15 attacks in 14 days in India

International Christian Concern (ICC) has documented at least 15 separate anti-Christian incidents across India in the past 14 days. These incidents include physical assaults, a church demolition, forced conversions, false accusations of forced conversions, and social boycotts.

On July 2, 35 Hindu radicals attacked 150 Christians who were gathered for prayer in a meeting hall in Raikashipur village located in the Pratapgarh District of India’s Uttar Pradesh State. More than 20 Christians were injured in the assault, including several suffering broken limbs.

On July 6, six Christians were forcefully converted to Hinduism in the Kunti District of India’s Jharkhand State. On the same day, six Christian families from a village near Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand, were given an ultimatum to recant their Christian faith by July 15 or face “severe consequences.”

On July 7, 25 Christians in the Dumka District of Jharkhand State were arrested after local villagers falsely accused them of attempting forced conversions. Sixteen Christian have been formally charged and sent to jail. The Christians were accused after participating in a public preaching event held in Phulpahari village.

On July 8, Hindu radicals assaulted a pastor, his wife, and three other Christians inside a prayer hall in Paguthampalayam village located in southern Tamil Nadu State. According to local Christians, the assailants also stripped the pastor’s wife. Following the attack, four of the Christians were arrested by police after radicals filed police complaints against them.

Also on July 8, a mob of 150 people, believed to be Hindu radicals, forced their way into a church in Bommalaramaram village, located in the Yadadri District of Telangana State, and assaulted the pastor and other church members. After two hours, they forced the pastor to sign a document stating that he would discontinue building the church he was in the process of constructing in Bommalaramaram.

On July 9, Pastor Sabu Thomas was praying with a family inside their home when someone locked the door from the outside, called the police, and reported that he was engaged in forced conversions. Pastor Thomas was arrested, but later released by police in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

On July 13, Pastor Thomas George and his wife, Binu Thomas George, were falsely accused of attempting forced conversions and were arrested in Rajnandgaon in Chhattisgarh State.

On July 14, a church building in Sangameswar village, located in the Kamareddy District of Telangana State, was demolished by the village Surpanch after gathering signatures from villagers opposed to the church. According to local Christians, the intention of the village Surpanch is to make Sangameswar “Christian free.”

Also on July 14, Hindu radicals lodged forced conversion complaints against Christians in two locations in Madhya Pradesh. One complaint was lodged by activists from the Durga Vahini group in the Alirajpur District. The other complaint was lodged by VHP activists near Bhopal. After filing the complaints, the Hindu activists demanded that police shut down all Christian activities in the area.

On July 15, a Christian family was socially boycotted in Kotetharaa village, located in the Janjgir-Champa District of Chhattisgarh State. Hindu villagers were told that they would have to pay a 10,000 INR fine if caught speaking with the Christian family.

Also on July 15, a church located in Santkabeer Nagar, located in Uttar Pradesh State, was attacked. Local reports indicate that one Christian was injured in the assault.

Again on July 15, a church was attacked during a worship service in Rajendra Nagar, located near Raipur in Chhattisgarh State. The assailants beat men, women, and children who attended the church service. The Christians were further assaulted at the police station by an angry mob of Hindu radicals.

On July 15, Hindu radicals, along with police, disrupted a church service in Birne village, located in India’s Uttar Pradesh State. The Christians were forced to agree to stop their prayer meetings and other Christian activities. They were also told that they could not hold such meetings without permission from the local authorities.

All of these events demonstrate a growing anti-Christian sentiment in India. This sentiment has manifested itself in violent action and has gone almost entirely unchecked by local authorities. Christians in India live knowing that their police and government will more likely participate in persecution, rather than defend them against it.

Dr. John Dayal, President of the United Christian Forum, said, “We [Christians] are becoming increasingly concerned at political, social, and economic developments in our country that may fracture, if not irretrievably impact, the very foundations of conditional democracy.” 

William Stark, ICC’s Regional Manager, said, “We here at International Christian Concern are extremely concerned by the tidal wave of attacks on Christians over the past two weeks. Every day, new reports of persecution come in from what seems like every corner of India. Many Christians fear that this may be the new normal for their community as Hindu radicals have been allowed to attack Christians and other minority communities with impunity. India must take concrete steps to counteract this wave of intolerance and violence. Until then, the attacks will likely continue to increase in both number and severity.”

For interviews with William Stark, Regional Manager, 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

Militants take away internet access in Iraq

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that the Nineveh Plains, the traditional homeland of Iraq’s Christians, is experiencing increased infrastructure challenges because of governance disputes and violent protests in the country’s southern region. Most of the Nineveh Plains’ existing infrastructure was destroyed by ISIS.

