Obama silent on religious freedom in Saudi Arabia

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that President Obama did not publicly broach the subject of religious freedom during his visit Friday with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, despite a letter from 70 members of Congress urging him to do so on Thursday. "Obama had not had time to raise concerns about the kingdom's human rights record," U.S. officials said, according to Reuters.  "This visit was an excellent opportunity for the president to speak up on an issue that affects millions of Saudi citizens and millions more foreign workers living in Saudi Arabia," said Todd Daniels, Middle East Regional Manager for ICC. "Only last month the president clearly stated that promoting religious freedom is a key objective of American foreign policy, and then reaffirmed that opinion in remarks following his meeting with Pope Francis on Thursday, according to the  White House. On top of this, 70 members of Congress specifically asked him to publicly address the issue, as well as other human rights concerns, with King Abdullah yesterday. How, despite all of this, the president could stay completely silent about religious freedom during his meeting is remarkable." Saudi Arabia is widely regarded as one of the most restrictive nations on earth in terms of religious freedom. According to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, "Not a single church or other non-Muslim house of worship exists in the country." Gatherings of religious groups that choose to meet in secret risk being raided by the "Mutaween," or Saudi religious police. In December of 2011, 35 Ethiopian Christians were arrested and held for eight months after holding a worship service in a private home. On Thursday, 70 members of Congress sent a letter to President Obama concerning his visit, saying, "In addition to public meetings, we urge you to address specific human rights reforms in your direct meetings with King Abdullah and other officials.  Religious freedom is a major concern in the country... Saudi Arabia does not tolerate public worship by adherents of religions other than Islam, and the government also systematically discriminates against followers of minority Muslim faiths."     According to some activists, President Obama's decision not to address human rights and religious freedom issues with King Abdullah also draws attention to two major vacancies in key human rights positions for the administration. Currently, both the position of Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor and the Ambassador for International Religious Freedom remain empty, despite pressure from members of Congress and human rights organizations for the president to quickly fill the positions. Isaac Six, ICC's Advocacy Manager, said, "The priority the Obama administration places on promoting human rights around the world should be judged not by what is said in speeches among friends and supporters, but by the president's words when standing face to face with leaders whose governments are oppressing millions. It should also be judged by the political determination to staff key human rights positions here in the United States. The president's silence yesterday in Saudi Arabia and the long running vacancies at the State Department tell us more clearly than anything else that international human rights issues and religious freedom are not at the top of this administration's agenda."

For interviews, contact Isaac Six: advocacy@persecution.org

Sawan Masih sentenced to death for blasphemy in Pakistan

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that Sawan Masih, a Pakistani Christian, was sentenced to death by the Lahore Sessions Court yesterday, March 27, after being accused of committing blasphemy against Islam in March 2013. The incident made international headlines when a mob of 3,000 enraged Muslims attacked Masih's Christian neighborhood, Joseph Colony in Lahore, resulting in the destruction of over 170 Christian homes and two churches. According to sources in Pakistan, Masih and his lawyers were given the verdict during a hearing at the jail where Masih's trial is being held due to security concerns. Masih's lawyers finished their final arguments on Monday, March 24, but the judgment was not announced until a separate hearing yesterday, March 27. Throughout the trial, Masih has maintained his innocence, claiming the blasphemy accusations against him were motivated by a property dispute between him and a Muslim friend. As reported by ICC in March 2013, local residents of Joseph Colony said Masih allegedly made the derogatory remarks about the Muslim prophet Muhammad during a dispute on religious issues with Shahid Imran, a Muslim friend, while the men "were drunk." Two days after the blasphemous comments were allegedly made, a mob of 3,000 enraged Muslims gathered and attacked the Joseph Colony neighborhood, burning Christian homes, shops and two churches. Hundreds of Christians aware of the impending attack on Joseph Colony were evacuated by local police. These same police officials then did little to stop the destruction of the Christian neighborhood by the mob. Most of the Christians who fled returned to the burnt out skeletons of their homes and businesses days later. Masih's defense lawyers are now preparing their appeal, which they plan to file with the Lahore High Court on Saturday, March 29. The conviction has once again brought international attention to Pakistan's controversial blasphemy laws. Many critics of the laws claim that the blasphemy laws are frequently abused to settle personal scores and abuse religious minorities. ICC's Regional Manager, William Stark, said, "Christians across Pakistan live in fear of the country's controversial blasphemy laws. Since the blasphemy laws were enacted in 1986, Christians and other religious minorities have been disproportionately accused and convicted of blasphemy. In 2013, 36 individuals were accused of blasphemy in Pakistan. Of that 36, 30 were religious minorities, 12 of which were Christians. Given that Christians only make up 2% of Pakistan's population, the fact that one third of blasphemy accusations made in 2013 were leveled against Christians is telling. Beyond being disproportionately accused and convicted of blasphemy, false blasphemy accusations against Christians in Pakistan are disturbingly frequent. Motivated by score settling, economic gain or religious intolerance, and with little fear of being punished for filing false accusations, blasphemy laws have become a convenient tool that can be, and often is, abused."

