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Christian Mother Poisoned in Uganda

6/28/2015

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Christian Mother of 11 in Uganda Poisoned by Muslim In-Laws, Area Sources Say
Wife of former sheikh succumbs after sister-in-law feeds her.

June 23, 2015 
By Our East Africa Correspondent 
3 Comments
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NAIROBI, Kenya 
Morning Star News

A mother of 11 who left Islam for Christianity was poisoned to death last week in a village in eastern Uganda, area sources said.

Namumbeiza Swabura, mother of a 5-month-old baby, died on Wednesday (June 17) in Nabuli village, Kibuku District, after her sister-in-law visited her and offered to prepare a light meal of cooked plantain called matoke for her, area sources said. Swabura and her husband, former sheikh (Islamic teacher) Mugoya Muhammad, put their faith in Christ in August 2014.

Her husband’s sister, Jafaran Wowa of Kanyolo village, visited her at 4 p.m. and after an hour prepared the dish, sources said. Wowa, who did not eat any of the dish, left soon after Swabura finished it, Muhammad learned.

Muhammad arrived soon after she finished eating to find his wife complaining of stomach pain. She told him the pain started immediately after eating the food that his sister had prepared for her, sources said.

Swabura’s pain grew worse as she began vomiting and her nose began to bleed uncontrollably; her face turned pale, and two hours later she died in their home as Muhammad was trying to rent a car to take her to a hospital, they said.

Her sister-in-law has gone into hiding, the sources said.

Swabura and her husband have received several death threats since putting their faith in Christ, according to Muhammad. During a visit by Morning Star News to the area in late May, he said, “We are fearing for our lives as the Muslims are threatening to kill us if we continue in Christianity.”

Besides her infant and husband, Swabura wife leaves behind 10 other children.

“We suspect that Muhammad’s sister, Jafaran Wowa, was given a lot of money to carry out the heinous act,” an area source said. “This was a deadly drug like rat poison or Bromethalin.”

Unable to bear the costs of pursuing legal recourse regarding Swabura’s death, Muhammad decided to bury her the next day, Thursday (June 18), sources said.

James Kalaja, pastor of the couple’s Muhammad New Hope Church in Nabuli, told Morning Star News by phone that the village has many Muslims hostile to Christians. After Muslims raped his daughter because of his role as a Christian leader, he recently moved his family to a safer village, he said.

“I only go to conduct Sunday service,” he said. “Christians are facing threats here, and the Muslims would not like to see a church in Nabuli village. It is sad that we have just lost our sister. The Christians are shaken by her death. We have been praying for Muhammad due to several threatening messages that he has been receiving through his phone.”

If you would like to help persecuted Christians, visit http://morningstarnews.org/resources/aid-agencies/ for a list of organizations that that can orient you on how to get involved.  

If you or your organization would like to help enable Morning Star News to continue raising awareness of persecuted Christians worldwide with original-content reporting, please consider collaborating at http://morningstarnews.org/donate/?   

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© 2015 Morning Star News. Articles/photos may be reprinted with credit to Morning Star News.  

Morning Star News is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation that relies solely on contributions to offer original news reports of persecuted Christians. By providing reliable news on the suffering church, Morning Star News’ mission is to empower those in the free world to help and to encourage persecuted Christians that they are not forgotten or alone. For free subscription or to make tax-deductible donations, contact [email protected], or send check to Morning Star News, 34281 Doheny Park Rd., # 7022, Capistrano Beach, CA 92624, USA...
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Every Day Belongs to God

6/28/2015

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Ex-Muslim Rifqa Bary:  Every Day Belongs to God
by Lucinda Borkett-Jones
Christian Today
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Rifqa Bary came to international attention in 2009 when, as a teenager, she ran away from her family home in Ohio fearing that her father wanted to kill her because she had converted from Islam to Christianity.

A difficult legal battle followed as she tried to stay away from her family and argue her case. At the time there was significant media speculation about whether her sense of peril was justified, and whether it was possible that 'honour killing' could happen in America.

Now 22, Rifqa has written her side of the story in her autobiography, Hiding in the Light: Why I risked everything to leave Islam and follow Jesus – a remarkable, gripping story and a challenging testimony from someone whose faith has not come cheap.

