Muslims be hating in Uganda

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that on Saturday, November 24, Pastor Tom Palapande and his team of five evangelists were arrested in eastern Uganda. Local Muslims reported to the Ugandan police that the Christians were using the Quran to undermine the prophet Muhammad and people of the Islamic faith.

“The Muslims came in the company of their Sheikhs and disrupted our open-air market preaching as the police watched. We were then arrested and taken to Soronko district police headquarters for questioning. We were charged with causing public disturbance and inciting violence, offenses [to which] we responded not guilty. The police locked us up from Saturday to Monday so as to investigate the matter,” Pastor Tom told ICC following his release.

He added, “We were not causing any violence. We are evangelists known across eastern Uganda for…answering questions on Islam and Christianity. When the Sheikhs fail to answer questions, they usually turn their disappointment to us because we know how to handle the Quran and the Bible. We also hold public debates with them and they hate us because, through our ministry, many Muslims have converted to Christianity.”

On Sunday, members of Pastor Tom’s church were praying for him and the other evangelists. “We missed church service for the first time this year. The church was praying for us, and on Monday we were released, but with conditions: not to hold and discuss the Quran,” Pastor Tom continued.

The arrest and resulting detention have not discouraged Pastor Tom from preaching the Gospel.  Pastor Tom stated, “We keep doing this because it is a command from our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul and Silas risked their lives for the name of Jesus; so do we. The danger will not keep us quiet because how shall they hear unless someone preaches to them?”

This past June, Pastor Tom was attacked in a stoning while preaching in Kuwait, where the population is approximately 95% Muslim. As a result, he sustained an injury to his forehead. “The injury almost blinded me, but [I was saved] thanks to my small local church that contributed some little money for me to seek treatment,” the pastor remarked.

Pastor Tom concluded, “The biggest challenge is having evangelical churches and pastors partnering with us. Many pastors watch from a distance due to the threat of being killed or their churches burnt.”

Nathan Johnson, ICC’s Regional Manager, said, “These kind of attacks on Christians in East Africa are becoming increasingly common. The Ugandan government must ensure that these men have the right to spread their message to anyone. The government must ensure that the rights of Christians are protected equally.” 

For interviews with Nathan Johnson, Regional Manager, please contact Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator: press@persecution.org

About ICC
International Christian Concern is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) charitable organization focused on human rights, religious freedom and assisting the persecuted Christian Church around the world.

Media Contact
Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator
E-mail: press@persecution.org
Phone: (301)-859-3842

International Christian Concern
2020 Pennsylvania Ave. NW #941, Washington, D.C. 20006
www.persecution.org | E-mail: icc@persecution.org

Byle: No more Turkey leftovers for you

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that on November 20, American-Canadian evangelist David Byle was denied re-entry into Turkey. Byle was previously arrested and detained on October 13, the day after American pastor Andrew Brunson was released from prison. Following his detainment, Byle was informed that he had 15 days to leave the country. He was told that a re-entry ban would not be issued, and his family remained in Turkey.

Last week, Byle returned to Istanbul, explaining, “I flew from Stuttgart to Istanbul, hoping and praying I’d be allowed into the country. At the passport control, the policeman checked my documents, put his entry stamp on a page in my passport and slowly pressed down on it, with his eyes fixed to the computer screen in front of him.”

He continued, “The entry stamp was put in my passport, but his eyes didn’t leave the screen, and a frustrated look spread over his face. He picked up the phone, and shortly thereafter another policeman arrived to take me to their office. I overheard them saying, ‘We need to cancel this entry stamp; there’s an entry ban on the guy!’”

“My fears were proven true: an entry ban, and not a 3-month or one-year ban, but a permanent one,” continued Byle.

For two days, Byle remained in a detention center before leaving Turkey. During the 19 years Byle has lived in Turkey, he has faced a number of short-term detentions and interrogations. Three previous times, the authorities attempted to deport him, only to be stopped by court rulings. Despite the law, the authorities have made it clear that these attempts are in response to the practice of Byle’s Christian faith.

