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NOVEMBER 2016
PERSECU ION
North Korea Explore the Bizarre World of North Korea: A state-created false religion, a national counterfeiting operation, and first-hand tales of tragedy and escape from the world’s worst persecutor of Christians
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President’s Letter
It’s very rare for us to do two newsletters on one country back-to-back, but North Korea is a special case. North Koreans are raised from birth being watched 24/7 by an insanely oppressive regime that crushes all dissent, free expression, and thought by creating a web of total state surveillance and control. The regime is concerned with only one thing: blind loyalty and obedience. Twenty-five million people are imprisoned in a state run by an iron-fisted and pathologically narcissistic family dynasty. Those who cannot or will not adapt to the system face the worst punishment and torture imaginable. Consequently, the personality of the average North Korean and the culture as a whole is uniquely warped. Lying, cheating, stealing, and the complete cloaking of the majority of one’s thoughts and feelings are not character defects, but essential traits that are key to one’s survival.
Jeff King, President International Christian Concern
Those same survival skills that keep them alive in the prison of North Korea hurt them when they escape. They are traumatized, extremely wary, narcissistic and barely skilled. Yet they face the most formidable challenge of all: starting life over in an open, hyper-competitive, and foreign culture. In this issue of Persecution, you will once again come face-to-face with the vast prison state known as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). I think this prophetic passage from Isaiah 32 that looks forward to the coming of the unrevealed Messiah sums up our hope and prayer for North Korea. I’ve paraphrased it and focused it on North Korea but I think it fully reflects the original passage and His heart for the prisoners of Satan held in North Korea. Behold, my servant, the coming Jesus, my chosen one, in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him and He will bring forth justice to North Korea. He will faithfully bring justice to North Korea and will not rest until He has established justice there. The people of North Korea wait expectantly for His law. Please work with us and open your wallet (see page 32) to open the prison doors and to bring freedom and the Gospel to the 25 million inhabitants of this prison state. There is some amazing and effective work taking place that is saving North Korea, one soul at a time. As always, your gifts will be used ethically, efficiently, and effectively. I promise!
Jeff King President International Christian Concern www.persecution.org
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Another Church Burned Down in Chile
First American Citizen Charged under Russia’s New Anti-Missionary Law 1 | RUSSIA Russia recently implemented a new law that severely restricts religious freedom. At face value, the law is intended to crack down on terrorist activity. However, the law also bans “missionary activity” without government permission, which means that an everyday citizen is restricted from sharing his or her faith with an unbeliever without prior government permission. Punishments for violating these new restrictions range from hefty fines to deportation for international missionaries. In a string of arrests under this new law, Pastor Donald Ossewaarde was the first American citizen to be charged in violation of the restriction and was issued a significant fine. Police entered the pastor’s home as he was leading a worship service and subsequently took him to the police station to issue the charges. Despite legal counsel advising otherwise, Ossewaarde has chosen to appeal the fine. Since the July implementation of this new law, three others in addition to Ossewaarde have been found guilty, including a Christian from Ghana who is living in Russia, a Pentecostal Russian, and another who follows the Hare Krishna faith.
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2 | CHILE In recent months, there have been a number of arson attacks on churches, leaving multiple Christian communities without a place of worship. On August 9, yet another church was burned to the ground in Chile at the hands of the Mapuche Resistance, an indigenous group primarily located in southern Chile. In this incident against Iglesia La Batalla (The Battle Church), authorities confirmed the Mapuche as the source of the attacks because they left several signs and pamphlets at the scene with the group’s name on them. An examination of the crime scene, including both the materials left behind and the characteristics of the fire, left authorities confident that this fire was no accident. Although the attacks have primarily been politically motivated, churches and other places of worship have found themselves as primary targets for the attacks. According to Christian Headlines, there have already been 16 church attacks in the past year alone. While these acts of vandalism are certainly drawing attention to their cause, the Mapuche are creating needless victims of the local religious communities. These attacks are simply another example of how political conflict can infringe upon the rights of everyday citizens.