For interviews, contact William Stark, RM-AfricaAsia@persecution.org

Speak out for religious freedom in Saudi Arabia

Is promoting religious freedom abroad a priority in President Obama's foreign policy? A few members of Congress certainly think it should be. On Thursday, the President will be getting a letter from more than 50 representatives urging him to publicly address human rights and religious freedom during his upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia.   In a pre-release copy of the letter obtained by International Christian Concern, members of congress ask the president to specifically address several human rights issues, including the "major concern" of religious freedom. The letter also calls on the president to take the bold step of addressing these issues publicly, saying "If your administration has previously raised such concerns through private channels, the Government of Saudi Arabia's grave human rights record reveals its willingness to ignore such advice." On Friday, President Obama is scheduled to meet with King Abdullah in Riyadh to address a number of important security issues in the region. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a leader among Islamic countries, a close ally of the United States, but also one of the most restrictive countries in the world with respect to fundamental human rights and religious freedoms. As a friend and ally, President Obama should urge King Abdullah, and the other officials he meets with, to respect those values that America claims to represent, values which President Obama himself has recently praised. "Yet even as our faith sustains us, it's also clear that around the world, freedom of religion is under threat," President Obama said at the National Prayer Breakfast on February 6, 2014. "We see governments engaging in discrimination and violence against the faithful.  We sometimes see religion twisted in an attempt to justify hatred and persecution against other people just because of who they are, or how they pray, or who they love," he continued. This statement is profoundly true about the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. "Freedom of Religion is Neither Recognized nor Protected under the Law" As the most recent report on International Religious Freedom from the Department of State describes, "Freedom of religion is neither recognized nor protected under the law and the government severely restricted it in practice." In January, the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life  listed Saudi Arabia as the fourth most restrictive nation on earth in terms of government regulations on religion. In essence, unless you are a member of the Sunni Islamic majority, you legally have no right whatsoever to practice your faith in Saudi Arabia. According to the 2013 report from the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom  (USCIRF), "Not a single church or other non-Muslim house of worship exists in the country." The impact of these policies that restrict freedom of expression, freedom of gathering, and freedom of worship, affect not just the more than 20 million Saudi nationals, but also some 7.5 million foreign workers, many of whom are non-Muslims. The congressional letter to the president coming out on Thursday also mentions incidents of Christian persecution, including an incidentin December of 2011 when Saudi secret police raided a gathering of 35 Ethiopian workers who were meeting in a private home to pray together. Over the following eight months, ICC worked  with numerous members of Congress on this case to advocate for their release. Finally, on August 1, 2012, these 35 workers were deported back to Ethiopia. "The Saudi officials don't tolerate any other religions other than Islam. They consider non-Muslims as unbelievers. They are full of hatred towards non-Muslims," one of the prisoners told ICC following his release. Unfortunately, this was not an isolated incident. Foreign workers are regularly detained for similar charges, and in some cases the punishments can be far more severe. In May, 2013, a Lebanese national was sentenced to six years in prison and 600 lashes for assisting a Saudi woman in fleeing the country, after she converted to Christianity. A Saudi national was sentenced to two years and two hundred lashes for his role in her escape, Fox News reported. These incidents represent just a small percentage of the incidents of religious persecution that have been documented in recent years. While the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is one of the most repressive regimes in regards to religious freedom and human rights, they are also a key ally of the United States. As a result of this relationship, President Obama has an opportunity to address these abuses. "Promoting Religious Freedom is a Key Objective" President Obama, in his remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast, continued, "As I've said before, there are times when we work with governments that don't always meet our highest standards, but they're working with us on core interests such as the security of the American people.  At the same time, we also deeply believe that it's in our interest, even with our partners, sometimes with our friends, to stand up for universal human rights.  So promoting religious freedom is a key objective of U.S. foreign policy. And I'm proud that no nation on Earth does more to stand up for the freedom of religion around the world than the United States of America."    This trip presents the President with a prime opportunity to put his own words into action. Saudi Arabia is a government that works with the United States on core interests, and also one that shows little respect for universal human rights, chief among them religious freedom. So today, ICC is joining with over 50 members of congress in urging the President to promote religious freedom as a part of his discussions with King Abdullah. This Friday is a very rare opportunity to change the lives of millions of foreign workers and Saudi nationals for the better; we call on President Obama to publicly take full advantage of it.

