Acts Chapter 12 describes how ruthless Herod really was to the people of Judaea. He was assigned to be ruler of this area by the Roman Empire. He looked to have anyone that rose up against him to be executed.
He has James, the brother of John, one of the original 12 disciples of Jesus, executed by the sword. He was about to have Peter executed as well, but the angel of God allowed for Peter to escape even though he was being guarded by sixteen Roman soldiers. After Peter escaped, Herod had those 16 soldiers executed.
Herod was definitely on a rampage when he went to visit Caesarea. The people were afraid that Herod was going to kill them as well, but they went out of their way to appease him. That is the background for Acts 12:21-23 (KJV)
21 And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.
22 And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.
23 And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
Herod was known to go on these tyrannical rants from time to time. After this certain rant though, the people placed him on a pedestal by giving him god status. Suddenly, Herod was smitten dead. This type of nonsensical narcissistic pride from dictators can be called the Herod effect.
Friday, May 31, 2019
Wednesday, May 29, 2019
Help is needed in the Philippines
The people in the Philippines need your help. Take for example the town of Surigao City. The town lacks clean water and school supplies for the upcoming school year. You can be the difference by either donating to the cause or by sending the link to somebody you know that will donate because you probably will not donate.
Friday, May 24, 2019
China is so crazy that they are banning kindergartens now
International
Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that on May 19, more than 70
officials from China’s southeastern Fujian Province were dispatched to
shut down a house church in Xiamen. Xunsiding Church, a house of worship
with over four decades of history, received an administrative penalty
notice after the officials inspected the church. The church also
received a fine of 25,000 yuan (approximately USD $3,600).
The church also serves as the residence of its preacher, Yang Xibo. The Siming District Ethnic and Religious Affairs Bureau issued the notice to accuse Yang of running the church without approval, therefore violating China’s Regulations on Religious Affairs.
Yang was granted the right to appeal within three days of receiving the notice. He told persecution watchdog group China Aid, “We will file an appeal, as the government will have to hold a hearing with regards to this matter. We will insist on following legal procedures in the future.”
Beginning on May 19, local authorities have stationed themselves at the entrance of the church, turning away church members who wish to enter the church, while recording their personal information. On May 21, choir members were again blocked by a police-formed human chain when they attempted to enter the church for practice.
This was not the first time that the church has been targeted by the government. Last May, the church-run kindergarten was ordered to close. On January 14, 2019, the church and the kindergarten were raided simultaneously, and the school was demolished.
In an effort to eliminate house churches and force them to join state-sanctioned churches, Beijing has initiated a new campaign against house churches called “Return to Zero.” The aim is to “dismantle the scale [of churches], dissolve the organization, and dismiss the church.” As a result, an increasing number of house churches across the country are falling victim to this campaign.
Gina Goh, ICC’s Regional Manager, said, “We are deeply concerned that the unprecedented crackdown against house churches continues to escalate under the leadership of President Xi Jinping. The international community should condemn China for its repeated violation of religious freedom, which ironically is enshrined in China’s constitution.”
The church also serves as the residence of its preacher, Yang Xibo. The Siming District Ethnic and Religious Affairs Bureau issued the notice to accuse Yang of running the church without approval, therefore violating China’s Regulations on Religious Affairs.
Yang was granted the right to appeal within three days of receiving the notice. He told persecution watchdog group China Aid, “We will file an appeal, as the government will have to hold a hearing with regards to this matter. We will insist on following legal procedures in the future.”
Beginning on May 19, local authorities have stationed themselves at the entrance of the church, turning away church members who wish to enter the church, while recording their personal information. On May 21, choir members were again blocked by a police-formed human chain when they attempted to enter the church for practice.
This was not the first time that the church has been targeted by the government. Last May, the church-run kindergarten was ordered to close. On January 14, 2019, the church and the kindergarten were raided simultaneously, and the school was demolished.
In an effort to eliminate house churches and force them to join state-sanctioned churches, Beijing has initiated a new campaign against house churches called “Return to Zero.” The aim is to “dismantle the scale [of churches], dissolve the organization, and dismiss the church.” As a result, an increasing number of house churches across the country are falling victim to this campaign.
Gina Goh, ICC’s Regional Manager, said, “We are deeply concerned that the unprecedented crackdown against house churches continues to escalate under the leadership of President Xi Jinping. The international community should condemn China for its repeated violation of religious freedom, which ironically is enshrined in China’s constitution.”
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
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
Thursday, May 23, 2019
Man! Modi won again
International
Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that the Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is set to record another
landslide electoral victory following the conclusion of India’s national
elections. Using a mix of nationalist rhetoric and promises of economic
development, Mr. Modi has secured another five years of political rule
for the BJP.
Christians
and other religious minorities are reportedly concerned by the news of
the BJP’s victory. Since coming to power in 2014, the BJP and Mr. Modi
have overseen a dramatic increase in intolerance and religiously
motivated violence.
“The number one issue in this election for Christians is safety,” Dr. Paul R.T. Maran, National Bishop of the Indian National Apostolic Diocese, told ICC earlier this month. “This
election is like a ‘do or die’ situation. If the BJP comes to power,
Christians won’t be treated as equal citizens because their aim is to
establish [a] Hindu India.”
