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Confronting Religious Persecution at the IRF Summit

Feb. 10Stories That Demand Action:

Last week I spoke on a panel at the International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit in Washington, D.C.—a global gathering that brings together advocates, policymakers, and legal experts from around the world who are on the front lines of defending religious freedom. The Summit provides a rare forum to share firsthand experiences, expose ongoing...More

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Save Christians From Murder in Congo

Save Christians From Murder in...

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has once again become the site of unspeakable violence , with Christian communities being targeted by terrorists and militant forces. On February 15, over 70 Christians – primarily women, children, and the elderly – were added to the list of victims when they were abducted...More

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Persecuted Christians Worldwide

Recently, we told you how we used the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process at the U.N. to call attention to the atrocities being carried out against Christians every day in Nigeria. Through our international affiliate, the European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ), we submitted reports on Mexico, Malaysia, Jordan, Chad, the Central African Republic, and Saudi Arabia, detailing the persecution being carried out against Christians. In these countries, Christians are attacked, harassed, and extorted simply because they profess Jesus as their Lord and Savior and live out their faith publicly. Such atrocities are heartbreaking, and we must convince the international community to intercede on behalf of suffering Christians worldwide.

In Mexico, Christians are extorted and threatened by criminal gangs and cartels. These groups have even shut down churches and prevented people from attending services. One of the stories highlighted in our UPR on Mexico was that of two priests who were shot to death by a local crime boss. Christians are also persecuted in the more rural regions of Mexico, where people practice ancestral and traditional religions. Christians in these regions have been attacked, fined, harassed, and denied access to public services. One Christian pastor was attacked by two men with a machete who injured the pastor’s left arm. In addition to the attack, the pastor received death threats because he abandoned the traditional practices of the region.

In Malaysia, an overwhelming majority of states have criminalized apostasy and proselytization, laws that punish Christian converts and anyone who shares their faith. Further, Christian churches that are more active in evangelizing are closely monitored by authorities. These types of laws severely infringe on the ability of people to freely choose their religion, openly practice their faith, or share their beliefs with others. Under these laws, simply sharing your Christian faith with your neighbor or friends can be viewed as proselytizing. In our report, we told the story of four Finnish nationals who were deported simply for sharing their faith with others:

In November 2018, four Finnish nationals were deported back to Finland after they were arrested and detained for simply distributing pamphlets about Christianity. Police arrested the four individuals after they received complaints from locals. The police also raided their hotel rooms where they found dozens of pens and hundreds of notebooks that contained Bible verses. In addition to being deported back to Finland, the individuals were also prohibited from ever returning to the country.

In Jordan, Christians who convert from Islam face the brunt of the persecution. Christian converts are interrogated and harassed by government officials. As we stated in our report: “[I]n 2021, several converts who had a Muslim background were interrogated for days. One man even had to tell his family about his Christian faith and was then beaten with a metal chair and stones, which resulted in broken ribs and liver damage.”

In Chad, Boko Haram poses a significant threat as it attempts to establish a caliphate. Since 2018, Boko Haram and other affiliated groups have begun to spread in the Lake Chad region, attacking military bases in order to gain control. It is imperative that meaningful action be taken to stop the death and destruction from spreading, as we only need to look to neighboring Nigeria to see what happens if militant groups are able to gain a foothold.

In the Central African Republic, armed militias continue to wreak havoc, resulting in many casualties and a massive humanitarian crisis. Christian leaders who speak out against the violence have been threatened, and their churches have been ransacked and destroyed. This conflict has resulted in more than 50,000 Christians being displaced in the country. In our report, we highlighted many stories of Christians being targeted and killed. For example:

In June 2019, fifty people were killed in a predominantly Christian village. One villager described the horrific attack stating, “[T]hey started to tie us up. They tore my shirt to tie my arms . . . . They piled us on top of each other, then started shooting. It felt like it was raining bullets.”

In Saudi Arabia, freedom of religion is practically nonexistent as the government restricts practically all forms of public religious expression. In fact, as we stated in our report, “[T]ourists traveling to Saudi Arabia are warned not to bring a Bible and that simply displaying the Bible publicly can lead to arrest.” We also told the story of Adam (we withheld his real name for privacy concerns), who was found guilty of importing Bibles:

In one case, a man, nicknamed “Adam” for privacy, was found guilty of importing Bibles and was sentenced to receive 900 lashes. He had received 400 of them by the time the Supreme Court abolished the practice of lashing in April 2020. Adam also faced extreme pressure from his extended family after he helped his sister-in-law flee the country after she converted to Christianity. Adam’s wife’s family tried to convince her to divorce him, but she refused. In July, Adam’s wife and son fled the country so they would be safe. The very next month, Adam’s brother-in-law gathered some men and attacked Adam, who was taken to hospital to receive treatment. Adam was then taken to prison where he was forced to stay the night before being released. Fortunately, Adam was able to flee Saudi Arabia and reunite with his family.

Clearly, our reports showed the deadly persecution that Christians face in the world is rampant in the countries under UPR review, as well as in other countries. We won’t stand idly by while our brothers and sisters in Christ are suffering. We will remain a voice for the voiceless worldwide.

Shedding light on the atrocities being perpetrated on Christians around the world is critical – too often, the international community turns a blind eye to injustice. We will do everything in our power to help those suffering and dying for their Christian faith. God has called us to this mission of saving persecuted Christians, and we aim to fulfill it.

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Olivia Summers  //

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