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China Clamps Down on North Korean Refugees Fleeing Persecution 3 | CHINA It is widely known that North Korea is one of the world’s most oppressive regimes with a laundry list of human rights abuses. However, the general public is less privy to China’s role in the difficulties that North Korean citizens face. While thousands of North Korean refugees, many of whom are Christians, flee their oppressive home country, China continues to crack down on refugees by deporting them back to North Korea. Chinese authorities near the North Korean border have offered rewards for those who capture refugees for the sake of deportation. Those who are sent back to North Korea face intense, and often violent, interrogation about their time out of the country and are often banished to prison camps. Unfortunately, many fail to make it to the prison camps as they are executed immediately upon their return. NOVEMBER 2016
ISIS Magazine Calls on Followers to Destroy Christianity 4 | MIDDLE EAST In a recent edition of the Islamic State’s propaganda magazine, “Dabiq,” ISIS calls upon its followers to destroy Christianity. The magazine also threatens Christians by encouraging them to “break the cross,” stating that they can either convert to Islam or risk death by maintaining their faith in Christ. In addition to the numerous threats and calls for violence, the magazine contains violent images of both stonings and beheadings.
Second Anniversary of Kenneth Bae’s Release 5 | NORTH KOREA On November 8, 2016, ICC is recognizing the second anniversary of the release of Kenneth Bae from North Korean authorities. Bae, an American citizen, was arrested in November 2012 in North Korea and sentenced to 15 years of hard labor due to his work as a missionary. After serving slightly more than two years in prison, Bae’s time in jail was known as the longest on record for an American imprisoned in North Korea. Bae’s release followed international outcry from Christian and human rights groups as well as a social media campaign led by his family calling for his release. Earlier this year, Bae published a book detailing his time in captivity.
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Christians in Nepal Attacked While Trying to Help Others 6 | NEPAL A group of Christians was recently attacked in Nepal while attempting to distribute building materials to those affected by last year’s earthquake. While unloading a truck of supplies, a group of neighbors approached the Christians and began beating them with rods. According to reports, local Hindus repeatedly threatened the Christians, accusing them of converting Hindus. While the government pledged to pay for the medical costs of this attack, the victims have reportedly received only a fraction of the amount needed.
Algerian Christian Imprisoned for Facebook Comments 7 | ALGERIA On August 7, an Algerian Christian named Slimane Bouhafs appeared in court on blasphemy charges due to comments that he made on Facebook regarding the Muslim prophet Muhammad. In his online statements, Bouhafs said that the light of Jesus would outshine both Islam and Muhammad and he included photos of Muslim radicals carrying out an execution. In Algeria, sentences for blasphemy can range from fines to five years of imprisonment. After appearing in court for allegedly committing blasphemy, Bouhafs was sentenced to the maximum fiveyear prison term. Numerous human rights groups have since spoken out on behalf of Bouhafs, stating that his sentence is an infringement upon his freedom of conscience.
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Pakistan’s Supreme Court Sets Appeal Date for Asia Bibi 1 | PAKISTAN On August 22, ICC learned that Asia Bibi, a Christian mother sentenced to death for allegedly committing blasphemy, would have her final appeal heard by Pakistan’s Supreme Court in mid-October. This appeal serves as Bibi’s last legal option in Pakistan through which she can escape execution. Apart from the final appeals hearing, Bibi could only be pardoned of the death penalty through a Presidential Pardon, a power granted to the president of Pakistan by their constitution. Bibi has been on death row since 2010 despite international outcry, with countless roadblocks and delays impeding her release. Her appeal with the High Court was rescheduled seven times before it was finally held in October of 2014. During that hearing, one of the two judges hearing the case confirmed her death sentence. The initial accusation against Bibi occurred in the summer of 2009 after she drank from the same water dish as her Muslim coworkers. Due to the fact that these women viewed Bibi as unclean because of her Christian faith, an argument broke out among the women. Later, the Muslim coworkers went to a local cleric and accused Bibi of blaspheming against Islam by saying, “My Christ died for me, what did Muhammad do for you?”
