Your insight into religious freedom
October 2021-January 2022
Also inside this issue:
Abductions in Nigeria
and more...
Seth, who escaped kidnappers on the night 140 children were abducted from Bethel Baptist High School, Kaduna.
Safety or school: An impossible choice
Feature: Nehemiah Christie's legacy In focus: The destruction of the Loc Hung Vegetable Garden in Vietnam
Nigeria Safety or school: An impossible choice
Safety or school: An impossible choice The shoes of children abducted from Bethel Baptist High School form a makeshift monument, as parents anxiously await news. CSW/Bosan Yakusak
Since 2020, there has been a dramatic rise across Nigeria in abductions for ransom, largely carried out by armed men of Fulani ethnicity, with mass kidnappings from schools occurring frequently in Kaduna, Katsina, Niger and Zamfara states in particular. And the situation is getting worse.
School abductions are becoming big business In some of the most infamous kidnapping cases, like that of the 279 Chibok girls in 2014, and Leah Sharibu in 2018, girls were taken by terrorist groups (Boko Haram and ISWAP) who are ideologically opposed to Western education. However, the motivation for the current attacks is to extract huge ransoms – often to purchase
sophisticated weaponry – and this represents a new danger on a different scale. Nigerian students are becoming commodities to be taken en masse and bartered. Christian-owned schools have been particularly targeted, with churches and families being driven further and further into poverty by the enormous ransom demands. However, the lack of effective government action has meant this crime - which is low risk and high return for the perpetrators - is now affecting every school, including Islamic ones. In Niger state on 29 May, 136 students were taken from Salihu Tanko Islamic school in Tegina. The families sold everything, including the school
‘I was sleeping, I don’t even know what happened, I just woke up and saw a gun on my chest. The man told me that I should just stand up and follow him.’ In the early hours of 5 July 2021, 13-year-old Seth was taken from his bed at Bethel Baptist High School and marched into the bush. In the confusion Seth managed to slip away from his abductors – but 135 other children were not so fortunate. They were forced to march for 17 hours to the armed gang’s camp, according to 13-year-old Emmanuel, one of 28 children released two weeks later after their parents had paid a significant ransom. They had been promised that all the children would be freed, but the abductors demanded more money. Seven children escaped, and 15 more were released after a further payment. At the time of writing 85 children remain in captivity.
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All images by CSW unless otherwise stated. Unless otherwise stated, Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973 1978 1984 2011 by Biblica, Inc. TM. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
"I was sleeping, I don’t even know what happened, I just woke up and saw a gun on my chest. The man told me that I should just stand up and follow him."
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Nigeria Safety or school: An impossible choice
Kidnapping for ransom is now a fastgrowing criminal enterprise, and is the latest of a series of unaddressed security challenges, which include Boko Haram in the north-west and militia violence in the centre and south.
Parents of students abducted from Bethel Baptist High School pray for their safe return, around shoes left behind as the children fled. CSW/Bosan Yakusak
If Nigeria is allowed to descend into permanent instability, the consequences will be catastrophic not only for the region and continent, but also for the international community, as it could cause an unprecedented refugee crisis while providing a haven for terrorist organisations.
How can we respond? We must urge the international community to challenge Nigeria’s leaders before it’s too late. On Thursday 28 October at 1pm we will protest outside the Nigerian High Commission in London – placing children’s shoes at the entrance, mirroring the left-behind shoes of abducted children fleeing their captors.
Join us in protest. Today. from which they were taken to raise the ransom. However, the man who delivered the ransom was himself taken, along with the money, and the kidnappers demanded more. The students were finally released in August.
An attack on a generation The future prospects of an entire generation in central and northern Nigeria are under threat, with parents left in the impossible position of having to choose between their children’s education and their safety.
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"[We] the Christian community in the north are facing a lot of troubles... We see kidnappings going on, people being killed in their sleep... We didn’t know it could come to this point."
Find out how to join us at csw.org.uk/events
Seth's father
Father of student Seth
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Feature: Nehemiah Christie Guided by his Christian faith, Nehemiah had a profound conviction to advocate on behalf of religious minorities.
What was he like as a person?
