Orphanage destroyed in DRC by fire

 An electrical fire destroyed an orphanage in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on Wednesday. More than 200 children and adults escaped unharmed, and International Christian Concern (ICC) is committed to helping the owners rebuild. 

ICC has supported the overcrowded orphanage with emergency supplies over the past year, including food, medicine, safe water, clothing, mattresses, and a fish farm. The children, from babies to teens, were orphaned by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) terrorist group that killed their parents and ravaged their Christian communities. 

The Christian couple that has run the 30-year orphanage on a small plot of land risked their lives to save the children. The husband and wife have been overwhelmed and stretched beyond their limits recently, as more orphans are brought to them. The ADF storms through communities and kills Christians regularly – babies are found still clinging to their dead mothers and brought to the orphanage weekly. 

The ADF has been around since 1995 and was formally affiliated with the Islamic State in 2019. The United States government named the Islamist extremists a terrorist group in 2021. ICC also called out the terrorists in its comprehensive 2022 Persecutor of the Year report.

ICC asks for prayers for the children to find shelter in nearby refugee camps. 

ADF strikes again in DRC

 Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) killed one during an attack in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).  

A truck driver, identified as Wangeve Ghislain, was shot to death Sunday morning along the Beni-Kasindi road at the Kalindumbu, and his truck was set ablaze. He and his assistant were ambushed as they made the early morning trip to deliver goods. Wangeve’s assistant escaped with injuries.  

The villagers of Kalindumbu blamed the rebels affiliated with the Islamic State jihadist group for their continued attacks on innocent Christians who work hard to make ends meet.  

“What benefit does it bring them [ADF] when they kill us? We are all working hard to provide for our needs and the needs of all the Congolese people, but these attacks have been a setback to the development of the region, despite the ongoing Congolese and Uganda Armies’ joint operation to clear the ADF rebels from the territory,” said one resident.  

The incident occurred two days after the Semuliki crossing point ambush, leaving three people dead, vehicles burned, and a boat destroyed.  

In a separate attack, seven people were injured when the ADF rebels launched a night assault in Katongo fields in Kasindi on May 12, looting their livestock and causing many Christians to flee from their farms.  

Religious leaders in Nord Kivu have called upon the government to protect people against the ADF Islamist group that has caused instability in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for two decades.  

“These recent incursions are just the tip of an iceberg, as we, the Congolese people, continue to bear the brunt of terror from this group almost every day as many cases go unreported,” continued the resident. “We have lost four people in four days, and if we were to go by statistics, one Christian is killed every day in Eastern DRC. We urge the government to tighten security and intensify the operation to keep all people safe from these terrorists.” 

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

Hindus love to riot

 Christians in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh continue to reel from a devastating attack from radical Hindu nationals that decimated their communities late last year. 

The attacks left more than 2,500 tribal Christians homeless.  

“There wasn’t even a time for me to lock the door of my house before I fled to the jungle,” a distressed tribal Christian recently told International Christian Concern (ICC). 

Hundreds of Christian homes were looted and vandalized, and many Christians were hospitalized with severe injuries inflicted by radicals during the Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays. 

“They would have killed me and my family had I not fled to the jungle,” said survivor Pastor Kanan. “The phone call that I received from my friend saved my life … he alerted me about the furious mob that was advancing towards our village Gadhbengal carrying sharp weapons and sticks.” 

Kanan fled from his village and trekked through thick and dangerous jungle brush. He finally found shelter at his uncle’s house. 

Chhattisgarh is one of the eleven Indian states to have anti-conversion laws and has seen an escalation of violent attacks against Christians in the state. The ferocity of these attacks has devastated the Christian communities which have little to no protection or recourse from the government. 

On New Year’s Day, an anti-Christian mob of nearly 700 radicals mobilized in the Christian-populated area of Gadhbengal village, Chhattisgarh, and destroyed homes and properties. Thankfully around 200 Christians escaped the mob when they were alerted about rioters heading their way.  

