WWW.PERSECUTION.ORG JANUARY 2020 PERSECU ION PERSECU ION PERSECU ION PERSECU ION.ORG HOTSPOTS!INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN CONCERN ThePER ChurchSECU UnderION.ORG Attack INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN CONCERN PERSECU ION.ORG INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN CONCERN In This Issue FEATURE 14 | ICC in 2020 ICC is looking forward to an amazing year of caring and fighting for our persecuted family. FEATURE 16 | Turkey: An Ancient Grave Reopened Turkey’s military activities in the Middle East spark fears of a new genocide of Christians. FEATURE 18 | Hong Kong’s Slippery Slope to Slavery The wife of a prominent, missing Chris- tian lawyer in China shares how the state destroyed her family, and how it may destroy Hong Kong. FEATURE 20 | Fighting for Freedom Christian protestors in Hong Kong look at the harsh reality of life for Christians in China and fear for their own rights. FEATURE 14 22 | Algeria’s Catch-22 Algeria’s churches are facing imminent clo- sure, locked in an impossible legal paradox. FEATURE 24 | Afghanistan: Land of Wars or Land of Opportunity? ICC’s Regional Manager has a change in perspective following a trip to war-torn Afghanistan. FEATURE 26 | Weep with Those Who Weep “Weep with Those Who Weep” is a devotion in ICC’s 40-Day Challenge. Regular Features 16 18 3 Letter from the President A few words from ICC’s president, Jeff King, on hotspots of tension and persecution that the Church is facing. 4 World News A snapshot of the persecution that impacts our brothers and sisters daily, in every corner of the world. 8 Your Dollars at Work Learn how your gifts are providing comfort, relief, Bibles, education and vocational training to the persecuted. 12 West Watch ICC highlights issues involving 20 22 Christianity in the West. 2 PERSECU ION.ORG JANUARY 2020 INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN CONCERN PERSECU ION.ORG INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN CONCERN PERSECU ION.ORG INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN CONCERN And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Jeff King, President International Christian Concern - Ephesians 6:18 (NIV) e sure to read our Regional Manager for the Middle East’s In this issue, we also touch on Algeria and Hong Kong. In all Bpiece on Turkey, “An Ancient Grave Reopened.” of these areas, the Church faces significant threats and needs your prayer. It touches on the disastrous US move to let Turkey attack Christians in Syria and Iraq and how Christians in the region Finally, be sure to check out the spread on page 14 to see some feel about what’s happening. of what we are doing in 2020, including a new book and the launch of an ICC podcast. Most Western believers have no idea what Turkey did to its Christian citizens in the early 1900s. Thank you so much for your steadfast care for Jesus’s suffering body. It was a mass genocide that resulted in the deaths of 1.5 to 2 million Christians. A movie about this same tragedy, The They are beleaguered but noble, continually crushed but pure, Promise, was released in 2016 that starred Christian Bale. and above all—worthy of your time, treasure, and talent. Despite a compelling script, great acting, and a major star, the Please give generously and know that your funds will be used movie had little traction, efficiently, effectively, and ethically. Regardless, it’s a must-see for anyone wishing to understand Jeff King the subject or who cares about persecution. PERSECU ION.ORG INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN CONCERN 3 PERSECU ION.ORG INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN CONCERN PERSECU ION.ORG INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN CONCERN 4 6 5 1 News 2 3 Amir’s brother, Sunny Masih, told ICC, “One of the police- “The killer hit men reportedly abused Amir, stating, ‘These Chooras [an insult- Maged on his head ing term used against Christians in Pakistan] should not be trusted. I with a cudgel, and know how to deal with these infidels.’” injured him with a Amir’s father, Iqbal Masih, added, “My son was kidnapped knife too.” by police and they tor- tured him to death. We approached the police Christian Man Fatally Beaten in Egypt officers to recover Amir; however, they 2 | EGYPT On September 25, an Egyptian Christian did not extend any named Maged Fathi died in the hospital after he was support to us and only brutally beaten by a group of at least six Muslims. handed over Amir when When Maged saw one of the men harassing his son the he was almost dead.” day prior, he tried to defend the boy, but was quickly Thankfully, the ambushed. According to a neighbor who witnessed the Pakistani Christians Suffer Surge in authorities registered attack, “The killer hit Maged on his head with a cudgel, Police Abuse a First Information and injured him with a knife