ICC's Persecution Newsletter: July 2013

PERSECU ION International Christian Concern | July 2013

EGYPTIAN MOSQUE BECOMES a HOUSE of TORTURE

Egypt’s Rising Persecution Under the Brotherhood’s Islamist Rule P A G E 5

YO U H O L D T H E K E Y NOW SET THE CAPTIVES FREE

EQUIPPING BLASPHEMY VICTIMS IN PAKISTAN Years have passed since he last saw his family. Younis suffered far too long on “death row” in a Pakistani jail on false charges of blasphemy. But thanks to your generosity and support, ICC worked on Younis and his family’s behalf with advocacy and family support. Younis is now free.

He will once again embrace his wife and children with a renewed joy and passion.

Tell them they are not forgotten.

Unfortunately there are many others in the same position.

Will you tell them that they are not forgotten? Each special gift to ICC this month will go to support the victims and families of injust blasphemy charges.

H O W YO U C A N H E L P Blasphemy laws are perhaps the greatest threat to Christianity in Pakistan today. While the Pakistani government claims that blasphemy laws seek religious harmony through uniformity, in practice blasphemy laws provide cover for personal vendettas against Christians and embolden extremists to commit violent acts against perceived blasphemers.

ICC recently met with 20 Christian families in Pakistan whose loved ones are in prison on blasphemy charges. Today, we have the incredible opportunity to radically change their lives with holistic support: bringing awareness to their plight, providing assistance to their families through relocation and sustainable business projects, and advocating on their behalf.

You hold the key to releasing these prisoners. Will you help us set the captives free? Know that your gifts will be used prayerfully, efficiently, and effectively. I promise!

JEFF KING, President

OPTIONS FOR HELPING $120 provides one bed frame and mattress $420 provides six months of rent for a home $2,500 provides an entire relocation or sustainable business for a persecuted Christian family in Pakistan

D O N AT E T O D AY !

B Y M A I L complete the enclosed card B Y P H O N E call 800-422-5441 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. EST O N L I N E visit www.persecution.org. Designate your gift to “Where Most Needed,” and specify “Blasphemy Victims” in the comment box.

IN THIS ISSUE

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Egyptian Mosque Becomes a House of Torture Egypt’s increasing persecution under Islamist rule brings a terrifying new reality to Egypt’s Christians.

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Persecution that Cuts Deep ICC investigates persecution and perserverance of one brave woman in Central Asia.

For Christ I Am Willing to Die 13

‘For Christ, I Am Willing to Die’ Hunted Christian converts look to Jesus after near-fatal shooting.

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Your Dollars at Work Read how your donations are bringing joy to children orphaned by persecution.

MIDDLE EAST

EGYPTIAN MOSQUE BECOMES a HOUSE of TORTURE

EGYPT’S RISING PERSECUTION UNDER THE BROTHERHOOD’S ISL AMIST RULE B Y A I D A N C L AY

While on his way to a protest in suburban Cairo, Amir Ayad was abruptly stopped by a group of civilians who were checking vehicles for weapons.

“I mistakenly thought they were police,” Amir told ICC. “When they saw my ID card they found out that I was a Christian, they hit me on the head from behind and I lost consciousness. I woke up to find myself lying down on the floor of Belal Ibn Rabah mosque in Al-Moqattam.”

The mosque where Amir found himself had been transformed into a torture facility. “Inside the mosque I was tortured, naked, my legs were tied, and my hands were tied behind my waist,” he explained. “They came with thick wooden sticks and metal rods and started to hit my legs and arms in order to break my bones.”

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The torturers were Muslim Brotherhood sympathizers who converted the mosque in order to intimidate protestors who disagreed with the Brotherhood’s policies. Wagih Yacoub, a Coptic rights activist and friend of Amir’s, said the facility used methods of torture that would be too sophisticated for an unorganized group of criminals to fabricate.

