PERSECU ION International Christian Concern | April 2014
MOROCCO
THE CHURCH UNDER PRESSURE
Moroccan Christians remember a time when they could practice their faith freely. But the military raids and secret police persecuting believers has only strengthened their faith. Read more on page 4
N OT E F RO M T H E P R E S I D E N T:
Take a look at these quotes from believers going through intense persecution (all from this issue). . . .“It’s been very hard, but spiritually it is the best time in my life. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. We don’t feel like we’re in prison anymore. The walls (are gone); we found freedom in Christ!” . . . Even though it was bad, it was wonderful. It was a wonderful time, a wonderful experience.” Do you hear it? In the midst of intense pain and suffering, they found the treasure that truly satisfies and it was buried right under their feet. As Westerners, we are insulated from so many of the problems the rest of the world goes through. Because of this lack of struggle, we are too self-sufficient. This is a great danger and I personally think it’s why Jesus warned us so sternly about “the deceitfulness of wealth.” Why is wealth deceitful? Because we don’t have to cling to God as tightly as the poor. Without this closeness, and awash in an empty and materialistic world, we live under intense anxiety and emptiness. Listen to the antidote:
Jeff King, President International Christian Concern
“Now I realize I have to cling to him to survive; I need Him even to breathe. I feel like I am tasting part of heaven. If this is what it takes for me to be desperate for you, to need you, then keep me broken.” The persecuted point us to the way home. Come with me and invest in their lives. Join arms with us and defend them. They are worthy of your time, treasure, and talent. As always, we will use your donations efficiently, effectively, and ethically. I promise!
MIDDLE EAST
MOROCCO
THE CHURCH UNDER PRESSURE
Moroccan Christians remember a time when they could practice their faith freely. But the military raids and secret police persecuting believers has only strengthened their faith.
G U I LT Y “Mohamed El Baladi, you are sentenced to two and a half years in prison and a fine of $600 [USD] for shaking the faith of a Muslim!” Mohamed El Baladi, a Moroccan Christian, was given this sentence on September 2, 2013 for talking to another Moroccan about his faith. The case was eventually appealed and on February 6, 2014, but the conviction was overturned and Mohamed was free to go. His case had a significant impact on a country that’s 99.4 percent Muslim. Mohamed’s conviction garnered attention both from Moroccan and international human rights groups and brought the subject of Christianity and Muslim conversion to the public’s attention. Prominent Moroccan media published numerous reports on the case and on Christianity in Morrocco. Following his acquittal, a newspaper published a lengthy interview titled, “The story of my conversion to Christianity, which led to a mental hospital and to prison.” Mohamed—who was imprisoned for speaking openly about his
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faith—now has the Moroccan media broadcasting his story across the country. They are sharing how he came to faith in Christ and the persecution he has faced in the seven years since he became a Christian. What appeared, at first, to be a blow to the Moroccan Church, turned out to work for the good—as God so often does (Romans 8:28). A WAT E R S H E D M O M E N T Mohamed’s case is not the first time that God has used oppression and persecution from the government to grow the church in Morocco. “In Morocco, the Church has had two (eras). Before 2010 we had more freedom, after 2010, it became more difficult-we’ve had a lot of oppression,” Youssef*, a Moroccan pastor told ICC. “From February 2010 until now, the government started to attack us using the army, the police, the secret police, by many kinds of authorities,” Youssef explained. In 2010, a meeting he was a part of was raided by 60+ members of the military, secret police, and intelligence services. The believers— including mothers with small children—were taken to the police station where they were interrogated and questioned for a grueling 24 hours. They were released, but the pressure would continue. “Everywhere I went I saw policemen. They wanted to show that they were (watching) us all the time, especially behind me,” Youssef said. “They tried to create family problems for church members. They tried to push the members of the congregation to accuse me that I am using money or bribes to convince them to become Christian. But no one accepted their plots. No one denied their faith. It was a wonderful time, a wonderful experience. Even though it was bad, it was wonderful,” Youssef said. *Name changed for security.
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MIDDLE EAST
The raid on Youssef’s meeting was just one of a number of serious incidents in 2010. One of the most prominent was the forced closing of the Village of Hope orphanage under charges of proselytism. A legal battle is still ongoing for rights to the orphanage, as well as for parents to be reunited with orphans who they were raising as their own. In total, between March and July of 2010, nearly 130 expatriate Christians were expelled from the country. The government’s crack down on Moroccan Christians and their expulsion of foreigners forced the Church to change. Since the crackdown, Christians have been forced to meet almost exclusively in Moroccan led house churches. “We don’t have the freedom to meet openly,” Youssef continued. “If we do meet, it is forbidden to meet with brothers or sisters from abroad. We are followed. It is not easy, especially for the leaders.” While this has increased the pressure and challenges for the local leadership, it is also creating a strong indigenous church that is not reliant on outside support. In the long run this may prove to be a great blessing from the Church, despite the challenges they are facing in the present. “We have seen some leaders who cut themselves off because they are afraid. There are some members who left the church, but we have seen many others who came to the Lord. It has been like Romans 8:28,” Youssef said.
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Two Christians (left) meet with two Muslim women (right) to pray and share Christ. Please continue to pray for strength and safety of believers who openly evangelize. You can help today! www.persecution.org
“The devil thinks these problems will destroy the Church,” Youssef said, “but, in fact, it aided the new members. There are more people who heard about Christianity, about Moroccan Christians, about Christianity in Morocco.” C H R I S T I A N I T Y I N M O R O C C O T O D AY The pressure on Christians in Morocco remains high. The feeling that the government is always watching is very real. The situation is made worse because Moroccan Christians lack any legal status. There isn’t a legal means for most churches to be officially registered. Morocco has not seen the same rise in religious extremism as in many parts of the Middle East and violent attacks on Christians are quite rare, but the government restrictions are very present. “The oppression on Christians is sometimes from families and the society,” Youssef said, “but the most important is from the government. It is from the government that wants to impose the religion of the state.” This is the challenge that Youssef, Mohamed, and the other Christians in Morocco have to face. They strive to be good citizens who love their country and yet, are true to their faith in God. When ICC asked Youssef what message he would give to the American church it was this: “First, we need from the American Church a lot of prayer. We need that God will work more and more here in our country. We need to pray for people to see more and more dreams and know Jesus, the real God. “Second, we need the Church in America...to act. The Church can push the American government, because the American government can push the Moroccan government to respect the Church here in Morocco, to give us our freedom, to respect our faith. “That is what we need —your prayers and your acts.”
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