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90 Syrian Christians Abducted

2/24/2015

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International Christian Concern
2020 Pennsylvania Ave. NW #241
Washington, D.C. 20006

www.persecution.org  |  E-mail: [email protected]
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At Least 90 Christians Abducted in Raids on Christian Villages in Syria
ISIS raid sends more than 3,000 fleeing from their villages and leaves churches destroyed in latest attack.

Todd Daniels, Regional Manager for the Middle East
Washington, D.C. 
International Christian Concern


Just before dawn on Monday, February 23, ISIS fighters entered the Assyrian Christian villages outside of Tal Tamr in Syria's Hasakah region. More than 90 men, women and children were taken from the villages and are believed to still be held by ISIS. As many as four churches have been destroyed and over 3,000 have fled their homes following the assault on the Christian villages along the Khabur River."We fell asleep in total quiet, nothing was going on...," a woman who had fled Tal Tamr with her four young kids said. "We woke up to the sound of clashing; we didn't know what it was, until we saw that everyone in the camp was fleeing because ISIS had entered the village."

Initial reports stated that the men were taken by the fighters to the Abd al-Aziz Mountains, while the women and children were left in the village, guarded by ISIS militants, Steve Oshana, Executive Director of A Demand for Action (ADFA), told International Christian Concern (ICC) on Monday.

Sources of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported overhearing ISIS fighters say they had detained "56 crusaders" from Tal Shamiram. Additional reports of abductions pushed that number to between 70-100, according to Nuri Kino, founder of ADFA, with some reportsas high as even 200 abducted.

On Tuesday, it was being reported that the hostages had now been moved to the Al-Shadadi village, Osama Edward, Director of the Assyrian Human Rights Network, told ICC.

"Most of the hostages are women, the elderly, and children," Edward said. "In fact, mostly women as many of the young men were fighting with the militias that are trying to defend these areas," he continued.       

Churches Destroyed as Thousands Flee

Residents immediately started to flee the area, hoping to make it to the Kurdish-held city of Hassakah, 40 miles away, or to Qamishli, 60 miles away, along the Turkish-Syrian border.

About 3,000 people are believed to have fled the Tal Tamr region, finding rides in private cars. Some were able to get busses to the area to drive people out of their villages.

Hundreds are taking refuge in the St. Mary Church in Hasakah and the St. Ephrem Church in Qamishli, AINA reported.

The cluster of around 35 Assyrian villages along the Khabur River had been home to between 40,000-45,000 Christians prior to 2011, Edward told ICC. Estimates were now that the remaining population was closer to 3,000 before these latest attacks forced entire villages to evacuate.

Large amounts of rain actually may have prevented the attack from being even more deadly. "In summer time you can cross the river, but the past three or four weeks have seen a lot of rain. So ISIS was able to attack the villages just on one side of the river," said Edward.

A number of churches have also been destroyed by ISIS during these raids. The church in Tel Hurmiz, one of the oldest churches in Syria, was destroyed, as well as the Assyrian Mar Bisho Church in Tel Shamiran, the church in Qabr Shamiy and the church in Tel Baloua, Assyrian activists are reporting. Pictures published by AINA appear to show smoke rising from the Mar Bisho Church in Tel Shamiran.

The destruction of these churches comes just a few weeks after ISIS fighters had entered the village of Tel Hormizd and forced the residents to remove the cross from the church and to pay the jizya tax, or face death, AINA reported. 

Response to Attacks Against ISIS Positions

The raid on these Christian villages comes in response to gains that had been made in a joint operation between the Syriac Military Council (known as MFS) and the Kurdish YPG militias "against the barbaric ISIS organization in Tal Hamis frontline. The result of this operation led to the liberation of 22 villages from ISIS control," the MFS said in a press release on Monday.

The victories in those villages seem to be what prompted the counterattack on the civilians in the villages surrounding Tal Tamr. The MFS said that at least three of its fighters had been injured and four were missing, believed to have been martyred, but their bodies had not yet been recovered.

This area also is the site of a key bridge across the Khabur River. Strategically, "This bridge is the target and what the fighting is concerned with capturing because control of this bridge gives control to the entire region,"Edward said. "It is used by the army to move supplies, food, etc."

Initial reports implied that ISIS was holding the men hostage in exchange for fighters held by the Kurds.

