Commentaries On Spirituality

Tuesday, December 11, 2018

Islamists attack again in Egypt

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that on Sunday, December 9, a group of Islamic extremists attacked a church in the Upper Egypt village of Kom Al-Raheb. Security forces arrived before the attack ended and closed the church, which had recently opened a new building.

A local Christian carpenter, Sobhi, told ICC, “It’s a hard time. We don’t know what we should do. How does the government permit us to open new churches and then force us to close churches? We barely open churches, and the police don’t want to keep us safe!”

“They are easily building many mosques, and when we try build a church, all of them try to harm us,” another local Christian, Madonna, told ICC. “It’s unfair, the situation has become so ridiculous!”

Peter added, “Why [are] you so shocked!! Every day we witness incidents like that [which] happen close to us. It’s the normal life, especially in Shosha and Kom Al- Ahmar; there are many extremists there.”

Approximately 2,500 Coptic Christians attend the church in Kom Al-Raheb. With the church now closed pending the outcome of a reconciliation session, these Christians no longer have access to a local church. Some Christians gathered on December 10 outside of the church to pray in the streets for its speedy reopening.

“We are so depressed,” said a local pastor. “It’s not the first time extremists [have done] this; I think it’s government policy toward the Christians. We have nothing to do, just pray… God is good.”

The Egyptian Parliament passed a law in 2016 which reformed the church legalization process. The new law included a provision which dictated that for a church to be officially recognized, it cannot be considered a security risk. Islamic hardliners use the vagueness of this provision to create incidents which lead to the indefinite closure of churches that would otherwise receive official recognition. Egypt’s constitution adds another element of uncertainty for the country’s Christians.

“In Egypt’s constitution, it is said that Egypt is a Muslim country and the country’s religion is Islam,” explained Karim, a Bible college student, to ICC. “With this item in the constitution, it gives the idea to radical Muslims that having a church is not part of the Islamic country and that Christians are not a part of the Islamic community.”

According to Isaac Ibrahim of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, the incident is “the result of the state’s adoption of clear discriminatory policies and there is no desire to change. What happened is a single pattern… A prayer begins and then demonstration starts.”

He continued, “[Then], security services come into the church or the building of services and they prevent prayer, assembly, and then cut off facilities, there is no arrest of any of the instigators… The church building law is a trap and will not give the right to pray.”

Claire Evans, ICC’s Regional Manager for the Middle East, said, “Unfortunately, church closures are a common occurrence in Egypt. Although the 2016 law purports to streamline the process, the vagueness of certain provisions within the law allows for the continued closure of churches in order to appease hardline extremists. If Egypt is truly sincere about providing religious freedom, this problem must be addressed. We must also keep Egypt’s Christians in our prayers as we approach the Christmas season, as it is common for the public practice of their faith to become even more risky during this time.”

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

Monday, December 10, 2018

Sichuan arrests a Wang

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that more than 100 members and leaders of Autumn Rain Covenant Church in China’s Sichuan province have been arrested. The arrests took place on December 9 after local authorities raided the homes of many church members.

According to a statement from the church, beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, the police raided and surrounded the church, arresting a church staff member. Around 9:00 p.m., members’ WeChat accounts and cellphone group discussions were blocked, while the church’s telephone line was also shut down. In the meantime, the police ambushed dozens of homes, arresting numerous church members and leaders, including Pastor Wang Yi and his wife. Some were forced to sign a document stating that they will no longer attend the house church.

A member requesting anonymity told Associated French Press, "Most church members were taken from their homes, and some were grabbed off the street. Some were found via their smartphone's location and were taken away."

"The police had the whole neighborhood under control, as well as the surrounding area," he continued. "They didn't let anyone get close."

Radio Free Asia noted that the officers refused to provide legal documentation or provide a reason for the arrests. A video shared by the Chinese Christian Fellowship of Righteousness confirmed the illegal procedure, documenting the process in which the authorities snatched a Christian from his home, while his wife pursued and questioned their motives.

