El Baladi released from prison in Morocco

International Christian Concern (ICC) has recently learned Mohamed El Baladi has been released from the Moroccan prison where he was held after being sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison for the crimes of evangelism and shaking the faith of a Muslim. Mohamed had been held in prison since his arrest in late August, a troubling development as Christians have not served jail time on purely religious charges in some time. The release is only until his official appeal hearing, scheduled for October 10th. The release is a surprising turn of events, since Mohamed has already been convicted of the crimes it is highly unusual for a convicted "criminal" to be released while waiting for an appeal.  ICC learned from contacts in Morocco that on Thursday, September 26th, Mohamed was summoned to a surprise hearing. His family only learned of it when his sister went to the prison to visit him and deliver groceries, only to be told that he was in court for a hearing. It was learned later that afternoon that he was released from prison and his appeal will be heard in early October. As he spoke with family and friends, he confirmed that he faced severe abuse and pressure to recant his faith and return to Islam. As previously reported by ICC, the police attempted to force Mohamed to share the names of other Christians, both Moroccan and foreigners, who he was connected to, and spread false rumors to incite prisoners to further abuse him. The Moroccan government is known to closely monitor the activities of the Christian community, and the pressure applied to Mohamed raised fears among some local believers that a large-scale crackdown may be forthcoming. Based upon reports from friends who have spoken with Mohamed, it is believed his family was upset at his conversion to Christianity and had pressured for a harsher sentence to prompt him to recant from his faith. They told ICC that he was set up by an uncle with whom he had a dispute over an inheritance. The uncle reportedly hired two 16-year-old boys to speak with Mohamed and express interest in Christianity. They requested to meet with him a second time and receive Bibles. When Mohamed met them the police had been notified and arrested him for proselytizing children under the age of 18. The boys also claimed that he had attempted to bribe them to convert, which is viewed even more harshly by the law. These details match a report from Morning Star News which reported, "El Baladi was charged with proselytizing young Muslims. Article 220 of Morocco's penal code states that those inducing a Muslim to convert may be punished by six months to three years in prison." The detention and conviction of Mohamed within the space of one week sent shockwaves of fear through the Moroccan Christian community because the government has generally been tolerant of the Christian community. The case was originally handled in a local court, but Mohamed has since been moved to the larger jurisdiction of Fez. There have been issues of police harassment and other arrests, or expulsions of foreign Christians. The case of Moahmed is especially worrisome because it is a break in practice and has sparked fears it may be a sign of more to come. It certainly is a welcome sign that the court has chosen to release Mohamed, removing him from a situation where he was facing harsh physical abuse both from prison guards and fellow inmates. The court system appears to be allowing the appeal process to move forward, and it appears that Mohamed's case will be judged on merits and not subject to pressure by family with a vendetta against him due to his faith.  Todd Daniels, ICC Regional Manager for the Middle East, said, "We are encouraged to hear of the positive developments in the case of Mohamed El Baladi. We encourage the Kingdom of Morocco to continue on a path that protects the rights of its citizens and promotes rule of law, a path it has been on for some time. The attention given to Mohamed's case by international human rights organizations and the United States government is important to promoting religious freedom as a fundamental freedom. We will continue to monitor Mohamed's case as it moves through the court system and we hope towards a just verdict."     For interviews, contact Todd Daniels, Regional Manager for the Middle East: rm-me@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.

US Legislation passed for new envoy for religious freedom in the Middle East

Jeff King, President of International Christian Concern, praised the House of Representatives for passing a resolution calling for the creation of a special diplomatic envoy for religious freedom in the Middle East. Mr. King stated that the legislation, which passed with an overwhelming bipartisan majority of 402 to 22, unequivocally signals that the United States will not tolerate the persecution of Christians and other religious minorities.  Mr. King asserted that "the cause of the Christian minority in the Middle East  requires more attention and advocacy from the United States Government. Recent governmental and societal changes have eroded or destroyed many of the few protections held by Christian minorities in the region. Many Christians in the region are regarded by national majorities not as fellow citizens, but as extensions of American interests. They are abused accordingly." International Christian Concern expressed special gratitude to Representative Frank Wolf (VA-10) for sponsoring the legislation, and for his aggressive advocacy in support of religious freedom. Mr. King expressed the hope that the Senate will soon follow the House with an overwhelming bipartisan approval of the resolution. International Christian Concern is a non-profit organization devoted to raising global awareness of the persecution of Christians, providing relief to the persecuted, and advocating on their behalf. Its website, persecution.org, provides breaking news and analysis of  religious persecution and intolerance.  For interviews, contact Henry Jones, Public Relations Director:  press@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.