For interviews, contact Todd Daniels, Regional Manager for the Middle East:  RM-ME@persecution.org

Two killed in attack on church in Kenya

Sunday morning, multiple gunmen stormed the packed Joy Jesus church in Likoni, Kenya, located near the large tourist city of Mombasa. Two individuals were proclaimed dead at the scene, and another two were killed as a result of their injuries, Cyrus Ombati, of Standard Digital, reported from Mombasa. Police responded quickly to the attack, but the two gunmen were able to escape, according to the earliest reports from Reuters. "Both carried big guns and began shooting all over the place. I fell to the ground and could hear screams," Lilian Omondi, who was leading a prayer at the time of the attack, told Reuters. Likoni police chief Robert Mureithi told reporters that the high number of bullet cartridges recovered for the Joy in Christ Church indicated the gunmen were armed with automatic weapons, according to Reuters. "This has all the indicators of a terrorist attack because the attackers did not steal anything and appeared focused on killing," Mureithi continued. While there was no immediate claim of responsibility, Kenya has faced numerous small-scale attacks on churches and other targets, many of them connected to the Somalia based terrorist group Al Shabaab. Al Shabaab, an Islamic group that is seeking to establish an extreme interpretation of Islamic laaw, has repeatedly attacked Kenya because of the Kenyan military's role in anti-terrorism efforts in Somalia. The September attack on the Westgate Mall in Nairobi took 67 lives and alerted the world again about the security risks that Al Shabaab poses. Just one week ago, two-suspected terrorist were arrested with explosives that officials believe were to be used in an attack. Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Ole Lenku, speaking in Mombasa, saidthat security had been strengthened to prevent these kinds of attacks. "Our officers are out there, they are doing everything possible to fight crime and terrorism," Lenku said. Despite these efforts, it was not enough to prevent the attack on the Joy Jesus church. Four have been killed, and 17 are still in the hospital being treated for their injuries,according to the Kenyan Red Cross Society. This latest attack has again sent shockwaves through the Kenyan Christian community, worried about the relative ease with which this attack seems to have been carried out. Todd Daniels, ICC Regional Manager for the Middle East, said, "the ruthless attack on a church, as men, women, and children were gathered simply to worship God, reveals the hatefulness and emptiness of the ideology that motivates these terrorist groups. The Kenyan military and security forces must continue their efforts to root out terrorist groups and provide protection to their civilians. We offer our prayers and condolences to the people of Kenya and, specifically, the families of those injured or killed in this attack."

For interviews, contact Todd Daniels, Regional Manager for the Middle East: RM-ME@persecution.org