Elder Lee Yingqiang wrote letters to encourage fellow church members to stand strong in their faith. Despite the persecution, he said, “We will never change our statement of faith shared publicly earlier and our push for house churches to gather in public; we will also not change our stance insisting on the separation of church and state, and the wonderful inheritance of the path to cross of Chinese house churches – we will neither register with the Religious Affairs Bureau, nor join the state-sanctioned churches.”

In the latest updates shared by the church’s Facebook page, photos have surfaced, showing that several members released today were tortured during their detention. One brother shared that during the 24 hours he was detained, he received no food or water, while he was tied to a chair with little sleep. The administrator commented that “these criminal acts are just horrendous.”

Gina Goh, ICC’s Regional Manager, said, “Chinese authorities seek to intimidate the house church leaders and members by persistently threatening, harassing, and detaining them. They have the mindset that by doing so, Christianity in China will submit to the government’s control. What they don’t know is that Christians often grow stronger and more united after they experience persecution. Beijing’s scheme will never prevail, and its distorted view of religious freedom and human rights will continue to be condemned by the international community.”

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

Prison time for posting a photo on Facebook

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that on November 27, Coptic Christian Abd Adel Bebawy was sentenced by an Egyptian court to three years in prison for “insulting Islam in the first degree.” His lawyer was granted access to the verdict on December 6 and has opened an appeal which is expected to be heard at the end of December.

Bebawy was originally arrested in Minbal, a village located in Upper Egypt’s Minya Governorate on July 6, 2018. He had posted on Facebook an image of God, the angel Gabriel, and a verse from the Quran. The day after he was arrested and charged by the police, a mob gathered in Minbal and attacked several Christian homes. It is common for Islamic extremists in Egypt to collectively punish the Christian community for the perceived wrongs of one individual.

One Christian woman, Mariam, shared with ICC shortly following the July attack, “The mob stoned the houses of all the Christians (in Minbal). The Christians were afraid and all locked themselves in their houses and closed the wooden shutters of the windows.”

The attackers have continued to make it clear that Bebawy and his family would not be welcomed back into the village. He has remained imprisoned since July. Regarding the recent verdict, a close relative shared with ICC how she “was expecting this to happen in the first degree. But what I hope is that he will be freed in the appeal.”

She continued to say that she “didn’t care if [they] had to leave their village or the country, [I] just want his freedom.”

It is believed by those familiar with the case that the judge issued the three-year prison sentence so that the local community would not again form a mob. Hakem, a lawyer familiar with the case, said, “Usually the judge gives the maximum penalty in the first degree to secure himself that he applied the law knowing that the other judge in the second degree will reduce or set him free.”

Egypt is designated by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom as a Tier 2 Country. According to the constitution, Islam is the official state religion and Sharia is the principal source of legislation.

Claire Evans, ICC’s Regional Manager for the Middle East, said, “Egypt’s record on religious freedom has fluctuated greatly throughout the years. While the constitution guarantees freedom of religion to Christians, this does not necessarily exist in practice. The situation in Minbal shows how delicate the atmosphere is. We must not only pray for the release of Abd Adel Bebawy from prison, but also that any potential progress made toward securing his release would not incite further violence against Christians living in Minbal.”

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

Sunday, December 9, 2018

Waiting for ISIS 2.0 in Iraq

Today, International Christian Concern marks the one-year anniversary of the declared military defeat of the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq.

On December 9, 2017, Iraq’s former Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared that all of the country’s territory previously held by ISIS was fully liberated. ISIS reached the height of its power in Iraq when, in June 2014, the militants’ declared an Islamic Caliphate. The declaration was made from Mosul, the administrative capital of the Nineveh Governorate. This region is the traditional homeland of Iraq’s Christians; over 200,000 were displaced by ISIS.

On the anniversary of Iraq’s liberation from ISIS, one Iraqi Christian shared with ICC, “I was happy that day. I felt like Iraq brought back the missing part… I hope we can have peace here.”

However, many Iraqi Christians worry that this liberation is not permanent. Majid, a Christian who suffered the consequences of ISIS, told ICC, “I think before we celebrate ISIS’s defeat anniversary, we should go back to our history. We never experienced a stable situation during the past six decades… ISIS 2.0 is something possible.”

