What happens when Hindus crash a wedding?

 Nine Christian pastors were arrested and jailed on false charges of conversion activities in Azamgarh, in the North Indian state of Uttar Pradesh on Monday.  

The pastors and a recently married Christian couple were arrested by police at a wedding reception. Radical Hindu nationalists pressured the police to act against the Christians. A First Information Report (FIR) was registered against the pastors under the state’s draconian anti-conversion law.  

Witnesses told International Christian Concern (ICC) that the pastor of an Assemblies of God Church hosted a wedding reception at his house for his daughter and son-in-law. During the reception, police raided the home and confiscated Bibles and other Christian items, alleging that the gathering was a conversion program. The host pastor explained that it was purely a wedding reception for his daughter, but police ignored his pleas and arrested the Christian pastors and the newly wedded couple.  

“These days are very challenging days in our state,” a Christian leader from Uttar Pradesh told ICC. “More than 200 churches were shut down in the last few months, and 52 pastors and Christians are reeling in the prisons across the state of Uttar Pradesh. It is challenging for Christians to gather for worship … today’s incident of nine pastors that were sent to jail tell the bigger story of how Christians cannot gather for any purpose whatsoever.”   

Another Christian leader told ICC, “Christians are living under the fear of being targeted and attacked for no reason, and police just need a complaint for them to act and send them to jail under the anti-conversion law.” 

The United Christian Forum (UCF) recently released a report detailing the exponential growth of Christian persecution in recent years. The report said that violence against Indian Christians is at an all-time high. This year saw the highest spike in incidents across India. Uttar Pradesh was the most egregious, with 149 attacks against Christians. 

“India’s anti-conversion laws are not a means to protect religious freedom, but rather a mechanism for the government to oppress and punish religious minorities,” said ICC President Jeff King. “Our Indian brothers and sisters are facing increased levels of persecution since the adoption of these laws. India claims to be the world’s largest democracy, yet shamelessly violates human rights. We pray for the continued resilience of the Indian Church and for the injustice to come to an end.”  

For interviews, please contact: press@persecution.org.

Terrorist group kills three in DRC

 Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) terrorists killed three people, including a one-month-old baby, early morning on Nov. 9. The Islamic militia looted and burned a hospital along with several other shops and lit several vehicles on fire.   

“We were woken up in the middle of the night by gunshots rending the air and people screaming,” a resident said. “We did not hesitate. We left the house and hid in the bushes, hoping they would not find us. The attack went on for almost an hour as the rebels ransacked shops and the health center here. And setting them on fire. They also burnt down vehicles.”   

Civilians of Kabasha, a vibrant trading center, woke up to count the damage caused by the ADF.  

“We remained in prayer after learning that an attack was happening, and we hoped that God would prevent them from continuing with their evil mission,” said a local pastor in Kabasha. “In the morning, we assessed the damage caused and rescued anyone who needed medical care. Smoke was still coming out of the houses, shops, and vehicles, but we could not salvage anything.”   

He continued, “Three people were found dead, and several others were missing. A doctor and two guards at the health center are still missing. We suspect that all these missing people have been abducted.”  

The Kabasha attack comes 20 days after Maboya, a center located 13 kilometers away, was attacked similarly, leaving a Catholic nun and nurse dead. At the same time, the Congolese army has been fighting back the M23 fighters who have occupied the Rutshuru territory in North Kivu.    

For interviews, please contact: press@persecution.org.

School in Myanmar hit in airstrikes by the army

 A Baptist seminary in northern Myanmar was attacked by the Tatmadaw (Burmese Army) on Thursday, injuring four men in the dormitory. 

The Tatmadaw launched three attacks on the Theological Seminary in Kutkai, Shan State. The school was founded by the Kachin Baptist Convention. There was no active fighting between junta forces and local ethnic armed groups at the time. 

The victims were hit by shrapnel and sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Those injured were Myitung Doi La, 24;  Ndau Awng San, 27; Nhkum Sut Ring Awng, 21; and  Sumlut Brang San, 22. 

A Facebook video shared by Marip La Hkwang, an ethnic Kachin Christian, showed damage caused by the shelling. Visible holes and dents could be seen on the windows, walls, and student clothing. Another video showed an injured student being escorted out for medical treatment.  

One local resident said that this kind of attack by the military threatens the Christian Bible School and entire Kachin nation. 

"They (Military Council) hate our Kachin people so much,” he told 72 Media. “This is why we are being targeted and attacked. This looks like a planned shooting. My heart hurts so much. Since this happened, we Kachin people must be careful.” 

“The attack against this Kachin Bible school was certainly not an accident,” said Gina Goh, International Christian Concern’s regional manager for Southeast Asia. “Instead, the Tatmadaw deliberately targeted a Christian facility knowing how important the faith is to Kachin people. This despicable junta regime should not be tolerated any further by the international community and needs to be removed at once.” 

The attack comes after an Oct. 30 shelling that partially destroyed a Baptist church and hall in Momauk township, Kachin State. The Tatmadaw also attacked concert goers during the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO)’s anniversary celebration on Oct. 23, killing at least 80 and injuring hundreds.  

Ethnic Kachin in Myanmar has a Christian-majority, where more than 90 percent of the people adhere to the Christian faith. They also have one of the most robust militaries among the ethnic armed organizations in Myanmar, making them a constant target of the Tatmadaw.  

Ever since the junta mounted a coup d’état in February 2021, the brutal military regime has continued a reign of terror against civilians with indiscriminatory shelling and burning of villages, schools, and religious buildings. More than 2,400 people have been killed and over 16,000 people have been jailed and tortured by the Tatmadaw. 


For interviews, please contact: press@persecution.org.

More than 80 people killed in Myanmar airstrikes

 An attack on a music festival in Christian-majority Kachin State in Myanmar on Sunday, Oct. 23, killed at least 80 people and injured about 200.

The Tatmadaw (Burmese Army) dispatched three fighter jets to attack an anniversary concert held by the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), a prominent ethnic resistance group, in remote Hpakant township. Four bombs were dropped at around 8:30 p.m.

A video from Kachin News Group showed the aftermath of the deadly attack. 

Among those killed were popular musicians, artists, and elders such as Galau Yaw Lwi and Aurali. A source within the Kachin Baptist Convention (KBC) said that many of the victims were fellow KBC Christians and regular civilians.  

