DOCSLIB.ORG

Locked up in Iran Stories from Secret Believers in the Middle East

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Locked up in Iran Stories from Secret Believers in the Middle East MAGAZINE MAY | JUNE 2021 Locked up in Iran Stories from secret believers in the Middle East www.opendoorsca.org GARY’S TAKE 4 INSIDE THIS ISSUE Dear Friend, Lately I have been burdened for those in our Christian family who are PAGE 4 | Secret Believers Find imprisoned for faith-related reasons. Open Doors’ latest World Watch List Freedom in Prison reveals that in 2020 alone, 4,277 Christians were detained without trial, arrested, sentenced and imprisoned and another 1,710 were abducted. PAGE 8 | Be Prepared to Escape Countless others have been held captive for years without hope of being released. The suffering and worry they bear is immeasurable. PAGE 10 | A Safe Haven in the Midst of Hopelessness In this magazine you’ll read the story of a young father by the name of Taher who was incarcerated for a period, but then had to flee with his family to another country to avoid imminent long-term imprisonment. PAGE 14 | Because of You... Taher shared that a song close to the heart of everyone in his family is, “I Surrender All.” A line from the hymn says, “All to Jesus I surrender, all to 8 Him I freely give. I will ever love and trust Him, in His presence daily live.” Even amidst the challenges of living as refugees, their faith inspires us to trust God’s plan. Open Doors Canada 8-19 Brownridge Rd. In June we are launching an annual focus on prayer for our family Halton Hills, ON L7G 0C6 members who are imprisoned or held captive for their faith. It will culminate on Sunday, June 27, with, One With Them: A Day for Christian (905) 636-0944 Captives. I am praying that this becomes a prayer movement and that we www.opendoorsca.org will see significant answers to our prayers. Thank you in advance for your [email protected] participation. Grace & Peace, /OpenDoorsCanada Cover image: Saghar gathered with other Christians, worshiped and prayed. It was always risky, but the fellowship was the base for their growth in faith. They shared their lives together—and became family. Eventually Saghar even decided to take the most dangerous job in church: the Pastor Gary Stagg pastor. And then the unavoidable happened: The Iranian secret service raided the church. Read her story on page 8. Executive Director OPEN DOORS MAGAZINE is published 6 times a year to provide concerned Christians with information about events affecting persecuted Christians worldwide. ODC is a member of Canadian Centre for Christian Charities and the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. The material contained in this publication cannot be reproduced in any form, including on the internet, without written permission. © 2021 Open Doors Canada. www.opendoorsca.org 3 Miracles, dreams and TV MESSAGE OF STRENGTH shows are bringing Muslims in the Middle East to Christ. Taher may not have written the The church is growing, names of his fellow believers in but the threat of rejection, the interrogation room, but he did violence and imprisonment quietly slide a pen from the table is rising. These believers into his pocket. When the guards need their worldwide family returned him to his cell, he began to scribble in the cracks of the wall. to stand alongside them. “Ask, seek, knock, and it will be “Taher*. You need to come home, given to you,” he wrote, with now.” The call came from the reference to Matthew 7:7. Iranian secret police. They were in Taher’s house with his wife and He desperately hoped these words two daughters, ransacking the would encourage Christians just place for evidence of his Christian like him—believers from the Iran faith. underground church who would be arrested and find themselves There was plenty to find, because in this same cell. Perhaps these Taher loved to share his faith in faint messages would give others Jesus. In front of his family, he was courage to stay strong in the face of handcuffed, blindfolded and was their interrogators. taken away in a car. The secret service eventually For the next week he survived in a released Taher on bail. Months later, tiny cell, interrogated every night during his sentencing, the judge between midnight and 4am. He decided to have mercy on Taher was given paper and a pen and and released him under one instructed to write down the names condition—he stop evangelizing. If of the Christians he knew. the authorities arrested him again, the judge would have no leniency, He never wrote a single name. and the conviction would be SECRET BELIEVERS FIND execution. All over the Middle East, God is revealing Himself to new believers. NEVER STOP MINISTERING FREEDOM IN PRISON These converts from Islam live with “The time that I had with Jesus in prison was the real freedom for me,” the constant threat of rejection, However, the warning to stop says Taher*, who hopes the secret messages he wrote on his cell walls violence and imprisonment. Open preaching didn’t deter his calling. will encourage other Christian prisoners. Doors helps them to grow and Taher says simply, “I went back build healthy faith communities. home and started ministering again.” 