What loving our neighbour really means In June our friend and colleague Nehemiah Christie, a Christian religious leader and human rights defender based in Tamil Nadu, India, passed away from COVIDrelated illness. His passing is an enormous loss, especially to the cause of freedom of religion or belief for all. As Nehemiah told us once about his work for people of all religions and beliefs: ‘Faith or no faith, they are human beings. If you are a human being you are born with human rights.’
e’re humbled by Nehemiah’s courage, faith and determination to W stand up for the rights of others. We spoke to Patrick, CSW’s Asia Team Leader, who knew Nehemiah personally.
Tell us a bit about
Nehemiah’s life and work.
Nehemiah married Deepika in June 2008 and they have two daughters, Elena (12) and Neginah (5). He was the pastor of a church called Calvary Christian Tamil Church in Erode, in the state of Tamil Nadu. He was also a key contact of CSW, providing verification of incidents in Tamil Nadu and facilitating meetings for our in-country research. 6
Although I only knew him for four years, it felt like much longer. In that short time, I will always remember him as a brave person who was unafraid to speak his mind. And it was always done with the aim to advocate for freedom of religion or belief. He was remarkably savvy when engaging
"Nehemiah selflessly devoted his life to promoting the rights of others and was a champion of religious freedom. We were honoured to work alongside him as a colleague and treasured friend. We give thanks for all that he achieved and the countless lives he touched through his unwavering commitment to justice, freedom and human rights." Mervyn Thomas, Founder President
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Feature: Nehemiah Christie
"Nehemiah had been a partner of CSW for years and was an incredible human rights defender who always fought for justice for minority groups in Tamil Nadu, India. He lived bravely and sacrificially and he loved Jesus." Scot Bower, CEO
with the authorities, particularly the police, no matter how high in rank they were. I will also remember him for his unreserved commitment to the cause of freedom of religion or belief. He would often drop whatever he was doing, even at the expense of sacrificing family moments, to attend to a distress call. I can attest to this as I’ve been with him in such moments. He would often refer to me as abang (‘big brother’ in the Malay language), which I will deeply miss.
How did Nehemiah’s faith motivate him to work for religious freedom for all? In an interview with Nehemiah last year, he spoke of a pivotal moment when his relative called him for assistance because a pastor had been attacked and was bleeding: ‘...a mob came in [and] hit the pastor, women, children. They broke everything, just because they were praying. That broke my heart. I called the police and told them to take action and catch the perpetrators – otherwise they will be emboldened to do it again.’
Our manifesto #2
We believe no one should suffer discrimination, harassment or persecution because of their religion, belief or non-belief. 8
Nehemiah told us that he believed he’d been called to be a ‘real Nehemiah...building the walls of Jerusalem to protect the churches and the victims in India’.
What do you think will be Nehemiah’s legacy for freedom of religion or belief in India?
We asked him why as a Christian he felt it was important to speak up for all who are facing injustice because of their religion or belief, and he told us: ‘They have [the] right to worship their belief...As Christians, when we see Muslims being attacked and killed, that worries us a lot. We must protect our brothers – not just the Christians, but [people of] other faiths too.’
Nehemiah did not have a big purse nor was he a famed human rights defender, but he would roll up his sleeves and get the job done. I am convinced that he positively impacted more lives than we will ever really know. After his passing, his brother and father informed me how astonished they were at the number of messages and calls from people all over Tamil Nadu whom he had helped.
He told us, ‘Many ask me, “Nehemiah, why do you support these people?,” but I say to them, “Is this not their human right? To practise their faith?” The narrative that is used by those who support Hindu supremacy is that [human rights defenders] work against India’s interests. But this is not true. I am proud that my country has such a great constitution, which protects fundamental freedoms.’
I’m glad that we are honouring him through this piece. I strongly believe that the legacy which he leaves behind is that many have been empowered to speak up for themselves.
Watch
our interview with Nehemiah for the Faith in Extraordinary Times series at csw.org.uk/fietnehemiah 9
In focus: Vietnam
Around the world: Latest news
Latest news updates Myanmar/Burma
EU
A Catholic church attacked in Kayan Thar Yar village in Kayah (Karenni) State. Photo: Myanmar Ministry of International Cooperation
Since the army seized power in February, Myanmar’s humanitarian crisis has worsened dramatically. On 24 May, four civilians were killed and eight more were injured in an attack by the Myanmar army on a Catholic church in Kayah State. It has since been estimated that 70,000 civilians have been displaced across Kayah state and its borders alone.