According
to the Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI), violent attacks on
India’s Christian community have more than doubled over the course of
the BJP’s rule. In 2014, the year the BJP came to power, EFI documented
147 violent attacks on India’s Christian community. In 2018, after four
years of BJP rule, EFI documented 325 violent attacks.
Many
blame this rise in religious intolerance on the BJP’s promotion of
Hindu nationalism. BJP leaders regularly use religiously divisive
rhetoric for political gain. As a result, this rhetoric often incites
anti-minority violence primarily perpetrated by radical Hindu
nationalist groups operating across India. In many cases, the
perpetrators of anti-minority violence are not brought to justice. This
then perpetuates an escalating cycle of incitement and impunity.
“The situation for minorities in India [will] not improve because the damage has already been done at the grassroots level,” Vijayesh Lal, General Secretary of EFI, told ICC. “India has been successfully polarized along religious and ethnic lines.”
“The [return] of Mr. Modi will likely result in greater impunity for those who attack and malign religious minorities,” Lal concluded.
Reacting to the BJP’s victory, A.C. Michael, former Member of the Delhi Minorities Commission, said, “This
does not mean that we Christians will stop practicing our faith as
guaranteed by the constitution. I feel, however, we may have to adopt
different approaches to win over the confidence of minorities who are
otherwise living in fear of the Hindutva agenda.”
Many
Christians across India are concerned that a BJP-dominated government
will attempt to change the constitution and establish India as a Hindu
nation. Currently, the constitution establishes India as a secular
nation and guarantees the religious freedom of its citizens under
Article 25.
“If the new government wants to change the constitution, it must be to strengthen its secular guarantees,” Dr. John Dayal, National Spokesperson of the United Christian Forum, told ICC. “Our future depends on the protection of the ethnic and cultural diversity of this vast land.”
ICC’s Regional Manager, William Stark, said, “We
congratulate Prime Minister Modi and the BJP on another electoral
victory. However, we also call upon those who will form the new
government to use their time in office to uplift and protect all of
India’s citizens, including religious minorities. The increase of
intolerance and religiously motivated violence has been ignored for too
long. We call on Prime Minister Modi to take public notice of this
growing problem and to make concrete steps towards protecting the
religious freedom rights of minority communities as guaranteed by
India’s constitution.”
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
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
Wednesday, May 22, 2019
Numerical Expositions: Genesis 3:24
So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
- Genesis 3:24 (KJV)
After Adam and Eve disobeyed God, God then drove them out of the garden of Eden. This event gives all a perspective into how one should have a relationship with God. Understanding that God only drives away those who choose to disobey Him. Normally, the person that always say that they have no sense of meaning in life is the person that willfully disobeys the commands of God.
Then, God places guards at the east gate of the garden of Eden. When Adam and Eve were expelled from the garden of Eden, they were forced to travel eastward from the garden because guards were only placed at the east gate. Remember that in Genesis 2 that the river proceeded eastward from the garden of Eden and then separated into four different directions. The rest of Eden was surrounded by water. That's why many historians theorize that Eden was located somewhere in modern-day Israel, but no archaeological findings have approved that hypothesis at this present time.
Cherubims are angels that defend the throne of the Lord. Since God rules the earth, cherubims were sent to defend the garden. Also, a flaming sword that moved in every direction was sent to guard the garden so that nobody would be able to gain access to the way of life through physical means. Notice that nobody was wielding this sword. I cannot comprehend this event because I have never seen a sword swinging around under its own power. Due to the disobedience, the way of life can only be accessed through spiritual means.
Numerical Breakdown: (3) Walk with the Holy Spirit or be banished from his presence. (6) To expose evil, allow for God to place protection around you. (9) To overturn evil, be prepared to protect yourself. (2) To be delivered, protect life. (4) To gain instruction, protect life.
- Genesis 3:24 (KJV)
After Adam and Eve disobeyed God, God then drove them out of the garden of Eden. This event gives all a perspective into how one should have a relationship with God. Understanding that God only drives away those who choose to disobey Him. Normally, the person that always say that they have no sense of meaning in life is the person that willfully disobeys the commands of God.
Then, God places guards at the east gate of the garden of Eden. When Adam and Eve were expelled from the garden of Eden, they were forced to travel eastward from the garden because guards were only placed at the east gate. Remember that in Genesis 2 that the river proceeded eastward from the garden of Eden and then separated into four different directions. The rest of Eden was surrounded by water. That's why many historians theorize that Eden was located somewhere in modern-day Israel, but no archaeological findings have approved that hypothesis at this present time.
Cherubims are angels that defend the throne of the Lord. Since God rules the earth, cherubims were sent to defend the garden. Also, a flaming sword that moved in every direction was sent to guard the garden so that nobody would be able to gain access to the way of life through physical means. Notice that nobody was wielding this sword. I cannot comprehend this event because I have never seen a sword swinging around under its own power. Due to the disobedience, the way of life can only be accessed through spiritual means.
Numerical Breakdown: (3) Walk with the Holy Spirit or be banished from his presence. (6) To expose evil, allow for God to place protection around you. (9) To overturn evil, be prepared to protect yourself. (2) To be delivered, protect life. (4) To gain instruction, protect life.
Friday, May 17, 2019
Sharia law creeping into Burkina Faso
International
Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that on Monday, May 13, 2019,
gunmen in Burkina Faso killed four Christians during a Catholic parade.