On July 12, an armed force entered a church in Bartella and destroyed their internet devices. It is believed that the armed force belongs to Hashd al-Shaabi, an Iranian-backed militia that controls a significant part of the Nineveh Plains. “This began as a problem of internet providers,” explained a local Christian source. “The central government is trying to provide internet; however, because the internet towers in Bartella and Qaraqosh take their providers from the KRG, an armed force from that ministry attacked all the towers there.”

“One of the towers is built on top of the cultural center. And that cultural center belongs to Bartella’s church so they get inside and they destroyed some devices. They were not there for the church [directly but rather] because the church’s internet was from KRG and they wanted them to get internet from Mosul,” the source continued.

Milad is a government worker from Bartella. He further explained, “We are not comfortable living in Bartella post-ISIS... Shia Hashd is the top here. This kind of behavior means that we are still [in] the grey area.” He continued, “The aggressive armed men always send horror inside, we are not able to recognize ISIS behavior versus government behavior!”

Over the weekend, Iraq declared a state of emergency due to violent protests in the south. In part, the protesters are demanding reduced Iranian influence and better utilities. Internet remains mostly disabled across the country. On July 15, Mosul Eye reported that the share of electricity allocated to the Nineveh Plains will be reduced by nearly half with the rest directed to the southern provinces in order to meet the demands of protesters.

Al-Sumaria TV published an interview with the Deputy Chairman of the Nineveh Province Council, Noureddine Qablan, who said, “This has exacerbated the electricity crisis in the province, which is originally suffering from a lack of processing power… Is it reasonable to be a victim of the failure of the Ministry of Electricity? On the outskirts of Nineveh, there are now 16 camps where people live in dire humanitarian situations. Nineveh is a disaster… the government is making a mistake by reducing its share.”

Qablan continued, “This is an injustice to the population of Nineveh… Nineveh is originally damaged and the ministries must support the return of life to these cities (and turn) away from the policy of marginalization.”

Claire Evans, ICC’s Regional Manager, said, “The protest violence existing in Iraq’s south does not exist in the Nineveh Plains. This area, which has seen immense suffering because of ISIS, has barely any infrastructure left. On the other hand, Iraq’s oil-rich south lacks these utilities because of government corruption. It is wrong of the authorities to use this time as an opportunity to violently force its agenda on Christians and make them serve the infrastructure needs of the south. It is because of Iraq’s violence and unfair treatment of Christians that so many believers have left the country.”

For interviews with Claire Evans, Regional Manager, 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

350 murdered by Boko Haram & Fulani militants in June 2018

Boko Haram and Fulani militants continued their campaign of violence throughout Nigeria’s Middle Belt region in June, during which more than 350 people were killed. June witnessed one of the largest attacks by Fulani militants in nearly a decade. International Christian Concern (ICC) recorded that Fulani militants killed more than 230 people during an attack on Southern Plateau State in late June. Some reports claim that this attack was a brutal act of retaliation after Berom farmers killed five Fulani herdsmen.

To date, ICC has reported on the deaths of more than 1,350 Christians in Nigeria’s Middle Belt in 2018. This is a conservative number, as there have been other reports as high as 6,000 killed, as reported by the Christian Association of Nigeria. Though these statistics vary greatly, which is reflective of the confusion and chaos surrounding the conflict, they are important because they show the stark contrast and rise in violence compared to previous years. For comparison, approximately 900 people were killed in similar conflicts in 2017.

On June 27, the Global Council of Bishops made the following statement concerning the recent attacks, “We expected the government of Nigeria under the able leadership of President Muhammad Buhari GCFR, as it has promised to defend, secure, and protect the lives of Nigerians as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, Chapter II, Section 14b), to take a decisive – workable solution to permanently curtail the excess of the Fulani and their herdsmen from taking laws into their hands, but these killings [keep] aggravating [the situation].”

Below are the largest attacks that took place in June:

- June 6, 2018: Fulani militants in Benue State kill nine people.
- June 17, 2018: Boko Haram militants in Borno State kill 31 people.
- June 25, 2018: Fulani militants in Plateau State kill more than 230 people.

According to Global Terrorism Index, Fulani militants were responsible for more deaths in 2016 than Boko Haram. This trend only continues to worsen as Boko Haram is slowly degraded, and Fulani militants continue to operate freely. Although attention should be given to Boko Haram to prevent further attacks, the Nigerian government and the rest of the world must acknowledge the much deadlier violence taking place in the Middle Belt.