On 5 May the European Union appointed Christos Stylianides as the new Special Envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion or belief outside the EU. The role is an important tool in the EU’s diplomatic arsenal, which involves making regular country visits to engage with governments on how they can best uphold and promote the right to freedom of religion or belief.
On 18 June the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution condemning the army’s use of lethal force. This was a welcome development, but the crisis is not over yet, and we continue to call for a global arms embargo against the military.
Historically, the Special Envoy has also spoken out on behalf of individuals who have faced violations of this right, such as Asia Bibi, who spent years on death row in Pakistan on unfounded charges of blasphemy. We look forward to working with Mr Stylianides in his new role.
‘Even though I was scared, I didn’t comply’ The people of Loc Hung Vegetable Garden O n 8 January 2019, over 1,000 officers and military forces attacked the mainly Catholic community of Loc Hung Vegetable Garden in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Thousands of residents were forcibly evicted and over 500 homes were destroyed. Our contact tells us that the former residents are struggling in the current lockdown, which has exacerbated their economic challenges. The church is reportedly supplying food to people who are in direst need, but more than two years on, justice has still not been done.
Egypt Nabil Habashi Salama, a 62-year-old Coptic Christian, was killed by Islamic State terrorists on 18 April. A video clip of Mr Salama’s execution was released on IS Nabil Habashi Salama media, warning Christians that they will be targeted for supporting the Egyptian army and state. Christians in Egypt continue to face discrimination, as churches and church buildings require government approval under a law which does not apply to mosques. However, in a positive development, 76 churches were legalised in April, bringing the total up to 1,958. 10
Loc Hung Vegetable Garden before officers and military forces destroyed it and the residents' homes.
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In focus: Vietnam
‘I went home and everything was gone’
‘They let me go at 2am the next day. I went home and everything was gone – my house, my garden...’ ‘I think they targeted me because of my support for human rights activists like Nguyen Bac Truyen.’ Cao Ha Truc, one of the Loc Hung residents, is searching for a reason why he was particularly targeted. He continues: ‘As Catholics, the [Loc Hung] residents cannot stand by and not speak up about injustice...They have also long supported former prisoners of conscience and human rights activists who were persecuted.’ The Vietnamese government has a history of cracking down on supporters of activists like Truyen - a Hoa Hao Buddhist who has provided pro bono legal assistance to victims of land grabs, like the Loc Hung residents, as well as persecuted religious communities. 12
Truyen is currently serving an 11year prison sentence on a charge of ‘carrying out activities aimed at overthrowing the government’.
‘I went home and everything was gone’ ‘I was sleeping when I heard a lot of noise from police cars...’ Cao Ha Truc explains. ‘I went outside to look around and see what was happening, and as soon as I stepped out someone put a plastic bag over my head and abducted me… ‘They let me go at 2am the next day. I went home and everything was gone – my house, my garden...’
The community was scattered to various places, forced to find new accommodation away from the land they’d lived on for decades. Many adults were severely traumatised, while the forced move made it harder for the children to attend school - denying them their right to an education. Tran Minh-Thi, a teacher, told us that the community had tried to go back and hold a Christmas service on the land in 2019, but they were attacked by police and several people were injured. ‘Afterwards we returned to the land to put up a small nativity scene. The police attacked us again, damaging the nativity scene and breaking the statues of Joseph and Mary. This was very upsetting – the statues meant so much to us and we saw their destruction with our own eyes.’
‘Even though I was scared, I didn’t comply’ Tuan1 is 13 years old. School officials told him that a new school was going to be built on the land of Loc Hung Vegetable Garden, and that if he knew of anyone who objected, he should report them to the authorities. Essentially, as he says, ‘they asked me to report on my own parents.’ 1
Name changed for security reasons
Tuan told us, ‘I handed back the paper to the official and said I didn’t want to read it. I turned round and left: even though I was scared, I didn’t comply.’ Tuan’s courage is inspiring, but the community is still waiting for justice. Cao Ha Truc said, ‘Anything that can help to bring awareness, shine a spotlight on the situation of Loc Hung, [is good, and] hopefully [it will be] enough that the authorities will want to sit down and come up with some sort of compromise because [right now] it’s just so painful and dreadful for everyone involved.’