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Riots Follow Attack on Christian Student Beaten for Alleged Blasphemy 2 | NIGERIA On August 21, an argument broke out between a Christian and Muslim student on campus at Nigeria’s Abdu Gusau Polytecnic, following accusations that the Christian student insulted Muhammad. The dispute quickly escalated toward violence and a mob gathered, claiming that the student deserved to die for his alleged blasphemy against Islam. The next day, radical Muslim students continued their riots by destroying Christian establishments on campus. A local church leader reported that the riots spilled into the local town, leading to violence, vandalism, and arson. The influence of Sharia law has permeated northern Nigeria, leading to increasing violence and discrimination against Christians in Nigeria.
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Bishoy was issued a five-year prison sentence for supposedly presenting a “false image” of religious persecution in Egypt. Egyptian Christian Declares Return to Islam After Two Years in Prison 3 | EGYPT In 2007, the story of Mohamed Hegazy grabbed international attention as he was the first Egyptian to sue the government in order to officially switch from Islam to Christianity on his ID card following his conversion. As a result, many local Muslims began speaking out against Hegazy, who is also known by the Christian name of “Bishoy.” Some even called for his execution on the terms of apostasy. In June of 2014, Bishoy was issued a five-year prison sentence for supposedly presenting a “false image” of religious persecution in Egypt. Following his release in July of this year, more than two years after his sentence was issued, Bishoy appeared in an online video declaring his return to Islam. In the video announcing his conversion, Bishoy noted that he would not discuss the reasons for his return to Islam. Although he stated that the decision to convert back to Islam was made out of free will, many human rights advocates believe that the statement was coerced in exchange for his freedom. He has also stated that he will not speak publicly regarding this decision, making it difficult to reach the ultimate truth.
NOVEMBER 2016
A church in the town of Oral, Kazakhstan, at dawn. Creative commons photo by Flickr user Darin House.
Christian Leader in China Handed Seven-Year Jail Sentence
VBS Camps Raided by Officials at Two Kazakhstan Churches
4 | CHINA In yet another example of China’s continued crackdown on Christianity, church leader Hu Shigen has been given a seven-year prison sentence. His charges included “damaging national security and harming social stability” as authorities described Hu as the leader of a group which was using religion as a guise for exposing government abuses. This is Hu’s second prison term as he served 20 years for the charge of “counter-revolution,” which has since been abolished, before his release in 2008.
5 | KAZAKHSTAN Two Baptist churches in Kazakhstan recently experienced the discrimination that is sweeping Central Asia firsthand. Officials raided the two churches during their Vacation Bible School camps, questioning whether or not the young participants had permission from their parents. The reason for these raids and the accompanying law that requires parental permission is to avoid the possibility of conversion without the consent of their parents. A similar incident took place last year which resulted in a temporary church closure and substantial fines.
Sudanese Pastors Face Charges that Could Result in the Death Penalty 6 | SUDAN Two Sudanese pastors, Kuwa Shamal and Hassan Abdulraheem Taour, have officially been charged with crimes that could potentially result in the death penalty. Both of the pastors have been imprisoned since last December, while Shamal was temporarily released and then rearrested in May. Despite the severity of the charges, which include espionage and crimes against the state, there is no adequate evidence to justly carry out a sentence. In a similar case, two pastors named Yat Michael and Peter Reith also faced charges associated with the death penalty, but were released last summer after months of imprisonment. The recent charging of Shamal and Taour is yet another example of Sudan’s crackdown on Christian leaders. As the Gospel continues to spread, the government continues to arrest pastors, subject them to interrogation, and imprison them indefinitely with no contact to the outside world.
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Your Dollar$ at Work Radios Save Lives in Nigerian Villages
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“The radio is helping. I can link up clearly with four other communities,” said one village operator.