The concert was held at a site called A Nang Pa in Hpakant Township, a KIO-controlled territory, as part of a three-day celebration marking the 62nd anniversary of the KIO’s founding. The Tatmadaw’s information office defended the attack as a “necessary operation” that was launched in response to “terrorist” acts by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), the KIO’s armed wing, which the latter denied.  

Immediately after the attack, the Tatmadaw cut off phone and internet connections in the area and restricted access for humanitarian groups. 

"The Tatmadaw’s apparent violation of the laws of war should not go unpunished, as dozens of innocent lives vanished in an instant, with many still missing,” said Gina Goh, ICC’s regional manager for Southeast Asia. “The Tatmadaw also blocked access to medical care for those injured, showing its absolute disregard of human lives and the international laws. The governments around the world and the United Nations need to do more than merely issuing ‘statements of deep concern’ and impose stronger sanctions on the illegitimate coup regime.”

The DC-based Kachin Alliance published a statement on Oct. 24: "The coup regime, its leader Min Aung Hlaing, and their collaborators will be held responsible for this heinous crime. Peace in Burma is not possible without the annihilation of this coup regime once and for all. We call upon the international community to end the policy of muted response and take serious action against the terrorist regime which has committed every known war crime against the people of Burma."  

For interviews, please contact: press@persecution.org.

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ISIS attacks hospital in Congo

A Catholic nun is among seven people killed after the Congolese Islamic rebel group, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), raided Maboya village on Wednesday evening. 

The midnight terror attack targeted the Catholic hospital in Maboya, where insurgents killed patients and one staff member, stole drugs and medical equipment, and set the hospital on fire. 

“Our town was attacked at night, and we can confirm that six people have been killed,” an Anglican pastor in Maboya told International Christian Concern (ICC). “When we heard the shooting at the hospital, we ran away and spent the rest of the night hiding in the bush. We came out in the morning only to find that sister Sylvie Kalima, the nun on duty, was killed and her body burned down. The other six were inpatients.”   

Several people from shops and houses close to the hospital, including two nuns, have been reported missing with the likelihood that they were kidnapped by the attackers. 

Sister Sylvie Kalima's family confirmed that her charred remains were retrieved from the hospital room where she was on call. 

The ADF militia has heightened attacks on villages and towns since early October, in its push to Islamize the Christian-majority Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Twenty Christians were killed in Kainama, Nord-Kivu, on Oct 4. There have been daily reports of ADF attacks in Nord-Kivu and Ituri provinces.  

The Maboya incident comes a day after the Catholic Parish of Mbau held a prayer and thanksgiving mass to mark ten years since three of their priests – Edmond, Jean Pierre, and Anselm – were kidnapped by ADF rebels Oct. 19, 2012, never to return.  

The Catholic Diocese of Butembo-Beni vowed to erect a monument in Mbau in memory of these dedicated servants of God who paid the ultimate price of martyrdom. The presiding priest gave a message of comfort to the Christians of Mbau and the church in DR Congo: “I know it has not been easy being a follower of Christ in Eastern Congo. We have lost thousands of believers through terrorism and persecution but let us not give up on God and neglect prayer. I urge all of us to persevere in prayer so that this persecution comes to an end.” 

For interviews, please contact: press@persecution.org. 

 

Chinese police raided four churches last week

 

08/23/2022 Washington, D.C. (International Christian Concern) – International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that in the last few days, multiple house churches across China fell victim to raids by authorities, with their leaders taken away for trumped up charges.  

Xi’an Abundant Church  

On Aug. 17, Pastor Lian Chang-Nian and his wife Guo Jiuju, his son Pastor Lian Xuliang and wife Zhang Jun along with their 9-year-old son, Preacher Fu Juan, and sister Xing Aiping from Xi’an’s Abundant Church were taken to Shilipu police station after their homes were raided.   

The following day, the adults were handcuffed and brought to their church for a staged photoshoot. The authorities announced after the photoshoot the verdict of their ‘crimes’ – illegal gathering, illegal venue, and illegal collection of funds. A church member who witnessed the process said Pastor Lian Xuliang had several injuries to his head and arms, proof of his mistreatment.  

That evening while the pastors’ wives and sister Xing were released, the Lians and Preacher Fu were still missing. The father and son duo are being held under residential surveillance at a designated location in Shaanxi province for “fraud.”  

Linfen Holy Covenant Church  

On Aug. 19 around 7 p.m., 70 members of Linfen Holy Covenant Church in Shanxi province were enjoying an outdoor family camp, when 170 police officers raided the location and suppressed church coworkers Li Jie and Han Xiaodong. Everyone was searched and had his or her cell phone confiscated. No one was spared from being led away by the police.  

In the meantime, police also searched Li and Han’s homes and removed documents and books. Li, his wife Li Shanshan, and Han went missing after the raid. Another member, Hou Guobao, ran into the police and was also taken away.   

Nujiang Ethnic Nu Christians  

On Aug. 19, the families of ethnic Nu Christians Wang Shunping and Nu Sangdeng received criminal detention notices of the two Christian men. Wang and Nu were detained for “allegedly organizing and sponsoring illegal gathering” by Fugong County’s Public Security Bureau in Nujiang Prefecture.   

Brother San Luopo and two Christian women from out of town were also reportedly detained but no official document has been issued.   
  
Changchun city’s House of Light Church  
  
On Aug. 21, the House of Light Church in Jilin province’s Changchun was raided by police during its Sunday worship. The authorities dispersed everyone before taking Pastor Zhang Yong (aka Guo Muyun), elder Qu Hongliang, and brother Zhang Liangliang away.  
  
Due to the violent nature of the raid, two female members suffered heart attacks and an ambulance was called.  

The detained Christians were released around 1 a.m. on Aug. 22, though the men were treated brutally while in detention. They must report back to the police this Saturday.  

The latest series of crackdowns comes a week after Chengdu-based Early Rain Covenant Church and Beijing Zion Church saw their members arrested during a Sunday service. It is unclear why Beijing intensified its crackdown on house churches.  
  
Father Francis Liu from the Chinese Christian Fellowship of Righteousness shared with ICC, “Just like what the newly elected president of the Patriotic Association of Chinese Catholics, Beijing Archbishop Joseph Li Shan, said, ‘The church authority needs to submit to the [Chinese Communist Party] regime; one must listen to the party.’ This latest round of persecution seeks to strictly control people’s thoughts.”  