Teenage girls kidnapped in Egypt

On February 28, Amira Hafez Wahib and her mother went to the morning prayer service at St. George church in Luxor, Egypt. Amira, age 15, asked her mom if she could go to buy something at a nearby store. Her mom agreed, urging her to hurry back once she was finished. But Amira did not come back. She has not been seen since. When Amira had not returned after some time, her mother became worried and searched for her around the church and in the nearby streets, Ayman Wahib, Amira's uncle told International Christian Concern (ICC). But Amira was nowhere to be found. The next day, Saturday, March 1, Amira's parents went to the police station and filed a formal complaint with the authorities documenting that Amira had gone missing, Rafla Zekry Rafla, a lawyer handling the case, told ICC. "We received promises from the police here that they would arrest the accused and return Amira to her family, but there is not any positive step from them till now," Rafla told ICC. "It has been more than two weeks since the kidnapping of Amira and the police haven't done anything up till now." In Amira's case, the family believes they know who is responsible for her disappearance. Yasser Mahmoud is a soldier who was stationed in Luxor and at one time was assigned to protect the St. George church. Amira was working in a Christian store near the church, Ayman told ICC. Yasser had tried to convince Amira that he was in love with her. "Then five months ago this Muslim person entered the shop where Amira works and attempted to take her by force,"Ayman said. At that time some neighbors were able to prevent the kidnapping. "After this incident her father did not allow her to work in this shop anymore," Ayman told ICC. The situation seemed to have calmed down until the Friday morning when Amira went missing. Knowing about the previous attempt the family immediately suspected that it was Yasser who was responsible for Amira's disappearance. The family was able to track down the place where Yasser lives with his family. Yasser was not there and his family said that they did not know where Yasser was and had not seen him since the time Amira disappeared. The police were informed of all of this information as well, but have shown no interest in seeing Amira returned home, her family told ICC. Unfortunately the police cannot help us to release her," Ayman said. "We are so angry with their weakness and indifference towards the case of Amira," he continued.   Amira is a part of a bigger story What makes Amira's story even more heart-breaking is that her story is one of many stories of Christian girls being kidnapped all throughout Egypt. On March 9, Azizza, whose name is changed for security, a student in her final year of secondary school was abducted from in front of her school, Mina Milad of the Egyptian Federation of Human Rights told ICC. Her family has taken the case to the police and asked for their help in tracking Azizza down. Her father, Fadil, whose name is changed for security, returned from working abroad to help in the search for Azizza. On Wednesday, March 12, two masked men on a motorcycle stopped Fadil alongside the road near his house. "They told me, 'Don't look for Azizza, just forget her,'" Fadil told ICC. He said that the two men threatened his life and said that they would abduct his other daughters if he continued the search.   On March 16, Fadil went to the Civil Status Authority to obtain a copy of his daughter's birth certificate. When the clerk pulled her file they discovered that her name had been changed and her religion had been changed from Christianity to Islam. The family was shocked, but still was without any new information for how to find where Azizza might be. The number of these kinds of cases is again on the rise in Egypt. "Due to the absence and weakness of the security in Egypt, the cases of the abduction of Christians have been surging," Mina Melad told ICC. "I accuse the Muslim Brotherhood and their Islamic groups of abducting the Christian girls in Egypt and forcing them to convert to Islam and marry a Muslim," he said. Ebram Louis, founder of the Association for the Victims of Abductions and Enforced Disappearance (AVAED), presented a report documenting 19 cases of Christian girls who have gone missing. These cases were brought before a fact-finding commission responsible for investigating human rights abuses since June 30th, 2013. The office of the prime minister has promised to respond to this report, Louis told ICC. All throughout Egypt, Christians find themselves in danger. Since the start of 2013, in just the Minya province alone there have been 20 cases of abduction, Ezaat Ibrahim of the Word Center for Human Rights told ICC. "Four of those cases were girls that were taken," Ibrahim said. Ibrahim reported to ICC, that on Friday, March 14, Sabah, age 18, was returned to her family. She had been missing since February 20. Her family was contacted by the kidnappers who threatened to kill her if they did not receive a ransom. Ultimately her family paid more than 20,000 Egyptian pounds ($3,000 USD) for her release. For Sabah and her family they can now start the process of healing from the trauma and abuse of the past few weeks. In far too many cases, these girls go missing and are never heard from again. Left behind are fathers and mothers like Nasser, aching for their daughters, asking for the church to pray for the return of their daughter, and realizing that human leaders seem either unwilling or unable to help.

For interviews, contact Todd Daniels, Regional Manager for the Middle East:  RM-ME@persecution.org

Will anything in Iran change?

As millions of Iranians celebrate the start of a New Year, International Christian Concern (ICC) continues to call attention to the flagrant persecution of Christians and other religious minorities in Iran. As the new Iranian president took office this past summer, his words promised a change in the respect of fundamental rights for Iranians. Unfortunately, those promises have not been met with action. Iranian-American Pastor Saeed Abedini is still serving out an eight-year prison sentence. He is just one of 49 Christians who remain imprisoned in Iran as a result of their faith. If this past year is a sign of things to come, many others may join them in prison this year. The ordeal for Saeed Abedini continues to drag on. It has been more than 540 days since he was imprisoned in Iran. "Praying and hoping that the kids would not have to celebrate another birthday without their dad and we can bring him home soon,"Naghmeh Abedini wrote on March 17, the day they celebrated their son's sixth birthday, yet another family celebration without Saeed. "I've been holding onto Romans 8:18: 'Our present sufferings are not worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed,'" Naghmeh told ICC. She has continually spoken out on behalf of her husband, taking the case before international media, congress, and the United Nations. As the United States is engaged with Iran at the highest level in decades, it is shocking that the administration has not compelled Iran to release Saeed, an American citizen, who is being held on charges solely based on his faith. Iran has severely cracked down on Christians and churches, especially those which carry out any activities in Farsi. "In 2013 alone, the authorities reportedly arrested at least 42 Christians, of whom 35 were convicted for participation in informal 'house churches,'" wrote Ahmed Shaheed, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran, in a March 2014 report."Iranian authorities at the highest levels have designated house churches and evangelical Christians as threats to national security," wrote Shaheed. In an interview with ICC, Naghmeh Abedini said that Saeed had been told he was committing "soft war" as a Christian. Despite the fact that he had stopped these activities and was working with the government's permission, he was arrested and convicted on the basis of previous activities. Saeed's case has brought international attention to the horrific abuses that are occurring in Iran, many of which are never known to the outside world. Lazarus Yeghnazar, writing for Farsi Christian News Network, reflected on the intense abuse Saeed has faced and then said, "It would not be hard to imagine what is happening to many Iranian Christians incarcerated in prisons from Zahedan to Tabriz, from Mashad to Abadan and for whom no foreign power intercedes!" As the Iranian people celebrate the New Year, there should be many interceding on their behalf. The global Church should be the voice speaking for the Iranian people, both to government officials and speaking out in prayer. Reflecting on the message she has for the church, Naghmeh said, "I would ask for prayer for the Iranian people, that this would be the year that many find saving Grace in Jesus and follow Him as their Lord and Savior and for prayer for Saeed's freedom, and that the Lord Jesus Christ would be glorified through it." Todd Daniels, ICC Regional Manager for the Middle East, said, "As the people of Iran celebrate this New Year, we call on the government of Iran to treat their citizens with respect and to protect their most fundamental freedom, the freedom to worship God. We appeal to President Rouhani for the release of Saeed Abedini that he may return home to his wife and children. We urge President Obama and the government of the United States as they engage with Iran, to continue to press for the release of Saeed and to demonstrate their commitment to human rights and religious freedom for all peoples."