Community Rebuild
hristian farming communities in the north-central region of Nigeria are under constant threat of Islamic radicals and Fulani herdsmen whose attacks on the Christian communities seek to take over valuable territory. These attacks have resulted in the murder of tens of thousands of Christians and untold damage to farmland and property. Villagers are often taken by surprise since these attacks are strategic and well-organized in nature. Such attacks have taken place since 2001 and have seen a rise in the last 15 years. ICC learned that increased communication between Christian villages in this region also increases the survival rate of Fulani militia attacks. The use of word of mouth, and at times the use of mobile phones where phone service is available, has allowed some villages to warn the next village of imminent attack. However, these methods are not always reliable. In an effort to provide ample warning to each village, thus increasing security, ICC provided 20 sets of two-way radios to community leaders in 20 Christian villages affected by Fulani attacks. We researched topography in the region and consulted experts in order to determine what type of radios best suited the villagers. Village representatives underwent a training session on how to operate their radios. According to many village operators, the radios have undoubtedly saved lives. They can now give ample warning to nearby villagers who are able to evacuate and escape the attack. “The radio is helping. I can link up clearly with four other communities,” said one village operator who was able to use his radio to alert three nearby villages of a highway robbery.
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NOVEMBER 2016
MedicalAssistance Aid to Yazidi IDPs Church Assistance to Pastors in India in Iraq in Indonesia
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Underground Pastors
ndia has launched its worst attack on religious freedom since it became an independent nation. ICC has documented 157 attacks in the past two years. We’ve responded by delivering medical assistance to those physically injured by persecutors, like Pastor BP Paul. In November 2015, 20 people accused Pastor Paul of forced conversions and subsequently beat him. He suffered massive internal injuries, but was unable to pay for the necessary treatment. ICC paid for all of Pastor Paul’s medical bills which has helped him heal and continue ministering to other persecuted pastors like Pastor Nitin Kumar. Pastor Kumar was attacked at a prayer meeting by Hindu radicals and suffered lower back injuries. ICC was also able to pay for Pastor Kumar’s treatment. ICC’s assistance provides more than physical healing. It also provides spiritual encouragement to persecuted believers who are given hope through the Body of Christ.
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Community Rebuild
hen ISIS burst onto the scene in 2014, religious minorities in Iraq and Syria found themselves under extreme threat. While Christians faced intense persecution from the Islamic extremist group, other religious minorities, such as the Yazidi community of northern Iraq, faced an existential threat. Wherever ISIS found Yazidis, they would slaughter the men and force the women into sex slavery. It was this inhumane treatment of the Yazidis that led the US to label ISIS’s actions against religious minorities as genocide. In an effort to aid all those suffering under the surge of ISIS, ICC provided food, clothes, and necessary medical items to two Yazidi IDP camps in northern Iraq. Through ICC’s Christian partners on the ground, we were able to display the love of Christ to many whom Jesus would consider “the least of these.”
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Community Rebuild
n Indonesia, building a church is not a simple matter. A church must secure a license from the local government and get permission from neighbors. These parties, influenced by radical Islamic groups, often deny the license and the permission to build, leaving many Christians without a formal place of worship. In 2013, the GGP Ciranjang Church, which was operating out of their pastor’s home, was forcefully closed down by the local government after giving into pressure from extremist groups. Through much prayer and petition, the GGP Ciranjang Church received a church license from the government and permission to build a church in 2016. Immediately, the church worked on constructing a permanent building and to help them build quickly, ICC provided construction materials. “I never stopped thanking God and ICC for this blessing,” the pastor said. “What ICC has done really gave a great encouragement for me, my family and the church members.”