For interviews with William Stark, Regional Manager, 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

Deported for Proselytizing in Nepal

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that a foreign Christian couple was deported from Nepal after being charged with committing forceful religious conversions. This deportation comes at a time when Christians are reporting increased religious hostility and growing restrictions on religious freedom in Nepal.

On Friday, July 6, De Vera Richard and Rita Gonga, a married couple, were officially deported from Nepal to their native countries of the Philippines and Indonesia. The Christian couple has been further prohibited from reentering Nepal for the next year.

The Christian couple had been staying in Nepal on a one-year business visa that they received on November 28, 2017, and operated a restaurant in the town of Pulchowk. The couple was also involved with Every Nation Church in Kumaripati.

A complaint was lodged against the Christian couple with the Ministry of Home Affairs on May 21, 2018. The Department of Immigration subsequently launched an investigation and found that the two were working as pastors at Every Nation Church and were allegedly “converting Hindus into Christians.” Their role in the church was found to be in violation of their business visa and the Department of Immigration cancelled their visas.

Proselytization is a criminal offense in Nepal. According to Article 26 of Nepal’s constitution, “No person shall behave, act or make others act to disturb public law and order situation or convert a person of one religion to another or disturb the religion of other people…such an act shall be punished by law.” People guilty of this offense can be fined up to 50,000 Rupees and placed in prison for up to five years. Neither De Vera nor Rita were placed in prison, though they did receive the fine and were deported.

“The constitution guarantees the right to free belief and practice of one’s religion,” BP Khanal, General Secretary to the Janajagaran Party, told ICC. “Thus it was not criminal for them to attend a local church. The authorities have made a severe error and terribly violated the couple’s religious freedom. The question is, would the authorities have taken the same measures to deport someone found heavily involved in a Hindu temple?”

“The authorities must be fair to everybody's beliefs and must respect the religious beliefs of minority groups,” Khanal concluded.

William Stark, ICC’s Regional Manager, said, “We here at International Christian Concern are concerned and disappointed to see two Christians forcefully deported from Nepal because they were involved with a church. Individuals should have the right to practice the faith of their choice under Nepal’s constitution. Many Christians in Nepal are concerned about increasing restrictions on religious freedom and hostility toward their faith community. With actions like this, the government is only increasing the challenges facing Christians in Nepal.”

For interviews with William Stark, Regional Manager, 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

Example of reconciliation session in Egypt

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that, on July 7, 2018, a mob of Islamic extremists formed in Egypt’s Minbal village and attacked several Christian homes. Prior to the attack, Islamic hardliners accused a Coptic Christian, Abdo Adel Bebawy, of insulting Islam on Facebook. He was arrested the following day, on July 6. A mob subsequently formed and attacked the Christian community of Minbal.

According to one source quoted by Wataninet, “Last Friday, the village witnessed a group of hardliners (who gathered) on the grounds of accusing a Copt of insulting religion… the militants tried to gather against the Copts in light of the security absence.”

“The Copts were surprised by a crowd of militants in front of their houses chanting slogans and throwing stones at their houses. They left their homes until the police arrived, who contained the situation without causing casualties,” continued Wataninet.

“The Muslims came from all of the surrounding villages around Minbal... They all came with anger and stoned the Christian houses,” said Youssef, who lives near Minbal and witnessed the recruitment of Muslims for the mob attack.

One woman, Miriam, shared with ICC, “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.”

Another villager added, “There is now negotiation (a reconciliation session) with Abdo Adel Bebawy and his family. They (Muslims) want to displace them out of the village.”

Customary reconciliation sessions are commonplace in Egypt. These out-of-court settlements intimidate Christians into relinquishing their legal rights while their assailants avoid punishment. Christians often accept the outcome of these sessions in hopes of avoiding further violence. A recent trend shows that authorities are increasingly pushing for Christians to “reconcile” with their attackers.  

“Sectarian strife and the assault on the Copts are being dealt with illegally because security is pressing for stability. The government does not want the press to speak about it or publish stories about it,” explained one Coptic lawyer to ICC.

“It is not fair what is happening. When we see that both the aggressor and the victim are arrested, we reach the conclusion that the measures the police use are not built on justice. It is the opposite of what the government claims when they say that the law should apply to everybody,” shared Nasar from Cairo.

Claire Evans, ICC’s Regional Manager, said, “The environment in Minbal remains very tense as the community prepares to move towards reconciliation. These kinds of situations rarely result in favor of the Christians who were victimized by the extremists. This, coupled with the arrest of Abdo on charges of contempt of Islam, gives the appearance of the authorities validating violence towards Christians. The authorities must take a serious stance on protecting the rights of Christians.”

