You cannot win an appeal in any Chinese court

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that on July 25, a court in China’s Yunnan province announced its decision to uphold Pastor John Cao’s seven-year prison sentence, despite his appeal. Pastor Cao filed an appeal for being wrongfully convicted for “organizing illegal border crossings” in 2018. However, the Chinese government has postponed his appeal hearing seven times. Many believe that he was unjustly targeted due to his Christian faith.

In photos shared by China Aid, the court can be seen heavily guarded by the police today. Only Cao's 83-year-old mother and his sister, along with their lawyer, were allowed to hear the verdict.

The court’s latest verdict came after Pastor Cao’s lawyers received a notice on July 12, stating that Cao’s appeal would be handled via a “trial session on paper only,” instead of an actual hearing.

Pastor Cao dedicated himself to serving the impoverished people of Myanmar’s self-governed Wa State, providing much needed education and humanitarian aid to them before his 2017 arrest.

Father Francis Liu from Chinese Christian Fellowship of Righteousness said on Twitter, “Although we have been praying for Pastor Cao, I also know that the CCP will not let him go, as was predetermined by their anti-Christ nature. It’s not possible for us to place our hope in CCP to uphold justice.”

Gina Goh, ICC’s Regional Manager for Southeast Asia, said, “The unjust trial and trumped up charges against Pastor John Cao once again demonstrate the disregard for rule of law and religious freedom in China. Beijing’s crackdown against Christianity should not be tolerated or ignored. The international community must continue speaking out for oppressed churches and Christians in order to stop their suffering.”

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

Mark of the Beast - Coming to a theater near you!

Last week, former Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced his newest project that is called Neuralink.  The purpose of Neuralink is to place a microchip in the back of the head behind one of the ears.  The chip would then be able to monitor data from the brain and from the neurons of the nervous system.

This idea of microchips in humans is now expanding as Swedes are inserting microchips under their skin in their hands.  The purpose for these chips is to store personal data within the person.  A person can now be identified by swiping their hand across a digital reader.

This idea of placing microchips in either the hand or in the head has already been predicted.  Here is an excerpt about the Antichrist in Revelation 13:16-18 (KJV).

16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

Sudan signs deal

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that the Sudanese Transitional Military Council (TMC) and the protesters’ organization, Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC), have officially signed a power-sharing agreement in Khartoum, Sudan. This deal was signed on July 17, 2019, and states that there will be a new governmental body called the sovereign council. However, it is still unclear whether this council will hold true power, or if it will be more of a ceremonial body.

The council will be made up of roughly half civilians and half military leaders, though reports vary regarding whether the council will have 11 or 12 members. Despite these inconsistencies, it is known that the council will be led by a chairman, who will be from the military for the first 21 months, and then switch to a civilian for the following 18 months leading up to the elections in three years.

When asked about the climate in Khartoum, a local pastor, who wished to remain anonymous, said, “The civil protests have really affected the Church socially, emotionally, and financially. We have been tied for months because of the running battles, extrajudicial killings, failed peace talks, and many people, including our church members, must skip work due to instability. In such an environment where Islam is the main religion, anger and retaliation always fall back to the churches. Many churches have been forced to close down during Sunday worship as a sign of showing support for the unrest."

Sudan has long been a persecutor of Christians. Though there was initially hope that freedom of religion would increase with the fall of Omar al-Bashir, this has yet to happen. The pastor continued, “Today’s political agreement is a roadmap towards constitutional review talks that are planned for Friday, [July 19], and we hope that this positive start will bring relative calm, open an environment of coexistence between all the people of Sudan and a wider space of freedom of worship.”

His hope for the future is that the Church would “be allowed to evangelize freely in the urban streets and also in the countryside. Missionary work and Bible distribution have been greatly affected in the recent past. We are asking for more tolerance.”

