Read Christians Attacked, Left for Dead after Protesting Muslim Brotherhood at Mission Network News 





Egypt
Mission Network News
March 29th, 2013

"Things are taking a turn for the worse in Egypt. "I think people should be watching very closely the situation in Egypt, as it regards religious freedom." Christians and moderate Muslims were protesting outside Muslim Brotherhood headquarters in Cairo yesterday. Islamic radicals took the demonstrators to a nearby mosque. "They were abused and tortured inside that mosque...and then sort of left for dead," says Todd Nettleton with Voice of the Martyrs USA. "The fact that people would be taken from a protest and tortured I think is a very concerning sign of what direction things are going in Egypt." Ask the Lord to protect His people in Egypt, and pray for the country's leadership. You can also help by reaching out to government officials. Earlier this month, the U.S. gave Egypt $250 million in aid. "We don't want to pay people to torture our Christian brothers and sisters. Maybe these aid dollars need to be tied to some serious progress one some of these human rights issues." "

Eritrea
Mission Network News
March 28th, 2013

"Yet another Christian has died while in detention in Eritrea. Open Doors sources reported that Belay Tekabo died at Ala Military Camp after being refused treatment for his leukemia. His treatment was contingent on recanting his faith. Is this story beginning to sound like a broken record? It's because there's been a dramatic surge of arrests, torture, and deaths of Christians who have been arrested for their faith. They're only asking one thing: that you would pray with them."

Read Eritrean Christian Dies in Prison at Mission Network News

Tanzania
Mission Network News
March 27th, 2013

"A sudden spike in violence targeting Christians in Tanzania has given way to Easter threats. Todd Nettleton with Voice of the Martyrs says there's potential for upheaval during Holy week. "There have been threats made regarding Easter. That is one concern. There are leaflets, apparently, being circulated saying that Christians should respond with violence, and they should come back and attack the Muslims in retaliation for these attacks that have happened on Christians." Nettleton attributes some of that to an alarming shift. "Some of that is the rise of radical Islam within the country. There is some evidence of links between radical Muslims in Tanzania--particularly on the island of Zanzibar, and al Shabaab in Somalia." Pray that Christians will still have the courage to share God's love with Muslims. "One of the things that affect the spread of the Gospel is the way that Christians respond to persecution." "

Read Full Article at Mission Network News

Hundreds Cheer and Clap as Indonesian Church is Demolished 
3/26/13
Indonesia
WWM

"A Muslim crowd cheered last week as local Indonesian government officials demolished the newly erected walls of a protestant church on the outskirts of the nation’s capital. The congregation locked arms and stood in front of the church in an effort to stop the demolition team, but their church was still turned to rubble. Recent pressure from radical Islamic groups has been causing churches in this area to stop services, relocate, and even suffer their church being destroyed. While this church building was lost, the church body stands united and is living out what it means to be the Body of Christ."

Read Full Story at persecution.org

Christians in Lahore, Pakistan Traumatized by Violence 
3/25/2013
Pakistan
Morning Star News

"Christian victims in Lahore are living in refugee-like conditions after Muslim extremists destroyed almost 180 homes, following rumors of a blasphemy accusation. After being ordered by police to leave the area, Christian homes in Joseph Colony were set ablaze. Hundreds of Christians lost everything–much of which can never be replaced. While the government has responded in a suprisingly immediate fashion to rebuild homes, little has been done to bring the known perpetrators to justice." 

Read Full Story at persecution.org

"At least twenty people have been killed by a series of bombings targeting buses in a predominately Christian neighborhood of Nigeria’s northern city of Kano. A rescue official on the scene reported, “I saw three buses on fire. One of them was fully loaded with passengers waiting to leave the station at the time of the blasts.” Officials suspect the series of explosions were likely initiated by suicide bombers, but investigators are still collecting evidence to confirm that theory. Because the attacks took place in a predominately Christian area of Kano, most officials suspect Christians were the target of the attack. Innocent Christians in northern Nigeria continue to be targeted for some of Boko Haram’s most heinous acts of violence. The official death toll is expected to rise as security officials continue to examine the scene of Monday’s attack."