“They were very well organized,” said Wagih. “They had stations and one where they made people take off their clothes to search them. They also relied on cell phone lights so no one could recognize their faces. They put [the victims’] hands behind their backs and tied up their legs. They lifted their victims’ legs up onto a chair and then they beat them with sticks badly all over their body – on their legs, on their hands, on their back, and on their head.”

THANKFUL TO BE ALIVE When new people were brought to the facility, Amir overheard one man tell another, “We have newcomers, but you need to go warm up by hitting the Christian dog in there first.” Six hours after his abduction, however, Amir finally found an opportunity to escape.

WE HAVE NEW [VICTIMS], BUT YOU NEED TO GO WARM UP BY HITTING THE CHRISTIAN DOG IN THERE FIRST. -ONE OF AMIR’S CAPTORS

“The last 20 minutes there was a debate between two groups of people who were torturing us because they had different opinions,” Amir said. “The first was to kill me and the second was to smash my bones and to [cover] my body with scars to be an example to others who decide to protest against the Muslim Brotherhood.

“At the end I was in the room with only two men who were torturing us,” Amir continued. “While they were busy I decided to jump out the window.

I crawled for around an hour until I reached some people. Then I lost consciousness and I woke up to find myself at El-Hilal hospital in Cairo.”

Mosque officials later claimed that they no idea the mosque had been used

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MIDDLE EAST

to torture people. “[We] deeply regret what has happened and apologize to the people of Moqattam,” officials said in a statement. “[We] had lost control over the mosque at the time.”

Though Amir reported the incident to local police, he doubts that any action will be taken. Even so, Amir is grateful to be alive. “After beatings, abuse, and electric shock, it’s a miracle that I’m not dead,” he said.

PERSECUTION ESCALATES Shaul Gabbay, professor of international studies at the University of Denver, told Fox News that the situation for Christians in Egypt is bound to get worse. “This has been a longstanding conflict, but now that the Muslim Brotherhood is in power, it is moving forward to implement its ideology—which is that Christians are supposed to become Muslims,” he said.

Two weeks after Amir was tortured, hundreds of Christians and Amir, before the attack. sympathetic Muslims gathered outside a funeral procession held at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Abbassia, Cairo on April 7 to denounce the Muslim Brotherhood for failing to protect Christians and to call on President Muhammad Morsi to step down from power. “With our blood and our soul we will sacrifice ourselves for the cross,” chanted protestors.

But during the demonstration, Christians were again attacked, this time

by Muslim rioters who threw Molotov cocktails and tear gas at Christian mourners attending a funeral inside the cathedral. Two Christians were killed and several dozen were injured.

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Though anti-Christian violence has escalated significantly following Egypt’s 2011 revolution, the assault on the cathedral was unprecedented in that it was the first time the head of the Coptic Church was directly attacked. “The church has been a national symbol for 2,000 years. It has not been subjected to anything like this even during the darkest ages,” said Coptic Pope Tawadros II.

WE ARE PASSING THROUGH A DARK TUNNEL OF VIOLENCE...

BUT WE ARE COMMITTED TO THE LOVE THAT NEVER FAILS. WE ARE HARD PRESSED ON EVERY SIDE, YET NOT CRUSHED. -BISHOP THOMAS, COPTIC CHURCH Since Egypt’s revolution, more than 80 Christians have been killed and several churches have been de- Amir, after the attack. stroyed in Egypt, prompting thou- Photo credit: MidEast Christian News sands of Christians to seek immigration and leave their homeland permanently. The revolution, which hoped to instill democratic change and greater freedoms, has instead given unprecedented freedoms to Islamists—with the Muslim Brotherhood at the forefront—to impose a radical Islamic agenda on Egyptian society.

“We are passing through a dark tunnel of violence, feeling grief of death and injustice...” said Bishop Thomas of the Coptic Church. “But we are committed to the love that never fails. We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed.”