ICC’s Regional Manager for Africa, Nathan Johnson, stated, “This could very well be a historic change for the country of Sudan and for its suffering Christian population. Now that the deal has been signed, it is time for the people of Sudan to ensure that the freedoms that they are calling for guarantee freedom for all, and not just some. If the new constitution does not guarantee freedom of religion for all, removing sharia as the guiding force, I fear that Christians will continue to live under tyranny and persecution.”

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

Woman tortured, raped, and stoned to death by jihadists in Syria

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that on July 8, 2019, an Armenian Christian woman living in the Syrian Governorate of Idlib went missing. Suzan Der Kirkour was 6o years old and her body was found the next day just outside of her village, al-Yaqoubiyeh. An autopsy revealed that Suzan was tortured and repeatedly raped over an estimated period of nine hours. She was then stoned to death.

The incident was confirmed by SOS Chrétien’s d’Orient, which wrote in a statement that “cruel was her ordeal. The reality is just as much… (a) virgin at sixty, she died under the repeated assaults of the jihadists of al-Nusra.”

“The autopsy reveals that Suzan had been subjected to repeated rape since the afternoon of Monday (the 8th) until early Tuesday morning, only hours before her discovery. As a martyr, she is joined in heaven by thousands of Christian brothers, who died in the arena of barbarism,” continued the statement.

Suzan was a gardener and Arabic teacher. Although retired, she often volunteered at the Kneye Village Church where she helped youth achieve their baccalaureate. The church was concerned by Suzan’s absence, and it was parishioners who found Suzan’s body. 

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also verified the incident. “Her body was found with marks of torture on it. And according to forensic medicine, the woman had been tortured for about 9 hours before she was stoned to death by unidentified persons,” read the report.

It is widely reported among locals that Suzan’s attackers were members of the Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist group, which maintains a strong presence in Idlib Governorate. Al-Yaqoubiyeh is a Christian village, but most of the women have left because of violent aggression from the terrorists. Some estimate that only 18 women, including Suzan, were living in the village.

The Syrian Civil War has raged for eight years, opening the door for Islamic extremism to take a strong foothold. Jabhat al-Nusra is the Syrian offshoot of al-Qaeda. They and many other terrorist groups are active in Idlib Governorate, which was supposed to provide a safe haven for internally displaced persons.

Instead, the governorate has become center stage for the Syrian conflict. Most Christians have fled the country, although they made up approximately 10% of the population prior to the war.

Claire Evans, ICC’s Regional Manager for the Middle East, said, “Suzan was a pillar in her community. Her untimely death and the manner of her murder is horrifying. It further deepens the shadow which has fallen upon any Christians who have remained in Syria throughout nearly a decade of violent conflict. Rule of law, justice, and accountability must be restored in Syria. Otherwise, we are witness to the slow, but fierce, extermination of Christianity from a country where it has existed for over 2,000 years.”

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

Difference between a Syrian car bomb and an Irish car bomb

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that on July 11, 2019, a car bomb exploded next to the Virgin Mary Orthodox Church in the Syrian city of Qamishli.

The Assyrian Monitor for Human Rights wrote in a statement, “[A] terrorism incident took place this afternoon… the attack was by a car bombing in front of St. Mary’s Church for the Orthodox and the majority there (the neighborhood) are Christian. The incident resulted in civilian injuries and the destruction of buildings for the church and other surroundings.”

Although reports vary regarding the number of causalities and injuries from the explosion, most report that between seven and 11 Christians were either killed or injured. Photos of the attack show substantial material damage from both the immediate explosion and a large fire which spread throughout the street. The church and surrounding buildings were all damaged.

No terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the attack. However, the city has been targeted on a number of occasions as a consequence of both the Syrian Civil War and activities by the Islamic State (ISIS).

Qamishli is the capital of the self-declared autonomous region of Northeast Syria. As the Syrian regime continues reasserting control over lost territories, questions swirl about the future of the autonomous region. Meanwhile, ISIS has coordinated a number of retribution attacks following its own territorial defeat. Throughout Syria’s eight-year-long civil war, there have been accusations of the regime working closely with terrorists. Consequently, clarity on the cause of this incident may prove challenging.

