Turks are still looking to exterminate Armenians

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that overnight on April 30, 2018, at least one Turkish nationalist vandalized the Surp Takavor Armenian Church in Istanbul’s Kadıköy municipality. The nationalist wrote “This homeland is ours” on the wall and dumped a large pile of garbage outside of the church’s door. 

According to Agos, “The church administration, who was studying the camera images, found that the person who wrote [on] the wall and [placed] the garbage [on the] door was the one who had come to church the day before the ritual and was in unbalanced movements and creating disturbance.”

It is unclear whether this individual acted alone or with the support of a group. However, the church is located at a major intersection that is heavy with foot traffic both day and night.

“The Kadıköy Municipality condemned the incident as a ‘racist attack’ in a Twitter post, saying the necessary work has been initiated to clear the writing and remove the trash,” reported The Armenian Weekly. A police investigation has been launched.

An Armenian journalist from Istanbul, Hayko Bagdat, tweeted, “Attacks on Armenian churches during election periods (in Turkey) have become routine. If you ask him here, it’s Ergenekon. If you ask him there, it’s political Islam. If you ask the other, it’s the outside forces… But it always happens.”

The Armenian Church has reported multiple incidents of harassment and aggressive incidents targeting community members within the last year.

Uzay Bulut, a Turkish journalist formerly based in Ankara, stated, “The current Christian population of Turkey, a once Christian civilization, is only 0.2 percent of its entire population. But cultural genocide against churches is ongoing. One of the main reasons of all this intolerance and aggression seems to be that political Islam does not recognize or respect the pre-Islamic history of ‘conquered’ territories.”

“Unfortunately, Turkey, an EU candidate, has also adopted this worldview and refuses to give its citizens a truthful and objective education about world religions and history. And this helps create millions of hate-filled, brainwashed individuals who can attack even the descendants of genocide survivors,” Uzay added.

Claire Evans, ICC’s Regional Manager, said, “Christians in Turkey are a heavily harassed community, with incidents such as the vandalism of Surp Takavor becoming increasingly common. Religious nationalism is a significant driver of many of these incidents, as Christianity is viewed as a foreign religion that insults Turkishness. Turkey, however, has a rich history of Christianity. Thankfully, there were no reported injuries in this incident and the authorities responded quickly. Hopefully, those responsible for this deed will be swiftly apprehended and brought to justice through due process of law.” 

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

Source: International Christian Concern (ICC) - www.persecution.org.

Why are they killing priests in the Philippines?

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that on the morning of April 29, a 37-year-old Catholic priest in the northern Philippines was gunned down in Gattaran town, Cagayan province, shortly after the conclusion of Mass.

Father Mark Anthony Ventura was giving the blessing and talking with choir members in Peña Weste gymnasium after Mass, when two men riding on a motorcycle arrived. At 8:15 a.m., one of the men entered through the back of the gym and shot Ventura twice. Ventura sustained gunshot wounds to the head and chest and died on the scene.

The suspects fled on a motorcycle with an accomplice toward the highway heading to Baggao town.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) condemned the killing of Ventura and appealed to the authorities to apprehend his killers and bring them to justice.

According to the police, the motive has yet to be determined. However, according to Inquirer, the CBCP said that Ventura was known for his opposition to mining and for helping the indigenous peoples of Cagayan.

PhilStar also quoted Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay, “There is no doubt that there is a disturbing trend of church people being persecuted for their stance and involvement in human rights.”

In a statement, Tuguegarao Archbishop Sergio Utleg called the death of Ventura a “brutal and cowardly act.” Utleg stressed, “We just lost a young priest, zealous and dedicated, one who smelled like his sheep, to an assassin’s bullet right after he said Mass and was baptizing children. Let us offer our prayers for him, for his bereaved family, and the lay faithful of our beloved Archdiocese.”

This is the second time that a Catholic priest was killed in Luzon during the last five months. Father Marcelito Paez, a 72-year-old retired Catholic priest, was fatally shot by unidentified gunmen last December, just a few hours after he facilitated the release of a political prisoner in Cabanatuan. His case remains unresolved.

Gina Goh, ICC’s Regional Manager, said, “The deliberate attack on Catholic priests in the Philippines is wicked and disheartening. Religious clergy should be able to perform their duty and engage in community work without fear, yet their lives were cut short for their dedication to the people they served. ICC condemns the killing of Father Ventura and calls for the government of the Philippines to bring justice to the slain. The country should not add another name to the list of murders carried out with impunity.”