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CENTRAL ASIA

PER S CU ECU TS TIO DE EP N TH

AT

Living in a town known for murdering Christians, Yaida and her family face persecution as they attempt to share Christ with their neighbors through hair-cutting.

BY CO R E Y B A I L E Y

Yaida

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YAIDA

THEY HATE CHRISTIANS. IT IS VERY LONELY TO BE A CHRISTIAN HERE.

stood back, shears in hand, as she watched her client warily eye her while sweeping up every last hair that had fallen to the ground. It didn’t seem to matter that the village had allowed Yaida to open a hair salon; the locals still think Christians are evil and believe that Yaida will use their shorn hair in a spell to force them to convert to Christianity.

-YAIDA

“They hate Christians,” Yaida told ICC in an interview. “It is very lonely to be a Christian here.”

Yaida and her family are never invited to village events. In a communal society, this is especially difficult and isolating. However, it goes beyond loneliness, extending into hardship as shopowners refuse to sell food and goods to her family. She must travel over 12 miles to get groceries, something that is quite a challenge when even the taxi drivers refuse to accommodate her because of her Christian faith.

REJECTED BY ONE FATHER, REDEEMED BY ANOTHER Yaida’s journey is an inspiring one. One of six children, she spent much of her life caring for her siblings and her mother. Angry that her frequently drunk father did nothing to help the family, Yaida once stood up to him, and was promptly disowned by him and kicked out of the house.

Rejected and alone, Yaida decided that ending her life was her only option.

She sobbed with despair as she swallowed handfulls of pills. Thankfully, someone discovered her and got her to the hospital in time to save her life.

However, pumping her stomach did not heal her soul. Empty and depressed, she moved to a big city in central Asia. Day after day, Yaida drifted with little hope in her heart, rejected and alone in a huge city, far from home. As she searched for a place to live, she silently said to the unknown, “God, if you are real—find me a place to live. I am so alone. If you make You can help today! 800-ICC-5441

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CENTRAL ASIA

it so I am not alone, I will [follow] you forever.”

Not long after her prayer, Yaida heard about a church with people who believed in a God named Jesus. She heard that the church helped people who had “pain in their hearts.” As she sat in the Baptist church, believers shared with her about her sin and God’s extravagant love. Yaida realized that Jesus died for her, and that Jesus wanted her! Even if no one else wanted her, Jesus wanted her! She was not alone after all.

An hour after arriving at the church she repented of her sin and gave her life to Jesus. Yaida shared the Gospel with her entire family. They all gave their lives to the Lord, including her father, who became a believer on his deathbed. “When I was rejected by my Father, I found Jesus. At the end of his days, Jesus found my Father,” she told me through tears.

BEHEADED FOR HIS FAITH Yaida later met and married a Christian man. Her father-in-law was the only Christian in his village. He was very bold and shared about the love of Jesus freely. The villagers were enraged because he had once been a devout Muslim. Feeling that he betrayed his religion and his people too, they gathered together and beheaded him on his front porch.

Yaida and her family, bound by a culture which required them to move back to the village of their deceased, came to bury their father and planned to stay. The villagers would not allow them to bury a Christian in the village. “Deny Christ, and then you can bury your Father here,” they said.

Banning Christians from burying their dead is a common form of religious persecution in central Asia. It took seven days of pleading and praying, but finally they were able to find a place outside of the village where Yaida and her husband could bury her father-in-law. The village, however, was not happy that in place of one unwelcomed Christian, now stood a whole family of Christian believers.

Yaida with Regional Manager Corey Bailey

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Yaida’s trailer that serves as her salon.

Although college educated, no one would hire Yaida or her husband, but when villagers saw Yaida cutting her children’s hair one day, things began to change.

“Our people find that a good haircut is very important,” she said with a smile. In this part of central Asia, a hairstylist is top priority for a village, and yet the nearest barber is miles away. A few villagers allowed Yaida to cut their hair, but always swept the clippings into a bag to take home with them, afraid that if she kept their hair she would be able to convert them.