The city is located near the Turkish border and is the home of Assyrian Christians who fled the 1915 genocide conducted by the Ottomans. They maintained a strong Christian presence in this city until the start of the Syrian Civil War in 2011. Some regard Qamishli as the Christian center of Syria. However, the civil war has caused many Syrian Christians to permanently flee the country.

One Syrian Christian shared with ICC how his “children believe that staying out of Syria is better because they have nothing now and no future for them.”

Another added, “Our children are oppressed. They prefer to stay away from the problems and the risk. [My husband] and I do not prefer to return.”

Qamishli Christians maintained a stronger presence in this city throughout the conflict compared to other locations. However, this attack underscores just how volatile Syria remains and the detrimental impact on the nation’s Christians. “We hope that this evil ends as soon as possible,” said one Orthodox Christian.

Claire Evans, ICC’s Regional Manager for the Middle East, said, “Our prayers are with the victims and families of those affected by the car bombing in Qamishli. This kind of attack serves as a reminder for all Syrian Christians on just how much work needs to be done to protect their lives and their rights. The Syrian conflict is constantly evolving, and Christians are always left in the crosshairs of opposing factions. We must work to ensure that any solution to the conflict preserves a place for Christians in society.”

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

Cricket and sharia law is intertwined in Pakistan

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that two Christian teenagers have been arrested and charged with committing blasphemy against Islam in Pakistan’s Punjab province. According to relatives of the accused, local police in Bahawalnagar have generated the deadly accusation against the Christians.

On June 29, 2019, Sunny Mushtaq, age 19, and Noman Asghar, age 17, left home in the evening to play cricket and never returned home. When the family inquired about the missing teens, they were informed by friends of Mushtaq and Asghar that police had arrested the pair “under some allegation.”

According to FIR #353/19, registered at the Bahawalnagar police station, Mushtaq and Asghar have been accused of receiving blasphemous sketches of the Prophet Muhammad on their WhatsApp numbers. Police reportedly recovered printouts of the blasphemous sketches from Mushtaq. However, Mushtaq’s family denies the allegation, stating, “The police have generated this story against Sunny.”

ICC’s local sources have confirmed that Mushtaq and Asghar did receive a blasphemous sketch on their smartphones. However, the sketch was sent by Bilal Ahmad, a Muslim. To date, police have not taken any action against Ahmad, the sender of the blasphemous image.

“Sunny is very popular in the locality because of his outstanding performances playing cricket,” Raza Mushtaq, Sunny Mushtaq’s brother, told ICC. “However, he often complained of being mistreated by Muslim players. Because of this, we used to suggest that he quit playing cricket. I even had to quit playing cricket with Muslims years back because I was experiencing the same.”

“This is another example of misuse of the blasphemy laws to settle personal scores against Christians,” Yousaf Gill, Director of Umeed Partnership Pakistan, told ICC. “For many years, human right defenders have been highlighting the misuse of blasphemy laws. However, authorities have not paid any attention and therefore Christians are suffering.”

“The authorities must conduct a fair investigation into the allegation and protect the Christians in police custody,” Gill continued. “It is up to the authorities to ensure that these laws are not misused against the weaker segments of society.”

ICC’s Regional Manager, William Stark, said, “False allegations of blasphemy are tragically common in Pakistan, especially against the country’s vulnerable Christian population. Pakistan’s notorious blasphemy laws are frequently abused by individuals seeking to settle personal scores or incite religious hatred against minority communities. We here at ICC express grave concern for both Sunny and Noman as they are now in a life and death struggle to prove their innocence. Christians are too often forced to pay a high price for such accusations. Pakistan must take steps to curb the widespread abuse of these deadly laws. Until then, we will continue to see Pakistani Christians facing deadly blasphemy charges for petty reasons.”

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