Islamists besiege Delga

"I'm afraid to get out from my home and walk in the streets of the village. The situation is so dangerous for us here," Father Youannis Shawky, a Coptic priest, told ICC. This sentiment is shared by many in the Christian community throughout Egypt, as Christians have increasingly come under attack for their part in the protests to remove Islamist president Mohamed Morsi from office. The retaliation against Christians from Islamists has included the looting and burning of houses, churches, schools, and businesses. It has also become personal, as kidnapping and threats against individuals have been on the rise. In the city of Delga, in Upper Egypt, Islamist gangs took control, holding it captive for more than two months before security forces moved in. A City without Protection Father Youannis is a priest of St. Mary and Anba Abraam Monastery in Delga, Egypt. The city of 120,000 people, including 15,000 Christians, had been under the control of hardline supporters of former President Morsi for nearly two months. On Monday, September 16, Egyptian authorities staged an operation to retake the town. As the Guardian  reports,"Two earlier attempts to retake Delga failed, but in the early hours of Monday morning police launched a third and decisive assault, and have now re-entered the town." The takeover by Morsi supporters occurred following his removal from office on July 3, when armed gangs in the city ran off the security forces and seized control. The situation for the Coptic Christian community became terrifying as many of Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood supporters blame the Christians for their loss of political power. Speaking with International Christian Concern from Delga on September 12, Adel Shafik, a Coptic activist said, "From August 14 till now, more than 52 Christian families lost their homes, their homes were ransacked, burned, and demolished." He added that "more than 40 Christian families left the village fearing from the threats of the Muslim fanatics to them." The destruction did not stop with just homes, but also included many of the church buildings in the city. "Our monastery which includes three churches, St Mary Church, Mar Gigis Church, and Anba Abraam Church were looted, burned and demolished. Now we don't have any another place to pray in," Shafik said. The level of violence has reached a level unseen in centuries. As ICC reported, on August 18th, services were cancelled at the church for the first time in 1,600 years. Days earlier, the church, which dates back to the Fifth century, was looted and set on fire while calls for help went unanswered by the security forces, Christian Post recounted. While these attacks continued, the security forces were nowhere to be seen. Father Youannis said, "Although there are all these attacks against Christians there is an absence of the police in the village. There is not any protection for the Christians here." Father Youannis added, "There is a situation of panic and fear among all the Christian families in the village." Islamic Taxes and Threats The feeling of panic is being exploited by thugs, who are threatening individuals and families that unless they pay a jizya, or poll tax that historically has been charged to conquered non-Muslims, they would suffer the consequences. "They threaten the Christian families who reject to pay the jizya to them that the Muslims will kidnap their children or burn and loot their homes and shops," Shafik said."The jizya is different from one  family to another family ranging from 500 Egyptian pounds to 1000 Egyptian pounds ($73-$146) every two weeks for some families, and for others it is daily jizya ranging from 50 to 200 Egyptian pounds ($7-$28) per day,"according to Shafik. In a report with the Washington Times, Father Youannis said the tax is being applied without exception, and those who refuse have been attacked. He told ICC of the attack on Kamal Zaki of Delga, "because he refused to pay them the royalty, they broke into his home and grocery shop, ransacked its contents, and injured him and his family," Father Youannis said. Another tragic case shows the attacks do not stop just with property damage, but have also led to murder. Emad Damian, 50, and his cousin Medhat Damian, 37, in Assiut, about 50 miles from Delga, were killed after they refused to pay the ransom.  Youssef Ezzat, a relative of Emad, told ICC the tragic story. Youssef said Emad was contacted by a gang and told to pay a sum of 10,000 Egyptian pounds ($1,450) for them to buy weapons, and to pay for the protection of his family. Emad refused to pay the money. According to Youssef, "Emad told him 'I don't have this amount and I don't ask for a protection from anyone.' The person said to him, 'If you don't pay us this money we will kill you.' Emad said to him 'I won't pay anything' and ended the call." The next morning, Thursday, September 10, masked men broke into his house and gunned down Emad and Medhat. With cases like this repeatedly going unpunished, there is a growing sense of impunity. "The police know who the killers are but are doing nothing to arrest them," Ahmed Fawzi said in a report by  AINA. The police and security forces themselves have come under attack and have not made a real effort to enforce the rule of law across the country. For this reason, numerous human rights organizations, including the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), have raised their voices to speak out against the violence in Egypt.  In a letter calling on President Obama to raise the issue, USCIRF Chairman Robert George wrote, "We were deeply troubled that leaders and supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood tolerated or even encouraged incitement against Christians, and that the interim authorities stood by or were slow to react when attacks occurred." Highlighting the importance of the issue, George continued, "Coptic Christians in Egypt - numbering more than eight million people - constitute the largest religious minority community in the region.  The United States must act to ensure this ancient religious community is secure both in the present and in the future." ICC is grateful for the work of men like Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ), Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA), and others who put forward a resolution calling for the support of the fundamental rights of all Egyptian citizens, equal access to justice, and due process of law. As attacks against Christians continue in Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Iran, and elsewhere, it is vital that we work to support the continued presence of these Christian communities in the lands where they have lived for nearly 2000 years. For interviews, contact Todd Daniels, Regional Manager for the Middle East:  RM-ME@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.