4 Open Doors Magazine - May | June 2021 www.opendoorsca.org 5 more acute. Trapped inside Stand with secret believers in with their potential persecutors, the Middle East who live under secret believers found it harder the threat of imprisonment to hide their faith. Peter, another and persecution. Open Doors worker, reports that during lockdown, government PLEASE PRAY surveillance increased leading to a higher number of arrests Pray for secret believers and the imprisonment of whose house churches are believers. raided, for those whose family members are violent against “Even though you can’t them, those who have lost their jobs because their employer put an arm around them: found out about their faith. Secret believers in the Middle East rely on prayer from nobody should face PLEASE GIVE the global church to stay strong under persecution. persecution alone.” Every $50 could provide Eventually, the situation in Iran secret believers know they are not Yet perhaps the greatest counselling training for a secret became too dangerous for Taher alone. danger is to leave these secret believer, so they can support fellow and his family. The secret service believers in the Middle East Christians facing persecution. followed them everywhere. Jonathan, an Open Doors field without prayer and without He couldn’t find a job and the worker, says, “We have a lot of support. Jonathan explains, Every $90 can provide two regular harassment become online programs to reach new “When we don’t support the secret believers who’ve fled overwhelming. One night, they met believers. We give them pastoral Christian community in the to a neighbouring country with as a family and made the prayerful care, help them grow in faith and Middle East to grow in faith practical and spiritual support at decision to leave Iran. connect them to a community of and stand strong in the face of a Christian community centre. believers if possible.” persecution, many will fall back Today, Taher and his family are into their old faith. This is also a Every $100 could provide refugees in Turkey, but they hope COMMUNITY ONLINE hindrance in the maturing of the online training for ten secret to return someday if God opens church.” church leaders to develop their a door for them. Believers from He continues, “Community really is leadership skills, so they can a Muslim background across the the key word here. Having others “Most importantly we need our better disciple their churches. Middle East face persecution to share your faith with helps you supporters to not cease their not only from the police and the to endure persecution. If you know prayers. It helps secret believers PLEASE WRITE authorities, but their own families that there are people like you, if to know that people are praying and communities too. As a you know that there are people for them. Even though you don’t Use the power of your pen to write consequence, they hide their faith praying for you: then you can stand speak their language, you can’t a message of encouragement and suffer from severe isolation. strong.” put an arm around them: nobody to secret believers. See Open Doors aims to connect should face persecution alone.” page 12 for more details. believers online, as well as in During the Covid-19 restrictions, person where possible, to help the dangers of isolation became *Names changed for security reasons. 6 Open Doors Magazine - May | June 2021 www.opendoorsca.org 7 DELETE THE EVIDENCE As she found her seat, her name Be prepared to escape echoed through the airport. The Next, she began to delete all security service had just received a evidence of her Christian faith from warrant for her arrest. When the secret service raided Saghar’s church her phone. One of the female secret in Iran, she knew what to do. She’d been to service officers pushed on the toilet But it was too late. Saghar’s plane gatherings to prepare for persecution – but she door, trying to force it open. But took off safely. still relied on God to save her. Saghar firmly explained her rights, forcing the officer to back off. Four years later, in a country of refuge, Saghar still suffers As the interrogation continued, occasional flashbacks of the raid. A crowbar forced the door open, officers told Saghar she was under But the regular nightmares come but no voices were raised. The arrest. But she remembered what less often now.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • A Ranking of the Top 50 Countries Where Christians