According to France 24, the procession was moving a statue of the Virgin
Mary from one town to another. As they were moving through Ouahigouya
town, the gunmen stopped the procession. The gunmen allowed the children
to leave, but then executed four of the adults. This marked the third
attack on Burkina Faso’s Christian community in a span of only 15 days.
The first reported attack took place on April 28 in the town of Silgadji. During this attack, six people, including the church’s pastor, were killed outside of their Assemblies of God Church. The second attack took place on May 12, in the town of Dablo. During this attack, 20 or more unknown gunmen killed six Catholics outside of their local church. A priest was also killed during this attack. The New York Times reported, “The mayor of Dablo said the attackers burned the church, looted a pharmacy and some others stores and left.”
Burkina Faso has been known as a country with large Muslim and Christian populations that live alongside each other peacefully. This has led some to believe that these attacks are being perpetrated by Islamic extremists from outside of the country to the north. Burkina Faso borders Mali, a country that has been riddled with terrorist activity for many years, including when Islamic extremists took control of the northern half of the country in 2011.
In addition to these church attacks, there have been other attacks on Christian individuals. World Watch Monitor (WWM) reported that Pastor Elie Zoré of the Assemblies of God Church of Bouloutou, in the province of Soum, was killed on April 23, 2019. WWM also reported that Pastor Jean Sawadogo of the local church of Tasmakatt was killed while travelling between Tasmakatt and Gorom-Gorom on February 19, 2019. Finally, as reported by Aid to the Church in Need, Father Antonio Cesar Fernández was killed by extremists on February 15, 2019, as he was returning from Togo.
Nathan Johnson, ICC’s Regional Manager for Africa, said, “These attacks, and particularly the increase in the number of attacks, are very concerning. This kind of violence is abnormal in Burkina Faso and has caught the country’s government off guard. Given previous attacks and events, it is likely that the attackers are Islamic terrorists from Mali. Steps must be taken to secure these borders and ensure that the Christian population of Burkina Faso is protected from further attacks.”
The first reported attack took place on April 28 in the town of Silgadji. During this attack, six people, including the church’s pastor, were killed outside of their Assemblies of God Church. The second attack took place on May 12, in the town of Dablo. During this attack, 20 or more unknown gunmen killed six Catholics outside of their local church. A priest was also killed during this attack. The New York Times reported, “The mayor of Dablo said the attackers burned the church, looted a pharmacy and some others stores and left.”
Burkina Faso has been known as a country with large Muslim and Christian populations that live alongside each other peacefully. This has led some to believe that these attacks are being perpetrated by Islamic extremists from outside of the country to the north. Burkina Faso borders Mali, a country that has been riddled with terrorist activity for many years, including when Islamic extremists took control of the northern half of the country in 2011.
In addition to these church attacks, there have been other attacks on Christian individuals. World Watch Monitor (WWM) reported that Pastor Elie Zoré of the Assemblies of God Church of Bouloutou, in the province of Soum, was killed on April 23, 2019. WWM also reported that Pastor Jean Sawadogo of the local church of Tasmakatt was killed while travelling between Tasmakatt and Gorom-Gorom on February 19, 2019. Finally, as reported by Aid to the Church in Need, Father Antonio Cesar Fernández was killed by extremists on February 15, 2019, as he was returning from Togo.
Nathan Johnson, ICC’s Regional Manager for Africa, said, “These attacks, and particularly the increase in the number of attacks, are very concerning. This kind of violence is abnormal in Burkina Faso and has caught the country’s government off guard. Given previous attacks and events, it is likely that the attackers are Islamic terrorists from Mali. Steps must be taken to secure these borders and ensure that the Christian population of Burkina Faso is protected from further attacks.”
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
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
Tuesday, May 14, 2019
Women stabbed by Muslims in Bartella, Iraq
International
Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that on May 13, 2019, assailants
broke into a Christian home and assaulted two elderly women, a mother
and daughter. The women were repeatedly stabbed with a knife, and their
gold and money was stolen. The two victims were hospitalized in Mosul.
The daughter, who sustained a violent head injury, remains in critical
condition.
One woman who lives in Bartella shared with ICC, “We’ve heard that two men were arrested and possibly they are guilty, both are from Shabak. The mother has come back to Bartella, but the daughter who is 69 years old is still struggling with death in Mosul.”
The Shabak are a Shia ethnic group that is supported by Iran alongside the Hashd al-Shaabi militia, which has occupied Bartella since the defeat of the Islamic State (ISIS). Bartella’s Christian population was entirely Christian prior to the invasion of ISIS. However, most have not returned home due to poor infrastructure, security concerns, and militia aggression.
“The incident is perfectly done with timing; it is more than an attack. The attackers tried to deliver a message of threat: whoever doesn’t have support should leave. I don’t think it was a robbery because they stabbed the daughter on her head by a knife which means the criminals tried to kill them,” she continued.
Lara is originally from Bartella, but she has not returned. She told ICC, “Bartella is the most targeted area for these militias. They are trying to change the demographic distribution of this particular village by making Christian life there very difficult.”
A local Syriac Orthodox priest, Fr. Jacob Shammas, concurs that the risk is increasing. He told ICC, “You know who could be the ones who may attack Christians. Everyone knows them. But no one can give you the names since they are supported by the militia.”