It's no understatement to say she's had an eventful life. Rifqa was born in Sri Lanka, grew up in a strict Muslim home and moved with her family to the US in 2000. As a child she was blinded in one eye in an accident, was sexually abused by a relative in Sri Lanka and beaten by her father and brother. She then experienced a radical conversion to Christ at the age of 12 and kept her faith hidden for four years. At 16, her parents found out and she ran away to Florida claiming that her father had threatened to kill her, which he later denied as well as the accusation of abuse.

Rifqa made her escape with the help of Christians she had connected with on Facebook. Although she had found what she was looking for spiritually, the difficulties didn't end after leaving home. She ended up in juvenile detention for a brief period and was then bounced between numerous foster homes. And before she had even graduated from high school she was diagnosed with a rare form of uterine cancer and was told it was terminal.

She turned 18 before the legal case was completely resolved, essentially giving her the freedom to move on – even more so after doctors said she appeared to have been miraculously healed from cancer. Having taken a couple of years out after high school and worked as a youth worker in a church, she is now studying philosophy and politics at college and hopes to be a lawyer one day.

She spoke to Christian Today about the way that Christ has changed her life and how her faith has sustained her in the most desperate times...

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Elections in Nigeria

6/28/2015

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Elections in Nigeria
Persecution Magazine, June 2015
International Christian Concern
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Life for Christians in Nigeria’s Muslim majority north and central regions is harrowing and constantly in peril. Christians who live in this region can be enjoying dinner with their family one moment and then be staring down the barrel of an AK-47 a few minutes later. They often find themselves forced to kneel in the dirt and terrified while they are asked to do the unthinkable: deny Jesus or die. 

This is the experience of countless persecuted Christians who face threats from Islamic extremists in Nigeria. 

Two major Muslim groups terrorize and target Christians in Nigeria. In the north, militant jihadists, Boko Haram, have murdered Christians, abducted young girls and sold them into marriage to be sexual slaves and killed thousands of Nigerian civilians over the last decade in their quest to recreate Nigeria as an Islamic state in Africa. 

Across Nigeria’s Middle Belt, Muslim Fulani herders often ravage Christian farming communities, burning churches and shooting those who attempt to escape. 

Christians have endured this persecution under the watch of a Christian president, Goodluck Jonathan, for the past six and Christians in Nigeria are bracing for an uncertain future after the election of a Muslim president. Despite campaigning against Boko Haram, experts fear Buhari may be a wolf in sheep’s clothing...
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Radicals Threaten to Wipe Out Christians in India

6/28/2015

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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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Hindu Radicals Threaten to Wipe Out Local Christians Following Church Attack
By ICC's India Correspondent,

6/26/2015 
Washington, D.C. 
International Christian Concern

Christians in India continue to face the brunt of Hindu extremism. A fresh outburst of violence against Christians was unleashed when a group of worshippers was brutally attacked at a church service on Sunday, June 14 in India's Kerala state. Kerala, one of India's southern states, boasts the densest populations of Christians in India who represent over 40% the state's population. This fact led many Christians in Kerala to believe they were insulated from the growing religious intolerance India has witnessed over the past year.

"I was literally terrified," said Pastor Shiju, the senior pastor of Reaching the World with Love Ministries Church. "I did not know what was going on as a mob of 30 people advanced towards me while I was preaching the message. They hit me in the face and then kicked me all over the body. They first targeted me and then the congregation. I had to flee and ran away from the church as I could make out that I was their prime target."

Over 400 Christians, the majority of whom are converts to Christianity, gather at a community hall in Attingal, Kerala every Sunday for worship for Reaching the World with Love Ministries. Around 12:30 pm on June 14, more than 200 people from radical Hindu organizations came to the community hall shouting loud slogans including, 'Bharat Mathaki Jai' (Hail mother India).

Radicals then forced themselves into the hall and started beating the pastor, causing severe internal injuries. Later, the assailants turned on the congregation. 40-year-old Girija, narrowly escaped with a broken finger when she dodged a blow that would have smashed in her head when a radical attempted to beat her with a motorbike helmet.

The radicals went onto desecrate the communion elements and broke the wooden table that was used to display them during worship services. The radicals also damaged the pulpit, microphones, and cables used by the worshipers to conduct their services. The Christian worshippers fled in different directions but were further assaulted outside of the community hall many of the 200 radicals were waiting for them.

