have been killed in northern Nigeria since the introduction of Sharia law in 2001.”

“We are outraged by the latest killings of Christians in northern Nigeria. Once again, Nigerian officials have failed to provide needed security for the citizens of Kaduna and Plateau States. We urge Nigerian authorities to quickly bring all the perpetrators of the attacks to justice and fully investigate the lapse in security, Racho added.”

Comment From Special Task Force

In his own contribution, a spokesperson of the Nigerian military’s Special Task Force (STF), Lt. Col. Kingsley Umoh, stated that the attackers were suspected herdsmen from neighboring communities of Kaduna State.

According to Umoh, STF received a distress call which they responded to, and engaged in a fire fight with the attackers stressing that one of the attackers received gunshot wounds and six were arrested.

“Those arrested have since been handed over to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the state police command for further investigations,” he added.

About International Christian Concern

We note that ICC is a Washington-DC based human rights organization that exists to help persecuted Christians worldwide and it provides awareness, advocacy, and assistance to the worldwide persecuted Church. For further information on this and other cases of persecution log on to their website: http://www.persecution.org/

Rights Campaigners Pressure Eritrea Government on Freedom of Religion

One of the Eritrean protesters at the Eritrean Embassy
Pix: RI

In an attempt to make the Eritrean government to rescind its hard posture on religious freedom, five Christian human rights campaigners have continued to press on the government of Eritrea to change its stand.


In a report by Release International (RI) http://www.releaseinternational.org/  it pointed out that right campaigners from Eritrea, Scotland, Ireland, Northern Ireland and England converged on the Eritrean Embassy in London on June 3, 2010, to mark the eighth anniversary of the forced closure of many churches in Eritrea.

According to the report, the Bishop of Woolwich, Christopher Chessun, joined the head of the British Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Seraphim of Glastonbury, in presenting a letter to the Embassy calling for imprisoned Christians to be set free. At least 12 have died behind bars.

“The letter was handed in at the culmination of a prayer vigil calling for religious freedom in Eritrea. Eritrea has banned most religious organizations and aggressively persecutes Christians. More than 2,000 are behind bars - some kept in airless shipping containers in the heat of the desert, others in underground cells,” the report added.

It said that seven organizations stood together in solidarity outside the Embassy adding that they include, the British Orthodox Church, Church in Chains (Ireland), Open Doors, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Release International, Human Rights Concern - Eritrea and Release Eritrea.

It noted that the organizer, David Turner of Church in Chains said: “We were reminded that the Berlin wall had fallen, apartheid had ended, and that this injustice, too, would end. Love conquers hate, light conquers darkness, and hope conquers fear.”

“Standing there with Eritreans whose family members were behind bars, reinforced for me the reality of the persecution faced in that country. We must and will continue to stand in solidarity until this great injustice comes to an end,” Tuner further said.

The RI report said that among the delegation is Dr. Berhane Asmelash, an Eritrean refugee who had been imprisoned and tortured in Eritrea.

Speaking on this, Dr Berhane, who is now a Church of England curate, said that many Eritrean Christians have lost their lives because of starvation and torture stressing that thousands have fled their country, risking minefields, crocodile-infested rivers and armed border guards to escape to neighboring Sudan, Ethiopia and Yemen.

Release International serves persecuted Christians in 30 countries around the world by supporting pastors and Christian prisoners, and their families. It supplies Christian literature and Bibles; and works for justice. And for more information, log on to their website: http://www.releaseinternational.org/

How Hindu Extremists Victimize Pastors in India

Pastor Richard Wurmbrand,
founder, Release International


In India the Hindu extremists have continued to victimize pastors by using anti-conversion laws as an excuse to attack Christians, thereby limiting church activities.


Release International (RI) http://www.releaseinternational.org/  in a recent report said that pastors were beaten and cars burnt amid accusations of forced conversion.

RI report said that on June 23, two pastors, Pastors Shidu Kurialose and Nithya Vachanam from Bethel Assembly of God Church were seriously injured when men attacked them with iron bars at a tea stall in Chandapura, Karnataka state, accusing them of converting people to Christianity by force. They were subsequently admitted in a hospital after the assault.

It noted that before that attack some extremists reported to be from the Bajrang Dal organization burnt at least seven vehicles belonging to the Jesus with Us Pentecostal Church in Mathikere, Tamil Nadu.

RI noted that the attack followed efforts by extremists to prevent the church holding a four-day convention and that in the event, the gathering went ahead in a different location, under police protection.

Further to that, in Uttar Pradesh, Hindu extremists reported to be from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh organization raided a meeting at Jesus Church in Firozabad on June 21 and threatened to harm Pastor Breymond Shastri if he continued to lead worship there adding that they also persuaded the local media to publish an article accusing the pastor of forcible conversion.

“Pray that the church in India will remain steadfast in their faith also pray that Indian politicians and law enforcers will take a tougher line on extremist elements who are falsely accusing Christians of forced conversion.”

It needs to be noted that eight Indian states have introduced anti-conversion laws – though one, Tamil Nadu, has since repealed them.

Release International is a United Kingdom based registered charity organization and through its international network of missions, it serves persecuted Christians in 30 countries around the world.

It does this by supporting pastors and Christian prisoners, and their families; supplying Christian literature and Bibles; and working for justice. And for more information on their activities, log on to their website: http://www.releaseinternational.org/

Aftermath of Jos Killings in Nigeria: ICC Calls For Resignation of Security Head

Jos, Nigeria Fulani riot victim being buried

The International Christian Concern (ICC), http://www.persecution.org/  the Washington based non-profit Christian organization has called for the resignation of the nation’s head of security for neglecting to act when it mattered most.