Juliana Taimoorazy, President of Iraqi Christian Relief Council, said, “There will be some who will brush this off as an isolated incident and others may present it as a gang-related crime. This is, in fact, yet another orchestrated tactic to intimidate and push the Christian community, the indigenous children of the land, out of their homes. Unfortunately, these heinous acts will continue until the Christian community is well equipped to defend itself and have the law on their side to deal with these criminals swiftly and justly.”
Claire Evans, ICC’s Regional Manager for the Middle East, said, “We must not make the mistake of thinking that the defeat of ISIS means the end of persecution in Iraq. This violent home invasion in Bartella is yet another example of how Christians are routinely targeted with the intent of sending a message that they are not welcome in Iraq. We must increase our diligence in addressing the root causes of persecution in Iraq. We pray for a speedy healing for these two women, for the just application of due process, and for the cessation of aggression in Bartella.”
One woman who lives in Bartella shared with ICC, “We’ve heard that two men were arrested and possibly they are guilty, both are from Shabak. The mother has come back to Bartella, but the daughter who is 69 years old is still struggling with death in Mosul.”
The Shabak are a Shia ethnic group that is supported by Iran alongside the Hashd al-Shaabi militia, which has occupied Bartella since the defeat of the Islamic State (ISIS). Bartella’s Christian population was entirely Christian prior to the invasion of ISIS. However, most have not returned home due to poor infrastructure, security concerns, and militia aggression.
“The incident is perfectly done with timing; it is more than an attack. The attackers tried to deliver a message of threat: whoever doesn’t have support should leave. I don’t think it was a robbery because they stabbed the daughter on her head by a knife which means the criminals tried to kill them,” she continued.
Lara is originally from Bartella, but she has not returned. She told ICC, “Bartella is the most targeted area for these militias. They are trying to change the demographic distribution of this particular village by making Christian life there very difficult.”
A local Syriac Orthodox priest, Fr. Jacob Shammas, concurs that the risk is increasing. He told ICC, “You know who could be the ones who may attack Christians. Everyone knows them. But no one can give you the names since they are supported by the militia.”
Juliana Taimoorazy, President of Iraqi Christian Relief Council, said, “There will be some who will brush this off as an isolated incident and others may present it as a gang-related crime. This is, in fact, yet another orchestrated tactic to intimidate and push the Christian community, the indigenous children of the land, out of their homes. Unfortunately, these heinous acts will continue until the Christian community is well equipped to defend itself and have the law on their side to deal with these criminals swiftly and justly.”
Claire Evans, ICC’s Regional Manager for the Middle East, said, “We must not make the mistake of thinking that the defeat of ISIS means the end of persecution in Iraq. This violent home invasion in Bartella is yet another example of how Christians are routinely targeted with the intent of sending a message that they are not welcome in Iraq. We must increase our diligence in addressing the root causes of persecution in Iraq. We pray for a speedy healing for these two women, for the just application of due process, and for the cessation of aggression in Bartella.”
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
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
Monday, May 13, 2019
Children massacred in Syrian town of al-Suqaylabiyah
International
Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that the Syrian Christian town of
al-Suqaylabiyah came under heavy assault on May 12, 2019. Five children
playing near a monastery, and one woman on a nearby street, were killed
as a result of heavy shelling. Eight others, including six children,
were wounded. The assault against the town continues through today.
“The kids went out to play after some days of calm,” Father Maher Haddad, a local priest, told the Associated Press. The report continued, “A rocket struck near a group of children, instantly killing five and wounding others… the woman was killed in a nearby street by a separate rocket.”
The deceased children were aged between six and 10. While two of the children’s names have not been made public, the names of the other three children are Inzik Ruzuk, Suheir Jarzas, and Jessica Samardzin. The name of the woman killed is Hala Makaskas.
The author of this assault is unknown, although it was observed that the rockets were fired from nearby Idlib. Al-Qaeda affiliate Tahrir al-Sham is active in Idlib and has a history of attempting to seize Christian towns in the area of al-Suqaylabiyah. However, some believe that the rockets originated from militants backed by Turkey through the National Liberation Front. The town has suffered widespread material damage as a result of the attack.
Syrian state media says that the regime is currently retaliating against the al-Suqaylabiyah attack, although whom they are targeting is not clear. This retaliation comes in the context of the regime already having increased its own assault on Idlib through raids and the dropping of illegal barrel bombs.
“The rebel-held areas of Idlib province and northern Homs province have been under sustained attack by the Syrian regime since April 30, killing and wounding dozens while forcing some 150,000 people to flee their homes in rebel-held areas,” reported al-Araby.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports that the violence in the broader area has increased at an alarming pace. It said, “The death toll rises… 450 people in the period since the morning of the 20th of April 2019 until the 12th of May 2019.”
Claire Evans, ICC’s Regional Manager for the Middle East, said, “The Syrian Civil War is a sad example of the indiscriminate killing of civilians and senseless violence. As the situation escalates in Idlib, many have warned that an increase of targeted massacres would be the result. It has started—with Christians paying a high cost as they are often viewed as vulnerable, second-class citizens. Their villages have become a pawn in a greater strategy for the multiple factions involved in the civil war. We must keep the families of the deceased in our prayers, and offer up continued prayers for the safety of those believers who find themselves caught between Syria’s warring sides.”
“The kids went out to play after some days of calm,” Father Maher Haddad, a local priest, told the Associated Press. The report continued, “A rocket struck near a group of children, instantly killing five and wounding others… the woman was killed in a nearby street by a separate rocket.”