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

Source:  International Christian Concern (ICC) - www.persecution.org.

Continue to protest against Fulani violence

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that hundreds of protesters stormed the Plateau State House of Assembly in the early hours of Thursday, April 12 to stage a peaceful rally against Fulani militant attacks. The Internally Displaced Women of Daffo District of Bokkos Local Government Area (LGA), a Fulani militant victims group, and others gathered outside of the Plateau State House in order to protest the killing of men, women, and children by Fulani militants in their homeland.

The women alone, numbering over 100, were dressed in black and carrying placards that read phrases such as, “JUSTICE4DAFFO,” “Arrest and Prosecute Killer Herdsmen,” “Ransack Fulani Settlements,” “Where Is State Emergency Management Agency,” and “We Have Been Made IDPs in Our Homeland,” among many others. Many of these statements were meant as demands presented to the Speaker of the State House of Assembly.

Mrs. Comfort Matawal, the leader of the group, said in a letter to the House, “It is no longer news that Daffo District in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State was recently hit by violent attacks by persons believed to be Fulani herdsmen that have been residents in the communities for years. This has led to 32 deaths, 10 severely injured, 10 missing persons, and over 7000 displaced.” However, Bokkos isn’t the only LGA affected in Plateau State either. There have been at least 20 attacks in the state that have killed more than 100 people in 2018.

Another group that was present at the protest was the Middle-Belt Youth Arise group. This is a group that represents the young men of Plateau State. The spokesperson of the group, John Eche, said, “We are saying enough is enough. All ad hoc military operations in Nigeria henceforth should have a time limit. Our military is mighty. They have good track records. They go on peace-keeping abroad and everything goes fine. We call on them to be patriotic. The youth further call on [the] federal government to immediately end the rising pogrom, and ensure arrest and prosecution of perpetrators of the heinous crimes and bring them to justice.”

In response to the protestors, the Speaker of the House, Hon. Peter Azi, commended the groups for staging a peaceful rally to demonstrate their concerns. He stated, “The government of Plateau State is trying its best to ensure that the security issue is resolved based on its five pillar thrusts, of which security is one.” He continued, “As a House, we will relay all your demands to the Executive Governor of Plateau State for necessary actions.”

ICC’s Regional Manager for Africa, Nathan Johnson, stated, “If this violence does not cease, the devastation will only continue to grow. The Nigerian government, as well as the international community, must stand with the women of Daffo and the youth of Nigeria. We must demand an end to the violence, and for the government to help rebuild these communities that have been destroyed.”

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

Source:  International Christian Concern (ICC) - www.persecution.org.

Two Killed in Drive-By in Pakistan

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that at least two Christians were killed and three others were wounded when gunmen opened fire on a group of Christians gathered in the Essa Nagri area of Quetta, Pakistan. ISIS’s local branch claimed responsibility for Sunday’s deadly attack, marking its third attack on Christians in Quetta in recent months.

“Four men on two motorbikes opened indiscriminate fire” on a group of Christians, “killing two people while injuring three others,” local police official Abdul Razzaq Cheema told AFP. The shooting took place around 5:30 p.m. Victims were rushed to Bolan Medical Complex in Quetta where two of the victims, Azhar Iqbal and Rahid Khalid, succumbed to their wounds.

The attack took place in the Christian-majority neighborhood of Essa Nagri in Quetta. Following the attack, hundreds of Christians gathered to protest the killings. Protesters burned tires and blocked traffic as they called on the government to provide their community with greater security.

“The Christian community in Quetta has yet again become a target of rising intolerance and violence in society,” Pakistan’s National Commission for Justice and Peace said in a statement. “[We] strongly condemn these acts of terrorism and violence.”

Sunday’s shooting marks the third attack on Christians claimed by ISIS in Quetta. In December 2017, ISIS suicide bombers attacked Bethel Memorial Methodist Church, killing nine and injuring dozens more. Two weeks ago, on April 2, ISIS claimed responsibility for the targeted killing of a Christian family riding in an auto-rickshaw in Quetta. Following the attack, ISIS said that a "covert unit" of its militants "managed to target a number of the combatant Christians."