    A RANKING OF THE TOP 50 COUNTRY 2017 SCORE 2016 COUNTRIES WHERE CHRISTIANS 1. North Korea ------ 92/100 -------■ ----- 92/100 2. Somalia ----------- 91/100 -------p ---- 87/100 FACE THE MOST SEVERE 3. Afghanistan ----- 89/100 -------p ---- 88/100 4. Pakistan ---------- 88/100 -------p ---- 87/100 PERSECUTION FOR THEIR FAITH. 5. Sudan -------------- 87/100 -------p ---- 84/100 6. Syria ---------------- 86/100 -------q ---- 87/100 Each year, Open Doors publishes the World Watch List 7. Iraq ----------------- 86/100 -------q ---- 89/100 to highlight the plight of persecuted Christians around 8. Iran ----------------- 85/100 -------p ---- 83/100 the world. The list represents believers in Jesus Christ 9. Yemen ------------- 85/100 -------p ---- 78/100 who are arrested, harassed, tortured — even killed — 10. Eritrea -------------- 82/100 -------q ---- 89/100 11. Libya ---------------- 78/100 -------q ---- 79/100 for their faith. 12. Nigeria ------------ 78/100 -------■ ----- 78/100 13. Maldives ---------- 76/100 -------■ ----- 76/100 For in-depth research, stories, prayer updates and 14. Saudi Arabia ------ 76/100 -------■ ----- 76/100 more for all 50 countries on the 2017 World Watch 15. India ---------------- 73/100 -------p ---- 68/100 List, visit ODUSA.org/WWL 16. Uzbekistan -------- 71/100 -------p ---- 70/100 4317. Vietnam ------------ 71/100 -------p ---- 66/100 18. Kenya --------------- 68/100 -------■ ----- 68/100 19. Turkmenistan ---- 66/100 -------■ ----- 66/100 20. Qatar --------------- 65/100 -------■ ----- 65/100 16 38 21. Egypt --------------- 65/100 -------p ---- 64/100 37 19 1 22. Ethiopia35 ------------ 64/100 -------q ---- 67/100 p 6 23. Palestinian Terr. --- 64/100 ------- ---- 62/100 29 24.3 Laos --------------------- 64/100 -------p ---- 58/100 39 7 8 25. Brunei --------------- 64/100 -------p ---- 61/100 23 27 26.
    [Show full text]
  • Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange
    2/18/2019 Survey Submitted Your responses can be found below. Email this Report Send to Printer Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange International Student Census Fall 2018 Please enter your UNITID and PIN found in the survey invitation email from [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]). If you did not receive this email, please contact [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) for your UNITID and PIN. Response UnitID 233949 Passcode (PIN) 6N13 Institutional Information on File: Response Institution Name Virginia Western Community College City Roanoke State VA https://www.iiefeedback.org/se/612502254E3C91D408D68236E10E9F0B05 1/125 2/18/2019 Survey Submitted Response Zip Code 24015 Please check: Response All information is correct Points of Contact Response Primary Contact First Name Carol Primary Contact Last Name Rowlett Primary Contact Email [email protected] Secondary Contact Email Tertiary Contact Email Please select one: Response All the information above is correct. Please enter any comments that you have about updating institutional information: Response https://www.iiefeedback.org/se/612502254E3C91D408D68236E10E9F0B05 2/125 2/18/2019 Survey Submitted Open Doors surveys all institutions by individual campuses, not by university systems or college districts. Please confirm that the data in the report applies to only 1 campus: a Response Yes a Response Total Enrolled International Students (excluding 287 OPT): Fall 2018 Total Students on Post-Completion OPT: Fall 2018 Response Total Enrolled International Students (excluding OPT): Fall 2018 Total Students on Post-Completion OPT: Fall 2018 Students Grand Total Response 287 a Response https://www.iiefeedback.org/se/612502254E3C91D408D68236E10E9F0B05 3/125 2/18/2019 Survey Submitted UNDERGRADUATE Response Associate's (both 1st and 2nd year; do not 178 break out as Freshmen/Sophomores) Freshman Sophomore Junior Senior Bachelor's, Unspecified GRADUATE Response Master's Doctoral Professional Graduate, Unspecified NON-DEGREE Response Non-Degrees (e.g.