Upon witnessing the attack, Mr. Deepu, one of the Christian worshipers, immediately ran to the police station and reported the ongoing assault. Even though the police station was only yards away, police took 30 minutes to arrive on the scene.

Quickly, news of the attack spread and the state home minister visited the pastor and the community where the attack took place. The minister, in charge of the state's law and order, promised that the attackers would be booked and brought to justice.

The next day, Christians in Attingal organized a peaceful protest march in the town. More than 500 people participated in a march to protest the attack on the Reaching the World with Love Ministries Church. Local MLA (Member of Legislative Assembly) and other community leaders also took part in the protest, condemning the acts of the radical Hindu groups.

At the same time, the 'Hindu Ikya Vedi,' (Hindu United Front) a local Hindu radical group, led a counter protest against the Christians brandishing placards carrying anti-Christian slogans. The anti-Christian protestors threatened the Christians of Reaching the World with Love Ministries Church with dire consequences if they met again, particularly on that followingSunday. They said they would wipe out Christians in Attingal and burn Pastor Shiju alive if they continue to hold prayers in Attingal.

An eye-witness told ICC that, "The Hindu radicals are gathering almost every day since the attack in Attingal took place. The slogans on the placards that read wiping the Christians away from the town was a huge threat to the Christians of that area. The Hindu radicals vowed to burn pastor Shiju if he continued the church in Attingal."

As Christians in Attingal continue to recover from this latest incident of persecution, Christians across India remain vulnerable. No matter where they are in India, the real potential of physical violence being metered out by the Hindu hard-line groups seems inevitable. Unless the BJP led government of India starts confronting the issue of Christian persecution, religiously motivated violence, like that endured by the Christians of Reaching the World with Love Ministries, will continue to spread and multiply. 

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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Church Targeted in North Carolina

6/28/2015

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Arsonist Targets Predominantly Black Church in Charlotte, North Carolina
by Shamar Walters
NBC News
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Photo Courtesy NBC News
A predominantly black church in North Carolina was intentionally set ablaze, authorities said...

...The blaze caused about $250,000 in damage.

Pastor Mannix Kinsey said the church's congregation has already forgiven the culprit. "Buildings can be repaired, they can be built over," Kinsey told WCNC. "This is the opportunity for God to touch the hearts of individuals..."

...While the sanctuary was spared, the ceiling collapsed and there was significant damage to an area used for a kids' summer camp, WCNC reported...

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Supreme Court Funds Abortion

6/28/2015

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Supreme Court Upholds Taxpayer Subsidies to over 1,000 Obamacare Plans that Fund Abortions
Steven Ertelt
Life News
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In a major victory for the Obama administration, the Supreme court has issued its second major decision up-holding abortion-funding Obamacare. The Supreme Court has upheld a key provision of ObamaCare today in their decision in King v. Burwell, ruling that millions of Americans can continue to receive taxpayer subsidies to allow them to purchase health care plans under Obamacare.

The 6-3 decision authored by Chief Justice John Roberts was the second time the high court rejected efforts by Obamacare opponents to limit or stop Obamacare. Opponents of Obmacare argued that the Affordable Care Act only allowed subsidies to be used in state exchange marketplaces rather than in the federal marketplace but the Supreme Court ruled otherwise.

With regards to abortion, the case underscores the fact that millions of Americans are now eligible to have Obamacare health care plans receiving federal subsidies that fund abortions. Some 34 states and 6.4 million people are getting subsidies to help them purchase insurance plans under Obamacare and over 1,000 plans eligible for federal subsidies currently cover elective abortion. That, pro-life groups say, underscores the need for the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, a Congressional bill that would zero out abortion funding under Obamacare.

That bill is authored by pro-life Congressman Chris Smith, who has talked about the important need for the legislation...

...Because the health care exchanges and other programs authorized and appropriated under the Affordable Care Act are separate from all other appropriations laws, the President’s promise to extend the Hyde amendment to the “newly created exchanges” was the game changer. The President got the votes of several pro-life democrats needed for passage...

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Prisoners Share the Good News

6/27/2015

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Christian Prisoner Talks Iranian Muslim Interrogator into Embracing Christianity
by Monica Cantilero
Christianity Today
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Photo Courtesy Israel Islam and End Times (dot) Com
A Christian woman arrested in Iran for her faith became an instrument for conversion after her Iranian interrogator known for persecuting religious minorities surprisingly gave up his Islamic faith and embraced Christianity instead...