The deceased children were aged between six and 10. While two of the children’s names have not been made public, the names of the other three children are Inzik Ruzuk, Suheir Jarzas, and Jessica Samardzin. The name of the woman killed is Hala Makaskas.
The author of this assault is unknown, although it was observed that the rockets were fired from nearby Idlib. Al-Qaeda affiliate Tahrir al-Sham is active in Idlib and has a history of attempting to seize Christian towns in the area of al-Suqaylabiyah. However, some believe that the rockets originated from militants backed by Turkey through the National Liberation Front. The town has suffered widespread material damage as a result of the attack.
Syrian state media says that the regime is currently retaliating against the al-Suqaylabiyah attack, although whom they are targeting is not clear. This retaliation comes in the context of the regime already having increased its own assault on Idlib through raids and the dropping of illegal barrel bombs.
“The rebel-held areas of Idlib province and northern Homs province have been under sustained attack by the Syrian regime since April 30, killing and wounding dozens while forcing some 150,000 people to flee their homes in rebel-held areas,” reported al-Araby.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports that the violence in the broader area has increased at an alarming pace. It said, “The death toll rises… 450 people in the period since the morning of the 20th of April 2019 until the 12th of May 2019.”
Claire Evans, ICC’s Regional Manager for the Middle East, said, “The Syrian Civil War is a sad example of the indiscriminate killing of civilians and senseless violence. As the situation escalates in Idlib, many have warned that an increase of targeted massacres would be the result. It has started—with Christians paying a high cost as they are often viewed as vulnerable, second-class citizens. Their villages have become a pawn in a greater strategy for the multiple factions involved in the civil war. We must keep the families of the deceased in our prayers, and offer up continued prayers for the safety of those believers who find themselves caught between Syria’s warring sides.”
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
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
Thursday, May 9, 2019
Turkey follows America's lead and deports foreigners
International
Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that on May 9, 2019, a foreign
Christian pastor was deported from Turkey without official reason.
Mike Platt lived in Turkey for 21 years and volunteers as a pastor at Kadıköy International Church in Istanbul. He left the country on April 2 and was informed by passport control that an entry ban was issued. The ban was confirmed on May 8, when Mike attempted to reenter the country. Turkish authorities deported him this morning after holding him overnight at the airport. This incident happened just two months after a different volunteer at the church was issued a reentry ban with no reason given.
The Turkish government does not recognize the right of Christians to train their own religious workers. For this reason, many pastors are foreign Christians. Platt’s deportation follows an ever increasing trend of the government banning foreign Christians from entering the country.
According to the 2018 Human Rights Violations Report prepared by Turkey’s Association of Protestant Churches, “There was no movement forward in 2018 in regards to protecting the rights of Christians to train their own religious workers… In recent years, more than 50 foreign Protestant families have had to leave our country.”
Uzay Bulut, a Turkish journalist, said, “Christian clergymen in Turkey have for decades been targeted and demonized by the Turkish media and politicians of various ideologies. This widespread phenomenon has two main causes: Islam's doctrinal hatred of Christians and Turkey’s paranoia of losing its lands.”
“Turkey’s violent hostility to Christianity is in violation of the international human rights treaties that Turkey has signed and of the fundamentals of the European Union (EU), of which Turkey claims to want to be a member of. But because Turkey has never been held responsible for its extremely dire violations against free speech and religious liberty, the Turkish government continues persecuting Christian believers in Turkey,” she continued.
Historically, modern Turkey is the backdrop for most of the New Testament. The genocidal policies of the Ottoman Era were directed against Christians, effectively eliminating the presence of believers, and the Church has struggled to heal. In a country of 81 million, today less than 0.2% are Christians.
“Christianity started in Turkey… We want to continue as Christians,” said one Turkish believer. “Please, pray for us. It’s the darkest place in the world. And it’s very dark. It’s like an ocean, no light here… Please pray for the Church in Turkey.”
Claire Evans, ICC’s Regional Manager for the Middle East, said, “Turkey may label itself as a modern secular republic, but its policies toward religious minorities are a continuation of the Ottoman Empire. Restrictions against the local training of church leaders and the deportation of foreign pastors are part of the government’s policy to meddle with internal religious affairs. The government does not want a reemergence of Christianity within Turkey. They must be held accountable for their religious freedom violations.”
Mike Platt lived in Turkey for 21 years and volunteers as a pastor at Kadıköy International Church in Istanbul. He left the country on April 2 and was informed by passport control that an entry ban was issued. The ban was confirmed on May 8, when Mike attempted to reenter the country. Turkish authorities deported him this morning after holding him overnight at the airport. This incident happened just two months after a different volunteer at the church was issued a reentry ban with no reason given.
The Turkish government does not recognize the right of Christians to train their own religious workers. For this reason, many pastors are foreign Christians. Platt’s deportation follows an ever increasing trend of the government banning foreign Christians from entering the country.
According to the 2018 Human Rights Violations Report prepared by Turkey’s Association of Protestant Churches, “There was no movement forward in 2018 in regards to protecting the rights of Christians to train their own religious workers… In recent years, more than 50 foreign Protestant families have had to leave our country.”
Uzay Bulut, a Turkish journalist, said, “Christian clergymen in Turkey have for decades been targeted and demonized by the Turkish media and politicians of various ideologies. This widespread phenomenon has two main causes: Islam's doctrinal hatred of Christians and Turkey’s paranoia of losing its lands.”