When the village leader promised his blessing if she got a ‘real’ salon, Yaida and her husband scraped together enough to purchase a tin trailer next to their home. However with no roof or insulation it is only useable a few months of the year.

THEY WILL KNOW YOU ARE MY DISCIPLE Despite the fact that the villagers murdered her father-in-law and continue to persecute Yaida and her family, Yaida longs to share the love of Jesus with them. The couple firmly believes the Lord has told them to stay and evangelize with their lives. “We can show them that we live our lives differently,” she says. “Everyone watches us anyway, maybe now [as owners of the town salon] they will talk to us. When you depend on someone for something, then it is OK to ask them things. If they depend on me for a haircut, then they are allowed to ask me questions about my life and what I believe. It is a big hope for me, my family, and for the Gospel to be preached in our village.”

Thanks to ICC donors, we are providing funding to turn her shipping container into a real salon that can be used year-round.

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MIDDLE EAST

For Christ I Am Willing to Die Hunted Christian Converts Look to Jesus After Near-Fatal Shooting B Y A I D A N C L AY

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“Abdul was shot this evening,”

read an urgent prayer request to ICC in May. “He is alive as I write this, but in very serious condition. The doctors do not expect him to live.”

RUNNING FOR THEIR LIVES Abdul (name changed for security) had been running from persecution ever since he and his three friends converted to Christianity from Islam in 2009. Last year, Abdul had YOU THINK YOU CAN been severely beaten by four thugs LEAVE ISLAM AND GET after they rammed into his vehicle.

AWAY WITH IT? “Do you think you can leave Islam and get away with it?” the men said when striking Abdul, who was -AN ATTACKER SAID TO pinned in the backseat. It had taken ABDUL, A CHRISTIAN IN months for Abdul to recover from HIDING FOR HIS FAITH the wounds, only to be shot by a IN CHRIST Muslim imam who was determined to finish the job by ending Abdul’s life.

Abdul’s friend, Omar—who is from a prominent tribal group in the Middle East and has been hunted by his father since his conversion—was taken into police custody immediately after the shooting.

Similar to previous incidents,

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MIDDLE EAST

The underground fellowship that Abdul is a member of has reached 85 members, all converts from Islam

blame was shifted on Omar in order to protect powerful tribal leaders.

While at the police station, a policeman said to the shooter, who was being detained along with Omar, “Now is the time to kill all of these boys off, because if you don’t do it now, the number of Christians will be so many that you won’t be able to stop them anymore.” Incredibly, the policeman, who should have protected the young men, was instead pushing for their murder.

The policeman’s prediction, however, was not far from the truth.

LIVING BY FAITH Ever since the four young men converted, the ‘underground’ church in this persecuted country (undisclosed for security reasons) has seen tremendous growth. The movement reached 85 believers—all converts from Islam— by late-2011 until fear caused it to disperse after a young woman named Alya was murdered by her brother when he learned of her conversion.

A crackdown on the movement followed when local imams began chastising tribal leaders during Friday prayers for not ‘dealing’ with the believers in their midst. But the movement continued to gain momentum and, according to Omar, it was not uncommon to overhear conversations in the marketplace about how many new followers of Jesus were in the tribe. “Neither the chastisement from the mosque nor the persecution to the boys seems to be curbing the growing belief, or at least interest in Christianity, among the tribe!” exclaimed an ICC partner in the area.

On May 14, Abdul was operated on for the fourth time, but the doctors were still unable to remove the bullet from his chest. Abdul’s heart stopped

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during the surgery and a defibrillator (shock paddles) was used to start it again. He continues to drift in and out of consciousness and at the time this publication goes to press, ICC remains uncertain whether or not he will live.