“...We talked about Jesus for hours until finally the interrogator gave his heart to Jesus. We prayed together,” she recalled.

“It’s an honour for me to talk about Jesus,” Noushin told the guard. “You also need Jesus in your life. I cannot be indifferent toward you. I want you to experience the joy and blessing of salvation. I can’t keep silent about this...”

“...I wasn’t ready to go to prison,” she said. “I knew it was a dirty place, a place where people are tortured and locked up in solitary confinement. I was afraid that I would be so fearful that I would give up all the names of the members of house church. I even feared that I would deny my faith if they tortured me.”

According to Open Doors, a faith-based group helping persecuted Christians worldwide, the Gospel continues to be spread throughout Iran despite the persecution of thousands of religious minorities, including Christian converts, under President Hassan Rouhani’s government...

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Modi's First Year Tough for Christians

6/27/2015

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

www.persecution.org  |  E-mail: [email protected]
Picture
Modi's First Year in Power Marks a Tough Year for India's Christians
By ICC's India Correspondent, 

6/25/2015 
Washington, D.C. 
International Christian Concern

The first year of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rule has been a difficult one for Christians. Increased levels of religious intolerance and radical Hindu nationalism over the past twelve months have made the lives of Christians increasingly difficult in India. Under the Modi regime, many radical Hindu nationalist groups have escalated their activities, infringing upon religious freedom and causing terror among the Christian community. Human rights groups have documented over 600 cases of religiously motivated violence against religious minorities in the first year of Prime Minister Modi's rule. Of these 600 cases, Christians were targeted in 194.Modi's First 100 Days

The first 100 days of Prime Minister Modi's rule saw instances of persecution against Christians and Muslims, two of India's largest religious minority groups, skyrocket. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), the Bajrang Dal, and other radical Hindu nationalist groups increased their intimidation campaigns during this time period and as a result there was a dramatic increase in the number of attacks on religious minorities' places of worship.

Over 600 instances of religiously motivated violence were recorded in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh alone. In almost all of these cases, the violence was perpetrated by Hindu radicals against religious minorities.

Despite this spike in violence, Prime Minister Modi remained silent regarding the religious violence spreading within his country's borders. Prime Minister Modi's silence in particular upset India's religious minorities because it was perceived as tacit approval of the Hindu radicals violent activities.

Dr. John Dayal of the United Christian Forum told International Christian Concern (ICC) that, "The sad part is that the Prime Minister does not speak either in public or in his party against hatred."

Christianity Made Illegal

As the violence in Uttar Pradesh continued to spread, an anti-Christian campaign led by radical Hindu nationalists concluded in a ban on of non-Hindu religions, specifically targeting Christianity, in over 50 villages in Chhattisgarh. Essentially, Christianity was made illegal by village ordinance in these 50 villages.

Suresh Yadav, the area president of a local Hindu radical group, said that, "Over 50 gram panchayats (village councils) have passed orders banning 'all non-Hindu religious propaganda, [including] prayers and speeches in the villages."

This resolution, which was widely covered by the media, created a great deal of fear among the Christian communities in Chhattisgarh. It also dramatically impacted the ability for these communities to practice their Christian faith.

Pastor Abhimelek Sona, a local pastor, said, "The situation is very sensitive and alarming. The Christians are fearful as the series of incidents are taking places in this region."

Following the passing of this resolution, local Christians were told to either recant their Christian faith or face a social boycott. In this particular case, Christians who refused to recant their faith were denied access to drinking water from the village's public well and were blocked from harvesting from their own fields. Despite this development, Prime Minister Modi continued to remain silent on the increase of religious intolerance in India.

Christmas Cancelled for Good Governance Day

As India approached December, the BJP led government declared that December 25was to be observed as "good governance day" instead of Christmas. This was interpreted by India's Christians as a deliberate effort to substitute Christmas, which had been celebrated under previous regimes, with a secular government holiday.

The Archbishop of Bangalore, Dr. Bernard Moras, came out strongly against the good governance day announcement, questioning the motivation for scheduling it on the same day as Christmas. While speaking on national television, Dr. Moras said, "[The] 25th of December is universally accepted as Christmas - the birth of Jesus Christ and the whole world celebrates the day as Christmas. Now, to announce in India, the 25th of December as good governance day, I personally feel it is not a good decision. It is hurting the sentiments of Christians definitely and not only of Christians, but also of others. I feel good governance is a necessity today everywhere but why fixes it on [the] 25th? Christmas is coming down over the last 2,000 years, not just 100 years." 