“Turkey’s violent hostility to Christianity is in violation of the international human rights treaties that Turkey has signed and of the fundamentals of the European Union (EU), of which Turkey claims to want to be a member of. But because Turkey has never been held responsible for its extremely dire violations against free speech and religious liberty, the Turkish government continues persecuting Christian believers in Turkey,” she continued.
Historically, modern Turkey is the backdrop for most of the New Testament. The genocidal policies of the Ottoman Era were directed against Christians, effectively eliminating the presence of believers, and the Church has struggled to heal. In a country of 81 million, today less than 0.2% are Christians.
“Christianity started in Turkey… We want to continue as Christians,” said one Turkish believer. “Please, pray for us. It’s the darkest place in the world. And it’s very dark. It’s like an ocean, no light here… Please pray for the Church in Turkey.”
Claire Evans, ICC’s Regional Manager for the Middle East, said, “Turkey may label itself as a modern secular republic, but its policies toward religious minorities are a continuation of the Ottoman Empire. Restrictions against the local training of church leaders and the deportation of foreign pastors are part of the government’s policy to meddle with internal religious affairs. The government does not want a reemergence of Christianity within Turkey. They must be held accountable for their religious freedom violations.”
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
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
Wednesday, May 8, 2019
Asia Bibi leaves Pakistan
The saga of Asia Bibi shows that Pakistan is not a great country to live in. It is better to leave Pakistan than to live in Pakistan.
International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that Asia Bibi, a Christian woman who spent nearly a decade on death row for allegedly committing blasphemy, has finally been allowed to leave Pakistan. This news, which has been confirmed by Bibi’s lawyer and other local media sources, comes more than six months after Bibi's acquittal by the country’s Supreme Court.
“Asia Bibi has left the country,” a Foreign Office source told Dawn News TV on Wednesday. “She is a free person and travelled on her independent will.”
“I have inquired within available channels, and according to them she has left for Canada,” Saif-Ul-Malook, Bibi’s Supreme Court lawyer, told Reuters early Wednesday morning.
Bibi was accused of committing blasphemy in 2009 and remains the only woman in Pakistan’s history to be sentenced to death under the country’s notorious blasphemy laws. Bibi was on death row for more than eight years after her conviction and death sentence were announced by the Sessions Court in Sheikhupura in 2010.
The blasphemy accusation against Bibi was based on flimsy evidence following a dispute that took place in June 2009 between Bibi and a group of Muslim coworkers with whom she had been harvesting berries in Sheikhupura. The Muslim coworkers became angry with Bibi when she, a Christian whom they considered unclean, drank water from the same water bowl as the Muslims. An argument between Bibi and the Muslim coworkers ensued and the Muslim coworkers later reported to a local cleric that Bibi had blasphemed against the Prophet Muhammad.
On October 31, 2018, Pakistan’s Supreme Court announced Bibi’s acquittal of the blasphemy charges that had kept her on death row. In explaining its decision, the court said that there was ultimately not enough evidence to convict Bibi.
Following the announcement of the acquittal, thousands of religious hardliners in Pakistan took to the streets in protest. These protesters demanded that the court review its decision and prevent Bibi from leaving Pakistan until the review had taken place.
On January 29, 2019, Pakistan’s Supreme Court confirmed its decision to acquit Bibi. The decision to confirm the acquittal was announced by a three-judge bench led by Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa. In announcing the decision to uphold Bibi’s acquittal, Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa said, “Based on merit, this petition is dismissed.”
From her acquittal to her departure from Pakistan on Tuesday, Bibi remained in the protective custody of the Pakistani military at a secure location inside the country. According to those in contact with Bibi, her conditions at this secure location were eerily similar to prison. Friends of Bibi’s family explained that Bibi was not even able to open a window in her hideout.
ICC’s Regional Manager, William Stark, said, “We here at ICC are overjoyed to see that Asia has finally been set free. Since her acquittal was upheld in January, we have been waiting for the announcement that she has been allowed to leave Pakistan and reunited with her family. Our prayers are now with Asia and her family as they seek peace and security in a new country. However, we are also very concerned for the safety of Pakistan’s Christian community at large. Asia’s case remains highly sensitive and the ignition point for many acts of religious hatred. It is our hope that Pakistan will be able to secure all Pakistani Christians as extremists may seek revenge against their community.”
International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that Asia Bibi, a Christian woman who spent nearly a decade on death row for allegedly committing blasphemy, has finally been allowed to leave Pakistan. This news, which has been confirmed by Bibi’s lawyer and other local media sources, comes more than six months after Bibi's acquittal by the country’s Supreme Court.
“Asia Bibi has left the country,” a Foreign Office source told Dawn News TV on Wednesday. “She is a free person and travelled on her independent will.”
“I have inquired within available channels, and according to them she has left for Canada,” Saif-Ul-Malook, Bibi’s Supreme Court lawyer, told Reuters early Wednesday morning.
Bibi was accused of committing blasphemy in 2009 and remains the only woman in Pakistan’s history to be sentenced to death under the country’s notorious blasphemy laws. Bibi was on death row for more than eight years after her conviction and death sentence were announced by the Sessions Court in Sheikhupura in 2010.