Byle intends to open a court case to contest the re-entry ban, but is not hopeful for success. Meanwhile, he remains separated from his family. Byle said, “We feel many different emotions: sadness, disappointment, also relief (as this long season of uncertainty seems to be coming to an end) and most importantly, inner peace that’s come from a long life journey with such a good and faithful Savior and Friend.”

Turkey’s officially secular government has dramatically shifted within the last two years, leading to a significant deterioration of religious freedom. Turkey is listed as a Tier 2 country by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom’s (USCIRF) annual report.

Claire Evans, ICC’s Regional Manager, said, “Turkey is making it increasingly clear that there is no room for Christianity, even though the constitution states otherwise. It is no coincidence that Turkey decided to initiate this process the day after Brunson’s release from prison and that, in doing so, the authorities ignored a court order. We must keep the Byle family in our prayers during this period of difficult separation.” 

For interviews with Claire Evans, Regional Manager, please contact Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator: press@persecution.org

About ICC
International Christian Concern is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) charitable organization focused on human rights, religious freedom and assisting the persecuted Christian Church around the world.

Media Contact
Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator
E-mail: press@persecution.org
Phone: (301)-859-3842

International Christian Concern
2020 Pennsylvania Ave. NW #941, Washington, D.C. 20006
www.persecution.org | E-mail: icc@persecution.org

Clarification from ICC in regards to John Chau

Oops!  We are all told at times to not do something or you will die.  In the case of John Chau, they told him not to go that deserted island in India.  He went anyway.  Here is the press release from International Christian Concern (ICC). 

International Christian Concern (ICC) issued a news release on November 20, 2018, titled “American Missionary Reportedly Murdered by Hostile Tribe in India.” Near the end of that news release, we included this sentence: “A full investigation must be launched in this murder and those responsible must be brought to justice.”

This language calling for justice for the victim is “boilerplate” language in our news releases, as we continually deal with governments around the world that fail to prosecute perpetrators of religiously motivated violence.

John Chau was fully aware of the risk of his visits and returned to the island even after being shot at with arrows where he narrowly escaped.

We have no wish to see his killers prosecuted even though the Indian police called for such in early statements to the Indian media. 

ICC’s thoughts and prayers remain with Chau’s family and friends. 

For interviews, please contact Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator: press@persecution.org

About ICC
International Christian Concern is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) charitable organization focused on human rights, religious freedom and assisting the persecuted Christian Church around the world.

Media Contact
Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator
E-mail: press@persecution.org
Phone: (301)-859-3842

International Christian Concern
2020 Pennsylvania Ave. NW #941, Washington, D.C. 20006
www.persecution.org | E-mail: icc@persecution.org

The Sentinelese are crazy

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that an American missionary named John Allen Chau, age 27, was reportedly killed by unidentified individuals from the Sentinelese community on North Sentinel Island, located in India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands. This murder comes at a time when Indian Christians report ever escalating levels of persecution across the country.

According to local sources, Chau had traveled to North Sentinel Island with the help of local fishermen in an attempt to interact with members of the Sentinelese tribe. Chau reportedly hired a fishing dinghy from the Chidiyatapu area and traveled to North Sentinel Island on November 16. Chau had reportedly visited the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on five previous occasions and had expressed a strong desire to meet with the Sentinelese tribes to preach Christianity.

Sources claim that Chau was killed by hostile members of the Sentinelese tribe after arriving on North Sentinel Island. The Andaman Sheekha reported that his body was spotted by local fishermen.

Police officials have confirmed today that a case of murder has been registered against unknown members of the Sentinelese tribe. “After getting relevant information a murder case has been registered,” a senior officer told Andaman Sheekha.