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Your Dollar$ at Work
ICC Repairs Two Churches in Pakistan
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Community Rebuild
n 2016, several Pakistani churches were robbed and burned. The arson attacks destroyed furnishings and Christian literature in addition to portions of the structure. Through ICC’s Community Rebuild fund, we were able to provide the repair work and replace the Christian literature, which included Bibles and books to teach catechism to children. Necessary repair work included laying carpet and soft foam for the congregants to sit on, installing new electrical wiring, painting, and replacing a tent. For Christians who attended the burned churches, the repairs strengthened their faith because they reminded the believers of their Christian family outside of Pakistan who pray and support them. The repairs and literature will empower Pakistani Christians to continue meeting while spreading the Gospel to their neighbors.
Churches Grow in Indonesia Despite Backlash Underground Pastors
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ndonesia is the most populous Muslim majority country in the world, making it a prime location for spreading the Gospel. The Christian population may be small at an estimated 8.8 percent of the population, but it is vibrant and willing to endure discrimination and persecution from both Muslim radical groups and occasionally the government itself. Among the Indonesian people are an estimated 127 unreached groups which are fertile ground for planting the Word. ICC has heard the call from the Christian community and partnered with passionate believers to reach these groups for Christ. Through our in-country contacts, we have been able to provide assistance to five Indonesian church planters who have gathered with like-minded Christians to see their vision come to life, thus spreading the Gospel and fulfilling the Great Commission.
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NOVEMBER 2016
Your Dollar$ at Work
Family in Mali Starts Goat Business
A Food Aid to a Grieving Widower
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Community Rebuild
fter Islamic leaders staged a march against churches in Gao, a city in eastern Mali, resulting in the use of tear gas bombs on an unsuspecting Baptist church, a local pastor felt threatened by the rising turmoil in the city. As the situation worsened and the threats began to personally affect his family, the pastor finally made the decision to move
his family to the capital city of Bamako, where they could find safety. Unfortunately, Christians in Bamako still face social exclusion, making it nearly impossible to find work. ICC provided the pastor’s family with the necessary supplies to start a goat husbandry business. The income from this business will allow the family to financially provide for themselves in this new city without having to abandon their ministry.
Underground Pastors
n June of this year, a pastor who leads a church in Kano City, Nigeria, tragically lost his wife when she was murdered by Islamic radicals on allegations of blasphemy under Sharia law. Unfortunately, discrimination against Christians in northern Nigeria is all too common. Because Kano is situated in a Muslim majority region of the country, Sharia law is commonly accepted, even among government officials. ICC visited the grieving pastor in August and delivered much-needed food packages. During the visit, we learned of the disappointing government actions taken regarding the case. The collaborators of the crime had already been released and were allowed to walk freely. According to the pastor, the case was still at the lower Court of Law rather than being delegated to higher jurisdiction, as it should be. ICC conveyed its sincerest condolences for the pastor’s loss and encouraged him to stand strong in his faith. The bereaved widower expressed deep appreciation for the prayers and help he received from ICC and his local church.
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Legal Assistance to Pastor in India
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Hand of Hope
n 2012, Hindu radicals attacked Pastor Reyansh’s (name changed for security) prayer meeting. They accused him and his congregation of fraudulent conversions. Police subsequently arrested the pastor. Pastor Reyansh protested the charge in India’s courts and eventually appeared in the upper court in 2015, three years after the inci-
dent. Pastor Reyansh needed, but could not afford, a lawyer, so ICC paid all of the legal fees. Through God’s grace and the lawyer’s skill, the courts closed Pastor Reyansh’s case and cleared him of all charges. This is a tremendous victory for Christian pastors who have hope that the court will protect them, even though Christians are still extremely vulnerable and experiencing increased persecution in India.
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est atch Air Force Major Cleared of Wrongdoing After Leaving Bible Open
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Youth Minister No Longer Welcome in Illinois School
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ollowing a complaint from the Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF), a youth pastor is no longer able to meet with students during the school day or their lunch hour at an Illinois school. In the past, students had been given the option to obtain permission slips from their parents in order to meet with the Baptist youth minister during lunch breaks which included pizza and soda provided by the minister. The FFRF complaint reads, “It is inappropriate and unconstitutional for the district to offer religious leaders access to befriend and proselytize students during the school day on school property. This predatory conduct is inappropriate and should raise many red flags...The district cannot allow its schools to be used as recruiting grounds for churches during the school day.” The matter was given to the school board which ruled that the local minister would no longer be allowed to meet with students on school property during the school day.