For interviews, contact Todd Daniels, Regional Manager for the Middle East: RM-ME@persecution.org

Mother beheaded in Somalia in front of her children

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that a Christian mother of two and her cousin were beheaded by al-Shabaab Islamic extremists once their Christian faith was discovered. The extremists beheaded them publicly in front of her daughters and many of the villagers in the town square. Morning Star News  reported that Sadia Ali Omar, the mother of the two girls, and her cousin, Osman Mohamoud Moge were beheaded in the port town of Barawa in the Lower Shebelle Region on March 4. Before the two were martyred in front of many witnesses, sources report that the Islamic extremists said, "We know these two people are Christians who recently came back from Kenya - we want to wipe out any underground Christian living inside of mujahidin [jihadists'] area." Al-Shabaab is a rebel militia group who has vowed to rid Somalia of all Christians as converting from Islam in Somalia is punishable by death. The militants who "slaughtered" the two believers "became suspicious of Omar and Moge due to their irregular attendance at Friday mosque prayers," sources said. Corey Bailey, Regional Manager for ICC says, "It is an injustice that a mother can be murdered in front of her children merely for being a devout follower of her chosen faith. Al-Shabaab is an Islamic extremist group that has vowed to make Somalia 'purely Islamic.' The group adheres to an extremely harsh interpretation of Sharia that includes the beheading of converts from Islam and the removal of hands from thieves. The practice of torturing and killing converts from Islam must be addressed by the international community and should have no place in modern society."

For interviews, contact Corey Bailey: RM-Asia@persecution.org

Boko Haram continues to murder people

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that attacks against Christians in Nigeria over the weekend claimed the lives of over 150 people. With such incidents on the rise in 2014, the current instability of the country is evident. Two separate types of attacks took place over the weekend. One involved Boko Haram, a designated terrorist group, and the other incident involved gunmen believed to be part of the Fulani herdsmen that have had a long-standing feud with Christian landowners.  The Fulani herdsmen attack is troubling since it is becoming far more than just herdsmen fighting over access to pasture land or water. Instead, they are intentionally decimating entire Christian villages. In two separate incidents over the weekend, these attacks, as reported by BBC, occurred in the Kaduna state and claimed the lives of nearly 150 people. The Boko Haram terrorist group continues to carry out brutal attacks, seemingly without any resistance, despite the military enforced state of emergency. In the latest incident, churches were burned and Christians were killed. The scale of these attacks is so great that more than 400 were killed in Boko Haram related attacks in the month of February alone.  Todd Daniels, Regional Manager for ICC says, "The inability of the government and military to provide protection for Christians is inexcusable. While certainly there are challenges, the military needs to devote substantial resources to seeing this process brought to an end. There has even been speculation of various government officials being involved in supporting various groups as a means of gaining political leverage. These sorts of acts raise serious questions concerning both the integrity and the aptitude of the Nigerian politicians. The result has been that Christians have been left vulnerable to repeated, systematic acts of violence throughout the country."