"One of the villagers called the cell phone of one of the captives and an ISIS fighter picked up," Oshana said. "He made clear that their demands were for the release of ISIS fighters held by Kurdish forces," he continued.

Subsequent attempts to contact those taken have largely been unsuccessful with some fighters answering the phone and saying there is nothing that can be done about their situation.

The taking of hostages also provides an element of protection from air strikes and direct intervention, Edward told ICC. "They now form a human shield preventing a Syrian army or coalition air strike in this area," he said.

Urgent Calls for Intervention

These latest attacks have once again raised the call for international assistance to help protect the Christian and other minority populations in Iraq and Syria that have been explicitly targeted by ISIS and other Islamic extremists groups operating in the region.

"The recent violence against the Assyrian Christian communities in Khabor is only the latest in an escalating campaign of violence against these indigenous people.  The siege of Mosul was just the beginning; soon the Nineveh Plains, the cradle of civilization, fell to the hands of the Islamic State, and now the very presence of Christianity in Syria is threatened by this siege," Oshana said in a statement to ICC.

While the United States and other countries have engaged in air strikes to roll back the presence of ISIS in Iraq and Syria, there are clear calls for more to be done to get direct support to those providing security on the ground. 

"A Demand for Action has secured legislation to support local security for these vulnerable communities, which the President has signed into law, and we will continue to work towards the development of large scale local security forces comprised of these vulnerable minorities to join the fight to eradicate the region of this cancer called IS," Oshana continued.

As ISIS has shown in its actions in Eastern Syria over just the past 48 hours, Christians and the presence of the cross are among what they are seeking to eradicate from any of the lands that they control.

For interviews, contact Todd Daniels, Regional Manager for the Middle East: [email protected]
 
# # #

You are free to disseminate this news story. We request that you reference International Christian Concern (ICC) and include our web address, www.persecution.org. ICC is a Washington D.C.-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.
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Dark Days in Ukraine

2/24/2015

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Dark Days, Tenuous Peace in Ukraine
by Ruth Kramer
Mission Network News
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Image Courtesy Mission Network News
One of the conditions of a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine is that Ukraine withdraws its weapons from the eastern front line.

However, Ukraine’s military said it couldn’t because pro-Russian separatists who advanced last week were still attacking its positions. Since the “truce” went into effect last week, fighting has killed more than 5,600 people. Although the deal looks stillborn, the deals’ backers hope something can be salvaged.

Fearing vulnerability with pro-Russian forces already inside its borders, Ukraine doesn’t want to leave the welcome mat out for a Russian advance. Although military objectives advance and towns fall, nobody’s really “winning.” Eric Mock, Vice President of Ministry Operations at Slavic Gospel Association, says, “It really is a conflict that has hurt both countries. The ruble has fallen dramatically against the dollar. Now, with the truce not holding as well as it should, the hryvnia is falling apart, as well.”

The violence keeps pushing people out. As each area falls to the rebels, it’s preceded by waves of refugees. “What we’re seeing is literally an influx of orphan children into orphanages. We’re seeing a difficulty for people to put food on the table. In many cases, the primary problem is refugees.”

Churches are opening their doors, too. “Just in the northern part of Kiev, [there are] so many refugees at a church that all their Sunday school rooms were used to house families, as well as during the week in the sanctuary. Many of them were families with young children. They had no way to provide diapers for them. So, we’re leaving funds to even have these children equipped with diapers.”

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Pakistani Christians Suffer when Disaster Strikes

2/24/2015

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International Christian Concern
2020 Pennsylvania Ave. NW #241
Washington, D.C. 20006

www.persecution.org  |  E-mail: [email protected]
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Left Behind - Pakistan's Christians Suffer Discrimination When Disaster Strikes
By ICC's Pakistan Correspondent

2/23/2015 
Washington, D.C.
International Christian Concern

Throughout the country of Pakistan, discrimination against religious minorities is abundantly clear, especially during times of disaster. When tragedy strikes, such as war or natural disaster, the Pakistani government has demonstrated that Christians and other religious minorities are the last to receive any form of aid, if they receive any at all.
Christian Communities Washed Away by Pakistan's Annual Floods

In the case of natural disasters, high-scale monsoon rains and floods during the first week of September 2014 reportedly affected an overall population of 2.53 million in Pakistan. According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), this flooding resulted in 364 deaths and 652 injured.