    [Show full text]
  • Fast Facts” INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS in the U.S
    INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN THE U.S. A. NEW INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ENROLLMENT C. TOP PLACES OF ORIGIN of International Students, 2008/09 & 2009/10. New international student Year Total % Change • Students from the top five places comprise 52% of all international students. enrollment – students 2005/06 142,923 8.3 Rank Place of Origin 2008/09 2009/10 % of Total % Change enrolling for the first time 2006/07 157,178 10.0 WORLD TOTAL 671,616 690,923 100.0 2.9 at a U.S. institution in Fall 2007/08 173,121 10.1 2009 – increased 1.3% 2008/09 200,460 15.8 1 China 98,235 127,628 18.5 29.9 2009/10 202,970 1.3 2 India 103,260 104,897 15.2 1.6 over the previous year. 3 South Korea 75,065 72,153 10.4 -3.9 4 Canada 29,697 28,145 4.1 -5.2 B. INTERNATIONAL STUDENT TRENDS 5 Taiwan 28,065 26,685 3.9 -4.9 In 2009/10, the number of international students in the U.S. 6 Japan 29,264 24,842 3.6 -15.1 increased 2.9% over the previous year to 690,923 students. 7 Saudi Arabia 12,661 15,810 2.3 24.9 700,000 8 Mexico 14,850 13,450 1.9 -9.4 9 Vietnam 12,823 13,112 1.9 2.3 600,000 10 Turkey 12,148 12,397 1.8 2.0 11 Nepal 11,581 11,233 1.6 -3.0 500,000 12 Germany 9,679 9,548 1.4 -1.4 13 United Kingdom 8,701 8,861 1.3 1.8 400,000 14 Brazil 8,767 8,786 1.3 0.2 15 Thailand 8,736 8,531 1.2 -2.3 300,000 16 Hong Kong 8,329 8,034 1.2 -3.5 17 France 7,421 7,716 1.1 4.0 200,000 18 Indonesia 7,509 6,943 1.0 -7.5 19 Colombia 7,013 6,920 1.0 -1.3 100,000 20 Nigeria 6,256 6,568 1.0 5.0 21 Malaysia 5,942 6,190 0.9 4.2 0 22 Kenya 5,877 5,384 0.8 -8.4 23 Pakistan 5,298 5,222 0.8 -1.4 24 Venezuela 4,678 4,958 0.7 6.0 54/55 74/75 84/85 79/80 09/10 59/60 64/65 69/70 89/90 94/95 04/05 99/00 25 Russia 4,908 4,827 0.7 -1.7 Total Int'l % Total U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • 2020 Fast Facts
    2020 Fast Facts INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN THE UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL STUDENT TRENDS TOP PLACES OF ORIGIN OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS In 2019/20, the total number of international students in the United 2018/19 2019/20 % of total % change States declined by 1.8% to 1,075,496 students. WORLD TOTAL 1,095,299 1,075,496 100 -1.8 1 China 369,548 372,532 34.6 0.8 1,200,000 2 India 202,014 193,124 18.0 -4.4 1,000,000 3 South Korea 52,250 49,809 4.6 -4.7 4 Saudi Arabia 37,080 30,957 2.9 -16.5 800,000 5 Canada 26,122 25,992 2.4 -0.5 600,000 6 Vietnam 24,392 23,777 2.2 -2.5 7 Taiwan 23,369 23,724 2.2 1.5 400,000 8 Japan 18,105 17,554 1.6 -3.0 200,000 9 Brazil 16,059 16,671 1.6 3.8 0 10 Mexico 15,229 14,348 1.3 -5.8 1959/60 1969/70 1979/80 1989/90 1999/00 2009/10 2019/20 11 Nigeria 13,423 13,762 1.3 2.5 12 Nepal 13,229 12,730 1.2 -3.8 Total