According to Liu, the churches that were raided over the weekend mostly follow reformed tradition, which stresses the church’s independence, whereas some evangelical or charismatic house churches he knows firmly advocate for patriotism.   
  
“Xi Jinping’s regime is fearful of many things; one thing being people with religious beliefs,” said Gina Goh, ICC’s Regional Manager for Southeast Asia. “They want to ensure Chinese citizens are loyal to the CCP’s ideology and nothing else. This fear translates into church crackdown, ‘re-education camps’ for Uyghurs, and demolition of Buddhist statues. House churches are bracing themselves for potentially the worst clampdown since the Cultural Revolution."

 
 For interviews, please contact: press@persecution.org.

Since 1995, ICC has served the global persecuted church through a three-pronged approach of advocacy, awareness, and assistance. ICC exists to bandage the wounds of persecuted Christians and to build the church in the toughest parts of the world.

Example of sharia law in northern Nigeria

 Nigeria’s Kano State High Court doubled down on a ruling that the Sharia court system has the power to hand down death sentences in blasphemy cases. The decision blurs the line between what can be tried in Sharia court, raising concerns on the implications for religious freedom.  

The three-judge panel held that the Kano State Sharia Court has jurisdiction to try blasphemy cases. The ruling comes after the case of Yahaya Aminu Sharif, a 22-year-old singer who was sentenced to death on accusations of blasphemy.  

Sharif was arrested after a series of audio recordings became public where he appeared to elevate an imam above the Muslim prophet Mohammed. In August 2020, the Kano State Sharia Court found Sharif guilty of blasphemy and sentenced him to death.  

However, the court did not allow Sharif legal representation during his trial, so the secular court ruled that the Sharia court must retry Sharif’s case. The order may have appeared positive for Sharif because it allowed him a fair trial. But the order was a green light by a secular court of the Sharia court’s authority to try blasphemy cases and impose religious sentences.  

The court’s actions blur the lines between who and what can be tried in Sharia court, having the potential to use Sharia law as a means of persecuting religious minorities, including northern Nigerian Christians, in the country. Immediately after the initial ruling, Sharif’s lawyers appealed the decision to send his case back to the Sharia Court for a retrial. Today’s ruling, that Sharif’s case be sent back to the Sharia Court for retrial, is the result of that appeal. 

Currently, the 12 northern states of Nigeria operate under two competing legal systems. One system—of which the Kano State High Court is a part—is based on the secular Nigerian penal code. The other is based on Sharia law.  

The constitutionality of this system has long been debated, as the Nigerian Constitution guarantees religious freedom to citizens, including the right to “to manifest and propagate his religion or belief in worship, teaching, practice and observance.” Sharia courts, to the contrary, enforce strict adherence to Islam and severely punishes perceived insults to Islam. 

“Today’s High Court ruling represents a major setback for human rights in Nigeria overall,” said Jay Church, International Christian Concern’s (ICC) Advocacy Manager for Africa. “For a secular court to officially recognize a Sharia court’s jurisdiction to hand down death sentences for blasphemy is the largest step backward in Nigeria’s legal system since the implementation of criminal Sharia law in 2000. I hope that the international community, including the U.S. Department of State, recognizes this development for the egregious violation of human rights that it is.” 

“The court's decision is a strike against religious freedom in Nigeria and officially sets the legal structure for the continued persecution of Nigeria's Christians,” said Matias Perttula, ICC’s Director of Advocacy. “This decision was clearly a step back for all human rights, religious freedom, and freedom as a whole for Nigeria." 

The High Court order sparked condemnation from human rights advocates around the world. 

Commenting on the case earlier this year, Frederick Davie of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) called on the High Court to release Sharif immediately. “Convicting this man on blasphemy charges for expressing his beliefs is reprehensible—and sentencing him to death for such actions is absurd. He does not deserve to be detained for two years, let alone sentenced to death.” 

For interviews, please contact: press@persecution.org.

Since 1995, ICC has served the global persecuted church through a three-pronged approach of advocacy, awareness, and assistance. ICC exists to bandage the wounds of persecuted Christians and to build the church in the toughest parts of the world.

Terrorists bomb church in Syria

 At the crowded inauguration ceremony of a church in Syria yesterday, a rocket attack killed two people and injured 12. Video footage of the rocket attack shows a large explosion directly in front of the Greek Orthodox Hagia Sophia Church in Al-Suqaylabiyah, near the city of Hama. In addition to the civilian victims of the bombing, the church sustained damage as a result of the attack. Syrian state media attributed the bombing to unspecified “terrorist organizations.” 

Jeff King, President of ICC, said, “We are saddened by the news of Sunday’s attack against Christians in Syria. Throughout the civil war, we have seen the Syrian government, Turkey, Russia, and others compete for influence across the country. Sunday’s attack is a painful reminder that this competition repeatedly places innocent Christians in the crossfire of regional violence. Warring parties in Syria have once again shown unacceptable disregard for civilian life. Our prayers are with the victims of this attack.” 

The Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch, John X, condemned the attack, offered condolences for those killed, and wished a speedy recovery for those who were injured. He lamented, “Our children in Suqaylabiyah are paying the price of their faith with blood. What happened in Suqaylabiyah is a despicable and reprehensible act of terrorism.” 

The Hagia Sophia Church in Al-Suqaylabiyah was built to be a mini “replica” of the Hagia Sophia church in Istanbul. It was commissioned by Bashar al-Assad’s Syrian government with the support of the Russian government in 2020. The commission was given shortly after Turkey converted the original Hagia Sophia Church into a Mosque. ICC reported on the commissioning of the “replica” church in Syria two years ago, as the commissioning situated the Hagia Sophia church in Al-Suqaylabiyah squarely amid ongoing contests between Turkey, Syria, and Russia. 

While the exact perpetrators of the church attack are not known, it is believed to be members affiliated with Turkish-backed non-state actors. Within the region, Christians are constantly thrust between the geopolitics of competing countries, a situation which further contributes to the decreasing number of local Christians.

For interviews, please contact: press@persecution.org.

