How Christians are Being Victimized Somalia

Somali President Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed

Somalia has continued its suppression of the Christian minorities in the country despite both internal and international outcries as a Christian was reportedly killed while his children were kidnapped.


In a release by the Open Doors Prayer Communications team, www.opendoorsuk.org/pray/loik, it noted that one Abdullah – Christian man had been murdered on 21 July in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu.

It said that suspected al-Shabaab rebels entered Abdullah's house and gunned him down in front of his wife and children adding that when the attackers left, they took the wife, who was later released, and the children with them.

“It appears that Abdullah was killed for his faith. Sources described him as an influential member of his community. Over recent years a number of Somalis suspected of leaving Islam to follow Christ have been murdered,” the release said.

According to the release, the extremist al-Shabaab movement has vowed to topple Somalia's shaky transitional government and impose a strict version of Islamic law stressing that the situation in the country had been very tense in the lead up to Ramadan, the month of Muslim fasting which started on 11 August.

“Al-Shabaab rebels were said to have ordered residents to hand over their televisions and satellite dishes in preparation for Ramadan. Anyone who refused would be considered a spy – an accusation al-Shabaab rebels deem deserving of death,” it also noted.

Further to that, it observed that the Al-Shabaab are known for their reign of terror in the areas under their control: amputating the legs of youngsters for theft; decapitating Christians for ‘espionage'; and claiming responsibility for blowing up a nightclub in the Ugandan capital Kampala in July, killing more than 70 people. This is apparently because of the country's participation in peace-keeping operations in the war-torn Horn of Africa.

“Please pray for God's comfort for Abdullah's family, and for the release of the children who appear to still be in the custody of their father's murderers. Also pray for the protection of Christians in Somalia and the Somali-dominated regions of the neighboring countries - Ethiopia, Djibouti and Kenya - during this time of Ramadan.”

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

Persecution of Christians in Vietnam Takes a Drastic Turn

Vietnamese Prsident, Nguyen Minh Triet

Tragic details emerge in Vietnamese persecution of Christians as new details about recent religious persecution in the country and the following brutal cover-up has been revealed.


The Advocacy Officer, International Christian Concern (ICC) Logan Maurer, in a recent release said that Vietnamese authorities ordered the Christian Con Dau village, near the city of Da Nang, to be abandoned to build a resort on the site.

He noted that when the people resisted water irrigation was shut off to the rice fields, cutting the main source of income and food adding that on May 4, 2010, Vietnamese police surrounded and attacked a funeral as it approached the cemetery.

“Police arrested and beat 62 persons including women that were stripped naked. One pregnant woman, Le Thi Van, was struck in her stomach until she had a miscarriage.

After the initial incident, special police units have since returned to Con Dau multiple times, demanding information and forcing villagers to sign self-incriminating statements and to spy on each other,” he stated.

Maurer said that those suspected of taking pictures and communicating to the outside world have been beaten and that some villagers have been forced to return to the local police station for further interrogation and torture.

He observed that one of the funeral procession leaders, Thomas Nam Nguyen, refused to return to the police station after being recalled and beaten multiple times stressing that on July 2, the police came to his house and caught him as he tried to escape.

“He was handcuffed and ordered to kneel with his head on the ground while the police kicked his back, chest and head. His wife was present and begged the police to stop. They continued to beat him for approximately four hours, and then released him in critical condition. On July 3, he died at home in the hands of his mother, surrounded by his wife and three children,” he added.

Maurer stated that the Vietnamese government has exposed its brutality and greed, torturing and killing Christians to make room for their ambition. The tourist resort they plan to build in Con Dau will have its foundation in blood. “In 2006 the US State Department removed Vietnam from the Country of Particular Concern (CPC) list, citing progress in religious freedom. This incident shows it could not be more wrong.”

“Please contact the Vietnamese embassy in your country and politely ask the Vietnamese officials if they are aware of what has occurred in Con Dau. Vietnamese embassy contact info: (US) 202.861.0737, (UK) 44.20.7937.6108, (Canada) 613.236.0772

In his own reaction to these developments, the Executive Director of Boat People SOS, the organization representing the Con Dau victims, Dr. Thang Nguyen said that the people of Con Dau are living in desperate fear and confusion and that hundreds of residents have been fined, and many have escaped to Thailand.

He said that eight individuals are still in police custody and are waiting trial adding that to date no family members have been able to see them. “Their names are Nguyen Huu Liem, Tran Thanh Viet, Doan Cang, Le Thanh Lam, Nguyen Thi The, Phan Thi Nhan, Nguyen Thi Lieu, and Nguyen Huu Minh.”

Nguyen stated: “On August 18, Congress held a hearing on Vietnamese persecution, focusing on the Con Dau incident. Witnesses included the brother of Thomas Nam Nguyen, a brother of a villager who escaped to Thailand, and a sister of two who are currently imprisoned. It was noted that the U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam, Michael W. Michalak, said that the incident was a land dispute and refused to become directly involved.”

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

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/