Brutal Shopping Mall attack in Nairobi

International Christian Concern (ICC) expresses grave concern over the horrific terrorist attack that took place at a shopping mall in Nairobi, Kenya, over the weekend. On Monday afternoon, local time, Kenyan forces again raided the mall, killing two additional members of the Al-Shabaab terrorist group. They reclaimed control of the shopping center, moving closer to an end of the hostage situation that began on Saturday and claimed the lives of at least 69 people. This is the latest in Al-Shabaab's campaign of terror, motivated by Islamic extremism, targeting Christians and non-Muslims across East Africa. The nightmare scenario started Saturday, about 12:00 p.m. local time. The terrorists entered the Westgate Shopping Mall in the Kenyan capital, indiscriminately firing automatic weapons and throwing hand grenades. They then began targeting Christians and non-Muslims. According to the BBC, witness reported the terrorists "told Muslims to leave and said non-Muslims would be targeted." The Independent reports, "Some non-Muslims who attempted to talk their way past the fighters armed with grenades and AK-47s were asked to identify the mother of the Prophet. Those who could not were shot on the spot." Targeting of Christians by Al-Shabaab is even more direct as they had been criticized by Osama bin Laden for their indiscriminate killing of Muslims. Bin Laden warned that the group was killing too many Muslims in their attacks, Peter Bergen reported for CNN. The death toll from the attack continues to rise as Kenyan security forces regain control of the scene. The Westgate Mall is a prominent hangout for tourists and upscale Kenyans. Victims of the deadly attack include nationals from at least 11 different countries, including England, Canada, France, China, and India, as well as dozens of Kenyans, including a nephew of Kenyan president, Uhuru Kenyatta. Some 200 people were wounded in the attacks, including five Americans, according to CNN. The attack on the Westgate Shopping Mall is the deadliest terrorist attack in Kenya since the 1998 bombing of the United States Embassy by Al-Qaeda, which killed 213 people. The Al-Shabaab terrorist group, which claimed responsibility for the attack, is a Somalia-based terrorist network operating throughout much of East Africa. As ICC previously reported, Al-Shabaab is ruthless in their killing of Christians. Designated by the U.S. government as a terrorist organization since 2008, Al-Shabaab is seeking to turn Somalia into an Islamic state. The group has been implicated  in attacks across Africa, including Somalia, Kenya, and a July 2010 suicide bombing in Uganda. While the government and some religious leaders have denounced the group, the economic poverty and absence of rule of law have allowed the group to grow in influence. Al-Shabaab, which has known ties to Al-Qaeda and other Islamic extremist terrorist groups, boasts of its large number of foreign recruits among its ranks. Though unconfirmed, there are reports of involvement by individuals recruited from theUnited States and England in the Westgate attack. Kenyan military forces have taken a leading role in international peace-keeping efforts in Somalia targeted at rooting out Al-Shabaab. Kenya's role in the intervention has resulted in previous retaliation attacks, as documented in a 2012 ICC special report. As ICC documented earlier this year, Al-Shabaab has a significant presence in the Eastleigh neighborhood of Nairobi, a few miles from the Westgate mall, where they have carried out church bombings and the murder of Christians. Formed in 2006 as a break-off from a now defunct group, Al-Shabaab, which means "The Youth" in Arabic, "has imposed a strict version of Sharia law in areas under its control, including stoning to death women accused of adultery and amputating the hands of thieves," according to the BBC. Attacks like this are part of their tactics to inflict massive casualties on civilians and to specifically target Christians. Jeff King, President of ICC and author of Islam Uncensored, said, "A brutal attack on a shopping mall inflicting massive casualties on civilians, and specifically targeting Christians, is part of the standard operating procedure for militant Islamic groups like Al-Shabaab. To hear stories of forced conversion and point-blank assassinations is heart-breaking, but unsurprising for this group. This is part of their stated agenda to impose radical Islamic law and to purge their land of Christians."   For interviews, contact Jeff King, President of ICC: icc@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.