For interviews, contact Todd Daniels: RM-ME@persecution.org

Three years of fighting in Syria

International Christian Concern (ICC) joins with millions around the world in calling for an end to the hostility that has torn apart the country of Syria over the past three years. The protests following the detention of 15 children for writing pro-democracy graffiti have descended into one of the most brutal conflicts in recent history. In the three years since the conflict began, militant Islamic jihadists have streamed into the country fighting not just against the brutality of Bashar al-Assad, but also to establish an Islamic state. The Christian community, in 2010 estimated as 10 percent of the population, and other ethnic or religious minorities are being explicitly targeted and killed or driven out of the country. These jihadists groups now comprise the largest segment of the opposition to Assad. They have sought to establish - and in some places have set up - an Islamic state that has no place for anyone - Christian, Muslim, or otherwise - who does not abide by their extreme interpretation of Islamic law. These fighters have been met by forces loyal to the Assad regime and have shown their own brutality against the Syrian people. The result has been the death of more than 140,000 and one of the largest humanitarian crises in recent history. Nearly half the country, more than nine million people, is either internally or externally displaced. The impact of the conflict is rapidly escalating. On March 12, 2013, 894,289 people were registered refugees, according to the  UNHCR.On March 12, 2014, just one year later, that figure has nearly tripled to 2,513,541. The number of those displaced and not officially registered is estimated at an additional seven million. Both the short and long term impacts of the conflict for Syria and the surrounding region are staggering. The international community must act to bring about an end to this conflict and in doing so must engage those groups who are committed to a Syria that protects the rights of all its citizens, regardless of their religious or ethnic identity. For the United States and other governments to continue to offer either material or military support to Islamist fighters only serves to deepen the crises and supports those who have driven more than 450,000 Christians out of the country. "We can't go back to Syria, there is no future for us there," Safer, who was forced to abandon his seminary studies and flee with his mom and two brothers after his dad was executed, told ICC. This is the message being received by a Christian community who have been the targets of religious motivated attacks, including beheadings, executions, rape, kidnapping, and destruction or seizure of homes and churches. These atrocities have been committed by many of the groups that have benefited from support of the "opposition groups." As the United States engages with other governments in trying to bring an end to the conflict in Syria, it must ensure that the Christian community and those who are committed to peace have both a seat at the negotiating table and a future in the country. In the negotiations so far, the fate of Christians has not been a central point of discussion. As Congressman Frank Wolf and eight others highlighted in a recent letterto Secretary of State John Kerry, "We have also been troubled by the lack of focused attention during current negotiations on the perilous plight of Syria's religious minorities, including the ancient Christian population which fears that their fate could parallel that of Iraq's Christian population -  which is a fraction of what it was just ten years ago." As the world prepares to mark the March 15 anniversary of the conflict through the#WithSyria campaign, we must consider what kind of Syria is being created. The Syria we support must be a Syria for all Syrians, including the Christian community and we must ensure the voice of Syria's Christians is clearly herd. Todd Daniels, ICC Regional Manager for the Middle East, said, "We continue to be heart-broken over the intense suffering taking place in Syria. We strongly support the call for an end to the hostilities in such a way that creates a Syria where all of its citizens - including Christians - are able to freely live and carry out their faith. In order for this to happen, these faith communities must be a part of the process. To exclude Christians from the negotiating table is to exclude one of the greatest forces for good that exists in Syria."

For interviews, contact Todd Daniels, Regional Manager for the Middle East: RM-ME@persecution.org

North Korea continues to imprison anyone who exercises faith within its borders

Since 2006, U.S. policy towards the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea (DPRK) has been focused almost entirely on attempting to deter the Kim family regime from developing nuclear weapons. While this is understandably a very serious concern, the exclusive focus of U.S. attention on this issue has drawn attention away from decades of human rights violations described last month by a United Nations commission as comparable to atrocities committed under the Nazi regime.  One of the often overlooked human rights issues facing North Korea's 24.7 million citizens is a complete ban on any semblance of religious freedom. While North Korea's constitution technically provides for religious liberty, in reality, adherents of various faiths are almost entirely repressed, with many facing imprisonment or execution for attempting to practice their faith. Open Doors, a U.S.-based non-profit that assists persecuted Christians, believes that anywhere from 50,000 - 70,000 of the DPRK's estimated 200,000 political prisoners are Christians arrested for their religious identity.  The globally unparalleled level of hostility demonstrated by the DPRK towards people of faith is partially explained by the governing ideology underpinning the Kim family regime, which has ruled since 1946. This ideology, known as "juche," in essence deifies the members of the Kim family as the driving force behind social stability and progress. Religion, and especially Christianity with its focus on the preeminence of Christ, is considered a serious threat to this ideology and the regime itself.   Several incidents in recent years have also highlighted the North Korean government's deep suspicion of foreign religious workers and a willingness to detain or even attempt to murder these workers. A few, but not all, of these incidents include: August 21st, 2011 - South Korean Pastor Patrick Kim collapses on the streets of Beijing and is pronounced dead soon after. The Los Angeles Times reports his death is suspected to be the result of a poisoned needle attack carried out by North Korean agents, who also allegedly attempted to assassinate another South Korean missionary on August 22nd.    November. 3rd, 2012 - Kenneth Bae, an American citizen and missionary leading a legal tour group in Rason, North Korea, is arrested by North Korean authorities. Despite several requests for his release from the State Department, Kenneth is sentenced to 15 years of manual labor for allegedly attempting to "overthrow" the North Korean regime. October, 2013 - Kim Jung-wook, a Baptist missionary, is arrested in North Korea and accused of spying for the South. On February 27th, Kim speaks at a news conference in Pyongyang and "confesses" to spying, a charge South Korean intelligence agencies flatly deny. Soon after, more than 30 North Korean citizens are  arrested in connection with Kim's case and are said to be facing possible execution for "conspiring" with him to set up underground churches.   February 16th, 2014 - John Short, a 75-year-old Australian missionary, is detained for passing out religious literature while on a legal tour of Pyongyang. He is interrogated daily for thirteen days until North Korean authorities force John to sign a confession apologizing for his "crimes." John was deported to Beijing on March 3rd. These incidents, and a myriad of other cases, demonstrate the critical need for a comprehensive U.S. policy towards North Korea that encompasses not just human rights, but religious freedom. Future talks with the DPRK and any discussion of lifting of sanctions must not be allowed to focus exclusively on concessions made concerning North Korea's nuclear program.   While opinions differ on best practices, it appears that, in most cases, staunch and persistent advocacy by the State Department and members of congress is extremely helpful in securing the release of prisoners of conscience from the DPRK.