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he Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) recently filed a letter of complaint asking for disciplinary action against an Air Force major who left an open Bible on his desk. The complaint stated that the officer left a yellow-highlighted Bible “displayed front and center, quite prominently” in an open office work environment. It went on to say, “The egregious constitutional and Department of Defense regulatory violations of such a brazen display of sectarian Christian triumphalism and exceptionalism have been noted by many United States Air Force members through the years.” The complaint demanded that the Bible be kept out of sight and for his own personal use saying, “MRFF now demands that you order this Major Steve Lewis to immediately take down his Christian biblical display from his official United States Air Force desktop.” The complaint also went so far as demand that, “pending the results of the investigation, both he and his direct supervisor, Colonel Lisa Johnson, be swiftly, visibly and aggressively punished for allowing this long-running, repulsive violation of USAF regulations and bedrock Constitutional law to fatally poison the Command Climate in the RNSSI.” Despite these claims of constitutional violations, Lt. Col. David Fruck announced, “We
have concluded that no abuse of liberties has occurred. Therefore, Maj. Lewis is allowed to have his Bible on his desk if he wishes.” Sonny Hernandez, an Air Force chaplain at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, wrote an article regarding the matter saying, “I want to personally thank Major Steve Lewis for displaying his Bible replete with yellow highlighted verses, as I do all of the time. Major Lewis has a constitutional right to embrace his sincerely held theological convictions without anyone abridging his free exercise of religion.”
Texas AG Upholds Ruling Allowing Chaplains to Open Court in Prayer
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n 2014, the Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF) issued a letter of complaint regarding the prayers led by an attorney and local citizen in the courtroom. In their complaint, the FFRF states, “It is a fundamental principle of Establishment Clause jurisprudence that the government may not in any way promote, advance or otherwise endorse religion. It would appear to any reasonable observer that the Montgomery County judicial system [is] endorsing religion in general and Christianity in particular.” The attorney general of Texas has upheld the prayer practice by noting that religious leaders of all faiths are welcome to lead a
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prayer. This decision was also upheld on the basis of past legal precedent.
NOVEMBER 2015
Cross in the Seal of Lehigh County, PA, Will Remain
Newspaper Advertisement Rejected Over the Word “Christian”
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n another Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF) lawsuit to remove Christian symbols from the public eye, the atheist group has now targeted the cross in the seal of Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. The group had issued two prior letters of complaint over the cross in the seal, and has now filed suit. According to a statement from the cofounder of the atheist group, Annie Laurie Gaylor, “Lehigh County is not a Christian county; it should be equally welcoming to all its citizens regardless of their religion or their reject of religion.” Lehigh County officials have stated that the cross holds historical significance for the county and does not serve as an endorsement of religion. In addition, members of the public contacted the county board in support of keeping the cross in their county seal. The commissioners voted unanimously to retain the cross and to communicate this decision to the FRFF.
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Ten Commandments Monument Will Remain Outside Maryland Courthouse
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his past March, Jeffrey Davis, a humanist who objected to a Ten Commandments monument outside of a Maryland courthouse, filed a federal lawsuit to have the monument removed. Davis filed the suit saying that he deemed the monument unconstitutional. The lawsuit stated, “Plaintiff believes that the monument represents only one particular religious point of view and therefore sends a message of exclusion to those who do not adhere to that particular religion (Christianity), in violation of the US Constitution. Plaintiff does not want to have exposure to the monument on government property in the future.” Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a legal group defending the monument, filed a motion asking for the case to be dismissed. ADF’s motion reads, “His broad stroke recitation of the elements of an Establishment Clause claim does not survive Van Orden, where the Supreme Court made abundantly clear that the presence of a Ten Commandments monument identical to the one at issue here – indeed, one that, like here, was donated by the Eagles – on public lands is not itself a violation of the Establishment Clause.” In August, Davis sent a letter to the US District Court stating his decision to drop the case against the monument, although he did not detail his reasoning and declined to speak to press about the decision.