The hard times for Christian minorities continued through December and into the New Year as five churches in New Delhi were attacked and vandalized within two months. Included in these attacks was the burning of St. Sebastian Church which was set on fire in the early morning hours of December 2, 2014 by unknown suspects likely motivated by an anti-Christian agenda.  

Hundreds of Christian Protestors Arrested

On February 5, 2015, hundreds of Christians were arrested in New Delhi for demonstrating against a series of attacks against churches and Christian institutions in the city, including the burning of St. Sebastian Church. Demonstrators were arrested by police as they marched from the Sacred Heart Cathedral to the home of the Home Minister. According to eye-witnesses, police dragged nuns, priests, and women into buses as they protested during the march against growing intolerance towards religious minorities and police inaction.

Dr. John Dayal, said that he was among the 200 people who were arrested by police when they started the march. Dayal said, "Our protest demanded that the government inquire into the violence against Christians because we [no longer] trust the police to investigate it properly."

India's International Reputation Tarnished

While traveling to India in January 2015, U.S. President Barack Obama's remarks on religious freedom came as comfort to the suffering Christian community. President Obama, while admonishing the growing religious intolerance in India, said, "India will succeed as long as it's not splintered along religious lines...nowhere is it more important to uphold religious freedom than in India." 

President Obama's statement on religious freedom in India was followed by him remarking on growing religious intolerance in India at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C. These statements, coupled with the international media's coverage of Christian protests, finally forced Prime Minister Modi to break his nine months of silence on religious intolerance since becoming prime minister.

In all, the increased religious intolerance and violence India has witnessed under the first twelve months of Prime Minister Modi's rule convinced the U.S. Commission for International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) to maintain India's status as a "Tier 2" Country of Concern in its 2015 Annual Report on religious freedom. USCIRF's 2015 report marked Hindu radical groups' reconversion programs, attacks on churches, and the continued hate campaigns being openly waged against India's religious minorities as particular points of concern.

Prime Minister Modi's first year in the office has coincided with a dramatic increase in religious intolerance and violence against India's religious minorities, particularly Christians. The reconversion campaigns, the anti-Christian policies, and continued attacks and hate speeches against religious minorities continue to make life difficult for many Christians. Though Prime Minister Modi has made promises to fight religious violence, so far he has failed to translate his words into actions. What will the next twelve months of Prime Minister Modi bring for India's Christians? More persecution or change? 

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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Christian in Texas Challenges Ticket for Feeding Homeless

6/27/2015

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Texas Christian in Court after Being Served up Fine for Feeding Homeless out of Pickup Truck
by Heather Clark
Christian News Network
Picture
Photo by Leroy Allen Skalstad, Public Domain
A Christian woman in Texas appeared in court today as she challenges a ticket that she received earlier this year for feeding the homeless in a local park out of her pickup truck.

Joan Cheever has operated the Chow Train since 2005, a nonprofit organization that feeds the hungry and homeless in the San Antonio area. Her food truck, which carries hot, restaurant-quality meals to between 25-75 people each week, is licensed by the city to provide a service to the public.

However, this past April, Cheever utilized her personal pickup truck to the deliver the meals, as she believed that her food truck was too wide to make it down the alleyways in search of the homeless.

As a result, she was approached by officers with the San Antonio Police Department, who asked to see her food permit. She produced the document, but the officer said that her permit only applied to the food truck and not her pickup and therefore, she was in violation of city ordinances regarding the feeding of the homeless.

Cheever said that the concept was nonsensical as even pizza delivery drivers deliver food out of their personal vehicles. She also asserted that regardless of which truck is utilized, she believes that her activities are protected under the U.S. Constitution—specifically her First Amendment right to exercise her religion.

“[One officer] said, ‘You think I’m infringing upon your right to practice your religion?’” Cheever recalled to the Washington Post. “Then he said, ‘Lady, if you want to pray, go to church...’”

