Islamic Saudi Arabia and communist North Korea are expected to be the world’s worst persecutors of Christians in 2008, a church persecution advocacy group predicted.
In both countries, Christianity is illegal and practice of the religion is strictly forbidden and results in severe punishments.
“In 2008 millions of Christians will face persecution,” said Andy Dipper, CEO of U.K.-based Release International, which released the survey of Christian persecution in the new year.
“They’re our family. If it was your husband, wife, daughter or son behind bars you’d move heaven and earth to help them,” he said. “So what better new year’s resolution than to take your stand with your brothers and sisters imprisoned for their faith?”
According to Release, most of the persecution of Christians in 2008 will take place in four “zones” – Islam, Communism, Hinduism and Buddhism. Harassment can originate from the government or its agents – such as the secret police, military, and judiciary – or from non-governmental movements, such as militant Islamic groups.
In the Islam zone, Saudi Arabia stands out not only for its extremely harsh laws against all religion other than the Wahhabi branch of Islam, but also because it spends millions each year disseminating Islamic teachings around the world.
These religious literatures have been accused by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) of spreading intolerance among young Muslims by teaching them to hate “infidels,” or non-believers.
Besides Saudi Arabia, moderate Muslim countries are also guilty of not providing enough protection for their Christian minorities.
In moderate countries such as Egypt and Turkey, Christians still suffer from kidnapping, forced conversion to Islam, imprisonment, destruction of churches, execution, rape of Christian girls, torture, and discrimination in education, employment, housing and legal system.
“Islamist militants often view Christians and non-Muslims as infidels, who must be converted, by force if necessary, or be killed or driven out of Islamic lands,” according to Release. “They believe it is their religious duty to impose Islamic Sharia law throughout their nation.”
Meanwhile, in communist regimes such as China, Cuba, and North Korea, believers face a more systemic form of persecution that involves house arrest, interrogation, fines, and imprisonment.
But in North Korea, which remains arguably the world’s worst persecutor of Christians, believers are imprisoned in special labor camps, brutally tortured and even publicly executed.
“Pressures include an absolute ban on owning a Bible, assembling to pray or to read the Scriptures, and evangelism – even of one’s own children,” said Tim Peters of Helping Hands Korea. Helping Hands, a partner of Release International, helps refugees escape North Korea.
Peters added, “Being discovered as a member of the underground church inside North Korea can result in one’s entire family being sent to a prison camp, and even torture and summary execution in extreme cases.”
In the Hindu zone, Christians face extremists who have lately increased attacks against not only believers in Jesus but also Muslims. This Hindu nationalism is linked to one of the country’s largest political parties, the Bharatiya Janata Party, which is associated with a number of militant Hindu groups.
Believers are also persecuted in Buddhist Burma and Sri Lanka where religious militants regard Christianity as a threat to national identity and unity.
“Persecution is part of the normal Christian life – just as Jesus warned. But Jesus also told us to love one another, sacrificially,” said Release International’s Dipper. “And the Bible encourages us to bear one another’s burdens.
“At Release we’ve found it an immense privilege to stand with these faithful, overcoming Christians in prayer and in providing practical support,” he said, “And we have so much to learn from them.”
Release International works to support persecuted Christians in some 30 countries through its global network. The organization supports Christians imprisoned for their faith and the family they left behind. It also helps church workers, pastors and evangelists by providing training, Bibles, Christian literature and broadcasts.
Other efforts include reconstructing Christian homes destroyed in riots and providing legal aid, shelter, medicine and welfare.
Release International is a member of UK organizations Global Connections, the Evangelical Alliance and the Micah Network.
Comments
I flagged myself, didnt like what i wrote.
As for Christianity, by Jesus' very words He said that all that live by the sword die by the sword, and Christianity primarily grew by persecution in its early period (before becoming the state religion). It is clear from the Bible that force is never to be used in showing others the message of Christ, and that we are not to discriminate based on religion. Islam shows no such view, in its extremist form. An example is the fact that Christianity is either illegal or highly discriminated in almost all Middle Eastern countries. I will not deny that many Muslims are peace loving, I know many Muslims and I can attest that they are very peace loving (granted most are American or studying abroad). However you do have massive demonstrations in Sudan when a teacher lets her Muslim students name a teddy bear Muhammad, which call for her death, with multitudes waving swords and calling for her execution. Oh yes but they are only angry because the west exploited them! Give me a break it is laughable to say something like that. On one point I can definitely agree with you, and that is the strikingly selfish and greedy actions of western governments, not just towards the ME but to nearly every poor region in the world. As a Christian I find it horrible. You need to study Christianity and realize that Christianity does not equal the west. This goes for your statement about settlers and Indians as well. God never gave Christians the ability to force heathens into the faith. Conquering lands is also unChristian. You have failed to show even one example of Christians persecuting Muslims. You have only showed false examples that were more for economic gain or strategic gain than anything else. If anything you have shown how secularism is bad. You shouldn't judge a world view by its abuse, and you should remember that by blaming Christianity (for something it is not at fault for) is neglecting the fact that people are being tortured and killed as we speak for what they believe, they need our help not our personal agendas.