81 Christians killed by suicide bombers in Pakistan Sunday morning

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that at least 81 Christians have been killed in a suicide bombing of a historical church in Peshawar, the capital city of Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Sunday. This bombing is the deadliest single attack on Christians in Pakistan's history and has sparked protests across the nation.  According to reports from Peshawar, two suicide bombers detonated themselves outside the gates of All Saints Church at 11:45 a.m. as the church's more that 600 members were leaving after the Sunday service. The resulting scene was that of mass carnage with shrapnel, body parts and blood littering the surrounding area. According to security officials, many of the dead are women and children and over 150 others were injured in the blast. Most of the wounded were brought to Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar and many of the bodies of the dead were buried in three mass graves late Sunday night.  All Saints Church was established in 1883 and is considered one of the oldest Christian places of worship in Pakistan's volatile Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The Jundallah group, an affiliate with the Pakistani Taliban, has claimed responsibility for the deadly attack, labeling the murder of 81 Christians a "protest" to the U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan. The group's leader, Ahmad Marwat, promised that attacks would continue until the U.S. drone strikes were halted. News of the attack has sparked Christian led protests in many of Pakistan's major cities including Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi and Peshawar. Relatives of the dead and injured gathered for a protest outside of All Saints Church, lighting tires on fire and claiming police and local government officials did not do enough to protect Christians and the church. In response to the attack, Pakistan's government has declared three days of mourning and is offering financial support to the victims and their families. Pakistan's new Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, issued a statement in which he pledged solidarity with Pakistan's Christian community."Terrorists have no religion, and targeting innocent people is against the teaching of Islam and all religions," he said. Christians, making up only 2% of Pakistan's population, have been and continue to be persecuted by extremist elements in Pakistan's majority Muslim population. False blasphemy accusations, kidnappings, murders, forced conversions, forced marriages, rapes and widespread social discrimination only name a few of the types of persecution Christians in Pakistan are forced to endure because of their religious identity.     ICC's Regional Manager for Africa, William Stark, said, "Christians continue to be treated like an unwanted religious minority in Pakistan. Although Pakistan's government has stepped forward to assist the victims of this deadly attack, it has not done enough to provide Christians with security or guarantee their right to religious freedom. False blasphemy accusations are disproportionately targeted at Christians who are often awarded lengthy prison or death sentences where little evidence has been offered against them in a court of law. Unless and until Pakistan starts taking decisive action to protect its Christian population, deadly attacks like this most recent bombing will continue."    For interviews, contact William Stark, Regional Manager for Africa and South Asia:   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.

