Uzbek Persecution On The Rise, by Katey Hearth, Mission Network News






"Uzbekistan, one of 15 nations formerly belonging to the Soviet Union, is pretty heavy-handed when it comes to religion. Uzbek persecution puts the country at #15 on the Open Doors USA World Watch List–a ranking of 50 nations where the persecution of Christians is most severe. .."

“.'..Authorities are scared of any evangelical activity,” Rakhuba explains. “[The] evangelical Church is very limited, very much under pressure today, in their outreach activities...”

"...[Oltingul, an Uzbek SWW student's] investigation lasted three months, and she was found guilty of “missions and proselytism” when her case went to court. As a result, the SWW student was fined $1,500, more than any family earns in an entire year.

"According to Forum 18, officials often destroy the “illegal materials” confiscated from Christian homes before courts even reach a decision. In addition, “women…are often targeted by officials for pressure. This can include torture…including rape threats...'”

Apostasy Case In Sudan Creating Pressure, by Ruth Kramer, Mission Network News



"...Although U.S. President Barack Obama has been silent on Ibrahim’s plight, leaders from Germany, Britain are calling for a halt to the execution. This week, five Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) lodged a formal complaint with the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) against Sudan.

"Is her incarceration legal? Voice of the Martyrs Canada spokesman Greg Musselman says, technically, “They don’t have a real leg to stand on,” however, Sudanese President Omar Bashir, an Islamist who seized power in a 1989 military coup, has implemented Islam more strictly now that the non-Muslim south is gone. That gave rise to “a concerted effort by the government in Khartoum to rid the North of Christianity.” VOMC also notes that the sentence cannot be carried out until at least after two years later since she is a breastfeeding mother. Her son’s custody would then be granted to the government.

"As a fear tactic, the apostasy threat works, says Musselman. “It sends a pretty strong message to Christians in Sudan: ‘You’d better leave, or you’d better convert to Islam.’” In fact, some members of the small Christian minority in Sudan are going underground, says Musselman. “We work in that part of the world. We know of churches that have been destroyed, people who have been injured, and people who have been forced away. We need to be praying for the strength of the Church in Sudan. It is an Islamic country and it appears to be getting even more militant...'”

Is The Obama State Department Following Sharia Law Over U.S. Law In Refusing To Acknowledge Meriam's Kids' Citizenship? 
ACLJ.org 





"The Obama Administration’s State Department has been dragging its heels, refusing to acknowledge that the children of the woman on death row in Sudan for her Christian faith are U.S. citizens.

"Those two young American children – including a newborn infant – are imprisoned with their mother, Meriam Ibrahim.  Their human rights are being violated on a daily basis, and the State Department’s response has been abysmal.

"It is a basic principle of American law that the child of a U.S. citizen is a U.S. citizen.  As long as at least one parent is a citizen (and meets basicresidency requirements which don’t appear to be at issue here) when that child is born, under U.S. law, the child is also a citizen.

"That is a basic and indisputable fact.  It’s not complicated.

It is also now undisputed that Wani, Meriam’s husband, is a U.S. citizen.  Finally, the  State Department confirmed this fact on Monday, stating unequivocally, “We do have Privacy Act waiver for Mr. Wani at this time, who I can confirm is a U.S. citizen, as has been reported.”

"Yet the State Department still refuses to acknowledge that Meriam and Wani’s children are U.S. citizens.

"The only possible complication in establishing the U.S. citizenship of their children – 20-month-old Martin and newborn baby girl Maya – is in proving to the U.S. government that Martin and Maya are, in fact, Wani’s children.

"The U.S. State Department is making onerous and legally unnecessary demands for proof, outside of what is required by U.S. law.

"Again the legal analysis isn’t that complicated..."

American Tourist Detained In North Korea, Possibly For Leaving Bible In Hotel, by Amanda Casanova, Christian Headlines

"North Korean authorities have detained an American tourist, but haven’t yet said why he’s been detained, according to reports from North Korea on Friday. The Korean Central News Agency said that authorities had been investigating the tourist for allegedly committing acts inconsistent with tourist activities.
 
"The man has been identified as Jeffrey Edward Fowle. He went to North Korea on April 29.
 
"Another news agency in Japan has suggested the Fowle was detained for leaving a Bible at a hotel where he had been staying.

ACLJ.org





It’s astounding.

President Obama just broke the law, handed the Taliban a victory, and gave jihadists incentives to capture Americans – all for the sake of bringing home a soldier who apparently deserted his post.