BEARING FRUIT THAT WILL LAST Even in the midst of severe persecution, however, Abdul’s hope remains in Christ, knowing that nothing is done outside His will. A week after the shooting, Abdul’s mother—who had begun reading the Bible several months ago as a result of Abdul’s testimony—said she had a dream of Jesus standing next to her with His arm around her. “Are you sure it wasn’t Mohammad in the dream?” her sister asked her. Abdul’s mother said she was certain it was Jesus.

Though not yet a Christian, Christ is indeed working on her.

“I will never deny Christ,” Abdul’s friend, Omar, told ICC. “I will continue the work God has called me to by sharing my faith with my Muslim friends. For this I am willing to die.”

I WILL NEVER DENY CHRIST. I WILL CONTINUE THE WORK HAS CALLED ME TO BY SHARING MY FAITH WITH MY MUSLIM FRIENDS. FOR THIS I AM WILLING TO DIE. -OMAR

ICC helps Abdul and his friends (who live in hiding after their conversions) with financial aid that provides rent, food, and other needed supplies. We continue to closely monitor Abdul’s recovery and we’re ready to respond when additional assistance is needed.

Please remain in prayer for Abdul and his friends who daily take up their cross to follow Jesus. Pray that the Church in the country would be emboldened from the attacks rather than become fearful.

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YOUR DOLLARS AT WORK SPECIAL BLESSINGS DELIVERED TO ORPHANAGE Kids Care ICC is caring for almost 300 Christian children affected by persecution from our “Kids Care” fund. We operate three orphanages for children from India and Burma.

For the third consecutive year, ICC gave its donors the opportunity to bring joy to our orphans by packing a shoebox full of gifts to be delivered

by ICC. Many donors responded to this appeal and sent in toys, clothes, toothbrushes, soap and other items these orphans wouldn’t ordinarily have access to.

When these gifts were delivered, the children of the orphanage in India (pictured right) could barely believe their eyes. For children of the persecuted Church, a gift of any fashion, be it a ball, a box of crayons, a new set of clothes or even a toothbrush, instantly becomes a treasured possession. The fact that the gifts came from Christians in the United States made it all the more unbelievable for the children.

Thank you to all who sent in a shoe box this year! You truly brought joy to these children who have already suffered so much at such a young age.

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ASSISTING UNDERGROUND PASTORS IN PAKISTAN Underground Pastors ICC is supporting two underground pastors who boldly share the Gospel with Muslims; one passes out Bibles at festivals and disciples new believers, while the other meets with over 150 new believers a day at three fellowships. Your support goes towards mobilizing and increasing this important ministry.

REDEEMING LIVES OF VICTIMS IN PAKISTAN Save Our Sisters ICC recently launched a Beautician Vocational School program that welcomes young Christian women who work in dangerous conditions to learn a trade that will give them a sustainable income. Many have worked as servants in Muslim homes or in fields, vulnerable to attack. A total of 25 young women have been enrolled.

CHILD SPONSORSHIP IN EGYPT Kids Care ICC currently supports children from two villages in Egypt. In public schools, children are required to study the Quran; in addition to providing medical check-ups and school tuition, we are also providing Christian discipleship from a local pastor who mentors and prays with the children weekly.

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ASSISTING CHURCH PLANTERS IN BURMA Underground Pastors Because of your donations, ICC is able to help support 20 church planters in Burma. These pastors are able to minister to communities throughout the country. Recently, one pastor was able to bless a single mother whose husband left due to her faith.

The church purchased a sewing machine for her to support her family.

A BIBLE IN THEIR LANGUAGE Bibles to the Persecuted ICC supports a fellowship of Somali, Muslim-background believers (MBB) in Kenya. Due to persecution and poverty, none of these believers have ever owned a Bible in their native Somali language. ICC showed support by purchasing Bibles that the fellowship can use when they meet to pray and worship.

SPREADING THE GOSPEL THROUGHOUT CHINA Bibles to the Persecuted ICC sends over 30,000 Bibles into China each year. Because of your donations, we were able to ship 3,000 Bibles into China in April alone, meaning 3,000 believers will be able to own their very own Bible, some for the first time.