A month after the horrifying incident, some Christians are gradually returning to their villages and picking up the piece of their lives. Others, however, are reticent and fearful of more deadly attacks. An overarching concern for all of them is when and where they find their next meal. 

“All that I witnessed was devastation,” said Ajay, a Christian survivor from Shantinagar in Narayanpur district, Chhattisgarh. “There was nothing left for us, including the house. They broke the front door, entered inside, and destroyed everything, including our kitchen, furniture, even a Scooty that I use for transportation.” Ajay and his wife work as schoolteachers at a private school. Thankfully, the family was at the school when the rioters ransacked multiple Christian homes, so they escaped uninjured. 

Ajay is staying in a rented house along with his wife and two children. The family hopes that one day they can move back to his own house that was destroyed by the rioters. The possibility of rebuilding his house, however, is far from reality. “We are surviving on people’s goodwill,” Ajay told ICC. “Some Christians shared kitchen utensils, some gave us rice and others gave us the basic needs.” 

Five Christian families were chased out of their village in Turushmata for refusing to recant their Christian faith on Christmas Eve. Hindu extremists threatened families with death if any of them returned to the village. Pastor Janardan who gave shelter to the families said, “These Christians are poor and innocent, and live hand-to-mouth. They are being targeted for their faith. These families were told that they would be allowed to return if they re-converted to Hinduism.” 

Pastor Mohan, who fled his village to Jagdalpur, told ICC, “It’s been more than a month since I fled from my home to stay with my sister, and I am eagerly waiting to get back to my ministry field. But I was advised by members of my congregation not to return as the situation could put me into more trouble.” 

“No worship service on Sunday is taking place in the villages of Narayanpur and Kondagaon districts,” a local Christian leader told ICC. “Christians are traumatized and constantly living under fear and intimidation. Their survival is looking very grim on the ground; they need prayers and a helping hand.” 

The violent horde of anti-Christian rioters in Narayapur and Kondagaon district looked to force Christians to give up their faith and re-convert to Hinduism. Violence exploded as Christians prepared to celebrate Christmas. Sadly, the entire district had to shut down the Christmas celebration and Christians ran for their lives. 

India’s government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is increasingly adopting pro-Hindu nationalist ideologies that are fueled by such radical groups as the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh). ICC listed Modi and the RSS in recent comprehensive Persecutor of the Year annual reports for their Christian oppression. 

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

Stay away from Tanzania for a while

 The U.S. Embassy in Tanzania issued a security alert to all Westerners and the general public on Jan. 25, following intelligence of a possible terrorist attack.  

In a statement, the Dar Es Salaam-based Embassy mapped out several tourist areas as spots the terrorists could hit.  

“Terrorist groups could attack with little or no warning, targeting hotels, embassies, restaurants, malls and markets, police stations, places of worship, and other places frequented by Westerners,” it read.  

The U.S. Embassy urged its citizens to remain vigilant, keep a low profile, and practice personal security measures while visiting these highlighted locations.  

Reports indicate that Tanzania has been infiltrated by the Islamic State (IS) jihadists due to its proximity to the Muslim-dominated province of Cabo Delgado in Northern Mozambique. In 2020, the insurgents conducted two attacks inside Tanzania after crossing the porous border from Cabo Delgado. They attacked Kitaya and Michenjele villages in Mtwara, killing 25 people, looting, and leaving a trail of destroyed property. 

A church leader in Tanzania has asked believers to be alert and prayerful and not to take the security warning lightly. 

“The Lord has been good to Tanzania over the years, and we are thankful for that. We have had times of tears due to terrorism, but we are not like other East African neighbors. Lately, we have seen how our young men and women have joined terrorist groups within the region, and so we should remain vigilant and prayerful and ask God to protect us from these enemies.” 

Perhaps the most notable Jihadist attack in Tanzania was on in August 1998, when al-Qaeda simultaneously bombed the American embassies in Dar Es Salaam and Nairobi, claiming 11 and 213 lives, respectively.

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

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.