Read Churches Bombed in Kano, Nigeria, Killing 45 People, by Morning Star News, at Mission Network News.





"Suspected terrorists from the Islamic extremist Boko Haram group set off four bombs that hit two churches in Kano city on Monday night (July 29), killing at least 45 people, sources said. The Rev. Ramsey Noah, chairman of the Kano state chapter of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), told Morning Star News by phone the Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were planted near three churches, blasting two of them as well as nearby Christian-owned businesses. The four devices were detonated minutes apart between 9 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. in the Sabon Gari area of the city, sources said."

International Christian Concern
2020 Pennsylvania Ave. NW #241
Washington, D.C. 20006
www.persecution.org  |  E-mail: icc@persecution.org
 
Media Contact: Ryan Morgan, Regional Manager for Southeast Asia RM-SEAsia@persecution.org
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Police Raid Multiple House Churches in Northwest China

Worshipers Thought They Were Being Robbed

7/29/2013
Washington D.C.
International Christian Concern

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that Chinese police raided multiple house church gatherings last month in far Northwestern China in an apparent crackdown on "illegal" Christian gatherings. The leaders of the Christian gatherings were all detained for questioning and two were sentenced to several days of public security detention. Christians in China are required by law to attend government-sanctioned religious services, while those under the age of 18 are prohibited from attending religious services of any kind. 

According to ChinaAid, worshippers present at one of the raids on June 9th said unidentified intruders stormed the home where a worship service was being conducted and shouted, "Yours is an illegal assembly and all of you must stay still!" Worshippers initially thought they were being robbed, as the police were dressed in plain clothes and refused to show identification. Police proceeded to question members of the church, located in the Shayibake District of Urumqi, for an hour and threatened to take younger members away for further questioning. Eventually Brother Tan Wen, believed to be the group's leader, was detained, sentenced to 10 days of public security detention and fined 500 yuan, or about 80 U.S. dollars.  

In a separate police raid last month, 60-year-old Zhu Jinfeng, who led a small Bible study with neighbors in Urumqi for more than ten years, was also detained and charged with conducting "illegal" Christian activities. Police fined Ms. Zhu 200 yuan, about 30 U.S. dollars, before releasing her. Despite feeling "shaken" by the raid, Ms. Zhu reportedly attempted to file an application for "administrative reconsideration" of her case with authorities but was turned down upon her initial attempt. Speaking to the South China Morning Post, Ms. Zhu said she feels "lost and desperate" and has stopped worshipping in her own home.  

The raids took place in Urumqi, capital of the highly volatile Xinjiang Province. Tensions in the region have been high between the indigenous Uighur population and ethnic Han Chinese settlers. The latter moved in at the behest of the Chinese government which has sparked violent clashes between the people groups over the past several years. China maintains a heavy security presence in the area to clamp down on any perceived dissent. 

Xinjiang Province is also home to Alimujiang Yimiti, a Uighur house church leader and father of two. He was detained in 2007 for "spreading Christianity" and secretly sentenced in 2009 to fifteen years of imprisonment. His case is widely believed to represent one of the most egregious sentences given to a Christian leader in China in recent years. Last week, International Christian Concern submitted a petition to Chinese Ambassador Cui Tiankai calling for Alimujiang's immediate release.  

Ryan Morgan, International Christian Concern's Regional Manager for China, said, "This string of recently reported raids on Christian gatherings in Xinjiang Province is very disturbing. China publicly claims to value human rights, including the basic tenants of religious freedom, and has convinced many in the outside world that Christians are no longer the subject of government sponsored persecution. Although overall conditions may have improved over the last decade, these raids are clear evidence that Christians who choose to worship outside of state-controlled religious organizations remain subject at any time to arrest, deprivation of property, and monetary fines at the very least. For individuals like Alimujiang Yimiti, practicing one's faith has meant much worse. ICC calls on the Chinese government to immediately end police raids on Christian gatherings and release all those who remain detained for practicing their faith, including Alimujiang Yimiti." 

For interviews, contact Ryan Morgan, Regional Manager for Southeast Asia: RM-SEAsia@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.

Read Man Attacks Women Missionaries in Marketplace, by Gospel for Asia, at Mission Network News.

"Five women missionaries in India were beaten recently for sharing the love of Christ. Gospel for Asia says the women were sharing the Gospel with shopkeepers in a local marketplace. When a young man found out what they were doing, he began slapping and beating the women. Crowds watched, but didn't do anything to stop the attacks. The missionaries are praying that this violence will glorify God's name. Pray for God to transform the hearts of the attackers."

Read Protestant Churches Feel the Heat in Kazakhstan, by Christian Aid Mission, at Mission Network News. 

"Officials are trying to stamp out Christianity in Kazakhstan. A ministry supported by Christian Aid Mission says nine elderly believers are charged with outrageous charges and fines. They're falsely accused of illegal religious activity and drug sales, facing nearly $5000 in fines. Protestants in Kazakhstan are viewed as a threat to the government. Pray for a change in heart and attitude."

Read 39 Eritrean Christian Students Imprisoned for their Faith at Religion Today.

"...a group of 39 students, including 11 female students of the same intake who also completed the training, have been excluded from the graduation ceremony and have instead been placed under harsh military punishment at Sawa military training center. Sources told Open Doors USA that the arrests came as a result of the students' "Christian beliefs and for their commitment to Christ." The youths are now enduring beating, forced hard labor and insufficient food and water."

Read Violence Is Escalating in Iraq - Christians Suffering at Mission Network News.





"When coalition forces left the country, Iraqis thought peace would come to their nation. However, sectarian violence has actually increased--so much so that many are saying a civil war is looming. Spokesman for Voice of the Martyrs USA Todd Nettleton puts the violence in perspective. "So far in July, almost 600 people have been killed in different attacks--most of those civilians. In May, the UN said 963 people were killed, which was the biggest casualty toll since way back in 2008." Christians are suffering. Nettleton says you can help them through VOM Action Packs--a "bag with humanitarian aid materials and clothing items. Then we deliver those into Iraq to Christian families there. Another key way that we're involved is delivering Bibles." Packing Action Packs would be a great project for youth groups. Learn more at MissionNetworkNews.org under "Featured Links." Also pray for hope for believers in Iraq."

Read Christian Vietnamese Couple Beaten, Threatened at Mission Network News.





"A young Christian couple was beaten and threatened by officials in Vietnam. The husband and wife came to faith in Jesus Christ last month, according to a contact with Voice of the Martyrs. But recently, government authorities abused the wife and said they'll confiscate the couple's house and farmland if they don't renounce Christ. The Vietnamese government is suspicious of Christians because it sees them as agents of the West. Pray for the couple to stand strong in their faith."

Read Christian Man Sentenced to Life Imprisonment For Blashpemous Text Messages in Pakistan, by Christian Post, at persecution.org.




"In the Punjab province of Pakistan, a Christian man named Sajjad Masih has been sentenced to life in prison for sending blasphemous text messages to Muslim clerics from his ex-fiance's phone. Sajjad sent the text messages in order to seek vengeance. The police did not initially charge Masih but after being pressured by the Muslim clerics, the police added charges and tried to arrest his ex-fiance but could not track her."