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DON’T FORGET US THIS SUMMER!

In the summer, ICC often faces a severe drop in funding.

Can you please make a special gift this month?

FOLLOW ICC ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER facebook.com/persecuted twitter.com/persecutionnews

YOU CAN HELP TODAY! SEND DONATIONS TO: ICC PO BOX 8056 SILVER SPRING, MD 20907 OR ONLINE AT WWW.PERSECUTION.ORG

GIVING TO ICC VIA YOUR WILL Provide now for a future gift to ICC by including a bequest provision in your will or revocable trust. If you would like more information on giving to ICC in this way, please give us a call at 1-800-ICC-5441.

ICC makes every effort to honor donor wishes in regards to their gifts. Occasionally, a situation will arise where a project is no longer viable. In that case, ICC will redirect those donated project funds to one of our other funds that is most similar to the donor’s original wishes.

#10988 International Christian Concern is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) (all donations tax-deductible). © Copyright 2013 ICC, Washington, D.C., USA. All rights reserved. Permission to reproduce all or part of this publication is granted provided attribution is given to ICC as the source.

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Y O U H O L D T H E K E Y. . .

ICC IS SERVING AND EQUIPPING BLASPHEMY VICTIMS IN PAKISTAN. LEARN HOW YOU CAN HELP. PA G E 1

P.O. Box 8056 Silver Spring, MD 20907-8056

NOW SET THE CAPTIVES FREE.

IMPACT REPORT Second Quarter, 2013

BIBLES to the PERSECUTED

SUFFERING WIVES and CHILDREN

FUND BALANCE:

FUND BALANCE:

high

medium

low

high

medium

low

IMPACT REPORT

IMPACT REPORT

BECAUSE OF YOUR GIVING LAST QUARTER, ICC WAS ABLE TO AID:

BECAUSE OF YOUR GIVING LAST QUARTER, ICC WAS ABLE TO DELIVER:

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10,984 BIBLES TO INDIVIDUALS

INDIVIDUALS

IN 4 COUNTRIES

IN 2 COUNTRIES

I M PAC T R E P O R T

UNDERGROUND PASTORS

COMMUNITY REBUILD

FUND BALANCE:

FUND BALANCE:

high

medium

low

high

medium

low

IMPACT REPORT

IMPACT REPORT

BECAUSE OF YOUR GIVING LAST QUARTER, ICC SENT OUT:

BECAUSE OF YOUR GIVING LAST QUARTER, ICC WAS ABLE TO ASSIST:

70 PASTORS AND CHURCH PLANTERS

IN 4 COUNTRIES

2,685 INDIVIDUALS

IN 4 COUNTRIES

I M PAC T R E P O R T

high

KIDS CARE

BROADCASTING the GOSPEL

FUND BALANCE:

FUND BALANCE:

medium

low

high

medium

low

IMPACT REPORT

IMPACT REPORT

BECAUSE OF YOUR GIVING LAST QUARTER, ICC WAS ABLE TO FULLY SUPPORT:

BECAUSE OF YOUR GIVING LAST QUARTER, ICC HELPED TO SEE:

PERSECUTED CHILDREN

OPEN SALVATIONS

IN 5 COUNTRIES

THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST

751 320

I M PAC T R E P O R T

SAVE OUR SISTERS

HAND of HOPE

FUND BALANCE:

FUND BALANCE:

high

medium

low

high

medium

low

IMPACT REPORT

IMPACT REPORT

BECAUSE OF YOUR GIVING LAST QUARTER, ICC WAS ABLE TO RESCUE OR PROVIDE JOB TRAINING FOR:

BECAUSE OF YOUR GIVING LAST QUARTER, ICC WAS ABLE TO ASSIST:

INDIVIDUALS

INDIVIDUALS

IN 2 COUNTRIES

IN 1 COUNTRY

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