Read Full Story at persecution.org

"ICC’s Regional Manager for Africa, William Stark, said, “Innocent Christians in northern Nigeria continue to be targeted for some of Boko Haram’s most heinous acts of violence. Whether targeted by suicide bombings at churches, drive-by shootings or attacks on Christian homes, these attacks are meant to terrorize the Christian minority. Since 2009, human rights groups following Boko Haram’s campaign of terror, including ICC, estimate over 3,000 people have been murdered at the hands of the radical group. The world cannot continue to wash its hands of this issue. Islamic extremist groups continue to trickle out of North Africa leaving nothing but death, destruction and terror in their wake. If left unchecked, West Africa will likely see a proliferation of radical Islamic groups resulting in levels of Christian persecution only seen in places like Mali and Somalia. Without international intervention, Christians in northern Nigeria will continue to go unprotected and have these deadly attacks devastating their communities.” "

Kazakhstan
Mission Network News
March 19th, 2013 

Religious freedom is losing even more ground in Kazakhstan, says Forum 18 News. For the first time since the country gained independence in 1991, a court ordered religious literature to be destroyed. According to Forum 18, 121 pieces of religious literature--mostly in the Kazakh language--were taken from a believer in northern Kazakhstan.

"Vyacheslav Cherkasov was reportedly handing out religious literature on the city streets when police arrested him. He was fined a month's wages, and a suitcase full of religious books--Bibles, children's Bibles, books and tracts on the Christian faith--were confiscated. 

"Earlier this month, a judge ordered the literature to be destroyed. 

"Most likely the books would be burnt," an official told Forum 18."

Finish Reading Court Orders Destruction of Religious Literature, says Forum 18 at Mission Network News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
At Least Twenty Killed in Suicide Bombing on Christian Neighborhood in Nigeria 

3/20/2013
Washington D.C. 
International Christian Concern

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that at least twenty people have been killed by a series of bombings targeting buses in a predominately Christian neighborhood of Nigeria's northern city of Kano. The official death toll is expected to rise as security officials continue to examine the scene of Monday's attack.

Officials suspect the series of explosions were likely initiated by suicide bombers, but investigators are still collecting evidence to confirm that theory. Because the attacks took place in a predominately Christian area of Kano, most officials suspect Christians were the target of the attack. 
 
According to initial reports by the African Free Press, two suicide bombers rammed a car laden with explosives into a bus parked at the New Road station in Sabon Gari, a predominately Christian neighborhood of Kano. A series of explosions followed the initial blast as bystanders fled the scene. 
 
Speaking to the African Free Press on condition of anonymity, a rescue official said, "I saw three buses on fire. One of them was fully loaded with passengers waiting to leave the station at the time of the blasts." 

According to the Mali and Guardian, senior security officials say the death toll is likely to rise in the wake of the attack, estimating the death toll to be "massive" and describing twenty as an "understatement." Officials still haven't given a precise death toll. 

Boko Haram, an Islamic extremist group, is suspected to be behind the bombings, but the group has yet to take responsibility. Since 2009, Boko Haram has been engaged in an armed insurgency in Nigeria's northern states, attempting to carve out a separate Islamic state where it can institute its radical brand of Sharia law. 

As part of Boko Haram's bloody campaign, the group has targeted the Christian minority living in Nigeria's northern states by perpetrating suicide bombings at churches and killing Christians in their homes. These acts of terror are meant to drive all Christians out of northern Nigeria so Boko Haram may create a purely Islamic society. 

ICC's Regional Manager for Africa, William Stark, said, "Innocent Christians in northern Nigeria continue to be targeted for some of Boko Haram's most heinous acts of violence. Whether targeted by suicide bombings at churches, drive-by shootings or attacks on Christian homes, these attacks are meant to terrorize the Christian minority. Since 2009, human rights groups following Boko Haram's campaign of terror, including ICC, estimate over 3,000 people have been murdered at the hands of the radical group. The world cannot continue to wash its hands of this issue. Islamic extremist groups continue to trickle out of North Africa leaving nothing but death, destruction and terror in their wake. If left unchecked, West Africa will likely see a proliferation of radical Islamic groups resulting in levels of Christian persecution only seen in places like Mali and Somalia. Without international intervention, Christians in northern Nigeria will continue to go unprotected and have these deadly attacks devastate their communities." 
 
For interviews, contact William Stark, Regional Manager for Africa: RM-AfricaAsia@persecution.org

# # #

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.

International Christian Concern
2020 Pennsylvania Ave. NW #241 
Washington, D.C. 20006
www.persecution.org  |  E-mail: icc@persecution.org
 
Media Contact:  William Stark, Regional Manager for Africa RM-AfricaAsia@persecution.org