Aside from the personal injuries that the flooding caused, there was also extensive financial damage as homes and property were destroyed across the country. The official NDMA report states that, "Four thousand, sixty-five villages, 2.41 acres of crops, and 107,102 houses were damaged, and 9,722 cattle head perished in the flood hit areas."

ICC's Pakistan representative had the opportunity to visit the flood-affected areas in Rawalpindi on September 26, 2014. Furthermore, ICC paid solidarity visits to the victims in Sharoon Colony and its neighborhoods, aiming to collect firsthand information on their post-flood living conditions.

According to ICC's findings, floods hit 112 Christian homes in the town which resulted minor damages to 108 houses. Four houses belonging to Christian families received extensive damages, including one house that completely collapsed and was washed away from its original foundation.

One of the owners of the four severely damaged homes is Yaqoob Masih.  Talking with ICC, Masih, 65, criticized government authorities for their negligent, hate-based policies, and biased attitude towards the religious minorities in the region.  Sharing the painful stories of the post-flood situation with ICC, Masih said, "Floods completely damaged my house, two motorbikes, furniture, electrical appliances, all the educational stuff and toys of my children and the entire household and valuables."

"The officials left the affected Christians alone at this difficult time... The rescue teams did not facilitate us; they focused on rescuing their 'co-faith' people and their stuff,"Masih added.

"We are living a miserable life, we are homeless, our families have scattered, we are with shortage of health facilities and all the necessities of life," Masih urged the authorities and international community to extend immediate support to rebuild his house.

Pointing her finger to a spot on the ground, Mrs. Austin, a 45-year-old mother of two children, began to cry. Though it was difficult for her to express her thoughts, she said, "Here, I had my house - a result of my family's hard-work and outcome of our dreams." She shook her head and started crying again and said, "Now it is just like a grave."

Mr. Austin also criticized the local government and management for blatantly showing preference to Muslims above Christians when distributing assistance. Speaking with ICC, Mr. Austin continued, "Despite several times requests to build a boundary wall around the residential area, the officials did not listen to us. They ignored the poor Christians and put us into a danger."

Highlighting the discriminatory behavior of the management, Mr. Riaz Masih, another victim of the post-flood discrimination said, "The Christians of Sharoon Colony were not given support for rescuing people nor the relief services by the authorities; that is why we have lost our houses and faced heavy losses."

While speaking with ICC, Mr. Khurram Daud Gill, a social activist in Pakistan said, "We witness that Christian flood victims have been treated as untouchables by the government. The rescue, relief and then rehabilitation work was done unfairly. The district government did not provide adequate machines or cranes to lift the mud from the streets and heavy debris of ruined buildings. None of the high scale government officials visited the victims."

Internally Displaced Pakistani Christians Face Struggle to Survive

Similarly to natural disasters, tragedy caused by man affects Christians and non-Christians alike.  However, after ICC's visit to displaced Christians in Pakistan, it was evident that the aid distributed after disaster strikes is again, not distributed evenly.

"Operation Zarb-e-Azb," a military intervention against various militant groups, including Tehrik-e-Taliban, is being conducted in different parts of North Waziristan, a part of Federally Administrated Tribal Areas. The operation was launched by the Pakistan Armed Forces on June 15th, 2014 and received widespread support from the Pakistani political, defense and civilian sectors.

The operations caused large-scale displacements to neighboring districts including Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Karak, Dera Ismail Khan and Kohat in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. According to media reports, FATA Disaster Management Authority claimed registering over 455,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) which it equated to 36,700 displaced families.

The government announced that they would be providing cash grants to the IDPs as they register, in addition to assistance, food packages and health items that are being provided by humanitarian organizations. However, the transparency and regularity of this government support has not been seen. 

ICC's Representative to Pakistan visited Christian IDPs in September 2014 and learned that they were experiencing multiple forms of discrimination during this difficult time. While speaking with ICC, Mr. Khalid Iqbal, Tariq Masih and Ms. Jameela, social activists among the IDPs, shared the issues and discriminatory behaviors they were experiencing because of their Christian faith.

According to Iqbal, one of the ways that Christians face persecution for their faith is through the denial of their monthly stipends.  He said, "The government promised monthly stipend[s] to each affected family; however, they have not included Christians in the so-called registration list, which resulted [in] financial crisis for us."