Pastor Bakhytzhat Kashkumbayev located in Kazakhstan

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that Pastor Bakhytzhat Kashkumbayev has been transferred to a pre-trial prison in Astana, Kazakhstan. The government had refused to reveal his whereabouts, even to his family and lawyer, since his release from a psychiatric ward on September 2, 2013. ICC sources reported on September 17 that Pastor Kashkumbayev has been moved to a pre-trial prison in Astana. "No one has been allowed to see him. Not his family. Not even his lawyer," a source wishing to remain anonymous told ICC last week. Felix Corley of Forum 18 reports  that since Kashkumbayev's discharge from the ward, the government has refused to answer questions of his whereabouts. When or if a trial will occur and what the outcome might be still remains unclear. What is painfully clear, however, is that this elderly pastor who suffers from numerous health conditions is being held in violation of his religious rights. Kazakhstan prides itself on religious freedom; however each day that Pastor Kashkumbayev is wrongfully detained, it is those very rights he is denied. The treatment of Pastor Kashkumbayev may become a disturbing pattern of how Kazakhstan treats religious dissidents under the new, controversial religion law. The law, which was introduced in 2011, has wreaked havoc among the religious minorities, specifically evangelical Christians and Muslim sects.  Churches' legal rights to gather were revoked and Christians are arrested and fined for meeting together to pray without government permission. "We think it [persecution of Christians] will only get worse. The government broke the rights of all their people with the religion law," a pastor, who wished to remain anonymous for safety, told ICC in September. Jeff King, president of ICC says, "While we are glad that we have discovered Pastor Kashkumbayev's whereabouts, he is still wrongfully imprisoned. We must create a virtual/digital siege around the Kazakhstan embassy with thousands of people demonstrating for the end of evil and brutality perpetrated against the innocent." To express your concern, please contact Kazakhstan's U.S. Embassy in Washington D.C. at this number: 202-232-5488 from 9:.00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. (EST). If you are not from the United States, please contact the Kazakhstan embassy in your country.  For interviews, contact Corey Bailey, Regional Manager for Central Asia:  RM-Asia@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.

Persecution uniquely faced by Christian women in Pakistan

Christian women in Pakistan are among the country's poorest and most hated citizens because they are both the "wrong" religion and the "wrong" gender. Abductions, forced conversions, forced marriages and rapes are just some of the horrors Christian women in Pakistan uniquely face. Living on one of the lowest rungs of society, the futures of many Christian women are destroyed by the heinous acts of violence visited upon them because of their faith. Forced to Accept a New Husband and Religion On May 4, 2013, Zoya Mary's life was radically changed when Muslim radicals armed with guns and grenades broke down the door of her family's home. Led by Zoya's own uncle, the group of radicals abducted Zoya from her home and held her captive for 12 days. Months earlier, Zoya's uncle, no longer able to deal with the stigma that is associated with being a religious minority, converted to Islam. Unfortunately, the imam he converted under was a radical. As part of conversion to Islam, Zoya's uncle was pressured by his imam to kidnap Zoya and forcefully convert her and her family to Islam as well. With Zoya in their custody, her uncle and his radical counterparts began calling Zoya's family, threatening to kill Zoya unless the entire family converted to Islam. During her 12 days of captivity, Zoya was raped by her captors, forcefully married to a Muslim man as a second wife and forcefully converted to Islam. Due to stress and a heart condition Zoya was born with, she suffered a major heart attack. In the ultimate display of disregard for Zoya's humanity, her captors dumped her on the side of the road where she was discovered by passersby who then took her to a hospital. After recovering from her heart attack, Zoya was able to reunite with her family. Unfortunately, this was not the end of Zoya's ordeal. After returning home from the hospital, Zoya and her family were contacted by Ali Muhammad, her "Muslim husband," who was demanding his wife be returned. Since then, this man has initiated a court case against Zoya's father for kidnapping his wife.    One of the most tragic details of this story is Zoya's age. She is only 14 years old and has already suffered so much. Under Pakistani law, no one can be married or change their religion until they are the age of 18. Individuals can get married younger with the consent of their parents, but in Zoya's case, she was forced by her kidnappers to sign false documents, all of which stated she was 18, consenting to her marriage and conversion to Islam. To date, Zoya and her family continue to fight Ali in court. Zoya's father has extensive documentation regarding her age, thus proving both the marriage and conversion illegal. Outside the court, Ali has approached Zoya's family and offered them bribes to concede in the court case. This sick proposition was quickly rejected by Zoya's father. When the offer of bribes did not succeed, Ali began to threaten Zoya's family saying that if they did not concede the court case the family would be attacked again. Despite these threats, Zoya's father has stood steadfast in his protection for his daughter. Because She Said No Unfortunately, attacks against Christian women and girls like the attack on Zoya are not uncommon in Pakistan. Amelia, another Christian woman, told a story similar to Zoya's. Earlier this year, Amelia was walking home from work when she passed the house of Zeeshan, a Muslim boy that found her attractive. After his initial advances were spurned, Zeeshan became enraged. Being rejected by a Christian woman was, in Zeeshan's mind, unacceptable. Days later, Zeeshan and another Muslim man ambushed Amelia, knocking her unconscious and holding her captive in an abandoned house. When Amelia awoke from her concussion, she discovered that she had been tied up and stripped naked. For the next three days, Zeeshan and his accomplice raped Amelia repeatedly. On the third day, while Amelia was unrestrained, she noticed that the door of the abandoned house was left slightly open. Seizing the opportunity, Amelia rushed to the door and ran out into the streets crying for help. After visiting the hospital and receiving much needed medical treatment, Amelia filed a report with the police against her attackers. After her initial interview with the police, an officer advised her against bringing any legal action against Zeeshan. The officer went on to say her best course of action would be to convert to Islam and marry her rapist. Disgusted, Amelia rejected the police officer's advice and continues to engage in a court battle seeking justice. Because of this pursuit of justice, Amelia has received threatening phone calls from Zeeshan and his family members attempting to dissuade her from pursuing the case any further.  In cities across Pakistan, Christian women are often the targets of brutal attacks  because they belong to the "wrong" faith and the "wrong" gender. Hope Remains Unfortunately, the attacks endured by Amelia and Zoya are only two examples among a pandemic stretching across Pakistan. Christian women are too often the targets of brutal attacks because of the low social status they are assigned due to their religious identity and gender. With a society and legal system that is biased both against non-Muslims and females, pursuing justice in many of these cases is near impossible, especially for Christian women who often come from meager social and financial settings. Because of stories like these, International Christian Concern (ICC) has made it a priority to help Christian women in Pakistan. From projects aimed at empowering Christian women to pursue justice, to assisting Christian women to achieve higher social and financial standing, ICC hopes it can help make stories like Zoya's and Amelia's part of a horrific past for Christians in Pakistan. *If you are interested in assisting Christian women in Pakistan, please check out and donate to ICC's Save Our Sisters Fund at www.persecution.org.  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, 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.