The blasphemy accusation against Bibi was based on flimsy evidence following a dispute that took place in June 2009 between Bibi and a group of Muslim coworkers with whom she had been harvesting berries in Sheikhupura. The Muslim coworkers became angry with Bibi when she, a Christian whom they considered unclean, drank water from the same water bowl as the Muslims. An argument between Bibi and the Muslim coworkers ensued and the Muslim coworkers later reported to a local cleric that Bibi had blasphemed against the Prophet Muhammad.
On October 31, 2018, Pakistan’s Supreme Court announced Bibi’s acquittal of the blasphemy charges that had kept her on death row. In explaining its decision, the court said that there was ultimately not enough evidence to convict Bibi.
Following the announcement of the acquittal, thousands of religious hardliners in Pakistan took to the streets in protest. These protesters demanded that the court review its decision and prevent Bibi from leaving Pakistan until the review had taken place.
On January 29, 2019, Pakistan’s Supreme Court confirmed its decision to acquit Bibi. The decision to confirm the acquittal was announced by a three-judge bench led by Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa. In announcing the decision to uphold Bibi’s acquittal, Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa said, “Based on merit, this petition is dismissed.”
From her acquittal to her departure from Pakistan on Tuesday, Bibi remained in the protective custody of the Pakistani military at a secure location inside the country. According to those in contact with Bibi, her conditions at this secure location were eerily similar to prison. Friends of Bibi’s family explained that Bibi was not even able to open a window in her hideout.
ICC’s Regional Manager, William Stark, said, “We here at ICC are overjoyed to see that Asia has finally been set free. Since her acquittal was upheld in January, we have been waiting for the announcement that she has been allowed to leave Pakistan and reunited with her family. Our prayers are now with Asia and her family as they seek peace and security in a new country. However, we are also very concerned for the safety of Pakistan’s Christian community at large. Asia’s case remains highly sensitive and the ignition point for many acts of religious hatred. It is our hope that Pakistan will be able to secure all Pakistani Christians as extremists may seek revenge against their community.”
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
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
Friday, May 3, 2019
Egypt: Shut it down or Muslims will attack!
International
Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that on April 30, 2019, a
reconciliation meeting was held in the Upper Egypt village of Nagib
after threats of a potential mob attack led security officials to close
the village’s church. This situation escalated after it became known
that the church did not have the necessary permits to practice religious
rites.
Egypt’s 2016 Church Construction Law contains language which allows church legalization permits to be indefinitely delayed due to the threat of sectarian violence. Reconciliation sessions are often used to further restrict the rights of Christians to practice their faith.
Church leaders were not permitted to attend the reconciliation session in Nagib. Despite promises given before the session that the church would be reopened and permits issued, it was instead agreed that the church building would remain closed until the permits are issued at an unknown date.
“Many years ago we were praying in our houses with the priest because there was not an [existing] church,” a local Christian told Watani. “Now there are more than 400 Coptic persons in our village and the number of us increases day by day… During the last feast days (Orthodox Easter) many Copts prayed and the police had secured the building, but then the police asked Bishop Georgius to close the church because some Muslims in the village disagreed.”
Another Christian, Medhat, told ICC, “I can see that the police did two things. The first is wrong and the second one is right. The right one is that they secured the Copts who were in inside the church and the wrong one is that they depend on the reconciliation meeting for solving the problem... Also, there [is] no right for Muslims to prevent the Christians from praying and to close churches.”
“This is a very hard situation. You can see kids praying in tears because of their feelings of fear ... that is very painful for us as Christians personally. I don’t trust in the government promises, but we have to continue praying for [a] reopening [of] the church,” added another local Christian.
Claire Evans, ICC’s Regional Manager for the Middle East, said, “Once again, Egyptian Christians have been denied the right to practice their faith because Islamic hardliners do not want a Christian presence in the village. The situation calls into question whether local police were adhering to the rule of law, or to the rule of the mob. By closing the church and giving in to their demands, Egyptian security officials are putting local Christians at risk of future mob violence.”
Egypt’s 2016 Church Construction Law contains language which allows church legalization permits to be indefinitely delayed due to the threat of sectarian violence. Reconciliation sessions are often used to further restrict the rights of Christians to practice their faith.
Church leaders were not permitted to attend the reconciliation session in Nagib. Despite promises given before the session that the church would be reopened and permits issued, it was instead agreed that the church building would remain closed until the permits are issued at an unknown date.
“Many years ago we were praying in our houses with the priest because there was not an [existing] church,” a local Christian told Watani. “Now there are more than 400 Coptic persons in our village and the number of us increases day by day… During the last feast days (Orthodox Easter) many Copts prayed and the police had secured the building, but then the police asked Bishop Georgius to close the church because some Muslims in the village disagreed.”
Another Christian, Medhat, told ICC, “I can see that the police did two things. The first is wrong and the second one is right. The right one is that they secured the Copts who were in inside the church and the wrong one is that they depend on the reconciliation meeting for solving the problem... Also, there [is] no right for Muslims to prevent the Christians from praying and to close churches.”
“This is a very hard situation. You can see kids praying in tears because of their feelings of fear ... that is very painful for us as Christians personally. I don’t trust in the government promises, but we have to continue praying for [a] reopening [of] the church,” added another local Christian.