Wack Muslims now terrorize the DRC

 More than 10 Christians were killed on Tuesday, June 21, when an Islamist extremist group ambushed their three vehicles in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The attack occurred near the village of Makisabo, Beni. The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an Islamist extremist group, allegedly blocked the road, shot all the passengers, and set the vehicles on fire.

Activities along the Beni-Kasindi Road have since been halted. International Christian Concern (ICC) spoke to one of the taxi operators along this route, which is the only corridor connecting Uganda and the eastern region of the DRC.

“The 5 p.m. incident led to the death of our fellow drivers and our customers who wanted to reach home and be with their families,” said the taxi operator. “We are saddened that the ADF rebels continue to make our lives difficult here in Congo. There is no single day that they do not kill people. The villages are unsafe. The roads are unsafe. The towns are unsafe. We only live by God’s mercy. Now we cannot work because they have attacked Makisabo. We don’t know how long this will take before the road is opened again.”

This attack comes a day after the East African Community (EAC) heads of state convened in Nairobi, Kenya, led by its chair, President Uhuru Kenyatta, to discuss the security situation in the eastern region of the DRC.  The participants agreed to accelerate regional efforts to “attain sustainable peace and security in Eastern DRC,” deploy more forces to conduct joint operations with the Congolese military, and call for a disarmament “exercise in the provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu.”

Church leaders have condemned the attack, calling it an atrocity against Christians.

“We know the war situation in Congo is complex, but we cannot ignore the fact that the rebel groups are targeting Christians,” explained a local bishop. “We have evidence that the killers have established ties with [the] Islamic State (ISIS) and survivors have confessed to us that they were asked to recite the shahada if they wanted to survive. We have pastors that have been killed for refusing to deny Christ and get Islamized. We are asking for prayers and support to take care of millions of refugees, widows, and orphans.”

On Friday, June 17, while traversing the war-torn zone of Beni territory, ICC staff witnessed the aftermath of a fresh attack on travelers. They saw that a vehicle had been ambushed and set on fire along the Beni-Butembo Road. All five passengers were also killed.

ICC’s representative reported, “The ADF rebels had laid siege on the same road we were driving through, and we drove past the scene of the attack when the burnt bodies had been collected and the car shell was still smoking. As scary as it was, we sympathized with the residents and prayed for the affected families.”

For interviews, please contact: press@persecution.org.

Muslims revert to mob action in Turkey

  CCTV video footage shows several Muslims attacking an Assyrian Christian family in Turkey’s Mardin village. After the attackers beat the family with sticks, they set their wheat fields on fire. The Yilmaz family members are the only remaining Christians living in the area, and the attack occurred at the end of Sunday service on June 5.  

According to reports, approximately 50 Muslims were involved in the attack. The incident took place on the same day that priests traveled to the village to lead mass and inaugurate the Mor Gevargis Church after restoration work began in 2015. The church had reportedly been closed for 100 years, a timeline which means that the church was impacted by the genocide against Christians in Turkey during the early 20th century.  

The family told Asia News, “They threatened us, saying that they would not allow us to live in the village. But we are not scared. We will continue to stay here.” 

A pastor who attended the reopening ceremony shared with local news, “When we got home, we learned that there was a land dispute with the Yılmaz family; someone from the family came and this issue was brought up again in the conversations at home, and a discussion broke out. We prevented the discussion from escalating, but shortly after the person in question left the house, there was an attack on the house with stones and sticks.”  

Some observers of the incident related that the core of this situation is a property dispute. These types of disputes have a long history in Mardin. The genocide removed most Christians living in the region, which in turn created new challenges related to property maintenance and titled ownership of churches and the surrounding land.  

The State Department noted in its 2020 Religious Freedom Report that “U.S. government officials urged the government to implement reforms aimed at lifting restrictions on religious groups and raised the issue of property restitution and restoration. Embassy staff continued to press for the restitution of church properties expropriated in Diyarbakir and Mardin.” 

In its most recent annual report, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom recommended that Turkey be placed on the Special Watch List for religious freedom violators.  

Jeff King, ICC’s president, said, “The pressures faced by Christians living in eastern Turkey can be quite significant. Today, many families are the only Christians left in their village, whereas the village used to be entirely or significantly Christian before the genocide. As a result, they often come under pressure from their neighbors. Sometimes, this takes the form of a land dispute; sometimes, it takes the form of more direct violence. Regardless, the churches in the area stand as a testimony to the Christian presence which once thrived. And today, it is clear that Christians in eastern Turkey are not thriving.”

For interviews, please contact: press@persecution.org.

Since 1995, ICC has served the global persecuted church through a three-pronged approach of advocacy, awareness, and assistance. ICC exists to bandage the wounds of persecuted Christians and to build the church in the toughest parts of the world.

If you thought that Muslims could not go any lower...

 Gunmen burst into a Catholic Church in Nigeria on Sunday morning and opened fire on congregants and set off explosives, reportedly killing dozens of worshippers as they celebrated Mass on Pentecost Sunday.

The attack occurred on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, in Ondo State, in the southwest part of the country that rarely sees this kind of violence more common in Central Nigeria. 

Disturbing video footage of the scene obtained by International Christian Concern showed bodies lying between pews as worshippers wailed in mourning.

Legislator Adelegbe Timileyin, who represents the Owo area in Nigeria's lower legislative chamber, told local media outlets that at least 50 people had been killed. Local officials, however, had not yet released the total number killed or injured.

Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu posted remarks on twitter, saying, “This vile and satanic attack is a calculated assault on the peace-loving people of Owo Kingdom who have enjoyed relative peace over the years.… I appeal to our people to maintain calm and let the security agencies take charge … the perpetrators will never escape. We are after them. And I can assure you we will get them.”

While radical Fulani militants have terrorized the Middle Belt region of Nigeria over the past two decades, authorities are still investigating the source of Sunday’s attack. 

ICC staff in Nigeria will provide further details as they come in.

For interviews, please contact: press@persecution.org.

Since 1995, ICC has served the global persecuted church through a three-pronged approach of advocacy, awareness, and assistance. ICC exists to bandage the wounds of persecuted Christians and to build the church in the toughest parts of the world.

Nigeria teaches their children mob action tactics

 Deborah Emmanuel, a 25-year-old Christian student at the Shehu Shagari College of Education in Nigeria’s Sokoto State, was fatally beaten and her body was burned earlier today, May 12. Her classmates were incensed at a supposedly blasphemous message she had sent to a school WhatsApp group. 