Pray
for the community of Loc Hung Vegetable Garden using p.4 of the Prayer Diary.
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On the frontlines: Pakistan We praise God for faithfully establishing the victory through years of prayer and advocacy, but we know that one couple’s release is not enough.
The weaponisation of blasphemy
Prayers answered in Pakistan after seven years Wouldn’t it be amazing if God answered all our prayers as soon as we asked them? In Acts 16, we read that God freed Paul and Silas immediately as they were singing and praying in their prison cell. We know that God can release prisoners in an instant, but our experience often looks quite different. For years, CSW supporters like you were faithfully praying for a Christian couple in Pakistan who’d been on death row since 2014. But it wasn’t until June 2021 that justice finally broke through. Shafqat Emmanuel and Shagufta Kausar lived in Punjab with their four children until 2013, when they were accused of sending text messages which disrespected Islam’s Prophet Mohammad. Despite a lack of evidence – including their illiteracy – the Christian couple was convicted under Pakistan’s notorious blasphemy laws in 2014.
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Shafqat and Shagufta’s appeals were postponed again and again until, finally, their death sentences were overturned on 3 June 2021. They had spent seven years on death row. Their lawyer, Saif ul-Malook, believes that international pressure played a vital role in their acquittal – particularly a resolution passed by the European Parliament in April 2021.
The laws as they stand criminalise insults against Islam, and they are highly problematic. Not only is the definition of blasphemy incredibly vague, but the standard of evidence required to secure a conviction is low, as this case shows. The legislation is therefore open to exploitation and many live in fear of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws being weaponised against them during a dispute. Our Founder President, Mervyn Thomas, stresses that once an accusation is made, the damage is done: ‘It’s a death sentence for life, even if subsequently the actual death sentence is removed.’ No-one convicted of blasphemy has ever been executed in Pakistan, but over 79 have been murdered since 1990, according to Al Jazeera. Even when a verdict is overturned, the accused remains guilty in the eyes of the people. It’s not just Christians who are at risk. More Muslims are targeted with blasphemy than any other faith group, as the laws are regularly misused to avenge petty disagreements and
business rivalries. Members of the Ahmadi community – an Islamic sect which is not recognised as one and suffers many violations – are often accused of blasphemy. Saif ul-Malook, a devout Muslim, received death threats after representing Shafqat and Shagufta in court, as extremist groups consider him to have collaborated with blasphemers.
The bigger picture While we celebrate one couple’s freedom, we recognise the ongoing need to amend or repeal this controversial legislation. We may also be wondering: why didn’t God bring justice sooner? Nowadays we’re used to having instant access to almost anything, so it can be frustrating when our prayers aren’t immediately answered. But God is always working for justice, and the journey to freedom of religion or belief for all is a marathon, not a sprint. That’s why we’re so grateful to our supporters who regularly give and faithfully pray. Together, we can keep pursuing justice for all those who are still waiting for their breakthrough.
We believe God uses the power of prayer to bring change. Over
4,000 people receive our weekly prayer email – and you can join them too! Sign up and start praying for justice: csw.org.uk/prayer 15
Perspectives: The missing
Meeting the loved ones left behind
When someone suddenly disappears, it can devastate their family in every sense. Suspended between grief and hope, their loved ones cling to what little information they can gather themselves, while those responsible often refuse to admit any involvement. This is why – of all the cases our joint Head of Advocacy, Anna-Lee Stangl, has worked on over the last 20 years – nothing has stuck with her like cases of forced disappearance. Here, Anna-Lee describes what it’s like to meet the loved ones left behind.
Adalgiza and Donatilda
What do you mean by ‘missing’? It’s often more complicated than simply forcing someone to disappear against their will. At CSW, we’re usually dealing with disappearances carried out by a government or an illegal armed group, such as Boko Haram in Nigeria.
In 2007 in Peru, I met two women whose husbands had been taken by the military or police during Peru’s internal conflict.
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Government agents can go to great lengths to disguise their involvement. For example, they often use unmarked cars, masked officers, or conduct raids at midnight – all of which leaves the victim’s families with no names, no witnesses, and no evidence that their loved one was ever abducted. Even if they’re sure that the authorities are responsible, how can they possibly prove it?