At the same time the Obama State Department won’t even acknowledge the citizenship of two innocent American babies – Meriam Ibrahim’s children – stuck in a filthy and brutal Sudanese prison simply because their mom is Christian.

The Obama Administration is leaving Americans behind.

At the ACLJ, we stand with these American children. Today, we’re reaching out to the government of Sudan, demanding Meriam’s release. This week, your voice was heard as the United States Senate unanimously passed a resolution calling for Meriam to be freed.

...The Obama Administration may leave Americans behind, but we never will:

Sign Our Petition to Free Meriam and Her American Babies.

Jay Sekulow
ACLJ Chief Counsel

Arizona County Shutting Church Down For Money Arizona Says It Doesn't Owe, by Alliance Defending Freedom, at Charisma News




"La Paz County is forcing a small Quartzsite church that helps the homeless to close its doors by June 15 unless it pays $68,000 in back-taxes and penalties that both state law and the Arizona Department of Revenue say the church doesn't owe.

"Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys represent Church of the Isaiah 58 Project of Arizona in a lawsuit over the taxes, but because state courts have been unwilling to defer payment of the back-taxes until litigation has completed, the congregation is now facing foreclosure because it operates on a shoestring budget of only $50,000 per year.

"Supporters of the church have contributed money to help it pay the illegal tax bill so that it can stay open and continue its lawsuit, but it still needs about $30,000 to avoid foreclosure due to a tax lein on its property.

'"Churches shouldn't live in fear of being punished by the government when they've not done anything wrong, but that's precisely what is happening to this church. If La Paz County officials have their way, this church will lose everything," said ADF Senior Legal Counsel Erik Stanley..."

West Java Authorities Yield To Islamic Pressure And Close Down Seven Protestant Churches, by Mathias Harlyadi, Asia News


"Under pressure from Islamic extremist movements the authorities in Cianjur district , 90 km from Jakarta, have ordered the closure of seven Protestant Christian churches for alleged irregularities in building permits (the infamous IMB), confirming that the province of West Java is one of the most "intolerant" towards religious minorities in Indonesia.

"The places of worship that have been closed down are: Pentecost Church in Indonesia (GPdI) in Ciranjang, the Pentecost Movement Church (GGP) also Ciranjang, the Christian New Testament Church (GKPB), the Bethlehem Pentecoste (GGPB), the Bethel Church of Indonesia (GBI), the Evangelist Whole International Church  (GISI), and the Church of People's Synod (GSJA) - all in Cianjur District of West Java Province.

"The process for building a church in Indonesia - Catholic or Protestant - is quite complicated and may take five to ten years to obtain all permits required by law..." 

Christian Mother's Death Sentence Condemned, by Tom Strode, Baptist Press






"The U.S. Senate has unanimously condemned the death sentence of a Sudanese Christian woman and called for the immediate release from prison of her children and her.

"Senators voted by unanimous consent June 3 for a resolution in support of Meriam Yahia Ibrahim, who was convicted under Sharia law for "apostasy" (leaving Islam) by refusing to renounce her Christian faith. A Khartoum court sentenced her to death by hanging. She also received a sentence of 100 lashes for adultery on the basis of her marriage to a Christian, Daniel Wani, a South Sudanese-born citizen of the United States.

The Senate resolution gained approval a week after Ibrahim gave birth to the couple's second child, a daughter, Maya, in the Omdurman Federal Prison for Women. Martin, their 20-month-old son, also is imprisoned with his mother.

"Russell D. Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, applauded the Senate action and called Ibrahim "a living picture of Jesus keeping his promise, made to us at Caesarea Philippi.

"Jesus said that He would build His church, and that the gates of hell would not prevail against it," Moore said in a statement for Baptist Press. "As we thank God for the Gospel to which she clings, let's continue to pray that these actions by our officials will be the catalyst for [her] release..."

"...The Senate's resolution...not only condemned the sentencing and called for Ibrahim's release but urged the U.S. government to refuse to normalize relations with or lift sanctions against Sudan until the Eastern African country abides by "international standards of freedom of religion or belief." The measure also called for Khartoum to work to ensure its new constitution incorporates religious liberty protections..."

