Persecution magazine, October 2013, 3/3

PERSECU ION International Christian Concern | October 2013

AFRICA’S GREAT PRISON Imprisonment and Torture for the Faithful of Eritrea ISSUE 3/3 “The North Korea of Africa” is a bold description for a small East African nation that many people in the United States couldn’t point out on a map.

The nation of Eritrea, home to about 2.5 million Christians, continues to rank among the worst persecutors of Christians on the planet. Ruled by a totalitarian government since the country gained independence, human rights groups estimate that over 3,000 Christians are currently imprisoned in Eritrea for freely worshiping their Lord and Savior, and daily exposed to inhumane prison conditions that shock the imagination.

A HISTORY OF SUPPRESSION When Isaias Afwerki, Eritrea’s first president, came to power, many thought he was leading the nation towards democracy; but 20 years of intolerance and repression have shown those initial hopes to be false.

Afwerki has restricted all aspects of Eritrean society. In 2002, these reYou can help today! 800-ICC-5441

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strictive policies finally touched religion. Afwerki announced that all religious activity taking place outside of four state-sanctioned religious institutions was illegal.

In government-sanctioned churches, the Afwerki regime exercises near complete control. The Church serves as just another vehicle for Afwerki to spread the regime’s propaganda.

Underground Christian fellowships worshiping outside of these government-run institutions are routinely rounded up in raids conducted by secret police, their members imprisoned in some of the harshest and most inhumane conditions on the planet. Some of these Christians simply disappear.

STORIES FROM BEHIND BARS “Being a Christian in Eritrea is like living in hell,” Asmerom, a Christian that was imprisoned for his faith, told ICC in an interview regarding the persecution of Christians in Eritrea.

“Christians are treated like [public] enemy number one in Eritrea. One day while I was attending an underground worship service, security officials broke in, arrested everyone and took us all to jail,” Asmerom said.

Like thousands of other Christians caught worshiping outside of the government regulated church, Asmerom was arrested and impris2

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“BEING A CHRISTIAN IN ERITREA IS LIKE LIVING IN HELL. CHRISTIANS ARE TREATED LIKE [PUBLIC] ENEMY NUMBER ONE.” -ASMEROM, A CHRISTIAN IMPRISONED FOR HIS FAITH

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A group of Christian refugees who successfully escaped Eritrea worship freely, unlike their counterparts who are still trapped in Eritrea.

oned without being formally charged with any crime.

“I was kept in a 10’ by 14’ prison cell with 14 other men,” Asmerom explained. “One day, a fellow prisoner attempted to escape. When he was caught, we were all punished. They took us to the prison yard and made us strip naked. At noon, it was 115° F. The guards poured water over us and made us roll our bodies on the scouring hot sand. As we rolled on the sand, the guards beat us with sticks. “[My entire] body was injured after just a few minutes,” Asmerom said.

“Afterwards, the guards forced us to march around the yard even though many of us could hardly walk. The guards then put me in a cell that was only 6’ by 6.’ The cell was completely dark because all of the windows had been blacked out.

“My body was covered in blood. I wasn’t able to rest because [I] was covered with injuries. Turning from one side to the other was very painful and I cried out every time I moved.”

Reflecting upon the time he was imprisoned in total darkness, Asmerom remembers the mental torment he faced. “I would pray for God to give me a chance to breathe pure air for just a few minutes, to let me see the beautiful sun and soil again before I died,” Asmerom said. “A small stone from the boot of one of my guards came into my cell. I hid it as if it was a You can help today! 800-ICC-5441

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miracle. I would look at it every day like a gemstone, a testament that there was something outside my dark cell.”

FLEEING TO FREEDOM Asmerom spent over a year imprisoned, the vast majority of his time spent locked in darkness. After a year and three months of torture, a new official was put in charge of the prison. One day, the new official called Asmerom into his office. “[The officer] said, ‘Asmerom, I will let you go if you agree not to make trouble.’” Asmerom told ICC. “I agreed and was released.”

Once released, Asmerom decided to escape Eritrea by illegally sneaking over the border into Ethiopia, a dangerous plan that could result in death or imprisonment.

“There are many other dangers besides border guards,” Asmerom said.

“Many people get lost in the desert or are attacked by wild animals. Many also drown in the Tekeze River.” Despite the dangers, thousands of Christians, like Asmerom, attempt to escape persecution in Eritrea every year.

Unlike most Christians fleeing Eritrea, Asmerom had a connection with a military officer that helped him cross the border. “I had a friend whose wife was related to [military official] that was able to help me get across the border,” Asmerom explained. “I paid the official 13,700 Eritrean Nakfa ($1,000 USD) to safely cross the border.”

Most Christians attempting to flee Eritrea are not as fortunate as Asmerom. They must either brave the dangers of the border alone or hire smugglers to take them across. Smugglers kidnapping their ‘wouldbe’ clients and holding them for ransom or selling them to human traffickers is not unheard of, making hiring a smuggler a very risky choice.

