Global Overview Persecution World View, page 14
Persecution Magazine, October 2015
International Christian Concern
Persecution Magazine, October 2015
International Christian Concern
The Destruction of Christian Graves, Courtesy Persecution Magazine
February 15, a video released by Al Hayat Media, the media arm of the so-called Islamic State, or ISIS, showed the brutal execution of 21 Christians on a beach in Libya. Dressed in orange jumpsuits, the 21 men were led down the beach by Islamic jihadists and then forced to kneel before they were beheaded as martyrs who chose to identify with Jesus.
The video was labeled “A Message Signed with Blood to the Nation of the Cross,” and it was a gripping demonstration of the incredible dangers that Christians around the world face for following Jesus.
Atrocities like this continue to be committed by ISIS across the region. In Iraq and Syria, they have controlled an area of land that was home to more than 200,000 Christians.
In March, two suicide bombers from the Pakistani Taliban tried to enter the gates of the St. John Church and Christ Church in Yohanabad, Lahore, Pakistan. The attackers were stopped at the gates, but still 19 were killed and more than 80 injured as they celebrated Palm Sunday, something considered too dangerous for Islamic extremists in Pakistan.
Across Africa, from Boko Haram’s brutal attacks in Nigeria to the massacre of more than 100 university students in Garissa, Kenya, Christians were repeatedly the targets of Islamic terrorists. Due to increasing persecution at home, thousands of Christians have fled their homes — some choosing to risk their lives in an attempt to migrate north through Libya and across the Mediterranean into Europe. They face dangers not just from crossing the desert and sea in the hands GLOBAL OVERVIEW Persecution World View Boko Haram members display their weapons. of human traffickers, but also from ISIS jihadists in Libya who actively hunt down Christians. Numerous eye-witness accounts have explained that the militants will stop a caravan and go person by person searching for Christians and then either force them to swear allegiance to Islam or face execution. Such was the fate of more than 30 Ethiopians and Eritreans in March.
Christian persecution is not just the domain of Islamic terrorists. Increasingly, authoritarian regimes or established religious leaders are cracking down on the church, attempting to tear down their crosses in China, doing all they can to prevent Christians from worshiping in a building in Indonesia, banning Christianity in entire villages in India, imprisoning house church leaders in Iran, and using blasphemy and apostasy laws in Pakistan, Egypt, Sudan and Saudi Arabia to silence those who believe in Jesus.
Yet as persecution continues to rise around the world, it is a testimony to the endurance of faithful Christians who continue to follow Jesus no matter the cost. It is also a call to the global church to stand up for and identify with their brothers and sisters who face persecution.
In response to each of these issues, ICC serves as your bridge to the persecuted church. The following articles give an overview by geographical region and insight into some of the ways ICC is making a difference. Whether it is by bringing awareness of issues that have gone unnoticed, advocating before world leaders or providing life-saving or liferestoring assistance in the world’s most difficult places, your support allows us to bandage and build the broken body of Jesus.
The video was labeled “A Message Signed with Blood to the Nation of the Cross,” and it was a gripping demonstration of the incredible dangers that Christians around the world face for following Jesus.
Atrocities like this continue to be committed by ISIS across the region. In Iraq and Syria, they have controlled an area of land that was home to more than 200,000 Christians.
In March, two suicide bombers from the Pakistani Taliban tried to enter the gates of the St. John Church and Christ Church in Yohanabad, Lahore, Pakistan. The attackers were stopped at the gates, but still 19 were killed and more than 80 injured as they celebrated Palm Sunday, something considered too dangerous for Islamic extremists in Pakistan.
Across Africa, from Boko Haram’s brutal attacks in Nigeria to the massacre of more than 100 university students in Garissa, Kenya, Christians were repeatedly the targets of Islamic terrorists. Due to increasing persecution at home, thousands of Christians have fled their homes — some choosing to risk their lives in an attempt to migrate north through Libya and across the Mediterranean into Europe. They face dangers not just from crossing the desert and sea in the hands GLOBAL OVERVIEW Persecution World View Boko Haram members display their weapons. of human traffickers, but also from ISIS jihadists in Libya who actively hunt down Christians. Numerous eye-witness accounts have explained that the militants will stop a caravan and go person by person searching for Christians and then either force them to swear allegiance to Islam or face execution. Such was the fate of more than 30 Ethiopians and Eritreans in March.
Christian persecution is not just the domain of Islamic terrorists. Increasingly, authoritarian regimes or established religious leaders are cracking down on the church, attempting to tear down their crosses in China, doing all they can to prevent Christians from worshiping in a building in Indonesia, banning Christianity in entire villages in India, imprisoning house church leaders in Iran, and using blasphemy and apostasy laws in Pakistan, Egypt, Sudan and Saudi Arabia to silence those who believe in Jesus.
Yet as persecution continues to rise around the world, it is a testimony to the endurance of faithful Christians who continue to follow Jesus no matter the cost. It is also a call to the global church to stand up for and identify with their brothers and sisters who face persecution.
In response to each of these issues, ICC serves as your bridge to the persecuted church. The following articles give an overview by geographical region and insight into some of the ways ICC is making a difference. Whether it is by bringing awareness of issues that have gone unnoticed, advocating before world leaders or providing life-saving or liferestoring assistance in the world’s most difficult places, your support allows us to bandage and build the broken body of Jesus.
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