Government of Kazakhstan kidnaps pastor

International Christian Concern (ICC) is deeply troubled by the illegal detention and harsh interrogation methods used against Pastor Bakhytzhat Kashkumbayev. Since being arrested on May 17 on trumped-up charges, Pastor Kashkumbayev has been severely mistreated at the hands of the Kazakh government. The government continues to refuse to disclose his location in apparent attempts to keep him hidden. ICC's Central Asia Regional Manager recently returned from Kazakhstan with reports from sources on the ground indicating that Pastor Bakhytzhan Kashkumbayev suffered from "Soviet-style psychological examinations" while in a psychiatric ward. Kashkumbayev was discharged from the ward on September 4; however, the government refuses to reveal his current whereabouts.  "It is only because there is international attention that Pastor Kashkumbayev has not been beaten and killed," a pastor in Almaty told ICC. "If it wasn't like this, he would have been killed. We are worried at the treatment he received in the Psychiatric ward," he continued. Calls to the Kazakhstan embassy resulted in denials including, "Pastor Kashkumbayev was never arrested" and "This is just a small local matter." ICC's President, Jeff King, says,"Unfortunately this behavior is typical of those governments who use Soviet-era security methods. Even the State Department has confirmed that Pastor Kashkumbayevhas been arrested and is in custody." Following accusations that Kashkumbayev had laced communion juice with hallucinogens which "harmed the health" of Lyazzat Almenova, he was arrested on May 17.  However, in areport by Felix Corley of Forum 18, Almenova claims that she was used as a witness to open a case against the pastor.  "He is totally innocent and has not harmed my health at all,"she stated.  Pastor Kashkumbayev had been transferred from prison in Astana to Almaty's Republican Scientific/Practical Centre of Psychiatry on August 5th, where he remained until he was discharged on September 2nd.   In addition to the unfounded accusations, the wrongful imprisonment, the denial of a fair trial and the likely mental torture in a psychiatric ward, it seems that the government is now hiding Kashkumbayev. He has simply disappeared. Corey Bailey, ICC's Regional Manager for Central Asia, said, "The international community should be aware of Kazakhstan's unlawful treatment of Pastor Kashkumbayev and of their religion law which violates the religious freedom of its citizens. I am saddened to see the government revert back to the Soviet-style of physical and psychological torture as they continue to hold this elderly pastor in custody. We call on concerned citizens to respond to the cry of the Christian community to focus their minds and hearts on Kazakhstan and demand the immediate release of Pastor Kashkumbayev." Please contact Kazakhstan's U.S. Embassy in Washington D.C. at this number: 202-232-5488 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. (EST) If you are not from the U.S., please contact the Kazakhstan embassy in your country.