Well Citsonga,
Why did you give the US attacking the Middle East as an example of Christians persecuting Muslims if you knew it wasn't true? What difference does it matter how certain Middle Easterners view this as Christians attacking them? That doesn't make it a correct example. Also, simply because terrorists come primarily if not exclusively from Muslim countries does not mean that America attacked the Middle East because they are Muslim, you are twisting information to fit your agenda. I resent your statement that I "vilify" Muslims, I do no such thing. I said that Islam, does allow these things to happen and that Christianity does not. This is not villifying Muslims in any way, it is only giving a straightforward interpretation of the life of Muhammad and the Quran and Hadith. Yes in the Medina period Muhammad spoke greatly about peace, but when he got more power his attitude clearly changed, as can be seen from his killing of Jews within the city, and also frequent raiding that took place. Also the idea that the surrounding areas had to be conquered by the sword if necessary. You say you have been studying Middle Eastern History for some time now, please do not try to pretend like this didn't happen.
Well chris, you missed it again. Of course I dont consider the US a Christian nation, thats why I put it in quotes. Millions of Americans unfortunately do consider the US a Christian nation, thats why their always trying to breakdown separation of church and state. The reason I stated "persecution of Muslims by Christian's" is exactly how Muslims of the ME now view the US as it now occupies two predominately Muslims countries, Afghanistan and Iraq, and threatens to attack another- Iran. I also see everyday how Americans vilify Muslims. You yourself do it in your posts. You, and most Americans consider Muslims to be violent. Just as there are violent and extremist Christians, the same applies to Muslims. Most Muslims are peace loving and want nothing more than to have a happy and peaceful life. Unfortunately, there are the extremist elements that create problems. I have to say though, that the extremists are largely the product of repressive regimes in the ME, that resulted in the growth of Islamic extremism. The US and the West are responsible for much of this as the US and Britain primarily, have impeded the development of democratic institutions in the ME and have instead, for the sake of expediency to protect OIL interests, supported these dictators such as the Shah of Iran, Saddam Hussein and the corrupt and autocratic royal family of Saudi Arabia.
I will say it again to you. You really need to study the dreadful history of the West in the ME , post Ottoman Empire primarily. If you have an objective mind, you would come around to agreeing with at least some of what I have stated.
"Christianity DOES NOT allow for bombing and killing of innocent people, nor does it allow for forcing others to believe in its way"
Isn't this what the Christian Europeans did to the indigenous peoples of the Americas as they conquered their lands and attemted to convert the 'heathens" to Christianity?
citsonga,
You go too far, America is no Christian nation, if there ever could be such a thing. Christianity DOES NOT allow for bombing and killing of innocent people, nor does it allow for forcing others to believe in its way. Islam does allow the killing of infidels and does at least permit these atrocities that are happening. Also, atheism is mum on this if not antagonistic. Atheism just says "whatever you want". You made a false accusation, and then you didnt even bring a solution in. Persecution of Muslims by Christians? Do you know what the word persecution even means? It means to oppress another for their faith. You said Christians persecute Muslims, and then said they attack them for their oil. Not a single thing you said was right. Secular motives if anything would be behind such an attack, and it would not be because the other people are Muslim either, not once did anyone even suggest that this war was because the Middle Eastern people were Muslim. Try thinking about what you are saying rather than just trying to point a finger at Christians for something.
Lets not forget persecution of Muslims by Christians. After all it is a "Christian" nation (US) that drops bombs on innocent people in Iraq and Afghanistan. It has been a Christian nation that has imposed its will on Middle Eastern Islamic countries for decades to secure its oil interests. Let us not forget the brutal Shah of Iran who was installed as the puppet dictator by and for the United States in order to get their oil, resulting in the persecution of its mainly Islamic population.
mcfbc: "Why do we continue to put up with abuses by Saudi Arabia."
Two Big reasons:
1. OIL
2 The US & Bush family business partners of Saudi's for decades.
The US and the bush family have been business partners with corrupt royal family for decades. The US govenment and business's sell the Saudi's weapon systems and protect them with the vast US war machine. They sell us oil.
So true, gavulav. One great resource for learning more and helping these brothers and sisters through prayer and in other ways is www.opendoors.org - which was smuggling Bibles into communist countries 'way back in the '50s and has never stopped ministering to God's people around the world, especially the persecuted church.
I would like to know more about the Release International. I want to know how I too can get more involved in helping any way that I can. They are my family, and no one messes with my family.
I think we are trying to take the Moral Highground, I.E. WWJD?
This is another praying situation for us. We seem so powerless in the face of so much persecution of our Christian brothers and sisters living in communist, muslim and buddhist countries. Our hope is in God. We just take everything to God in prayer. Look at what happened to the great Soviet Union - it was brought to its knees through the anguished cry and prayer of the saints. God will do it again to these countries that dare to trifle with the apple of God's eye!
Why do we continue to put up with abuses by Saudi Arabia. They can abuse Chrstians and train as many terrorists as they want. Just keep that oil flowing. That's the god we worship.