Please read Church Attacked in Malaysia, by Kristin Wright, at Religion Today.





"Religious tensions are on the rise in Malaysia after a church was bombed early Monday morning. Police say that men on motorcycles threw Molotov cocktails into the church as they drove past. No one was injured. Authorities believe the attack is linked to the controversy over the use of “Allah,” the Muslim word for God..."

"...The Malaysian government says Allah should be exclusively used by Muslims – they fear that use by non-Muslims might spark confusion and even conversions. But Christians in Malaysia are accustomed to using the same word for God, and they say the restriction is a violation of their rights."

Please read Syrian Christians Fear Annihilation, Seek US Help at CBN News.

"On Monday, a delegation of Christian leaders from Syria will talk about the
situation at the Heritage Foundation. They already have been saying that without
outside help, Christians in Syria may disappear."

Please read From 2011 Revolution to a New Constitution, by Katey Hearth, at Mission Network News.







"The birthplace of the Arab Spring is taking another major step toward democracy. Tunisia has signed a new constitution, henceforth dividing executive authority and removing Sharia law as the main source of legislation. Seen as a major step in Tunisia’s progress toward democracy, the new constitution was adopted by a majority vote. Along with dividing power between Tunisia’s Prime Minister and President, the new constitution gives equal rights to men and women.

"Some concerns remain for Tunisian Christians, though, according to Open Doors USA. The ruling document declares Islam as the official religion of Tunisia, and ambiguous wording could lead to problems.

"The new constitution separates Sharia law from the law of the land, but it also appoints the government as “the guardian of religion” and “protector of the sacred.” Some groups fear that this wording is too open to individual interpretation.

Please read Legal Group Reports ‘Dramatic Increase’ in Hostility Toward Christian Students in Public Schools, by Heather Clark, at Christian News.






"A California-based legal organization is reporting a marked increase in hostility toward Christian students in public schools. “We have seen a dramatic increase of phone calls nationwide as it pertains to kids in public schools who are facing hostility because of their faith,” General Counsel Bob Tyler of Advocates for Faith and Freedom told Christian News Network.

"But Tyler said that the upswing in incident reports do not pertain to bullying from other students, but rather mistreatment by school officials.

" “[The reports all surround] hostility from teachers and school administrators who are curtailing the students’ free speech rights simply because they’re Christians and they might express a Christian worldview,” he stated."

International Christian Concern
2020 Pennsylvania Ave. NW #241
Washington, D.C. 20006
www.persecution.org  |  E-mail: [email protected]
 
Media Contact: William Stark, Regional Manager for Africa [email protected]
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Christians Killed in Attack on Catholic Church in Northeastern Nigeria 
Latest Assault in Series of Attacks on Christians Spanning Two Months

1/27/2014
Washington D.C.
International Christian Concern

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that 22 Christians were killed in an assault on a Catholic church service in northeastern Nigeria. The attack is thought to have been perpetrated by the Islamic terrorist group, Boko Haram, which the Nigerian government has struggling to contain in the country's northern and central states.

On Sunday morning, Jan. 26, suspected militants armed with guns and explosives attacked a Catholic church located in Waga Chakawa village in Nigeria's northeastern state, Adamawa. Reports by Reuters UK indicate the attacker set off bombs prior to opening fire on the Christian congregation. After assailing the church, the militants burned down houses and took local Christian residents hostage during a four-hour siege with local authorities.

When the dust settled, 22 Christians were confirmed dead. This casualty figure was confirmed Monday, Jan. 27, by spokesman for the Catholic Diocese of Yola, Reverend Father Raymond Danbouye, in an interview with Reuters UK.

This assault is only the latest in a series of attacks on Christians living in Nigeria's northern and central states starting in December. So far, this wave of deadly violence has claimed the lives at least 63 Christians.

From December 8 - 11, Boko Haram militants attacked four predominately Christian villages in the Gwoza, Damboa and askira-Uba Local Government areas. These attacks left at least 26 Christian dead and over 40 Christian homes burned to the ground.

In January, an attack has taken place every Sunday on Christians in Nigeria's northern and central states. On January 19, Christians living in the Agatu Local Government Area in central Nigeria were attacked in separate raids on two villages by Muslim Fulani herdsmen, thought to be incited to attacking Christians by Boko Haram. At least seven Christians were killed in those violent raids.

On January 12, eight Christians living in Gari Village in Nigeria's northern Borno state were killed by Boko Haram militants. On the Sunday before, January 5, Christians living in the Manchok area were attacked, but managed to avoid casualties due to timely military intervention.

Boko Haram, whose name means "Western education is a sin," has a stated goal of establishing a separate Islamic state in Nigeria's northern and central regions. The Islamic terrorist group intends implement its fundamentalist interpretation of Sharia law. In 2012, Boko Haram demanded all Christians living in northern and central Nigeria to flee south so that a purely Islamic society can be established. Since then, Boko Haram has used church bombings, drive-by shootings and raids on Christian villages as a part of its strategy to 'purify' northern and central Nigeria.

ICC's Regional Manager, William Stark, said, "Boko Haram's slaughter of Christians in northern and central Nigeria has continued unabated so far in 2014. Because these attacks are becoming so common and widespread, many Christians in these areas fear attending church due to the likelihood of coming under attack. The only 'crime' many of these Christians have committed is belonging to what Boko Haram considers the 'wrong' religious faith. ICC applauds the action taken by the U.S. to designate Boko Haram as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, but more has to be done to end the slaughter. The Nigerian government, who declared a state of emergency in several of Nigeria's northern states, must take decisive action to ensure the safety of Christians living in Nigeria. If decisive action is not taken, the unbelievable violence being perpetrated against Christians in Nigeria will only continue to accelerate and will likely reach genocidal levels in the near future."     