int’l % Total U.S. higher % 13 Iran 12,142 11,451 1.1 -5.7 students change education int’l 14 United Kingdom 11,146 10,756 1.0 -3.5 2009/10 690,923 2.9 20,428,000 3.4 15 Turkey 10,159 9,481 0.9 -6.7 2010/11 723,277 4.7 20,550,000 3.5 16 Germany 9,191 9,242 0.9 0.6 2011/12 764,495 5.7 20,625,000 3.7 17 Bangladesh 8,249 8,838 0.8 7.1 2012/13 819,644 7.2 21,253,000 3.9 18 France 8,716 8,471 0.8 -2.8 19 Kuwait 9,195 8,375 0.8 -8.9 2013/14 886,052 8.1 21,216,000 4.2 20 Indonesia 8,356 8,300 0.8 -0.7 2014/15 974,926 10.0 20,300,000 4.8 21 Spain 7,262 7,954 0.7 9.5 2015/16 1,043,839 7.1 20,264,000 5.2 22 Pakistan 7,957 7,939 0.7 -0.2 2016/17 1,078,822 3.4 20,185,000 5.3 23 Colombia 8,060 7,787 0.7 -3.4 2017/18 1,094,792 1.5 19,831,000 5.5 24 Malaysia 7,709 6,910 0.6 -10.4 25 Venezuela 7,760 6,855 0.6 -11.7 2018/19 1,095,299 0.05 19,828,000 5.5 2019/20 1,075,496 -1.8 19,720,000 5.5 TOP U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Open Doors Report Highlights Social Media Toolkit SUMMARY TIPS for POST
    Open Doors Report Highlights Social Media Toolkit SUMMARY TIPS FOR POST: In celebration of International Education Week 2016 (IEW2016), the Institute of International Education’s Open The 2015/16 Open Doors Report is a resource to highlight opportunities for international students to pursue study abroad Doors program will release their 2016 Open Doors Report. Supported by a grant from the Bureau of Educational programs in the United States, and direct traffic to Post programs that facilitate study in the United States. The content below and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, Open Doors is a comprehensive information resource on is packaged to be shared as is or edited to engage local audiences. How can posts customize the content? Check out the international students and scholars studying or teaching at higher education institutions in the United States, and tutorial video above and then use the links below to access editable graphic templates. Posts are also encouraged to use the U.S. students studying abroad for academic credit at their home colleges or universities. content to steer local audiences to EducationUSA and other educational resources on post websites and with local partner organizations. Public Affairs Sections should coordinate with Economic, Consular, and USAID sections to promote information about student visas and link this campaign to mission integrated country strategy goals related to education, economic HASHTAGS & HANDLES development, and travel to the United States. ECA on Facebook: ExchangeProgramsAtState Example for Facebook & Twitter ECA on Twitter: @ECAaState ECA on Instagram: @ExchangeOurWorld Evan Ryan, Assistant Secretary of ECA, US Dept. of State on Twitter: @ECA_AS Institute of International Education on Twitter: @IIEGlobal *Posts should include both #IEW2016 and #OpenDoorsReport if possible.