In a statement in its Washington office, the President, Jeff King said that the story behind the story is that the head of the army, General Saleh Maina GOC Jos, (a Muslim) was warned by a Christian governor, Jonah David Jang, that an attack was coming the very night the attack occurred.

“The head of the army did nothing. Many reports from inside Nigeria have reached ICC saying that the head of the Army’s inaction may have been incompetence but it may have been worse,” he added.

Jeff King noted that ICC was outraged on March 7 when over 500 Christians were slaughtered in Nigeria adding that in addition to getting Senators and Congressional leaders to send letters to Nigerian officials calling for action, ICC purchased a full page ad in one of Nigeria’s leading newspapers calling for the resignation of the nation’s head of security.

Speaking on the orphans in Burma he said: “Tu Mua Pa is 6 years old. Her mother died years ago. Her father is still alive but hiding in Burma. She was with the orphanage when it was attacked on June 2009. She fled across the river with the others; but being the smallest, she couldn’t keep up. Despite suffering, her energy and bright smile are amazing.”

Recounting the plight of underground pastors, Jeff King mentioned the testimony of one underground pastor, who stated: “There are many people who love my family but would not dare step foot in my home because of their fear of the community. I try to take a very neutral approach. When I have an opportunity to help them, I do. Five days a week I walk around the community and try to help their needs.”

The underground pastor continued: “A boat is my main priority. Without a boat here, it is like you don’t have feet. You can’t move around. A boat is the main transportation. Also I want a lot of prayer from Christians. I feel like there is a lot of spiritual opposition and fear in the community in associating with me. There are lots of people in the community that would like to come, but they are afraid of the others. I need a lot of prayer to overcome that.”

Jeff King called for support to ICC: “You can sign up to be a monthly supporter of the persecuted through a monthly credit card (or bank account) transfer via our website. Your automated recurring gift will help us to plan, build and serve the persecuted with greater confidence. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to serve our persecuted brothers and sisters.”

According to him, ICC makes every effort to honor donor wishes in regards to their gifts. Occasionally, a situation will arise where a project is no longer viable. In that case, ICC will redirect those donated project funds to one of our other funds that is most similar to the donor’s original wishes. “You can sign up for recurring gifts or make a secure online donation by visiting our website.”

For more information on this and related persecution of Christian persecution all over the world, log on to ICC Website: http://www.persecution.org/  or The Persecuted Church blog: http://churchpersecution.blogspot.com/

How Moslem Fundamentalists Slaughtered Over 700 Nigerians Who Refused to Recant

Inscriptions like this speak volume
of the level of persecution in Nigeria


Members of an Islamic group in Nigeria known as Boko Haram launched attacks against local Nigerian security forces and Christians in northern Nigeria on July 27, 2009.


In the clash between the Islamic group and Nigerian forces, over 700 people were killed. This violent Islamic militant group sought to impose a strict form of Shariah law throughout Nigeria.

Pastors Sabo Yakubu, Sylvester O. Akpan and George Ojih were murdered for refusing to renounce their faith and convert to Islam.

International Christian Concern (ICC) http://www.persecution.org/  recently spoke with an individual who witnessed Pastor Ojih’s faithfulness to Christ in his final hours before he was killed for refusing to convert to Islam. We’ve only edited the interview slightly, so that you could read the story in the eyewitness’ own words: Please read!

ICC: What was the initiation the Muslims were forcing Ojih to do? Can you describe it?

Witness: The initiation is not only Pastor George Ojih, it’s general—something they ask all the Christians. If you change your religion, they would not hurt you; but if you not change, then you should go the other side (there were two groups of people-those willing to convert and those refusing). That was the threat. We were lying down on the ground flat, facing the sun. So they tie our legs and our hands together. They say, “if you want to go for Christ, go this side, if you want to go for Mohammed, remain where you are.” Then we move away from where they put us to those that go for Christ. And we’re few. I think it was 8 or 9 by then. So when we are there, they separated us. We are there until they capture other people. Because I was wearing white, they ask, “If you want to go for Christ, go and meet that person with white cloth. And if you want to Islamize yourself, you should stand here and remain here.” That’s how they divided us.

Then later on, to those that were together initially when they capture us, they now ask them that they should go because they accept to follow Mohammed. They were teaching them how to pray, how to do ablution, how to do all sorts of things.

ICC: Can you describe the spot where they interrogated Pastor Ojih?

Witness: They asked Pastor George Ojih to change to Islam. He refused to change. Another believer was with Pastor Ojih; but when he discovered that changing his religion will save his life, he now decided to change in order for them to release him, his wife, and his child. So (this other believer) did all what Boko Haram they asked him to do. He converted to Islam and he confessed it before the church.

Boko Haram then asked Pastor Ojih him to bend downward facing the floor. Somebody come rushed at him with a machete, come from behind and sliced his neck through the back. When he sliced his neck, now, Pastor George Ojih started struggling and he lived a long time before the body become relaxed. Then he died at the railroad tracks near their camp.

ICC: Were there any witnesses?

Witness: Really, there are many eyewitnesses. Both the Christian and the Muslim that confess, the Christian that confess that they deny Christ … it was an open place where they saw all these things happen.

ICC: How did the Muslims react once Ojih was killed?

Witness: I heard that, when he was killed, they were celebrating.

They now triggered their gun, shouting their normal chanting—Allahu Akbar (God is Great.

This interview is reproduced verbatim and for more information on this and related stories on Christian persecution all over the world, log on to ICC Website: http://www.persecution.org/  or The Persecuted Church blog: http://churchpersecution.blogspot.com/