Claire Evans, ICC’s Regional Manager for the Middle East, said, “Once again, Egyptian Christians have been denied the right to practice their faith because Islamic hardliners do not want a Christian presence in the village. The situation calls into question whether local police were adhering to the rule of law, or to the rule of the mob. By closing the church and giving in to their demands, Egyptian security officials are putting local Christians at risk of future mob violence.”
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
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
Thursday, May 2, 2019
Armenian activist detained in Turkey for referencing 1915 genocide
International
Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that on April 24, 2019, local
Istanbul police detained and interrogated Turkish-Armenian activist
Alexis Kalk for comments made at a memorial service which referenced the
1915 Armenian Genocide.
Armenians are an ethnic-religious minority belonging to the Christian faith whose human rights have been severely repressed in Turkey. The Armenian Genocide was perpetrated 104 years ago by the declining Ottoman Empire. Also known as the Armenian Holocaust, more than 1.5 million Armenian men, women, and children were murdered, while countless others were displaced.
The heir to the Ottoman Empire, today’s Republic of Turkey, continues to actively deny the Armenian Genocide. The government’s narrative is that the genocide was an act of self-defense. On the anniversary of the genocide, President Erdogan tweeted that it "was the most reasonable action that could be taken in such a period.” The state’s denial of the genocide stands in contradiction to historic research and is often viewed as encouragement of further violence against Armenians.
Alexis Kalk referenced the genocide while speaking at a memorial service for Sevag Balıkçı, an Armenian murdered eight years ago on the genocide’s anniversary. During the service, Kalk called this murder a hate crime, an allegation that the Turkish courts deny. He emphasized the continued need for justice for victims of the Armenian Genocide. “We will continue the struggle for justice, equality and brotherhood for all those victims of murder, Sevag Şahin Balıkçı and those sacrificed during the Armenian Genocide,” said Kalk.
According to the Public Radio of Armenia, police detained Kalk that evening and said that they wished to discuss his remarks regarding the Armenian Genocide. He was held in custody and interrogated before being released the same day.
Sources close to Kalk say that this was an intimidation tactic intended to discourage similar remarks, as the detainment occurred just hours before a scheduled Armenian Genocide commemoration. This event was planned after the government banned commemorative activities in two other locations where these activities are traditionally held.
The genocide decimated most of Turkey’s Armenian community, erasing their historic presence. It is estimated that only 60,000 remain, and many continue to report incidents of discrimination and harassment. According to a statement by Eren Keskin, chairperson of the Human Rights Association (İHD), “Again, we are going through a period of severe human rights violations. The cursed heritage continues in new forms.”
Claire Evans, ICC’s Regional Manager for the Middle East, said, “In Turkey, history matters. The government not only actively denies the 1915 Armenian Genocide, it also continues with Ottoman-era policies that relegate Christians to second-class citizens. Turkish-Armenians are particularly hard-pressed on every side. The government refuses to let them grieve on commemoration day, a refusal which extends to the denial of basic human rights during all other days of the year. The genocide may have happened over 100 years ago, but its tragic consequences and the worldview which inspired it live on.”
Armenians are an ethnic-religious minority belonging to the Christian faith whose human rights have been severely repressed in Turkey. The Armenian Genocide was perpetrated 104 years ago by the declining Ottoman Empire. Also known as the Armenian Holocaust, more than 1.5 million Armenian men, women, and children were murdered, while countless others were displaced.
The heir to the Ottoman Empire, today’s Republic of Turkey, continues to actively deny the Armenian Genocide. The government’s narrative is that the genocide was an act of self-defense. On the anniversary of the genocide, President Erdogan tweeted that it "was the most reasonable action that could be taken in such a period.” The state’s denial of the genocide stands in contradiction to historic research and is often viewed as encouragement of further violence against Armenians.
Alexis Kalk referenced the genocide while speaking at a memorial service for Sevag Balıkçı, an Armenian murdered eight years ago on the genocide’s anniversary. During the service, Kalk called this murder a hate crime, an allegation that the Turkish courts deny. He emphasized the continued need for justice for victims of the Armenian Genocide. “We will continue the struggle for justice, equality and brotherhood for all those victims of murder, Sevag Şahin Balıkçı and those sacrificed during the Armenian Genocide,” said Kalk.
According to the Public Radio of Armenia, police detained Kalk that evening and said that they wished to discuss his remarks regarding the Armenian Genocide. He was held in custody and interrogated before being released the same day.
Sources close to Kalk say that this was an intimidation tactic intended to discourage similar remarks, as the detainment occurred just hours before a scheduled Armenian Genocide commemoration. This event was planned after the government banned commemorative activities in two other locations where these activities are traditionally held.
The genocide decimated most of Turkey’s Armenian community, erasing their historic presence. It is estimated that only 60,000 remain, and many continue to report incidents of discrimination and harassment. According to a statement by Eren Keskin, chairperson of the Human Rights Association (İHD), “Again, we are going through a period of severe human rights violations. The cursed heritage continues in new forms.”
Claire Evans, ICC’s Regional Manager for the Middle East, said, “In Turkey, history matters. The government not only actively denies the 1915 Armenian Genocide, it also continues with Ottoman-era policies that relegate Christians to second-class citizens. Turkish-Armenians are particularly hard-pressed on every side. The government refuses to let them grieve on commemoration day, a refusal which extends to the denial of basic human rights during all other days of the year. The genocide may have happened over 100 years ago, but its tragic consequences and the worldview which inspired it live on.”
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
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
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