Deborah, who attends an ECWA church and resides with her parents in Sokoto according to International Christian Concern’s (ICC) contacts, apparently got into an argument with her female classmates after sending a WhatsApp message her classmates interpreted as blasphemous. 

A video of Deborah being beaten went viral on local social media channels and has been reviewed by ICC staffers on the ground and analysts overseas. The video shows her lying still on the ground with her bloody left arm attempting to cover her head as male and female students gathered around, beating her with sticks, throwing large stones, and shouting, “Allahu Akbar.” She pleaded with her classmates not to kill her. 

A student from the school who spoke with ICC said, “Muslim students and teachers don’t like Christians in the school.” The student told ICC that school authorities watched as the frenzied mob killed Deborah, but could not stop the Muslim students, though they tried. 

The road to the school and Deborah’s house is currently blocked by students, making it difficult for Christians to move around. The governor of the state asked for the closure of the school without asking for the arrest of the students who committed the crime. 

Despite the intense persecution that Christians in Nigeria face, Nigeria was removed from the U.S. State Department’s Countries of Particular Concern list in November 2021.

For interviews, please contact: press@persecution.org.

China arrests 90 year old Cardinal for collusion in Hong Kong

 International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, 90, retired archbishop of Hong Kong, and three democracy activists were arrested on foreign collusion charges Wednesday by Hong Kong’s national security police.

Cardinal Zen was taken into custody at the Chai Wan police station, a police sergeant told Reuters. The officer said Cardinal Zen was questioned for his involvement in a now-disbanded humanitarian fund for protesters involved in pro-democracy activities. He was released on bail after being interrogated. 

Others arrested included senior barrister Margaret Ng, activist and singer Denise Ho, former lawmaker Cyd Ho (already imprisoned for illegal gathering), and former academic Hui Po-keung. They and Cardinal Zen had to surrender their travel documents before being released on bail.

The four were trustees of the "612 Humanitarian Relief Fund" which helped cover legal and medical costs for protesters who were arrested during the pro-democracy movement since 2019. The government, however, said the fund supported violence. 

Their arrests come three days after a rubber-stamp election to pick Hong Kong’s sixth chief executive. Former police officer and security chief John Lee was the only candidate. He vowed to strengthen national security and facilitate greater integration of the city to communist China. 

A Hong Kong Catholic leader who asked to remain anonymous told ICC, “Cardinal Zen is the first Catholic Cardinal arrested in the last few decades. He reminds us of the heroic Shanghai Cardinal Kung who was arrested in 1955. We are very sorry that this happened, and we pray that God will give him grace and strength to continue his battle for religious freedom and democracy.” 

Cardinal Zen is known for being a staunch advocate for religious freedom and democracy. A native of Shanghai, he often calls for democracy and criticizes China for its oppression against Chinese people -- especially those from the underground Catholic community. 

He criticized the 2018 Sino-Vatican agreement that gave Chinese authorities greater influence on bishop appointments. And his stance against the Chinese Communist Party and support for pro-democracy activists have made him an easy target. He was called a “false prophet” and received threats last June as he prepared to hold Mass in remembrance of the victims of the Tiananmen Massacre. 

“The erosion of freedom in all aspects in Hong Kong is very concerning as increasing numbers of freedom fighters are arrested and incarcerated for fabricated charges,” said Gina Goh, ICC’s Regional Manager for Southeast Asia. “If a 90-year-old revered cardinal could not even be spared, it indicates the legal system will continue to be abused by the HK SAR government to nab anyone in Hong Kong they find to be a threat to the city. The Vatican and the world need to speak up and stand with Cardinal Zen.” 

For interviews, please contact: press@persecution.org.

When will Egyptian cops stop the attacks against the Copts?

 In a one-month time span, at least four violent incidents and two kidnappings occurred against Egypt’s Christian population. The recent escalation began just days before the start of the Easter season and have continued through Islam’s holy month of Ramadan. This represents a significant increase of persecution incidents toward Christians compared to previous months.  

“This has been a difficult Easter season for Egypt’s Christian population, and we are saddened by the violence against them,” said ICC President Jeff King. “Though violence during these major holidays is unfortunately commonplace, ICC continues to monitor Egypt closely to determine if the country is moving toward long-lasting violence against the Coptic minority.” 

On April 7, Coptic Orthodox priest Arsanious Wadid was murdered after being stabbed several times by a 60-year-old assailant who was later deemed mentally unstable and a previous member of radical groups in Egypt. As stated by ICC, “It is common for the attacker to be accused of having a mental illness rather than addressing underlying extremist motivations. This trend is not only a disservice to authentic religious freedom, but also increases the marginalization of those with genuine disabilities.” 

Just two days prior, a Coptic woman and her daughter were kidnapped in Beni Suef Province. The pair were reunited with their family after 11 days. A social media post went viral several days after the kidnapping on April 13 when the woman, Mariam Waheeb, announced her conversion to Islam. It was clear to many, including her husband Joseph Saad, that the video was done under pressure. Another Coptic, 15-year-old Simone Adel, was kidnapped April 11 by a Muslim schoolmate’s brother. In both instances, the police did little until there were more public outcries for action. 

On April 21, a Muslim man slapped 30-year-old Coptic Christian Nevin Sobhi twice for not wearing a head covering when she walked into a drugstore. Sobhi’s young son witnessed the verbal abuse and physical assault against his mother. Sobhi later faced what she deemed a “third slap” at the police station when they failed to rightly file a report. 

Four days later, 25-year-old Michael Magdy Said from Assiut Center was shot in the chest, reportedly by a militant and former criminal in his village. An eyewitness reported that the assailant falsified an unreasonable dispute with Said and shot him in the chest. Said remains in intensive care; the assailant is in custody.  

In late April, four unidentified assailants shot Rani Raafat, a young Coptic man of Dabaa, Matrouh Governorate, 22 times while at work. Raafat had no known enemies, and his father suspected religious motivation. 

Reports of Christians being refused food at restaurants before iftar, the breaking of the daily fast during the Islamic holiday of Ramadan, have also surfaced.  

In April, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom recommended Egypt’s placement on the U.S. Department of State’s Special Watchlist for religious freedom. 

For interviews, please contact: press@persecution.org.