    [Show full text]
  • PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES: Country Dossier
    PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES: Country Dossier January 2019 Open Doors International / World WatCh ResearCh Unit January 2019 [email protected] www.opendoorsanalytiCal.org This version has been prepared by Open Doors Norway PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES – WWR Country Dossier – January 2019 World Watch List 2019 1 PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES – WWR Country Dossier – January 2019 PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES – Country Dossier (January 2019) No copyright - This report is the property of World Watch Research (WWR), the researCh department of Open Doors International. It may be used and distributed free of charge, but please always acknowledge WWR as the source. Contents World WatCh List 2019 .................................................................................................................. 1 PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES – Country Dossier (January 2019) ...................................................... 2 Contents .................................................................................................................................... 2 IntroduCtion .............................................................................................................................. 4 WWL 2019: Keys to understanding Palestinian Territories .......................................................... 5 IntroduCtion .............................................................................................................................. 5 Link for general baCkground information ................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Open Doors International
    Submission for the Report to the General Assembly on Eliminating Intolerance and Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief and the Achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 16 (SDG 16) Date of submission: 1 June 2020 Submitted by: Open Doors International is a non-governmental organisation that supports communities of Christians in more than 60 countries, where their fundamental rights are violated because of their faith. For additional information, please contact Gloria Leccese, Policy and Advocacy Officer, at [email protected] or +44 77313 94752 1. Minority faith adherents face discrimination, persecution and violence in too many places in the world. Whether coming directly from the state or from state’s inability or unwillingness to prevent violations of fundamental rights, states have a primary duty and responsibility to protect individuals with no distinction of any kind, including religion or belief. If UN member states strive to achieve SDG 16, ensuring the elimination of all forms of intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief should be a priority on their and the United Nations’ agenda. 2. The following is a non-exhaustive list of examples of policies and practices that, according to our research, cause and foster discrimination and violence against minority religions. Our research focuses on Christian communities affected by violations of fundamental rights due to their faith, however most of the laws and practices in this submission largely affect other minority religions existing in the countries mentioned. Constitutional provisions discriminating based on religion or belief 3. Discrimination based on religion or belief can derive directly from constitutional provisions: constitutions may recognise rights only for selected religious groups, for the majority religion, or only for those religious groups that were granted official registration.
    [Show full text]
  • Same Faith, Different Persecution
    SAME FAITH, DIFFERENT PERSECUTION WWR 2021 GSRP Report Authors: Eva Brown, Helene Fisher, Elizabeth Lane Miller and Rachel Morley Date: March 1, 2021 No copyright: This report may be used and distributed free of charge, but please attribute Open Doors International as the source of the information, facts and stories in this report. Key findings Around the world, the crisis surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic has made the vulnerable even more vulnerable. In 2020, gender-specific religious persecution (GSRP) rose to the highest level this annual study has recorded over the last three years, with women often experiencing higher potential for risk than men. The top Pressure Points for Christian men and women reflect established patterns of GSRP. Below are five specific findings from the WWR 2021 GSRP Report: The crisis surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbates existing vulnerabilities. Over the last year Pressure Points1, such as deadly violence, targeted seduction and physical attacks, increased. In domestic situations, pandemic lockdowns led to increased physical attacks on Christians isolated in their homes with hostile family members who disapprove of their faith. In Latin America and sub- Saharan Africa, criminal groups and militias exploited COVID-related vulnerabilities and intensified their criminal activity, persecuting Christians with increased impunity. GSRP occurs at a higher rate in countries experiencing conflict. For Christian men, the risk of abduction, death and forced conscription into military ranks or militias escalates sharply. Women are more likely to be trafficked, seduced or forced to flee the country, in addition to facing an increased chance of abduction. Reports of the Pressure Points “psychological violence” and “trafficking” increased for women.