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

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

Peace deal between Ethiopia and Eritrea

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that Ethiopia and Eritrea have declared an end to their 20-year long border war. The dispute began in 1998, five years after Eritrea declared its independence from Ethiopia. The war raged for several years, before a UN-backed treaty was signed in 2002. Despite this agreement, the two neighboring countries continued to arm troops along their borders, and Ethiopia held towns that were granted to Eritrea. They also had no diplomatic relations or trade during this period.

This began to change in April of this year when Ethiopia’s new prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, declared that he wanted to end the conflict. Over the past several months, he has worked toward that goal, culminating in the agreement signed yesterday. This agreement stated that telecommunications would be reopened between the two countries, flights would be allowed again, embassies would be reopened in their respective capitals, and ports would be open to the countries. This agreement will hopefully bring some stability to a very chaotic East Africa.

ICC is concerned, however, that these benefits will not reach the long persecuted Christians of Eritrea. For years, Eritrea has been known to religious freedom advocates as the “North Korea of Africa.” This title is well deserved. Due to their strong central and socialistic government, Eritrea represses all religious freedom in the country. In 2002, they enacted laws that allowed for only four legal religions: Roman Catholic, Eritrean Orthodox, Lutheran, and Sunni Islam. However, these four religions come with significant stipulations.

To join any of these religions, one must make four pledges: 1) Their loyalty is to the government, not the Church, family, or God, 2) They will never be “born again,” 3) They will not carry a Bible outside of their home or Church, and 4) They will turn in any evangelists or missionaries that they encounter. These pledges have forced many Christians to worship in underground churches or flee the country.

Furthermore, the government still holds many Christians in captivity. The rightful patriarch of the Eritrean Orthodox Church, Abune Antonios, has been under house arrest since 2007 when the government arrested him for defying governmental control over the church. Thousands of others are still being held in some of the worst conditions in the world. Their prisons are often metal shipping containers placed in the middle of the desert. They pack as many as eight people into these tiny containers, which have no electricity or plumbing. The metal walls of the cells increase the temperature fluctuations of the desert from extremely hot to freezing cold. These religious freedom issues have yet to be addressed and leave serious concerns.

ICC’s Regional Manager, Nathan Johnson, stated, “We cannot yet rejoice with the rest of the world over this peace agreement. Though it brings hope for many, thousands of others are still suffering under the repressive regime of the Eritrean dictatorship. We hope that this opening of borders will allow Christians to find safety and that Ethiopia is able to help change one of the harshest persecutors in the world.”

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

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

Yizhuang campus barricaded by Chinese government

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that on July 5, Yizhuang campus of Zion Church, the largest house church in Beijing, has been blockaded by a group of “thugs” employed by the local authorities. The group prevented church members from entering the third floor where the campus is located and hurled insults and threats at the Christians, calling their faith a cult.

In a prayer request to fellow Christians shared via WeChat (a popular Chinese messaging app) on July 8, Yizhuang campus worshippers detailed the ongoing oppression from the government against their church.

Six individuals guarded the entrance to the church and prevented church members from attempting to unlock the government-imposed padlocks. They also prevented the church administrator from entering the church to retrieve computers and church documents.

Yizhuang campus recently prepaid the rent for another quarter, with its lease up for renewal in 2020, yet churchgoers were barred from worshipping in their own church.

Frequented by more than 1,500 Christians with eight campuses throughout Beijing, Zion Church recently became a prime target of the Chinese government. In April, authorities in Beijing requested that the church install surveillance cameras inside their building. After the church leaders refused, the government cut of the church’s water and shut down electricity to their elevator. The government also pressured the church’s landlord to not renew their lease.

Beginning in May, many Zion Church members were approached by residential and communal authorities, offered solutions to job issues, financial benefits, and better education for their children should they decide to leave their church. Those who refused have been put under surveillance.

According to China Aid, the church’s WeChat public account was blocked on June 12, and all of their sermon videos shared on other Christians websites have been deleted.

A Christian in Beijing familiar with the situation shared with ICC that the lease of Zion Church’s main building is up for renewal in mid-August. Given the intensifying crackdown against the church, it is concerning what will happen to the church next. Beijing authorities intend to intimidate other house churches by using Zion Church as an example.

Gina Goh, ICC’s Regional Manager, said, “The latest crackdown against house churches in China is reflective of President Xi’s disregard for religious freedom. China is experiencing the worst Christian persecution since Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution. The US and international community should not turn a blind eye to the injustices committed against Chinese Christians. Let us continue to pray for strength and wisdom for the Church in China as they navigate through intensified oppression.”

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

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