The Fulani are out here killing 5-year-olds

 Fulani militants attacked Nigeria’s Chinke community of Kwall District on Thursday night, May 5, killing at least eight Christians and wounding several others.

A picture from the scene shows two deceased victims, each appearing to be under five years of age, lying side by side. A representative for International Christian Concern (ICC) is currently at the hospital with a two-year-old gunshot wound survivor whose mother was killed in the attack.

“The attackers are Fulani militants with AK-47 rifles,” another survivor of the attack told ICC. “They shouted, ‘Allah Akbar’ [Allah is the greatest] and shot randomly.”

Prior to the attack, a community member with intel into the situation issued a security alert, warning: “Plans are underway to strike Rigwe people any time from now… They have gone as far as Lokoja axis to go and mobilize for support of attackers… They concluded the arrangement yesterday in a meeting at the bushes of Zangon Kataf to attack the earmarked places. They are waiting for the Lokoja mercenaries to arrive anytime, then they will strike.”

“After attacking Miango and Kwall areas, they plan to proceed to Kagoro areas for the continuation of the mayhem,” the alert continued. “All this is in their program of sending our people away from our lands so that they can expand their grazing areas, then occupy the lands. They are doing this in the camouflage of [avenging] their people… Pray so that the God of Elijah, Jehoshaphat, and Hezekiah comes to fight for us. As God dealt with the proud kings of the times of these prophets and kings, pray without ceasing so that God will frustrate and defeat the enemies in all their plans of expansionism. We are in the hands of God and will not depend on any arms.”

In response to this warning, an ICC representative went to the community before the attack began and rescued 15 children, whom he hid in his home beyond the scope of the assailants.

“Despite an early warning, we told government officials, but they kept silent and allowed Fulani militants to kill us,” a leader in the community told ICC. “The government is silent over the killings in my region because we are Christians, not Fulani Muslims.”

Last year, Nigeria earned the title of the worst country for Christian persecution in ICC’s 2021 Persecutor of the Year Awards. Radicalized and armed Islamist Fulani militants have killed tens of thousands of Christians and left more than 3 million displaced in a 20-year genocide.

“Christian communities in the Middle Belt region of Nigeria have effectively suffered a 20-year genocide,” said ICC President Jeff King. “Where is any action? The Nigerian government gives these attacks lip service without any meaningful response. Where is the outcry? Where is effective action? In Nigeria, the military, the police, and the intelligence agencies are all controlled by Muslims. This, coupled with a 20-year lack of response by these agencies, should naturally lead to deeper questioning by the international community. Simply put, the time for cheap talk and platitudes is over. The world is waking up and starting to ask, ‘Is the Nigerian government complicit in these attacks?’ Time will tell, but for this long-time watcher, the decision is in.” 

For interviews, please contact: press@persecution.org.

China uses COVID lockdown as cover to kidnap priests in Baoding

 Local authorities have detained at least 10 priests from the underground Catholic community of Baoding in Hebei province since January 2022.  

“While Beijing attempts to make believe that the Chinese Catholic Church is thriving, especially after the inkling of the 2018 Sino-Vatican agreement, the truth is, underground Catholics in China continue to suffer. Their leaders are subject to patriotic education and coerced into joining the official church. Those who fail to comply will become victims of enforced disappearance like the case of the ten priests in Baoding. The Vatican needs to intervene and stand up for justice,” said Gina Goh, ICC’s Regional Manager for Southeast Asia. 

Other priests and Catholics in Baoding are searching for the missing priests and asking for prayers, according to Asia News. Many family members of the missing priests have turned to their village policemen for information in vain. 

The priests left behind are afraid that they might soon be taken away.  

Baoding diocese’s bishop, James Su Zhimin, was arrested in 1997 for refusing the state-sanctioned organization and was not seen again until 2003 in a hospital. After leaving the hospital, he has not been seen again, and some speculate that he has now passed away. 

The list of disappeared priests is as follows: 
-  Fr. Chen Hechao, taken away last January. 
-  Fr. Ji Fuhou, Fr. Ma Ligang, Fr. Yang Guanglin, and Fr. Shang Mancang were taken away in March and April. 
-  Fr. Yang Jianwei and Fr. Zhang Chunguang, both disappeared on April 29 around 4 p.m. in Xushui village in Baoding. 
-  Fr. Zhang Zhenquan and Fr. Yin Shuangxi also disappeared on April 29 from Xushui village in the afternoon. 
-  Fr. Zhang Shouxin, also disappeared on April 30 in Baoding. 

As the oldest and largest underground Catholic community, Baoding is no stranger to persecution. Father Yang Jianwei was taken away from a driving test site in 2016. In November 2020, two priests and more than a dozen seminarians and nuns from the same community were forcibly taken away by government officials.  

While most of them have been released, some continue to be targets of the government because they refuse to join the official church controlled by the Chinese Communist Party. They often need to go through weeks, if not months, of political indoctrination sessions during their detention. They are also prohibited from contacting their loved ones.

For interviews, please contact: press@persecution.org.

Coptic riddled with more bullets than 50 Cent - shot 22 times

 International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that four unidentified masked men shot down a young Coptic man in the Egyptian city of Dabaa, Matrouh Governorate. The victim, Rani Raafat, was killed instantly from multiple gunshot wounds while at work this week. The assailants then burned Raafat’s car and fled. 
 
Egyptian media also reported that a second person, Sherif Rashad, sustained a gunshot wound and was transferred to a hospital in Alexandria for treatment. Raafat Nour, the father of the victim, said, “I was at home in Dabaa, and a phone call came to my son to open the shop to receive goods for agricultural supplies in a project he works in the afternoon. I later received a phone call of the death of my son. When I went to the store, I found him dead and lying on the ground, overwhelmed in own his blood.”  

Raafat worked in the veterinary medicine trade and had no known enemies. His relatives suggested sectarian-religious motives in the incident and that the perpetrators of the attack were extremist elements, according to Al Arabiya. 
 
The father of the deceased added, “My son had a problem in December 2021, and was beaten with a shotgun. The accused [in that matter] was arrested and imprisoned. We sat with his family, and they promised us that the matter would be over, and my son was transferred from El Dabaa High School to a school in Burj Al Arab. He has now been attacked by unknown masked persons who escaped.” He added, "I only want to apprehend the perpetrators and hold them accountable, and to take the right of my son through the judiciary."   