International Christian Concern
2020 Pennsylvania Ave. NW #241, Washington, D.C. 20006
www.persecution.org  |  E-mail: icc@persecution.org


Media Contact:
Cameron Thomas, Regional Manager for Africa
RM-Africa@persecution.org


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Bloody Sundays: Back-to-back Attacks on Nigeria's Churches
In 7 Days, Boko Haram Destroyed 43 Churches, Murdered 30 Faithful

06/05/2014 
Washington, D.C.
International Christian Concern

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that Boko Haram militants killed nine parishioners and wounded several others in an attack on a church in Gwoza, Borno State, on Sunday, June 1. The attack preceded a bombing later that evening in a predominantly Christian area of Gwoza that reportedly killed 45.

According to eye witness accounts, more than 10 Boko Haram militants attacked the Ekklesiyar Yan'uwa a Nigeria, or EYN Church of the Brethren, in Attagara Village during a 9:30am Sunday morning worship service. Miss Martha, a member of the victimized congregation, told journalists in Maidguri on Monday, June 2, "Our church has some men as security group. They usually keep vigilance of the church especially when service is going on."

The Boko Haram militants reportedly entered the village with motorcycles, a truck, RPGs and AK-47s. According to Miss Martha, "As we were holding service, we started hearing gunshots and everybody fled." Another eyewitness to the attack, Matthew Adamu, a resident of the village who fled to Maiduguri, said, "Some jumped through the windows and ran into the bushes. Some who live close to the church managed to run to their homes."

In response to the attack, villagers, including some parishioners of the targeted church, chased the militants, killing four and arresting three. Miss Martha recounted, "But the men in our village quickly called themselves together and chased after the Boko Haram gunmen. They were more than 10 and our men, including the vigilantes, killed four of the Boko Haram and arrested three of them. It was later that we discovered that nine of our men in the church security group were shot dead."

The attack preceded a deadly bomb blast in Mubi, a town in nearby Adamawa State, which, according to area residents, claimed as many as 45 lives. Local law enforcement, however, have only confirmed 18 dead. The blast, which exploded at roughly 6pm, targeted soccer fans viewing a game at a local bar. Others playing soccer on a nearby field were also reportedly wounded in the explosion.

The latest in a series of attacks on predominantly Christian areas throughout Nigeria's northeast, Boko Haram has reportedly "destroyed 36 churches in Gwoza area, including that of Attagara attacked on Sunday." Speaking to Morning Star News, Dr. Rebecca Dali, wife to Samuel Dali, President of the EYN, said, "There have been 24-hour-a-day attacks on Christian communities of Attagara, Hawul, and Gwoshe around the Gwoza Mountains." She further lamented, "We now have only two churches that have not been affected."

From May 25-26, Boko Haram reportedly killed 29 Christians, wounded several others, and burned down seven churches and several houses in Chinene, Chikide, Joghode, Kaghum, Ashigashiya and Amuda villages, all in Gwoza area. According to Titus Pona, chairman of the Borno state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, "Most of the villages attacked in Gwoza area since a week ago are dominated by over 80% Christians."

In a timely recognition of the streak of violence throughout Borno and Adamawa States,Open Doors USA ranked Nigeria as the most violent country in its World Watch Top 10 Violence List. It reads in part, "Boko Haram continues to attack Christians on a large scale by burning down and bombing churches and Christian property, and assaulting and kidnapping Christian women and girls."

Boko Haram, or "Western education is forbidden," is a radical Islamic insurgency designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) by the United States and a recognized al-Qaeda affiliate by a United Nations Security Council Committee, bent on establishing a separate Islamic state to be ruled by Sharia law. The group is responsible for more than12,000 deaths over the course of its existence, the destruction of hundreds of churches and schools, and even several mosques and Islamic holy sites. In 2014 alone, Boko Haram has killed more than 1,500 persons, successfully carried out two car bombings in the nation's capital of Abuja, and perpetrated the mass-kidnapping of more than 240 predominantly Christian schoolgirls, some of whom have since been forcefully converted to Islam and sold into domestic and sexual servitude.

ICC's Regional Manager for Africa, Cameron Thomas, said, "The most recent spate of attacks by Boko Haram once again indicates targeting of Christians and their vulnerability throughout northeast Nigeria. Boko Haram continues to operate with utter impunity, opposed only by vigilante forces composed of villagers willing to sacrifice their lives in protection of loved ones. Decisive action must be taken, beyond mere words, by the international community and the Jonathan administration to bring an end to what is quickly becoming religiously-motivated genocide against Nigeria's Christian population."

For interviews, contact Cameron Thomas, Regional Manager for Africa: RM-Africa@persecution.org 


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