For interviews, contact Corey Bailey, Regional Manager for Central Asia:  RM-Asia@persecution.org

Quick recap of Boko Haram

"There is no war in the North," Rev. Musa Asake, the General Secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), told Morning Star News. "What we have is genocide against people of the Christian faith."  Anti-Christian violence across Nigeria's Northern and Middle Belt regions has continued to rise in both intensity and frequency in recent months, leading both Christians and foreign governments to condemn the constant violence and the Nigerian government's lack of decisive action to protect its citizens.   Another Year of Violence Most of the largely anti-Christian violence has been perpetrated by the Islamic extremist group Boko Haram. According to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), "Boko Haram has become the primary perpetrator of religiously-related violence in northern Nigeria, targeting churches, individual Christians, Muslim clerics that disagree with the group's message and persons engaged in behavior deemed 'un-Islamic,' [as well as government institutions]." In its recently released report titled "Boko Haram's Religiously Motivated Attacks," the Commission documented the group's religiously-motivated attacks from the past year. According to the report: - A total of 50 churches were bombed, burned, or attacked, killing at least 366 people. - Christians or people perceived to be Christians were attacked in 31 separate incidents, killing at least 166 people. - Clerics or senior Islamic figures critical of Boko Haram were attacked in 23 separate incidents, killing at least 60 people. -"Un-Islamic" institutions or persons engaged in "un-Islamic" behaviors were attacked in 21 separate incidents, killing at least 74 people. Boko Haram, a title that means "western education is a sin," is an Islamic extremist group that originated out of Northern Nigeria. For the past four years, the group has been engaged in an armed insurgency against the Nigerian government in an attempt to carve out a separate Islamic state where it can implement its own "pure" interpretation of Sharia law. Since 2009, thousands of Nigerians, including hundreds of Christians, have been killed in the resulting conflict. Boko Haram's Leadership in Shambles The Nigerian government has taken a military approach to responding to Boko Haram in Northern Nigeria. President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency and has deployed the military to several of Nigeria's most affected states. In August, the Nigerian military claimed to have killed the purported leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau. According to a military spokesman, Shekau was injured in a firefight with the military on June 30 in the northeastern Sambisa forest. "Shekau was mortally wounded in the encounter and was sneaked into Amitchide, a border community in Cameroon, for treatment," the spokesman said. "Shekau might have died between July 25 and August 3." On August 14, Nigeria's defense minister announced that security forces have also killed Boko Haram's second-in-command, Momodu Bama. Bama's death has been confirmed by the testimony of other Boko Haram militants that the Nigerian military has arrested. Christians Continue to Suffer Under Climate of Impunity Although these high-profile killings may serve as a deterrent to Boko Haram, the situation for Christians in Northern Nigeria has not significantly improved. The Nigerian government has allowed such a climate of impunity to develop in its northern states, that USCIRF has recommended the U.S. government categorize Nigeria a "Country of Particular Concern," putting Nigeria's violations of Christians' religious freedom rights on par with countries like North Korea and Iran. The massacre of five Christians on a roadside outside of the Nigerian city of Jos on August 29 is just the most recent gruesome example of the climate of impunity USCIRF is concerned about. In that attack, Islamic militants pulled over a minibus, forced all the passengers to offload and gunned down Pam Gyang, Felix John, Jimmy Tiger, Ishaku Gyang and Dachung Monday after they had declared their Christian faith.   According to USCIRF, Nigeria has the capacity to address Christian persecution in its northern states by enforcing the rule of law and making perpetrators of acts of violence against Christians accountable through the judicial system, but has failed to do so. Unfortunately, the U.S. and other Western governments have decided to ignore the suffering of Christians as well. This willful ignorance has led to a climate of impunity that has allowed ongoing, egregious and systematic violations of religious freedom that have resulted in the deaths of over 14,000 since 1999. Without decisive action by either Nigeria or the international community, Christians living in Northern Nigeria may become a thing of the past.  For interviews, contact William Stark, Regional Manager for Africa:  RM-AfricaAsia@persecution.org # # #

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