too.” Report against the offi- As the group was assaulting Maged, Christians began 1 | PAKISTAN Pakistan’s Christian community has suf- cers involved in this to gather in the street. The group of attackers then fered a concerning uptick in violence and discrimination incident and arrested directed their violence toward the bystanders, injuring at the hands of local police. Last fall, in a span of only the officer who over- five people and damaging several vehicles. two weeks, ICC documented four separate anti-Christian sees the police station. Although Maged was transported to the hospital incidents led by the authorities. Perhaps most disturbing However, at the time in Assiut Governorate, his injuries were so severe was a case in which the police brutally tortured a Christian of writing, three of that he passed away the next day. He leaves behind for four days, ultimately resulting in his death. the officers involved three sons and two daughters. Following the murder, In that case, 28-year-old Amir Masih was arrested on remain at large. the family reached out to the police and the primary August 28 after he was falsely accused of stealing from a Unless serious action attacker was apprehended. Muslim resident in PAF Colony in Lahore. According to is taken both in this In the aftermath of the attack, the atmosphere in the Amir’s family, the police then tortured him for four days, case and others similar, village was very tense and communication was limited. hoping to obtain a false confession. On September 2, the Christians in Pakistan Shortly after the attack, one local believer shared, “My authorities contacted Amir’s family, saying that he was not will remain vulnerable friend lives there, but he didn’t tell me more than that well and instructing them to seek medical care. However, to attacks at the hands because he is afraid. The situation in the village is very it was too late. With bruises and burns covering his body, of those who are sup- hard and everything is strict. Even he did not want to tell Amir died only a few hours later. posed to protect them. me more than these few words.” 4 PERSECU ION.ORG JANUARY 2020 INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN CONCERN PERSECU ION.ORG INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN CONCERN PERSECU ION.ORG INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN CONCERN Christians Distributing Bibles in India Harassed by Extremists 3 | INDIA On October 11, a group of radical Hindu nationalists began harassing Christians who were distributing New Testaments and Gospel tracts in India’s Chhattisgarh State. The nationalists handed the Christians over to the police, who then ordered them to stop distributing the lit- erature, even though they had obtained prior permission from the authorities. A pastor involved in the incident told ICC, “Even though we had permission to do outreach in seven villages, we had to wind up the work after [the] second village. The police told us that we could not continue. It is sad that the police followed the instruction of the radicals. They were supposed to give us protection and allow us to continue our peaceful work of distribution.” European Court Stops Deportation of Algerian Authorities Close Two of the Country’s Afghan Christian Largest Churches 4 | AFGHANISTAN The European Court of Human Rights has 5 | ALGERIA In mid-October, Algerian authorities closed two of the prevented the deportation of an Afghani Christian convert from nation’s largest churches. One of the churches, a 500-member church Switzerland. The court ruled that, due to the individual’s faith, they in Makouda, was closed on October 15, only one day after receiving a would face significant danger if forced to return to Afghanistan. notice about the impending closure. The same day, authorities closed Although religious freedom is technically protected according to the Protestant Church of the Full Gospel of Tizi-Ouzou, which is home Afghanistan’s constitution, Islam is recognized as the official religion to 1,000 members. Both of the affected churches are affiliated with and any laws that contradict Islamic beliefs are prohibited. As a result, l’Eglise Protestante d’Algerie (EPA), an organization established in those who convert away from Islam suffer the risk of death, life impris- 1974 to represent Algerian Christians before the government. A week onment, and confiscation of property. Similar consequences also await prior to the closures, the EPA organized peaceful protests to speak out those found guilty of blasphemy against Islam in Afghanistan. against unlawful church closures in Algeria. Chinese House Church Member Released from Prison 6 | CHINA On October 22, Gou Zhongcan from Early Rain Covenant Church was released after seven months in prison. Thankfully, upon his release, Gou appeared to be in good health apart from the deterioration of his vision.