For interviews, contact William Stark, Regional Manager for Africa and South Asia: [email protected]

# # #

You are free to disseminate this news story. We request that you reference ICC (International Christian Concern) and include our web address, www.persecution.org. 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 or for an interview, contact ICC at 800-422-5441.

Please read Ukraine Unrest ‘Stunning’ Says SGA, by Greg Yoder,
at Mission Network News.






"Slavic Gospel Association supports the Ukrainian church...Spokesman for the ministry, Joel Griffith, says this type of scenario is almost unbelievable. “It’s probably one of the most stunning developments that one can imagine, the way things have gone. Ukraine has enjoyed the largest amounts of religious freedom, [but] it really is a mess right now.”

"[This] brings up several questions. “What will the impact be on religious freedom? We’re just hoping and praying that things will calm down before they get out of hand.”

 "Christians throughout Ukraine and around the world are calling Christians to pray. Griffith, quoting the President of the Ukrainian Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists Vyacheslav Nesteruk: “Since these events have reached a critical point, and society is just steps away from civil war, we believe that we immediately need to use peaceful means to resolve this situation. We call on all sides of the conflict to move from words to specific action of reconciliation.” "

We can only pray! 

Please read more at US Reportedly Offers to Send Envoy to North Korea to Secure American's Release at Fox News.






"The Obama administration has offered to send an envoy to North Korea to secure the release of American missionary Kenneth Bae after he appeared in front of reporters urging action from Washington, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday.
 
" "We hope this decision by DPRK authorities to allow Kenneth Bae to meet with reporters signals their willingness to release him," an administration official told the newspaper. 

"Robert King, the U.S. special envoy for North Korea, had planned to visit North Korea in late August to discuss Bae's release, but Pyongyang withdrew its invitation at the last minute, accusing the United States of hostility.

" "We have offered to send Ambassador King to Pyongyang to secure Mr. Bae's release. We have asked the North Koreans this, and await their early response," the official said Monday."

These horrific tactics are being used against Christian ethnic groups in Burma.  Please read more at Catholic Activist Speaks of Unspeakable Violations as Military Continues to Use Rape as a Weapon of War, by Francis Khoo Thwe, at Asia News.












"The Burmese military is still using rape and sexual abuse of civilians as a "weapon of war." Between 2010 to the present, documented reports indicate that soldiers raped at least a hundred women and girls, especially in areas inhabited by ethnic minorities, this according to a report recently released by the Women's League of Burma. 

"The NGO's survey shows that 47 of the cases documented were gang rapes and that 28 of the women were either killed or died of their injuries. In many of these cases, soldiers did not hesitate from raping girls as young as eight years old. For activists, this makes constitutional reform that more urgent in order to ensure civilian control of the military.

"The Burmese government was quick to reject the charges. "It's not the policy of our Tatmadaw (military) to use rapes as weapons," noted Ye Htut, a spokesman for President Thein Sein (a former general and prime minister under the military regime, now president of a semi-civilian government)..."
 
"...Interviewed by AsiaNews, Catholic activist Khon Ja Labang, a former member of the Kachin Peace Network who is involved in peace building in areas affected by ethnic conflict, confirmed reports about violence against women in regions inhabited by ethnic minorities.

"Rape "is a weapon used by the military to seize Kachin territory. No one can return to their villages of origin as long as the military is around," [Catholic activist Khon Ja Labang] explained.

 " "There may be signs of reforms in business and the economy," the activist added. But "in other fields, there are no noteworthy changes" and abuses are an indication of "serious deficiencies in security." 

"Soldiers continues to commit "unspeakable" violations, which humanitarian groups and associations, including the Kachin Lawyers Group, try to alleviate "by providing legal aid to victims." "

 



Please read Saigon: Authorities Threaten Catholics over Disputed Land, by HT, at Asia News.






"The authorities of District No. 2 in Ho Chi Minh City want to expropriate land and property of the archdiocese of Saigon, razing a two hundred year old religious institution in order to create a project of "new urbanization." At the center of the dispute, the parish of Thu Thiem, which has been serving the community for over 150 years, and the buildings occupied by the sisters of the Congregation of the Sacred Heart (including a very busy chapel) again present in Thu Thiem for over 173 years. Already in December, the local district of the Communist People's Committee had issued seizure order number 4825/UBND and now intends to accelerate operations and expropriate the land and buildings from the Catholics.
 
"Leaders of the Catholic community say this robbery goes against state law and constitutes a "blatant violation of religious freedom ." The district authorities cannot order the expropriation of land , so the local Communist leaders directive is a "coup" implemented through "persuasion, coercion and threats" against two religious institutes."

Read Christian Villagers Attacked Every Sunday, and pray, at Release International.





"Militants have attacked Christian villages across Nigeria every Sunday this month, killing at least 15 people.

"Last Sunday, Fulani militants raided Oweto and Utuluewu villages in Benue state, central Nigeria, while the community was at church, killing seven. Others were injured and homes destroyed, causing many to flee. Five soldiers were also reportedly killed as they tried to defend villagers.

"The previous Sunday, in Borno state, in the north-east, suspected Boko Haram extremists killed eight Christians in Sabon Gari in the Gwoza area. And, on January 5, Fulani gunmen, apparently targeting churches, were repelled by Christians in the Manchok area of the northern state of Kaduna – but warned they would return for ‘total war’.

"Midweek attacks have continued too. On January 16, Fulani militants killed three Christians and wounded four others in Nwore and Yokdara villages, central Plateau state."

Please read further at source:  Islamic Extremists in Nigeria Attack Christians at Sunday Worship, Morning Star News.