India has a history of attacks on foreign Christian missionaries. In January 1999, Graham Staines, an Australian missionary, was burned alive along with his two sons Philip, age 10, and Timothy, age 6. A mob of Bajrang Dal fundamentalists attacked the missionary and his children while they sleeping in their station wagon in Manoharpur village, located in the Kendujhar District of India’s Odisha State.

Across India, reports of persecution continue to escalate in both number and severity. Much of this escalation in persecution followed the rise of the current BJP-led government in May 2014. Using religiously divisive rhetoric for political gain, BJP officials incite Hindu radicals to take action against religious minorities. In 2014, the year the BJP-led government took power, the Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI) documented 147 incidents of Christian persecution. In 2017, after three years of the current government, EFI documented 351 incidents of Christian persecution.

William Stark, ICC’s Regional Manager, said, “We here at International Christian Concern are extremely concerned by the reports of an American missionary being murdered in India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Our thoughts and prayers go out to both John’s family and friends. A full investigation must be launched in this this murder and those responsible must be brought to justice. Every day, new reports of persecution are being documented in India. Many Christians fear this may be the new normal for their community as Hindu radicals and others have been allowed to attack Christians and other minority communities with impunity. India must take steps to counter the growing wave of intolerance and violence.”

For interviews with Williamm Stark, ICC's Regional Manager, please contact Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator: press@persecution.org  

About ICC
International Christian Concern is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) charitable organization focused on human rights, religious freedom and assisting the persecuted Christian Church around the world.

Media Contact
Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator
E-mail: press@persecution.org
Phone: (301)-859-3842

International Christian Concern
2020 Pennsylvania Ave. NW #941, Washington, D.C. 20006
www.persecution.org | E-mail: icc@persecution.org

Muslim retard attacks church in Cairo

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that on November 11, the Church of St. George in Cairo experienced a violent intrusion. According to Watani, the intruder was a 22-year-old man who injured two Christians while shouting Islamic slogans. Police responded to the scene and arrested the attacker.

Egyptian authorities claim that the intruder made the violent disturbance because of a mental illness and drug usage. However, local Christians have expressed concern that this claim is an attempt to hide the Islamic extremism that plagues Egypt.

“The media uses words which don’t reveal the truth,” Ehad, a local believer, told ICC. “Now we have discovered that that this was a young man, not an old one. Also, he was holding a Koran and sharp tool [while] injuring some people on their heads. The media’s role is to reveal the reality and not to hide information to make the Copt[ic Christians] calm down.”

Another local Christian, Majeed, added, “It’s too awful. I can’t imagine that we should adapt to these incidents. Lies and lies and lies… I’m sure that this criminal will not be punished.”

“Mentally ill, what?! How the media manipulates us!” exclaimed Hani, another local Christian.

The intruder reportedly entered the Church of St. George through a room intended for baking bread intended for the Lord’s Supper during the service. The intruder hit the baker on the head with an iron rod, while shouting, “Allah is great.” When another Christian attempted to rescue the baker, he was also injured.  

The incident occurred just over a week after the deadly attack against Egyptian Christians traveling to St. Samuel Monastery. Egyptian authorities have experienced a renewal of heavy criticism for failing to address the root causes of Islamic extremism and protect Christians from violence.

Claire Evans, ICC’s Regional Manager, said, “Thankfully, no one was seriously injured during the violent intrusion of St. George’s Church, and the police responded quickly. However, we cannot forget the context of the attack. It is not unusual for the Egyptian authorities to claim that something other than Islamic extremism drives the less publicized incidents of persecution. The situation surrounding Egypt’s Christians will not improve unless there is honesty in confronting why these kinds of incidents happen. We must continue to keep Egypt’s Christians in our prayers.” 

For interviews with Claire Evans, Regional Manager, please contact Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator: press@persecution.org

About ICC
International Christian Concern is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) charitable organization focused on human rights, religious freedom and assisting the persecuted Christian Church around the world.