“The Christian community is feeling insecure and threatened,” Pastor Simon of Bethel Memorial Methodist Church in Quetta told ICC. “We are not safe at places of worship, schools, or residential apartments. The majority of Christians are so depressed they are not sending their children to school and even avoid going to gatherings such as social or religious events.”

William Stark, ICC’s Regional Manager, said, “We here at International Christian Concern stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Pakistan in condemning this heinous attack. No one should fear being attacked and killed because of their religious identity. Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time Christians in Quetta have had to face this extreme violence. Pakistan’s authorities must do more to secure Christians and their places of worship. Pakistan must also make efforts to root out the extremist elements perpetrating these attacks. Until then, it is likely that attacks on the Christian community of Quetta will continue.”  

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

Source:  International Christian Concern (ICC) - persecution.org.

Six People From India Hospitalized After Gathering

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that an annual prayer gathering in Vakel village, located in the Bastar District of Chhattisgarh, was attacked by Hindu radicals last Thursday. The April 5 attack left many injured, including six Christians who required hospitalization at the district hospital in Jagdalpur.

According to Rev. Ratha Netam, one of the speakers at the prayer gathering, the event was organized for Christians from the Vakel area as a day of prayer at the Village Evangelical India Mission (VEIM) Church. At 7:30 p.m., a mob of 70 people forced themselves into the church, shouting pro-Hindu slogans and carrying wooden clubs. These radicals then beat many of the 60 Christians in attendance and severely injured six, including Pastor Kasinath Baghel, Shanti Baghel, Pansila Baghel, Kanti, Pastor Bodra, and Savitri.

“When I saw the Hindu fanatics shouting at believers asking for me to kill, I [was] afraid and went into my home,” Pastor Kasinath Baghel, one of the six injured Christians, told ICC. “Three of them entered in my home, held my hands, brought me out and beat me mercilessly. When they were beating me I was frightened greatly and thought that if I were killed what would [become] of my children and wife.”

“They misbehaved with me,” 40-year-old Shanti Baghel told ICC. “They did not even consider me as a woman. They continued to harass me and beat me with the wooden clubs. I was helpless. I was hoping that God will protect me from the hands of these attackers while others ran for their lives to nearby forests.”

Pansila Baghel, a teenage girl who was abused by the attackers, said, “When extremists pushed me, I fell to the ground. They beat me and hurled abusive language. One of the attackers told me to give up my ration card, even citizenship, because India is only for Hindus.”

“This attack on poor tribal Christians is unacceptable and a gross violation of [their] fundamental rights,” a local Christian leader told ICC on the condition of anonymity. “The police must act impartially and book the culprits.”

The Christian community reported the attack to local police and filed a complaint. So far, none of the culprits have been arrested.

William Stark, ICC’s Regional Manager, said, “Attacks on Christians and their places of worship in India are becoming an almost daily occurrence. Hindu radicals across the country have been given a wide berth by local authorities to pursue their campaigns of hate against Christians and other minorities. This inability or unwillingness to protect and enforce the rights of Christians must come to an end or attacks on Christians will continue to rise in both number and intensity.”

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

Source:  International Christian Concern (www.persecution.org)

Numerical Expositions: Genesis 3:22

And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil:  and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:  

- Genesis 3:22 (KJV)

The main problem within the world today is that people want to be like God, but they do not want to be obedient to how He has told all how to be like Him.  God told man not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, but man chose to eat from it anyway.  The crazy part about this decision is that the man already had full access to everlasting life.  Basically, the struggle within the mind is to not take shortcuts with your spirituality.

Numerical Analysis:  To stay in the Spirit, choose to listen to His voice.  To stay in God's Word, focus upon Him.  To be complete, you must choose to be like God without taking shortcuts.  To be delivered, know the difference between good and evil.

Numerical Expositions: Genesis 3:21

Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skin, and clothed them.

Gen. 3:21 (KJV)

Clothes were provided for mankind from God so that they would not be naked.  If you are walking without God, then you are naked as well.  Instead, allow for Him to tailor His protection around you so that you have some sort of defense this year.

Numerical Analysis:  Stay in the Spirit so that He can manufacture His protection over your life.  Expose evil or remain naked.  Walk in God's kingdom or remain naked.  Stay in the anointing or remain naked.