What is the impact on those who are left behind? It’s without a doubt a form of emotional torture that can impact generations. Enforced disappearance
can trigger mental health issues for families and loved ones as they try to navigate – sometimes for the rest of their lives – the mental and emotional space of never knowing. Some spend all they have trying to uncover the truth, so it can be financially destructive, too.
Tell us about some of the people you’ve met. In 2007 in Peru, I met two women whose husbands had been taken by the military or police during Peru’s internal conflict. The men hadn’t been arrested or charged with anything; they were taken by force and just disappeared. I remember how each woman held folders filled with information they’d gathered in trying to find out what had happened. As they shared their stories, I noticed how they clung to their folders as if they were the most precious things in the world. Those folders were like the last pieces they had of their husbands. 17
"I think of Susanna Koh and her children, who are traumatised since their father, Pastor Raymond Koh, was abducted from a street in Malaysia in 2017. Yet Susanna explained how she has been uplifted by the thousands of prayers and messages of support she’s received."
More than 60,000 people were killed or disappeared in Peru during its internal conflict, and many of them are still waiting for answers.
It must be incredibly tough to process their absence while still pursuing the truth. How do people persevere? People respond in very different ways to the trauma of the disappearance of a loved one and it is important to recognise that there is no one right way to react. They may draw the strength to persevere from many different places, including their faith, their love for the missing person and also from the support of others around them.
Susannna Koh and her children have been seeking answers since her husband and their father, Pastor Raymond Koh, was abducted on the street in Malaysia in 2017. Susanna has shared how the thousands of prayers and messages of support that she has received since then uplift her. Above all, she thanks God for keeping her head above the waves, helping her rise above the most difficult circumstances like an eagle over a storm:
"We will not faint or grow weary because we’re fixing our eyes on God."
Pray, give or campaign. Today. You can help support people like Susanna through praying, giving and campaigning. ‘We don’t want people to forget.We want them to remember and to continue to pray.’ – Susanna Koh Find out more at csw.org.uk/missing
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Your stories: A donation to CSW can make a real impact CSW's work is made possible through the efforts of so many different people. Everyone - whether staff, supporters or others - has a part to play, with God directing and blessing our efforts. CSW supporter Andrew Saul explains what inspires him to give to CSW and why he continues to play his part, through his giving, in working towards a world where everyone is free to believe. How did you come to hear about CSW’s work? I first heard about CSW from Stuart Windsor [CSW’s late Special Ambassador] whom I met through us both being members of the congregation at St Mary's East Molesey. Everyone who knew Stuart will recall the infectious passion he had for CSW and its work. How would you describe CSW to someone new to our work? A highly effective charity which speaks up for and stands alongside those millions of people in so many countries who are denied freedom of religion or belief. The quality, depth and professionalism of its research and advocacy is hugely impressive, which is what makes it in such good standing with the UN, many governments and the media. What inspired you to make that first gift to CSW? A phrase often used in relation to CSW is that it punches well above its weight. We all know there are many worthwhile charities but I felt that a donation to CSW could make a real impact. I wanted to show some solidarity with those brave people who stand up for their beliefs whatever the cost, and those who represent them.
What encourages you to keep giving? Are there particular people that inspire your ongoing support? Sadly, there are still so many examples of fellow Christians and others persecuted for their religion or beliefs. As long as that continues to be the case there will always be the need for CSW. There are so many people who have been immensely brave standing up for their faith and who are such an inspiration. If I had to pick a couple of examples, I would select Leah Sharibu and Helen Berhane. What would you say to someone who was considering making a gift ? Please do! I have been fortunate enough to visit the team and their commitment, skill and passion advocating for the voiceless deserve our support. Further, CSW is not a big charity so all financial help makes a meaningful difference.
Please donate
Visit csw.org.uk/donate to set up a regular gift or to make a one-off donation. Thank you.
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We believe we can all play a part in campaigning for freedom of religion or belief. CSW is a human rights organisation advocating for freedom of religion or belief. As Christians we stand with everyone facing injustice because of their religion or belief. T +44 (0)20 8329 0010 @CSW_UK /CSWUK csw.org.uk
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