Earlier this month, the Coptic Christian community lost Father Arsanious Wadid after Nehru Abdel Moneim Tawfiq, previously an unidentified assailant, stabbed him several times. Tawfiq was previously a known member of extremist groups. 

Earlier this week, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom recommended that Egypt be placed on the State Department’s Special Watchlist for religious freedom  

ICC’s president, Jeff King, stated, “We are saddened to hear the news of yet another violent incident targeting an Egyptian Christian, and are concerned that we have seen a second major incident in just a few weeks. We are watching Egypt closely to see if these are warning signs of a more challenging future for Egyptian Christians. Our prayers are with the victim’s family and we urge the authorities to conduct a transparent investigation which affirms due process of law.”

For interviews, please contact: press@persecution.org.

Since 1995, ICC has served the global persecuted church through a three-pronged approach of advocacy, awareness, and assistance. ICC exists to bandage the wounds of persecuted Christians and to build the church in the toughest parts of the world.

Activist in Turkey sentenced to life in prison

 A Turkish court has sentenced Osman Kavala, a philanthropist and human rights activist, to life imprisonment for allegedly “attempting to overthrow the government.” Kavala has been a strong advocate for human rights, including the recognition of the Armenian Genocide and protection of religious minorities. His sentencing occurred one day after the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, which was committed in the early 1900s by Turkish authorities who remain in aggressive denial regarding these events.  

Multiple international human rights organizations have condemned his arrest and detention as politically motivated, and his sentencing comes in defiance of several warnings issued by Western countries last year.  

ICC’s President Jeff King said, “Osman Kavala has endured multiple hardships because of his human rights activism which only seeks the betterment of Turkey’s religious minorities. His sentencing sends a warning to anyone who wishes to raise awareness about the human rights challenges experienced in Turkey. The timing of this announcement sends a particularly dire warning to the survivors of the Armenian genocide, who only just yesterday experienced multiple pressures from the authorities for commemorating the event.”   

In 2019, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled for Kavala’s release. Turkish courts have continuedly ignored the demands to comply with the binding verdict. Authorities first detained the Turkish philanthropist on Oct. 18, 2017, accusing him of involvement in the 2013 Gezi Park protests. Kavala was acquitted in 2020 of those charges, but the ruling was later overturned and combined with other charges in the 2016 coup attempt. 

Kavala is renowned by many human rights organizations for his establishment of foundations to support religious minorities in Turkey. Additionally, Kavala continually advocated for more dialogue surrounding the Armenian Genocide, an Ottoman-era genocide that killed and displaced an estimated 2 million Armenian Christians. In 2007, following the murder of Armenian journalist Hrant Dink by a Turkish nationalist, Kavala pushed for greater reconciliation between Turks and Armenian Christians.  

ICC’s joint report entitled Turkey: Challenges Facing Christians 2016-2020 shared how “Kavala’s support and influence regarding the protection of non-Muslim cultural sites, the recognition of diversity in Turkish society and his encouragement for dialogue following the genocide of Christians, drew the ire of nationalistic elements within the government. In October 2017 he was arrested and charged with anti-government crimes under Articles 309 and 328 of the Turkish penal code.”  

Amnesty International stated, “Today, we have witnessed a travesty of justice of spectacular proportions. This verdict deals a devastating blow not only to Osman Kavala, his co-defendants, and their families, but to everyone who believes in justice and human rights activism in Turkey and beyond.”  
  

For interviews, please contact: press@persecution.org.

Junta in Myanmar is out of control

 International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that on April 8, dozens of soldiers from the Burmese Army (Tatmadaw) raided a Catholic compound in Myanmar’s Mandalay in search of “hidden weapons.” 

Approximately 40 soldiers forced their way into Sacred Heart Cathedral during Lent preparations in the afternoon, holding scores of worshippers for hours, including Archbishop Marco Tin Win. 

Asia News reports that junta soldiers stormed in and demanded to know where the gold, money, and weapons were hidden, stopping anyone from fleeing. One source revealed to UCA News, “They claimed to have been tipped off about weapons being hidden in the clergy center.”  

When Father Dominic Jyo Du, vicar general of the Archdiocese, tried to explain that the only money they had was donations raised for the poor, he too was pushed into the cathedral. Archbishop Marco Tin Win, who was in another building at the time of the raid, was taken to the cathedral and ordered to sit with the others. 

The soldiers left after nearly three hours when they failed to locate any weapons. Afterwards, the local Catholic community in the city’s five parishes was alerted and many expressed their concerns about the raid. 

“We were relieved that no one was hurt or arrested, and we could resume our church services,” a parishioner of the Way of the Cross shared with UCA News. 

“The Tatmadaw’s ongoing assaults against churches and religious leaders should not be ignored by the international community. The junta soldiers not only intimidate Christians, they also often occupy, desecrate, and loot churches around the nation. It is common for them to target religious clergy and detain them as well. The Tatmadaw must be held accountable for all the crimes it has committed,” said Gina Goh, ICC’s Regional Manager for Southeast Asia.

For interviews, please contact: press@persecution.org.

Genocide continues in Nigeria

 Fulani militants killed 14 Christians, including women and children, in Nigeria’s Benue State on Monday night. The attack happened around midnight in the Tarka Local Government Area, close to the state capital of Makurdi.

Pictures from the scene show the deceased lying on the ground, with wounds that appear to be machete cuts. A boy as young as three years old can be seen in one of the photos.

Benue State is predominantly Christian, and its governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom, has long spoken out against the continued violence in the region. Governor Ortom’s continued advocacy for the protection of Christians in the state has made him a prime target of Fulani militants, who attempted to assassinate the governor in a 2021 attack.

According to The Observer Times, a Fulani group claiming to protect Fulani interests took responsibility for the 2021 attack in a press statement: “Our courageous fighters carried out this historic attack to send a great message to Ortom and his collaborators,” the group claimed in a statement signed by Umar Amir Shehu. “Wherever you are, once you are against Fulani long term interest, we shall get you down.”

Last year, Nigeria earned the distinction of being the worst country for Christian persecution in ICC’s 2021 Persecutor of the Year Awards. Radicalized and armed Islamist Fulani militants have killed tens of thousands of Christians and left more than 3 million displaced in a 20-year genocide against them.