In addition to the financial pressure that these Christian families are now facing, many face the added stress of being separated from their families entirely.  ICC learned that due to unavailability of residences, many families have been forced to live separately. All the women of these families are accommodated in the covered areas with 10 to 15 women per room, while the men are forced stay in open-air tents.

During ICC's visit, a common theme among Christian IDPs was the lack of adequate living conditions because of discriminatory government policy. According to Tariq Masih, "The government's teams are delivering food packages to the Muslims' camps regularly; however, they have ignored the Christians. [A] few months back, Christians protested for their rights, and we were able to get few food packages; however, the stuff of those food items were useless and expired."

Nearly all the residents of the camp raised voices against the lack of adequate lavatories. An elderly woman informed ICC that there are only two lavatories (male and female) for approximately 80 people in a block. "We tabled a demand for temporary facilities for lavatories; however, it was rejected stating 'We can't provide you such facility in a church compound,'" according to Masih.

Ms. Jameela, a teacher by profession, was extremely disappointed that there were no proper arrangements for education. She expressed grief over spoiling children's future and abilities, especially that of the grade nine and ten students preparing to graduate from Pakistan's equivalent of high school. She urged the authorities to give education first priority in their policies and provide adequate facilities to the Christian students in IDP's camps.

ICC's Response

As these two instances clearly exemplify, Christians are discriminated against when aid is being distributed by the Pakistani government following any disaster. The clear discrimination shows that Christians continue to be an unwanted minority in Pakistan.

In response, ICC has provided vital aid to Christian flood victims following the annual monsoon and is hoping to be able to extend aid to the Christian IDPs. ICC's donors are encouraged to help support these efforts by giving to ICC's Community Rebuild Fund. With ICC support, Christians no longer have to be left behind every time disaster strikes in Pakistan.  


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

You are free to disseminate this news story. We request that you reference International Christian Concern (ICC) and include our web address, www.persecution.org. ICC is a Washington D.C.-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.
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Persecution Magazine, February 2015

2/24/2015

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ICC recently spoke with the wife of Saeed, an imprisoned pastor in Iran. She shared with us how her husband's imprisonment has strengthened her faith and the faith of her two young children by drawing them closer to the Father.
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Click Image to Download Persecution Magazine
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Prayers Are Answered in Colombia

2/24/2015

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Colombian Missionary Charges Dismissed
by Julie Oosterhouse
Mission Network News
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Russell Stendal, Courtesy VoM, Canada
Last week’s arrest of Russell Stendal highlighted some of the danger that exists in Colombia for Christian pastors.

Friday, Colombian missionary Stendal underwent trial on charges that he had participated in rebellious activity with FARC guerrilla rebels (read that story here).

Our friends at Voice of the Martyrs Canada shared this update from Stendal:


Great news! The Lord turned the tables at the last minute. The prosecution went on for hours and hours, and I spoke for ten minutes. The judge believed me, told the prosecutor he had been wasting her time, and threw out the case. I have been completely absolved.


-Russ

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Pakistani Christian Acquitted

2/22/2015

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Pakistani Christian Acquitted of False Murder Charges
by Carey Lodge
Christian Today
Picture
Photo Courtesy Reuters
A Pakistani Christian has been acquitted more than four years after being charged with the murder of his Muslim employer's brother.

Imtiaz Masih, whose case has not been made public until now, was acquitted on 7 February. The court found that witnesses testifying against him were unreliable...

...Masih's acquittal follows several high-profile cases of Christians being accused of blasphemy, which is an offence punishable by death in Pakistan.

In November 2014, a Christian couple near Lahore were been beaten and tortured by a mob for allegedly desecrating the Qur'an. Shama, 24, and her 26-year-old husband Shehzad were then burned to death in a brick kiln where they worked while the police stood by and watched.

Found guilty of blasphemy in November 2010, Asia Bibi has been on death row for more than four years. She continues to deny accusations that she insulted the Prophet Muhammad – charges levelled at her by former colleagues.

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Meriam Ibrahim Receives 2014 President's Award

2/22/2015

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Sudan's Meriam Ibrahim to Receive Award for Refusing to Renounce Christ while Imprisoned
by Carrie Dedrick, Editor
Mission Network News
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Meriam Ibrahim, a Sudanese Christian woman who made international headlines last year for refusing to deny her faith in prison, will be honored with the National Religious Broadcasters’ President’s Award. 
 