n Tennessee, a local bookstore, Cedar Springs Christian Store, recently tried to place an advertisement in the Knoxville News Sentinel classified section. However, the Sentinel refused to print the ad saying that they deemed the ad offensive for containing the word “Christian.” The advertisement read: “Store closing sale – Cedar Springs Christian Store – Clinton Highway location – All merchandise, fixtures, slat walls must go. Sale through August 13.” After seeing that their ad did not run on their requested days, the owner of the store made an inquiry to the paper. The owner states that the “ad did not run because it contained an offensive word. I asked what that offensive word was and she said the offensive word was ‘Christian.’” The newspaper did not notify the owners that the ad was rejected, nor did they refund the owners’ money. The owners, feeling this response was a “slap in the face” to Christians, published a Facebook post entitled, “Do you find the word ‘Christian’ offensive?” An outcry of public support for the bookstore ensued, and the Knoxville News Sentinel issued an apology for any “misunderstanding about their stance on Christianity.” They ran the ad at no extra charge.
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West Watch
Pure Flix Denied Advertising Space for “God’s Not Dead 2” at Republican National Convention
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he Christian media entertainment company Pure Flix, known for films like God’s Not Dead, Woodlawn, and Do You Believe, was denied advertising space outside the Republican National Convention to promote the release of God’s Not Dead 2. Pure Flix planned to display a large banner on a building in downtown Cleveland with a quote from actress Melissa Joan Hart. The advertising company rejected the display due to the words, “judged by God,” on the banner, stating that the term was “too political” and “way too
incendiary.” The CEO of Pure Flix, Steve Fedyski, was quoted, saying, “They dragged us along for weeks. Now, right up against the convention date, they say we aren’t approved, and they give us no logical rationale.” Wisconsinbased atheist group Freedom from Religion Foundation was able to display a billboard quoting President Ronald Reagan regarding no establishment of religion. The company attempted to work with Pure Flix for an alternate location; however, both sides decided to part ways after the original denial.
Christian Flag Removed from Georgia Courthouse after Complaint
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he Bryan County Courthouse in Pembroke, Georgia, removed a Christian flag which had been situated in the corner by the judge’s bench after an atheist group filed a complaint. The Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF), known for its activism against religionbased cases, took up the issue when it was revealed that the easily recognizable red Latin cross affixed upon a blue and white background was in a government facility. According to
the FFRF, the presence of the flag was in clear violation of the Constitution’s Establishment clause which states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” To avoid legal troubles, local attorney Leamon Holliday advised that the flag be removed. The FFRF has been both vocal and visible in many states advocating for the removal of religious symbols in public and private spaces in recent months.
Scripture Decal On Kansas Police Vehicle Targeted by Freedom from Religion Foundation
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he Harper Police Department came under fire from an atheist group over one of the police vehicles displaying a scriptural decal on the tailgate. The Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF) responded to an anonymous complaint from a local resident in the small community of 1,400 people who believed the department to be in violation of the Establishment Clause to the United States Constitution. The decal referenced Romans 13:4, which states, “For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for
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no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer” (NIV). Since the complaint was filed, the police department has removed the decal from the vehicle so as to avoid any legal trouble stemming from the controversy. Some local residents consider the case to be inconsequential compared to other issues at hand. The FFRF has raised issue with many religious-based cases in recent months. The case of the Harper Police Department has parallels to a case in Brewster County, Texas. Brewster County had previously displayed a Latin cross decal in the rear section
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of their patrol vehicles. The FFRF was involved in this case as well, leading to the removal of the decals in June 2016, despite an intercession by Texas governor Greg Abbott in favor of the decals.