Media Contact
Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator
E-mail: press@persecution.org
Phone: (301)-859-3842

International Christian Concern
2020 Pennsylvania Ave. NW #941, Washington, D.C. 20006
www.persecution.org | E-mail: icc@persecution.org

China loves to detain the Huang

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that Pastor Huang Xiaoning from Guangzhou Bible Reformed Church (GBRC) was detained for five days by the police for ‘disrupting public services’ on November 10.

According to Father Francis Liu on Twitter, Pastor Huang decided to fast and pray inside the police station for the five-day duration. He is the fourth pastor in China who has been detained for ‘disobedience’ regarding the latest regulations on religious affairs published last February.

China Aid also reported that the next morning, a few police officers were stationed outside of the church to discourage members from attending worship. Church members also found the church’s door being sealed off a day prior without proper procedure or documentation.

GBRC has repeatedly refused to shut down the church or join a state-sanctioned church as previously requested by the authorities and, as a result, faces constant harassment and threats from the local authorities.

On the same day, officials from the United Front Department, Religious Affairs Bureau, and Public Security Bureau also raided Huozhou Church in Shanxi province. They dispersed the churchgoers and posted a disbandment notice on the church’s door after claiming that Chinese citizens’ “freedom of religious belief” is not “freedom of [conducting] religious activities.”

In a video shared by Chinese Christian Fellowship of Righteousness, government officials are seen inside the house church reading out the Christians’ alleged violations according to the latest religious affairs regulations. 

Some suspect that the house church was targeted because its leadership recently signed a joint statement expressing dissatisfaction with the Chinese government.

In response to these cases, Pastor Wang Yi from Autumn Rain Covenant Church in Sichuan, who is also often persecuted, shared, “We need to repeatedly tell the ones in power that to disrupt Sunday worship and disband churches is the evilest crime in this world. If this crime does not cease, this regime is essentially cultivating God’s wrath and judgment, until the whole country is impacted and overturned overnight. And how do we inform them? It is to tell them that we are willing to go into police stations, detention centers, and prisons. We are willing to sacrifice our lives for this, because we truly hate to see the whole nation under great disaster. Lord, have mercy on this nation, and give us the courage to disobey [the government].”

Gina Goh, ICC’s Regional Manager, said, “Disturbance of church services and detention of Christians are becoming much more frequent as the Chinese government continues its campaign to crack down on Christianity. Every week, as we freely attend our Sunday worship, China is stopping more churches from gathering. Its notorious violations of human rights, however, will not go unnoticed. The world is paying attention and Beijing will never succeed in its scheme to control the Church.” 

For interviews with Gina Goh, Regional Manager, please contact Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator: press@persecution.org

About ICC
International Christian Concern is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) charitable organization focused on human rights, religious freedom and assisting the persecuted Christian Church around the world.

Media Contact
Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator
E-mail: press@persecution.org
Phone: (301)-859-3842

International Christian Concern
2020 Pennsylvania Ave. NW #941, Washington, D.C. 20006
www.persecution.org | E-mail: icc@persecution.org

Doctors in Vietnam suck

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that Vietnamese pastor Nguyen Trung Ton has been denied medical care despite his deteriorating health. Prison authorities denied him both hospital treatment and medicine delivered by his family.

The activist was arrested on July 30, 2017 along with other members of his pro-democracy group, Brotherhood for Democracy. He was convicted of attempting to overthrow the communist government and sentenced to 12 years in prison.

In Gia Trung Prison, located in the Central Highlands, he continues to suffer from an injured leg from when security agents kidnapped and tortured him in February 2017. He can hardly move in his cell due to the wounds.

His wife, Nguyen Thi Lanh, embarked on a 15-hour bus ride from Thanh Hoa province to Daklak province to see him. She told ICC, “In October, me and others went to visit him, but the prison did not allow us to see him. They said due to health reasons he was unable to meet me.”

Every trip to the Central Highlands is a challenge because Ms. Lanh is her family’s sole breadwinner and the caretaker of her ill daughter, young son, and blind mother-in-law. The last time Ms. Lanh saw Pastor Ton was in August. Authorities allegedly warned her not to travel from her home without government approval.

