Tag: Christian Persecution

Please Pray for Syrian Christians – World Watch List #11

Persecuted Church in Syria – World Watch List #11 (Open Doors UK)

Syrian Orthodox Christians attend Easter Mass on April 15 in Damascus, Syria.
Syrian Orthodox Christians attend Easter Mass on April 15 in Damascus, Syria.

Leader: President Bashar al-Assad
Population: 21.1 million (1.7 million Christians)
Main Religion: Islam
Government: Republic
World Watch List Rank: 11
Source of Persecution: Islamic extremism

Before the civil war, although meetings were monitored, Christians were respected in society, but this is rapidly changing. Muslim-background believers face opposition from family and friends, and also now from foreign extremist fighters and mercenaries.

Previously, Christians were persecuted for supporting the government, or not taking sides. Now a clear religious motive has been added by the influx of these foreign radicals. Many Christians have been abducted, physically harmed and killed, churches damaged or destroyed, and tens of thousands of Christians have fled.

Please Pray:

  • For Christians who’ve had to flee their homes
  • For the emergency relief and trauma counselling that Open Doors is able to offer
  • Give thanks that, despite the challenges, the Syrian church is reaching out to others.

Persecution dynamics

Syrian-ChristiansViolence and protests against the government have lasted for almost two years, and the situation in Syria can best be described as extremely chaotic. The recognised church of Syria is not a hidden or secret church. It is respected in society, although every Christian meeting is monitored by the secret police. As long as Christians did not disturb communal harmony or pose a threat to the government, they were tolerated and had freedom of worship. However, this is rapidly changing.

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The Silent Exodus of Syria’s Christians

During the second part of 2012, there was a clear increase in the number of foreign jihadists entering the country. We have received reports of many Christians being abducted, physically harmed and killed. Many churches have been damaged or destroyed. The central government is losing its grip on the situation and tens of thousands of Christians have fled the country.

Though it is hard to predict how events will unfold, a change of government is expected to lead to a situation of anarchy and struggle for power. If extremist Muslims obtain more power, they might seek revenge from the overall Christian silence and peaceful stand in the country. Should that happen, Christians will either be isolated or driven from the country en masse – a situation comparable to the one in Iraq.

Please pray for Christians in Eritrea – World Watch List #10

Christian Persecution: Please pray for Christians in ERITREA – World Watch List #10

“I am testing and experiencing the love and care of our Lord every day… The moment I entered my cell, one of the prisoners called me and said, ‘Pastor, come over here. Everyone in this cell are (unsaved). You are very much needed here.’ So, on the same day I was put in prison, I carried on my spiritual work”. – Eritrean pastor in prison

eritrea-mapPopulation: 5.6 million (2.5 million Christians – mostly Orthodox)
Main Religion: Islam/Christianity
Source of Persecution: Dictatorial paranoia

OPEN DOORS: All evangelical churches were closed in 2002 following a government ban on religious groups other than Orthodox, Catholic, Lutheran and Islam. The government is very hard on non-traditional Christians, but members of the Orthodox Church also report on evangelical believers, and Muslim extremists are ready to take over where the government leaves off. When believers are discovered they are arrested and held in shipping containers in military camps. At least 105 Christians were arrested in 2012, and 31 Christians were reported to have died in prison.

Christian prisoners in Eritrea (Release International)
Christian prisoners in Eritrea (Release International)

Please Pray:

  • For God’s strength for Christians imprisoned in containers, especially those arrested in 2012
  • For spouses and families who are forced to live as refugees in different countries
  • For worldwide awareness of the plight of Eritrean Christians.

Persecution dynamics

Eritrea has three types of Christianity: registered historical churches, Christian-background believers (CBBs), and independent Christians. The country has a violent history with Ethiopia, and shares a long border with its ‘arch-enemy’. A government official once declared in public that there are three enemies that need to be eradicated: HIV/ Aids, the regime in Ethiopia and independent Christians. Continue reading “Please pray for Christians in Eritrea – World Watch List #10” →

Morning Reading: Luke 12.49-59 (NLT) – divisions

Reading: Luke 12.49-59 (NLT)

earth-on-fire“I have come to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already burning! I have a terrible baptism of suffering ahead of me, and I am under a heavy burden until it is accomplished. Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other! From now on families will be split apart, three in favor of me, and two against — or two in favor and three against.

‘Father will be divided against son and son against father; mother against daughter and daughter against mother; and mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.’”