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1.000 Days

6/27/2015

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

www.persecution.org  |  E-mail: [email protected]
Media Contact: Todd Daniels, Regional Manager for the Middle East [email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Picture
A Milestone Passes as Saeed Abedini Still Awaits Release in Iranian Prison
American citizen and Iranian pastor, Saeed Abedini, has been in prison for over 1,000 days now for his faith in Jesus and activities as a Christian.

06/25/2015 
Washington, D.C. 
International Christian Concern

International Christian Concern (ICC) continues to call for the release of Iranian American pastor Saeed Abedini. He has been imprisoned in Iran since September 2012 where he has suffered intense physical and psychological torture. As the United States and other Western countries are negotiating with Iran regarding its nuclear program, the continued confinement of Saeed, along with three other Americans, raises serious concerns about the trustworthiness of Iran's negotiations.

Saeed Abedini was imprisoned on September 26, 2012. On the morning of January 27, 2013, Pastor Saeed stood before Judge Pir-Abassi in Tehran to receive his verdict from a show trial. He was convicted of "undermining national security" for his work among house churches in Iran from 2000 to 2005 "Mr. Abedini's attorney had only one day (January 21) to present his defense, so we remain deeply concerned about the fairness and transparency of Mr. Abedini's trial," State Department representative Darby Holladay reported shortly after the trial.

Naghmeh Abedini, Saeed's wife, appeared before the House of Foreign Affairs Committee earlier this month and pleaded for a greater effort to be made on behalf of her husband. That same day, House Resolution 233, sponsored by Rep. Daniel Kildee (D-MI), was passed with a vote of 391-0. The resolution calls for the immediate release of imprisoned U.S. citizens and the disclosure of any information regarding U.S. citizens that have disappeared within the borders of Iran.

The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) has been advocating on behalf of Saeed for some time and recently collected over 1 million unique signatures for Saeed in a social media campaign entitled #SaveSaeed. The global campaign on behalf of Pastor Saeed has brought his case before Congress, the White House, the United Nations and other world leaders.

Saeed's father was able to visit his son in prison on Wednesday, June 24 and carried out a message of hope. Having just spent his 1,000th day in prison, Saeed gave his father a message to share. "He wanted us to know that for 1000 days he has experienced utter darkness and has died, yet for 1,001, he has been resurrected with Christ," Naghmeh said. "For 1,001 days he has learned to forgive over and over and over again. That for 1001 days he has chosen Christ over what they have tried to force on him and he has stood on His faith in Jesus Christ despite the pressures, tortures and threats."

Saeed has faced intense abuse these past 1,001 days. "He has been tortured, especially the first few months he was beaten badly when internal bleeding started," Naghmeh testified at the hearing on June 2nd. Time is of the essence, despite Saeed's resolute endurance. Saeed has experienced both physical and psychological abuse in prison. He has been put in and out of solitary confinement repeatedly and has suffered beatings at the hands of prison guards and even fellow inmates for his faith.

The release of Saeed and other U.S. citizens imprisoned in Iran is of upmost importance as theJune 30th deadline for Iranian nuclear deal approaches.  If President Rouhani wishes to have constructive interaction with the international community, he must take into account the demands of Resolution 233 and the unjust imprisonment of American citizens for nothing more than exercising their fundamental rights. International pressure should continue and expand on behalf of these U.S. citizens.

Organizations and governments have advocated on behalf of Pastor Saeed, though more remains to be done. Secretary of State John Kerry first called for his release on March 22, 2013 and again on July 28, 2014 in addition to citing Saeed's case in the U.S. State Department's most recent report on international religious freedom. President Obama mentioned the case in his first phone call with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani but additional steps have not been taken, despite international pressure.

ICC's Regional Manager for the Middle East, Todd Daniels, said, "The continued imprisonment of Saeed Abedini on charges of threatening Iran's national security for meeting together with those who share his faith demonstrates the fragility of the Iranian regimes hold on society and the lack of a true commitment to basic rights and freedoms. The ability to hold a religious belief, to meet together with others who share that belief, and to live publicly in accordance with it is among the most fundamental of freedoms. Iran continues to regularly violate that, not only in the case of Saeed Abedini but for the dozens of other Iranian Christians who are also suffering in Iran's prisons. As a citizen of the United States, President Obama and his administration should exert the utmost effort to see him returned to his family. As a country that claims to promote religious freedom as a core value of our foreign policy, the United States must boldly condemn those who would imprison its citizens simply for their religious beliefs."

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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    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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