NOVEMBER 2016
West Watch
Two ISIS-Inspired French Residents Murder 85-Year-Old Priest During Mass
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wo weeks after the Nice terror attack earlier this year that claimed the lives of 84 people, there was an attack inside a Catholic church in northern France. Two ISIS-inspired individuals entered the church during Tuesday mass and slit the throat of 85-year-old Reverend Jacques Hamel. One attacker, identified as Adel Kermiche, previously attempted to travel to Syria in 2015 before he was arrested by French authorities. After spending nearly one year in confinement, authorities released him early in 2016 with restrictions upon his movement
including a tracking bracelet. A nun who was there during the attack reported that the attackers screamed, “Allahu Akbar” which means “God is Great” in Arabic. The murder of the priest was filmed by the attackers. Local residents and fellow priests described him as a grandfather figure to the community. According to those present, Rev. Hamel’s final words while attempting to push away the terrorists were, “Be gone Satan!” France has been riddled with terror attacks in recent years, with the first major attack being the massacre at the office of the satirical
magazine Charlie Hebdo. Since then, France experienced a large-scale attack in November 2015 with deaths of over 184 people spread across three major locations in Paris. In July 2016, the Bastille Day celebration in Nice was terrorized by an Algerianborn terrorist who drove through a crowd in a truck shooting indiscriminately and killing 84 people before he was killed by police. While the murder of Rev. Hamel was small in comparison, it is one of the more frightening events. It is also the first terror attack in France directly targeting an individual for his Christian faith.
Colorado Pastor’s Long-Standing Contract with City Denied Renewal after Complaint
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ontroversy has ensued in Colorado Springs, CO, after a complaint was filed over certain public transit bus benches that state “Jesus is Lord.” Pastor Lawson Perdue of the Charis Christian Center has had a longstanding contract with the city to purchase advertising space on 20
bus stop benches. However, after the complaint was filed, the city decided not to renew his contract. The city has begun to conduct a review of the advertising policy as a result of the complaint, which was made based upon the Establishment Clause of the US Constitution. According
to Perdue, the city transit agency informed him that if they were to allow Jesus to be advertised, they would be required to allow hate speech advertisements as well. Perdue is currently weighing his options on whether to file a free speech lawsuit against the city of Colorado Springs.
Iowa Man Charged with Terrorism for Threatening Pastor During Church Service
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ccording to reports, an Iowa man faces charges of terrorism for threatening to kill a local pastor during a Sunday service. David Flores-Marroquin, age 25, threatened the pastor of Community Bible Chapel in Sioux City on two separate occasions. The first incident happened on a Saturday when he was seen cutting
himself with a knife and smearing blood on the stairs of the church. He threatened the pastor with the knife after he was asked to leave the premises. The second event occurred the following afternoon when he entered the service, threatening the pastor with a BB gun. The pastor again asked him to leave the premises. Local authorities were called
to intervene. Flores-Marroquin is currently charged with felony terrorism and assault while displaying a dangerous weapon. Similar instances have occurred throughout the country as a man set a church building on fire in Pittsburg, California, and an Islamic-inspired man attempted to kill members of Corinth Missionary Baptist Church in Bullard, Texas.
Belgian Teenager Posts Video Clip Calling Muslims and Allah to Kill All Displaced Christians
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ontroversy and outcry ensued after a video clip was posted of the son of a Muslim cleric in Belgium calling on Allah and Muslims to kill all displaced Christians. Radical cleric Imam Sheikh Alami had been scheduled for deportation by Belgian authorities pending a court appeal.
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Alami was issued a deportation order because of his rhetoric inciting individuals to join the battle in Syria. It appears that his message to join jihad was not merely for foreign fighters, but also for his own children, as his 16-yearold son echoed the sentiment in the video.
The timing of the translation of the video raised fear among European intelligence officials and the general public, as it coincided with the murder of French priest Jacques Hamel who was killed during mass by two ISISinspired men.
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Young North Korean girls take part in a community event. Keep the next generation of North Koreans in prayer. Creative Commons photo from flickr.
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