Sareeh, one of the Christians displaced by ISIS, shared with ICC, “I want to describe ISIS in my terms. ISIS was one strong negative impact on Christians’ lives, but not the worst. Actually seeing each other suffering made it easier to accept the reality. I think the worst happened since 2003 until now… I think ISIS is still in Iraq, the only difference is they threw [down] their weapons and they will pick them back up at any weak point.”

Milad echoed this concern that it is only a matter of time before the region is again destabilized by ISIS. He told ICC, “There are two types of people right now. Some are looking to go back to Ankawa; others are trying to sell their houses in Qaraqosh and Bartella and purchase in Ankawa. But the price difference is huge, all of that is because of ISIS expectations.”

One year after their declared military defeat, ISIS has maintained a presence in key locations throughout the Nineveh Plains and the surrounding areas. Many local sources estimate that nearly half of the Christians displaced by ISIS have refused to return home, citing reconstruction and security challenges.

Claire Evans, ICC’s Regional Manager for the Middle East, said, “The ideology of ISIS remains strong despite their military defeat in Iraq one year ago. ISIS existed before their self-declared caliphate, and they continue to exist although they no longer hold large swaths of territory in Iraq. Christians are living within an environment where security and law are absent. For those who have returned to the Nineveh Plains, they are living among an unprecedented level of destruction. ISIS may have been militarily defeated in Iraq, but their genocidal ideology and its consequences will affect Christians for generations.”

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

Thursday, December 6, 2018

Hundreds arrested by intelligence officials in Iran in 2018

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that during the month of November, the Iranian Intelligence Ministry launched an arrest wave of Christians which cumulated on December 1, 2018. It is estimated that 114 Christians were arrested last week and approximately 28 others were arrested in the three preceding weeks.

The wave of arrests was announced on December 1 by Iranian Mehr News Agency, which operates as the semi-official mouthpiece of the government. It is common for the Iranian regime to increase the number of arrests ahead of Christmas. However, the latest wave is truly “staggering” according to Article 18. “They had arrested so many of them and didn’t know what to do with them all.”

Early information indicates that because of a lack of space, most Christians spent only a few hours imprisoned and only the leaders were detained for a longer period of time. Sources, who remain anonymous for security reasons, say that several of those arrested were told that they would be charged with propaganda against the Islamic regime. These types of charges often fall under the purview of Iran’s Revolutionary Courts, which maintain close ties with Iran’s clergy and the Intelligence Ministry.

Dr. Mike Ansari from Heart4Iran, an Iranian Christian partnership platform, told ICC, “Most of the arrested individuals are coerced to divulge information about their house church activities and those of their friends, under threat of criminal prosecution or arrest of family members… Therefore, the case of every arrested Iranian believer is of utmost importance.”

“As Christianity grows rapidly in Iran, the Islamic government and the clergy in power are alarmed. Their only strategy to slow down this growth is through a campaign of fear, violence, and intimidation… We expect the persecution in Iran will increase as the Islamic government feels threatened by the spread of Christianity among Muslims in Iran,” explained Dr. Hormoz Shariat, president and founder of Iran Alive Ministries.

During this past year, ICC has tracked a total of 248 ongoing cases where the Iranian authorities violated the religious freedom of Christians. These individuals face continued harassment, interrogation, detainment, imprisonment, or some other type of legal action intended to repress the Church.

Claire Evans, ICC’s Regional Manager for the Middle East, said, “Iranian authorities initiated this arrest wave to strike fear in the hearts of Christians just weeks ahead of Christmas celebrations. It is part of the regime’s strategy to further isolate the Church and keep it underground. The persecution that Iran’s Christians experience is incredibly intense, and historically it usually worsens ahead of Christmas. We must keep the Iranian Church in our prayers.”

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

New police raids in China

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that local authorities raided a house church in Jiangxi province on December 2. The officials confiscated Bibles and stools from the house of Liao Hongcon, where the Sunday service was held.