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

Benghazi attack survivor

It was late Sunday evening, February 23, 2014, when Nashat Bibawi was awakened by a pounding on the door of the apartment he shared with his father and two brothers-in-law, in Benghazi, Libya. When his father, Talaat Sedeek Bibawi, opened the door, three men dressed in military-style fatigues and carrying automatic weapons burst into the room. In Libya, armed gangs and lawlessness have become increasingly common in the two years since the removal of Muammar Gaddafi.  The interim government has not been able to implement a stable political solution, nor have they been able to control the Islamic militant groups that have been active throughout the country. "Libya in particular is now a failing nation with a very weak government and the Jihadist gangs in control of the street," Hal Meawad, spokesman for Coptic Solidarity, told ICC.   There are multiple groups active in the country, but those operating under the label Ansar al-Sharia (Partisans of Islamic Law) have been implicated in a number of the most brutal attacks targeting both Christians and Westerners living in the country. Vanished in the Night There were three gunmen from Ansar al-Sharia now standing inside the second-floor apartment where Nashat was living, with his father Talaat, and brothers-in-law, Nadhi and Hani. The four were living in a building occupied by some 200 Egyptian workers, mostly from Upper Egypt, who had taken jobs in the Libyan construction industry to send money home to their families. Of those 200, about 25 were Christians from a village in the Sohag province, and the majority of the others were Muslim, Nashat told ICC. "They asked us if we were Christians," Nashat said, "We told them, 'yes, we are Christians.'" They checked the men's wrists looking for the tattoo of the cross, common for most Coptic Christians. Then they proceeded to search the apartment, taking the men's cellphones, passports, and whatever money they found. They then forced the men out of the apartment and into the street. "Outside the building we found another five gunmen holding four Christian workers, they were our relatives who were living in a first-floor apartment, and two Jeeps waiting for us," Nashat recounted. The events of the next few moments would spare Nashat's life, but this was also the last time he would see his father alive. As the gunmen were beginning to load the eight men into the waiting Jeeps, a Libyan citizen who lives near the building came over and began to ask the Ansar al-Sharia gunmen why they were taking these Egyptians away. The gunmen beat the man to convince him to leave without asking any more questions. In the midst of the commotion, Nashat saw an opening. "I rushed back into the building and went to the roof and hid there," he told ICC. "I heard them enter the building looking for me but they couldn't find me," he said. After a few minutes of searching, they loaded the seven, including Nashat's father and two brothers-in-law, into the car and drove off. Shaken up and fearing the gunmen might return, the remaining Christians left and spent the reminder of the night in another building. On Monday morning, the news came out that the bodies of seven men had been discovered on a deserted beach outside the city. The men had been bound and shot in the head or chest, Nashat told ICC. Christians Are a Marked Group Unfortunately, the nightmare that Nashat lived through is not an isolated incident. Libya has become an increasingly hostile place, especially for Christians in the country. "What was the mistake Edward did to be killed," asked Amin Nashed Boulos, the brother of Edward Boulos, who was among the seven killed. "He left his family and traveled Libya to work there and save money to meet the needs of his family. He was enduring the difficulties there to feed his family," Amin told ICC.  The lack of economic opportunities in Upper Egypt is what drives many to find work in Libya, but the unstable conditions in the country have turned many of them into targets. "The Christians who come here for work are always subjected to persecution from the Ansar al-Sharia groups," Nashat told ICC. On the walls near his apartment building, Nashat said they have written, "Those who guide us to a Christian will receive a reward of 10,000 Libyan Dinar ($8,000 USD)." "The situation of the Christians in Libya is so bad. The Christians in Libya are targeted from the Partisans of Al Sharia groups who belong to the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt,"Kemal Kaldas, a lawyer and a cousin of the victims, spoke with ICC said. "I ask the Egyptian government to intervene quickly and secure the rights of the victims, to ask the Libyan authorities to investigate and arrest the assailants," Kamal said. A Hurting Community "I lost two brothers," Farg Girgis Habib told ICC. Nadhi Girgis Habib was 26, married and a father of two. Hani Girgis Habib was 24, married and a father of one. "When Hani left for Libya his wife was pregnant with their first son," Farg told ICC. "He was planning to come home next month to meet him for the first time. He never saw his son," Habib said. "The death of my two brothers was a shock for all my family. It was a terrible thing. The other victims are my relatives too. I know that they are martyrs and in heaven with Jesus Christ. They were killed because they are Christians, because of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ," Habib told ICC. The Christian community in Sohag, where all seven victims were from, is shaken by this attack. Wives and children are now trying to move on without a husband and father.   Those in Libya are also shaken by the brutality of the killings. "The killing of the Egyptian Christians in Benghazi caused us terrible pain and suffering. Thinking of those poor young men who just came here to earn their living and died miserably on a desert beach, alone, without any kind of compassion, just because they believed in Jesus Christ, makes me sick and sad," a church leader in Libya, who asked to remain anonymous, told ICC. "Those who struck them attacked God himself, and it is to Him they will answer for their actions," he shared in a message delivered to his church on March 2. The violence has shown no signs of slowing as reports continue to come in of more Christians being targeted for new attacks. In the midst of such a tragic situation, it must be to God that we turn. Please pray for Christians facing persecution in places like Egypt and Libya. If you are able to offer financial assistance to families like these, please visit our donation page  and select "Suffering Wives and Children."