According to UCA News, Brotherhood for Democracy shared that Pastor Ton told his wife on October 22 that he is suffering from a bacterial infection, kidney failure, and sleeplessness. "His health is rapidly deteriorating due to being kept in bad conditions," the group stated.

When Pastor Ton’s family sent in medicine for him, it was returned soon after. It is evident that the Vietnamese government intends to prolong his suffering while cutting him off from direct contact with friends and family.

Gina Goh, ICC’s Regional Manager, said, “Based on humanitarian grounds, the prison should meet the medical needs of its prisoners. Yet, Gia Trung Prison not only rejected crucial medical care for Pastor Ton, it prohibited his loved ones from visiting him. ICC calls on the international community to put pressure on the Vietnamese government so that Pastor Ton can receive the necessary treatment to treat his sustained pain.”

For interviews with Gina Goh, Regional Manager, please contact Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator: press@persecution.org

About ICC
International Christian Concern is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) charitable organization focused on human rights, religious freedom and assisting the persecuted Christian Church around the world.

Media Contact
Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator
E-mail: press@persecution.org
Phone: (301)-859-3842

International Christian Concern
2020 Pennsylvania Ave. NW #941, Washington, D.C. 20006
www.persecution.org | E-mail: icc@persecution.org

Muslims attack again in Egypt

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that on November 2, 2018, masked gunmen attacked a bus of Coptic Christians traveling to St. Samuel Monastery from Minya City, Egypt. According to the Coptic Orthodox Church, seven Christians were killed during today’s attack and 13 were wounded, including children. 

Today’s assault had many similarities to the bus attack which occurred on May 26, 2017. Both buses were traveling to the same destination and the attacks occurred in same location. In last year’s attack, 28 were killed and 23 were wounded. The precision of the 2017 attack led many to believe that it was carefully planned in advance.

No group has claimed responsibility for today’s attack, which resembled similar attacks conducted by ISIS in Egypt.

“Oh God, these children were students in my school!” wept Magda, a local teacher. “I can’t imagine they are dead now!”

“The micro-bus was from my church,” said Mina, a local Christian. “The gunmen shot the men in their head and some of the injured are women. They had a nervous breakdown of what they have seen and they are in the hospital. Some women also were killed.”

“Who can accept these incidents?” asked Kirolos, another local believer. “Every day, there are many incidents harming Christians. We must leave our land and get out of here. I’m so exhausted… it’s so dull and dark these days.”

Coptic Christians make up approximately 10 percent of Egypt’s population of 92 million. They have frequently complained that the authorities have embraced a position of appeasement toward hardline Islamists, thus encouraging an environment which is dangerous for Christians.

“Every official must take the responsibility,” another believer told ICC immediately after today’s attack.  “All at fault must be punished. I think that if every mistaken official was dismissed or fired after every incident, the numbers of these incidents would be decreased.” 

Victims of today’s attack are currently being treated at a local hospital and officials remain on the scene of the attack.

Claire Evans, ICC’s Regional Manager, said, “Today’s attack was a message sent to Egypt’s Christians that they are not welcome in a land where they have lived for centuries. Deliberate acts of violent persecution are, tragically, the norm in Egypt. Unless the government is more intentional about protecting the rights and security of Christians, these sorts of attacks will continue. We pray for healing for the victims of today’s attack, as well as for their families, and the safety of Egypt’s Christian community.”

For interviews with Claire Evans, Regional Manager, please contact Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator: press@persecution.org

About ICC
International Christian Concern is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) charitable organization focused on human rights, religious freedom and assisting the persecuted Christian Church around the world.

Media Contact
Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator
E-mail: press@persecution.org
Phone: (301)-859-3842

International Christian Concern
2020 Pennsylvania Ave. NW #941, Washington, D.C. 20006
www.persecution.org | E-mail: icc@persecution.org