Then Jesus turned to the crowd and said, “When you see clouds beginning to form in the west, you say, ‘Here comes a shower.’ And you are right. When the south wind blows, you say, ‘Today will be a scorcher.’ And it is. You fools! You know how to interpret the weather signs of the earth and sky, but you don’t know how to interpret the present times.

“Why can’t you decide for yourselves what is right? When you are on the way to court with your accuser, try to settle the matter before you get there. Otherwise, your accuser may drag you before the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, who will throw you into prison. And if that happens, you won’t be free again until you have paid the very last penny.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus – you remind us that we are created free agents to choose for you, or against you… life, or death. And you remind us of the cost… conflict, division, alienation and persecution. Give us the courage of our convictions and the fortitude of faith. We pray especially today for divisions within the families of Christian converts. Protect your children, grant them your peace and fill them with your love. For your name’s sake, I ask it. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Love is Stronger Than Fear” – Mal Pope (Shipwrecks and Islands)

Click on audio link –

Please pray for Christians in Yemen – World Watch List #9

Persecuted Church: Please pray for Christians in Yemen (World Watch List #9)

map of YemenPopulation: 25.6 million (a few thousand Christians)

The Yemeni constitution declares that Islam is the state religion and Sharia is the source of all legislation. Conversion is forbidden for Muslims and Muslim-background believers face persecution from authorities, family and extremist groups who threaten ‘apostates’ with death if they do not revert.

There is some religious freedom for foreigners here and there are a few official churches for several thousand Christian expats and refugees in Aden, but in the north, no church buildings are allowed. The country is very unstable and large numbers of expats have left the country. Evangelism is prohibited and conversion is forbidden. Yemenis who leave Islam may face the death penalty. The few hundred Christians from a Muslim background face persecution from authorities and family, and extremist groups use this threat to pressure them to recant. (Open Doors)

Yemen1Please Pray:

  • That isolated believers will find ways to meet together.
  • That vocational training programs supported by Open Doors will help Yemeni believers to stand strong.
  • Suicide bomb attacks killed over 100 in 2012. Pray for peace in this deeply divided country.

Background: Yemen, situated on the Arabian Peninsula, consists mostly of desert. The country’s main source of income comes from its petroleum industry. However, poverty is a big problem in Yemen as one in every three Yemenis is unemployed.

yemen_0364When the winds of the Arab Spring reached Yemen, the government used excessive violence to crack down on protestors. As a result of the unrest many expatriates, including Christians, left Yemen.

On March 18, 2012 an American language teacher, Joel, was shot dead by gunmen in Yemen’s second largest city, Taiz. Joel was driving to work on a Sunday morning when he was fired on by gunmen on a motorbike. The al-Qaeda-linked militant group, Ansar al-Sharia, said it carried out the attack, “in response to a Western campaign to preach Christianity among Muslims.”*

The number of Muslim background believers is estimated to be between 500 and 1 000. They are not allowed to have their own gatherings and so they meet in secret locations.

Yearly, about five to six Christian converts are imprisoned for a duration varying from a few days, up to half a year. Often, these Christians are not officially charged making it very hard to prove that they are being detained due to their Christian faith.

The government used excessive force to crack down on protestors after 10 months of mass protest caused by high unemployment levels and government corruption. In February 2012, elections were held and the Acting President and only candidate Mansour Hadi was sworn-in amid a climate of violence. The country is divided between pro- and anti-Saleh forces, the south is claiming independence. There is a strong tribal system and small al-Qaeda-linked groups struggling for power.

UPDATE: Iran Jails Two Christian Converts As Part Of Crackdown – Re-blog

Iran Jails Two Christian Converts As Part Of Crackdown

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service

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Two Christian converts among the latest believers to be imprisoned in Iran.

TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)– Two Christian converts are already over 50 days in Tehran’s feared Evin prison as part of a crackdown on spreading Christianity in heavily Islamic Iran and it remains unclear when they will be released, BosNewsLife learned Monday, March 4.

Shahrzad Y., a 25-year-old woman, and a man named as Sam S. 27, were both detained on January 9 after security forces raided their homes in western Tehran, Iranian Christians said.

The two university students were reportedly charged with the “formation and promotion of house churches and holding gatherings intended for committing crimes.”

Iranian police also confiscated personal belongings including laptops, Christian books and notes, Christian song Compact Disks and cameras, reported Mohabat News, a news agency of Iranian Christians and activists.

Their arrests came shortly after some 50 other Christians were reportedly detained on similar charges, though it remained unclear how many of them remained behind bars Monday, March 4.
Continue reading “UPDATE: Iran Jails Two Christian Converts As Part Of Crackdown – Re-blog” →