For interviews, contact Todd Daniels, Regional Manager for the Middle East:  RM-ME@persecution.org

Australian missionary released from North Korea prison

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that Australian missionary John Short, 75, was released from detention in Pyongyang, North Korea early this morning. The missionary, based in Hong Kong, had been arrested by authorities in North Korea for distributing Gospel tracts while on a tour of the capital city on February 16th, the same day as now deceased North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's birthday. Practicing Christianity, including writing or distributing Christian literature, is illegal in North Korea, a nation widely regarded as the world's worst persecutor of Christians. On Monday morning, the government-run KCNA news agency in North Korea reported that John would be released after signing a full confession admitting to his "crimes." In a copy of the confession obtained by ICC, John writes, "I violated the independent right and offended the law of the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea)." He goes on to write, "I wanted more Korean people to be Christians, therefore I secretly spread Bible tracts written by me." Foreigners detained by North Korean authorities are often released after writing confessions and apologizing for their actions. After their release and deportation from the country, many reveal that the confessions were forced and written under duress. On Thursday, South Korean Baptist missionary Kim Jeong-wook 'confessed' in front of state-run media to spying for South Korea, a charge which the South Korean government adamantly denies. Kim has been detained since October of last year. John Short's written confession adds, "I deeply apologize for what I have done by spreading my Bible tracts on February 16th, the birthday of his excellency Kim Jong-il. The people of the DPRK regard February 16th as the greatest national holiday." North Korean citizens are forced to regularly celebrate holidays commemorating the ruling Kim family, including the birthdays of the deceased "great leader" Kim Il-sung, and the "dear leader" Kim Jong-il. North Korea also continues to imprison Kenneth Bae, an American missionary, in a special labor camp near Pyongyang. Kenneth, from Washington State, was arrested in November of 2012 and sentenced in May of 2013 to 15 years of hard labor for allegedly attempting to "overthrow the government of the DPRK." Last week, Terri Chung, Kenneth's sister, told ICC that the family continues to hope and pray for his quick release. Kenneth is currently the longest held American citizen in North Korea since the end of the Korean war in 1953. Ryan Morgan, International Christian Concern's Regional Manager for East Asia, said,"We were incredibly relieved to hear about the release of John Short this morning from North Korea. Everyone at ICC has spent the last two weeks eagerly awaiting news while doing everything possible to support John and his wife, Karen, during this time. We believe no one should have to face detention, arrest, or imprisonment simply for sharing their religious beliefs. While we are overjoyed with John's release, we cannot forget that at least two other foreign missionaries, American Kenneth Bae and South Korean Kim Jeong-wook, remain imprisoned in the North. We can also not forget the millions of North Koreans who, for more than half a century, have faced unimaginable persecution because of their religious beliefs and continue to do so today."

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