“Christian communities in the Middle Belt region of Nigeria have effectively suffered a 20-year genocide,” said ICC President Jeff King. “Where is any action? The Nigerian government gives these attacks lip service without any meaningful response. Where is the outcry? Where is effective action? In Nigeria, the military, the police, and the intelligence agencies are all controlled by Muslims. This, coupled with a 20-year lack of response by these agencies, should naturally lead to deeper questioning by the international community. Simply put, the time for cheap talk and platitudes is over. The world is waking up and starting to ask, ‘Is the Nigerian government complicit in these attacks?’ Time will tell, but for this long-time watcher, the decision is in.” 

For interviews, please contact: press@persecution.org.

The Camat from Bandung is a joke

 A radical group in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia refused to allow the HKBP Church (Huria Kristen Batak Protestant) Betania Rancaekek to worship at its shophouse March 23.  

In a video that has gone viral on social media, a group of radical Muslims surrounded the church and put up a banner that read: "Stop the illegal HKBP worship plan at the Maris Square shophouse!!! Or we will act.”   

HKBP Betania Rancaekek was established in April 1999. The church has struggled to obtain a building permit (IMB) from the government, a move many churches in Indonesia are familiar with. Without proper permits, churches cannot gather legally. Often, IMBs are denied without solid reasoning to prevent Christians from worshipping.   

“Too often, churches in Muslim-majority Indonesia are unfairly subjected to Indonesia’s religious harmony laws, which require several conditions be met to worship legally; these conditions are often subject to the consent of reluctant Muslim majorities,” said Gina Goh, International Christian Concern’s (ICC) regional manager for Southeast Asia. “Even if they manage to obtain the necessary IMB permit, the existence of such religious harmony laws empowers activists and extremists with legal tools to disrupt the social order and create a new challenge to one’s right to worship, as local governments are unwilling to risk public unrest. If Indonesia truly honors Pancasila, the nation’s core ideology to promote pluralism, Jakarta needs to ensure that one religion cannot strip the rights of another.” 

In 2015, the assembly and the committee began working on the IMB of the shophouse building in Maris Square as a place of worship. In the following years, the assembly approached residents and local authorities to receive their consent.   

Their efforts yielded positive results, as 85 residents signed a letter stating they did not object and supported the conversion of shophouses into HKBP worship buildings in late 2019. The local village chief also approved the plan.  

Yet, the church still faces resistance from the Camat (district leader) and the local Military District Command. They refused to sign the letter and the Camat issued a letter in January 2020 to seal the church. A hardline Islamic organization, Forkomi (previously called Islamic Defenders Front), then forcibly shut down the building so it could no longer be used for worship.  

Since then, HKBP Betania Rancaekek has continued to work with government agencies to resolve their differences. While taking care of the permit issue, the church planned to worship in the building on Sunday, March 27.  

But their plan was disrupted by the protesting Forkomi and hardline residents last Wednesday.  

A Christian lawyer familiar with the case told ICC, “The church now plans to resume their worship after the month of Ramadan. They will consult with [the] district leader before they send me a formal letter requesting legal assistance.” 

For interviews, please contact: press@persecution.org.

The reason why Buhari should not be re-elected

 Armed gunmen attacked Kpachudu village in Nigeria on Monday night, killing at least five people, burning down homes, and destroying crops. 

“Four people were killed by the militants,” said a Christian source from the community told ICC. “[Another] one died in the hospital with machete cuts.

The source confirmed multiple people dead with several others in critical condition in the hospital.  

The attack comes just days after more than 30 Christians were killed by Fulani militants in Nigeria’s southern Kaduna State. In addition, militants abducted at least 46 Christians on March 17.

Last year, Nigeria earned the distinction of being the worst country for Christian persecution, named by ICC’s 2021 Persecutor of the Year Awards. Radicalized and armed Islamist Fulani militants have killed tens of thousands of Christians and left more than three million homeless in a 20-year genocide against them. 

“Christian communities in the Middle Belt of Nigeria have effectively suffered a 20-year genocide,” said ICC President Jeff King. “Where is any action? The Nigerian government gives these attacks lip service without any meaningful response. Where is the outcry? Where is effective action? In Nigeria, the military, the police, and the intelligence agencies are all controlled by Muslims. This coupled with a 20-year lack of response by these agencies should naturally lead to deeper questioning by the world community. Simply put, the time for cheap talk and platitudes is over. The world is waking up and starting to ask, ‘Is the Nigerian government complicit in these attacks?’ Time will tell, but for this long-time watcher, the decision is in.” 

For interviews, please contact: press@persecution.org.

Here's why Buhari should not be re-elected

 Christian communities were under heavy attack in a Southern Kaduna city in Nigeria on Sunday night.

Community members had just finished their church worship when armed insurgents arrived with sophisticated weapons, an eyewitness reported.

"Agban Kagoro is under heavy gunshot attacks with sporadic gunshots, burning down of houses in Adan, Mararaba, and Tsonje," one witness told International Christian Concern (ICC). "Twenty-five people were killed and over 100 houses burnt." He added that the evening attack occurred from 7 to 10 p.m. without the intervention of the Nigerian army.

"We are now hiding, our church and houses burnt; we are sleeping outside tonight," another eyewitness told ICC, adding that the exact number of casualties was yet to be determined.

Southern Kaduna, like many areas throughout Nigeria’s Middle Belt region, is facing incessant attacks by insurgents, mostly identified as Fulani militants, Boko Haram, and its offshoot, Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP).

“Please pray for Kagoro right now,” said an ICC source. “Militant herdsmen have entered Kagoro near the seminary, killing and burning the houses. Even the soldiers have run away because the attackers’ guns are superior to theirs. We are very much concerned for Kagoro, the center of Christianity in Southern Kaduna.”

Nigeria earned the title of Worst Persecuting Country in ICC’s 2021 Persecutor of the Year Awards. Due to violent terrorist groups and government indifference, tens of thousands have been killed and millions have been displaced.

"The Nigerian government has done almost nothing to stop the violence against Nigerian Christians, leading to continued violent persecution, said ICC President Jeff King. "This is a one-sided war, with an unending river of victims. We ask that you join us in praying for our brothers and sisters left devastated by yesterday's attack."

Please also contact the Nigerian embassy in your country today, calling on them to address the persecution of Christians.

For interviews, please contact: press@persecution.org.