According to a tweet by Father Francis Liu, officials forcibly removed the Bibles and stools from the house church in rural Pingxiang city during the service. The government has also targeted other house churches in the surrounding area in an effort to prevent them from congregating.

In a video shared by the Chinese Christian Fellowship of Righteousness, Liao Hongcon, a People’s Liberation Army veteran who leads the church, held up multiple signs to show his silent accusation of the government, reading, “I am a Chinese old warrior,” and, “I served my homeland by dedicating my youth to it, yet I can’t even safeguard my own freedom of religion?”

He also reveals his ID card and veteran ID in the video to prove his identity.

“There were only a little more than a dozen senior citizens gathering at my home. They came and confiscated our Bibles and took our stools. [But] what crime did we commit? We only sang hymns and read Bibles!” Liao called the police to report the incident immediately, yet the police refused to send anyone to investigate.

“We need religious freedom!” Liao calls out in addition to demanding that the government return the Bibles and stools. The video ended with a short clip documenting the authorities’ raid on the church.

A house church leader in Pingxiang city, Liu Zongjie, told Radio Free Asia in January that he foresaw that the increased religious regulations that came into force in February would lead to a greater crackdown on house churches. His prediction rang true.

Gina Goh, ICC’s Regional Manager, said, “The disturbance of church services has become more widespread across China. From Henan, Sichuan, Guangdong, Jiangsu, to Jiangxi province, the repression of Christians, especially those who refuse to join state-sanctioned churches, has intensified. With Christmas coming, it is expected that more churches will be impacted by the ongoing crackdown. The international community must continue to raise concerns with China on its disregard for religious liberty and violations of human rights.”

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

Monday, December 3, 2018

New target for ISIS in Iraq

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that on the morning of December 1, Shabak militia forces aggressively blocked access to St. George Assyrian Church in Bartella, Iraq and threatened its priest, Father Behnam Benoka. The Shabak militia maintains close ties to Iraq’s Hashd al-Sha’abi militia, which is accused of multiple human rights violations.

The Shabaks are a local ethnic minority also targeted by ISIS and whose militia participated in the liberation of the Nineveh Plains. The incident in Bartella occurred when a Shabak wedding party stopped at a photography studio near St. George. The Shabak militia forces were participating in the wedding party and decided to park their vehicles in front of the church. For the next 30 minutes, members of the militia shot automatic weapons into the area. When Father Benoka approached the militia and asked that they cease shooting, the militia aggressively threatened him.

“There was a wedding from the Shabaks, and originally they are not from Bartella or Qaraqosh. But they got inside Bartella and stood very close to the church,” Jalal, a witness of the incident, told ICC. “They had guns and no one could stop them from shooting, neither the police [nor] the NPU (Nineveh Plains Protection Unit). After that, they came to Qaraqosh and got out of the cars and danced in the middle of the street and showed their guns again.”

Ramon, a congregant of St. George, told ICC, “We thought that it is a war. There was heavy shooting that could be heard from a distance. This is not the first time, but the groom’s family has connection at the local governorate and that’s why no one could stop them.”

Prior to the Islamic State’s (ISIS) invasion of the Nineveh Plains in 2014, Bartella was a predominately Christian village. The immense destruction of the region by ISIS combined with competing militia factions have served as a significant barrier to the return of Christians to the Nineveh Plains.

“That’s the sad fact,” another local Christian told ICC. “We are trying to stand firm, but we have a speech which says, ‘Quantity wins courage,’ and they have the quantity.”

A Christian government worker from Bartella further explained, “We are not comfortable living in Bartella post-ISIS… Shia Hashd is the top here.” He continued, “Bartella is not a Christian area anymore. The aggressive armed men always send horror inside, we are not able to recognize ISIS behavior versus government behavior!”

Claire Evans, ICC’s Regional Manager, said, “The security situation in the Nineveh Plains remains highly volatile because of a continued ISIS presence and competing militias that act without oversight and accountability. Displaced by ISIS and now harassed by militias, the situation for Christians in Iraq remains incredibly dangerous. Without security and the rule of law, the situation for Iraq’s Christians will only continue to deteriorate.”

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