    [Show full text]
  • EGYPT: Country Dossier
    EGYPT: Country Dossier December 2018 Open Doors International / World Watch Research Unit December 2018 [email protected] www.opendoorsanalytical.orG This version has been prepared by Open Doors Norway EGYPT – WWR Country Dossier – December 2018 World Watch List 2019 1 EGYPT – WWR Country Dossier – December 2018 EGYPT – Country Dossier (December 2018) No copyright - This report is the property of World Watch Research (WWR), the research department of Open Doors International. It may be used and distributed free of charge, but please always acknowledge WWR as the source. Contents World Watch List 2019 .................................................................................................................. 1 EGYPT – Country Dossier (December 2018) .................................................................................. 2 Contents .................................................................................................................................... 2 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 4 WWL 2019: Keys to understandinG EGypt ..................................................................................... 5 Link for general backGround information ................................................................................. 5 Recent country history .............................................................................................................. 5 The reliGious landscape ............................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Christian Minorities in Kazakhstan: As Quiet As the Grave
    Christian Minorities in Kazakhstan: As Quiet As the Grave According to the Open Doors international organisation, which serves persecuted Christians worldwide, Kazakstan, along with three other Central Asian states, has been listed as a country where it’s “most dangerous to follow Jesus”. Meanwhile, Astana positions the country as a “model of religious freedom and tolerance”. Follow us on LinkedIn The Open Doors international organisation, whose activity is to support persecuted Christians worldwide, has made a list of countries where it’s “most dangerous to follow Jesus”. In this list, Kazakhstan is ranked No. 34, near its neighbours – Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan. The second degree – “high level of persecution” – of three, according to the authors of the survey, is caused by “dictatorial paranoia” in all the four countries of Central Asia. The predominantly Muslim country has around 19 million people. However, representatives Christian Minorities in Kazakhstan: As Quiet As the Grave of neo-Christian movements encounter such problems as excessive state intervention into the life of church and private lives of the believers. In Kazakhstan, they have an official status of “non-traditional” religions along with some Islamic movements, Krishnaists, and followers of new cults (scientologists, Baha’is, Union of Holy Russia Founding Fathers, etc.). “No religious activities beyond state-run and state-controlled institutions are allowed. It is very common that members of Protestant churches are regarded as followers of an alien sect aiming to depose the government. Hence the need for them to be controlled and eradicated,” the research said. Members of Protestant churches are regarded as followers of an alien sect aiming to depose the government.
    [Show full text]
  • AZERBAIJAN: Country Dossier
    AZERBAIJAN: Country Dossier January 2019 Open Doors International / World Watch Research Unit January 2019 [email protected] www.opendoorsanalytical.org This version has been prepared by Open Doors Norway AZERBAIJAN – WWR Country Dossier – January 2019 World Watch List 2019 1 AZERBAIJAN – WWR Country Dossier – January 2019 AZERBAIJAN – Country Dossier (January 2019) No copyright - This report is the property of World Watch Research (WWR), the research department of Open Doors International. It may be used and distributed free of charge, but please always acknowledge WWR as the source. Contents World Watch List 2019 ............................................................................................................... 1 AZERBAIJAN – Country Dossier (January 2019) ....................................................................... 2 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 4 WWL 2019: Keys to understanding Azerbaijan ........................................................................ 5 Link for general background information ................................................................................. 5 Recent country history .............................................................................................................. 5 The religious landscape ............................................................................................................. 5 The political landscape .............................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Beating Isolation Social Media Throws a Lifeline to Secret Believers
    MAGAZINE | May 2020 Beating isolation Social media throws a lifeline to secret believers STAND WITH YOUR PERSECUTED FAMILY DURING THE COVID-19 CRISIS Open Doors is an international ministry Letter from Henrietta serving persecuted Christians and churches Connect with persecuted Christians worldwide. worldwide in your own home. Open Doors supplies Bibles, leadership training, literacy Thirst Around the world, thousands of Christians have been self- programmes, livelihood “It is not good to be alone” GENESIS 2:18 isolating for years – not because of a biological virus, but support and advocacy because their faith is seen as dangerous. Learn from their services. We also mobilise example with our range of free home resources for churches, the church in the UK and In recent weeks, we’ve all become used to the idea of ‘self- Ireland to serve Christians individuals and families. Featuring small group sessions, prayer isolation’ and what that can mean - on the one hand, protection, but living under religious resources, videos, children’s activities and more. on the other, potential loneliness. As an extrovert, I need people! I persecution. have been so blessed to have many people in my life who, over the Visit www.opendoorsuk.org and click on Church at Home If you have any questions years, have sown seeds of faith and encouraged and mentored me. and Children at Home or call 01993 460015. about the work of Open I need the warmth of fellowship to survive. Doors, or would like to Secret believers in North Africa and other countries on the reprint any of the articles Open Doors World Watch List, however, don’t have that luxury and in this magazine, please do during Ramadan they can feel particularly alone.
    [Show full text]