[Ibrahim] remained in prison for months, refusing to renounce Christ, though she was sentenced to death and pregnant at the time. Ibrahim was later released and granted asylum in the United States; her husband is a US citizen. 
 
Christian Today reports the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) has named Ibrahim the recipient of the 2014 President’s Award for her refusal to reject her faith... 
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Saeed and Father Pray in Prison

2/22/2015

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Saeed Abedini Worships God in Prison during Visit with Father
by Carrie Dedrick, Editor
Christian Headlines
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Saeed Abedini was permitted to visit with his father in prison for an extended amount of time this week, a rare blessing for the pastor who has been imprisoned for his Christian faith for over two years. Abedini’s wife Naghmeh wrote on her Facebook page that the father and son were able to talk, pray and worship God...
 
...Charisma News reports prison guards watched the visit, but did not force Abedini and his father to end the time of fellowship. 
 
"They were allowing them to pray and worship together,” [Naghmeh] Abedini continued. “The normal 20-minute visit turned into 40 minutes, which turned into an hour, which turned into a few hours. Saeed and his father were shocked the amount of time that they were allowed. The presence of the Lord was so strong that the guards did not want to intervene and end the visit! Praise the Lord..."
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Does This News Bode Well for Pastor Saeed?

2/22/2015

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Iranian House Church Pastor Released from Prison
by Carrie Dedrick, Editor
Christian Headlines
An Iranian house church pastor has been released from prison four years after his original arrest. 
 
Pastor Rasoul Abdollahi was a leader in Iran’s house church movement and accused of breaching national security laws. He was arrested alongside several other Christians on December 26, 2010, most of which have seen been released...
 
"...Our feeling is that at the moment they are pressuring Christians to leave rather than bothering with the hassle of imprisoning them for long periods," the source said...
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Modi Finally Speaks

2/22/2015

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NaMo's Remarks A Pleasant Surprise, Christian Leaders Say
by Times News Network
The Times of India
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi's unequivocal commitment to the right of every religion to practice and propagate itself came at the end of a long meeting during which leading Christian leaders repeatedly voiced concerns about ghar vapasi and attack on churches. 

Modi's comments surprised many, who had been disappointed about the new government not coming out with a clear stand on the controversies. In a clear sign of unhappiness with Modi's silence, the Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Mumbai had recently told TOI that delegations from the church that visited the prime minister over such matters did not return reassured that things would get better. One senior catholic priest said Tuesday's Modi speech was a "pleasant surprise." 

Head of Faridabad diocese of Syro-Malabar Catholics, Archbishop Kuriakose Bharanikulangara said despite India being a cradle of many religions, there are concerns about the growing intolerance towards minorities...
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    Crown of Life Blog

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    The Martyrdom of ST Stephen, Pietro da Cortona, 1660

    News and Information about
    Persecuted Christians from all around the
    World

    Persecuted saints benefit most from your heartfelt and earnest prayer.

    Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial;
    for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him
    .
    James 1:12

    'Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the
    devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so
    that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
    Revelation 2:10

    New American Standard Bible 
    (NASB)

    Copyright © 
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    1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995
    by
    The Lockman Foundation


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    HOW TO READ A PERSECUTION NEWS STORY

    Trials make the promise sweet;
    Trials give new life to prayer;
    Trials bring me to His feet,
    Lay me low, and keep me there.


    "God often takes away our comforts and our privileges in order to make us better Christians. He trains His soldiers not in tents of ease and luxury, but by turning them out and subjecting them to forced marches and hard service. He makes them ford through streams, and swim through rivers, and climb mountains, and walk many long miles with heavy backpacks of sorrow. Well, Christian, may this not account for the troubles through which you are passing? Is the Lord bringing out your graces and making them grow? Is it for this reason He contends with you?"

    Read Why Do I Face Trials?,
    by Alistair Begg, Truth for Life Daily, at One Place

    Christian persecution is just a phenomenon in the
    Middle East.

    Christians aren’t greatly
    impacted by persecution.

    Whatever persecution there is, the damage is superficial - more a loss of multicultural diversity than anything else.

    Christians supposedly bring persecution upon themselves by proselytizing.

    Persecution couldn’t
    happen here.

    Please read 5 Myths about Persecution of Christians, by
    Kristin Wright, at Religion Today.


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