Asmerom, now living in Ethiopia, was fortunate enough to escape the persecution he faced in Eritrea. But his is only one story out of thousands. Unfortunately, thousands of Christians continue to suffer under the totalitarian rule of the Afwerki regime in Eritrea. An untold number of Christians have disappeared and have likely been executed. This systematic repression continues to be given little attention by the international community, allowing Christians in Eritrea to be among the most persecuted Christians on the planet.

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YOUR DOLLARS AT WORK FLOOD RELIEF IN PAKISTAN Where Most Needed

A family receiving a supply kit.

In Pakistan, every summer ends with annual rains that can lead to devastating floods damaging homes, cutting off villages and washing away crops. The rains affect people of Supp all beliefs and creeds equally, but lies government-distributed aid to flood victims are unofficially prioritized to assist Muslims before Christians. This means that Christian families whose lives have been radically altered by the floods must hope that aid will be left over for them after aid is distributed to their Muslim neighbors.

In response to reports of Christians suffering from lack of aid in the Narowal and Sialkot areas of eastern Pakistan, ICC marshaled its resources in Pakistan and sponsored an aid distribution of its own, specifically bringing aid to those Christian families left behind by the government. In the course of two days, ICC was able to distribute aid to over 500 Christian families coming from 37 villages in the Narowal and Sialkot areas. This aid will act as a lifeline for these Christian families who would have otherwise been forced to struggle to survive because of discrimination.

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PAYING IT FORWARD: CHRISTIAN BARBER INVESTS IN HIS COMMUNITY Hand of Hope: Middle East

Joseph (center) cutting the ribbon to his barber shop.

Joseph, a barber, would always whistle while he worked. The only problem was that he whistled Christian worship songs. When he was unjustly fired for being a Christian, he had no way to provide for his family. ICC provided funds for Joseph to open his own barber shop. We were amazed to discover how successful it has become in just a few months’ time.

“Business is booming!” exclaimed Joseph to ICC Regional Manager William Stark. Not only has Joseph been able to provide for his own family, he has hired two other Christian barbers. In addition, he has brought in two young Christians who he is training to be barbers as well.

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Joseph is an exemplary case of a persecuted Christian using ICC’s aid to not only change his own life, but the surrounding com-

UPDATE ON BULLIED CHILDREN’S EDUCATION Kids Care You may remember little Shahtaj from our April edition of Persecution.

As a Christian, Shahtaj and her brother Rukmir were singled out for their faith and pressured to convert by the teachers and classmates. ICC provided funds for both children to attend a private Christian school where they excel in their studies. Shahtaj reports that she has made many friends.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR GRADUATES! Bibles to the Persecuted Recent graduates of an underground Bible school in China received new study Bibles from ICC this month.

The students shared that they dream of assisting missionaries in China.

For months, they tirelessly studied the Gospel and English to be fully equipped to share the Gospel.

INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE: PRAYER CONFERENCE FOR KIDS IN EGYPT Kids Care

ICC is investing in kids who will be ready to impact the world! In Egypt, we held a “Prayer Conference for Kids” that taught students how to pray and how to be leaders in the classroom. Our program also provides resources the kids need to succeed in school. Additionally, we also invest in their spiritual development by providing mentors.

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“WE FEEL LIKE THE WHOLE WORLD WANTS TO SEE THE CHRISTIANS OF SYRIA SLAUGHTERED!” Refugee camps

Help us Bring Relief to Syrian Refugees!

R E C E N T LY, A S YR I A N C H R I S T I A N S E N T I CC T H E F O L LO W I N G N OT E :

“As Syrian Christians, we used to live in peace under Assad. Assad is not a perfect man, yet he gave the Christians freedom and rights the same as Muslims. We could wear what we wanted and we had churches all over the country.

“Then when the uprising started, we began to see many Islamist jihadists from Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia. They began to kill us (the Christians) and other minorities who are considered infidels. The Islamists killed us with knives and even decapitated some and burned down our churches.

“Now, Christians are not welcome under their Islamist rule. No Western country will give us visas. Many times, we feel like the whole world, want to see the Christians of Syria slaughtered!”

Since the civil war in Syria began, Christians have increasingly suffered attacks from radical Islamists. ICC receives reports of murders, rapes, and other atrocities committed against Syrian Christians on a daily basis!

In the past 18 months, a staggering 2 million Syrians have fled their country to seek refuge in neighboring countries. Syrian Christian leaders are asking for our help for those Christians who have fled. Unable to work, they are desperate. Help is necessary to sustain the families and very little aid has come to them so far.

We are working directly with churches on the ground to provide the basic needs of food and shelter, so that children and families can stay intact and healthy. To meet the need, we are partnering with other Christian groups to provide food for these Christians.

We are committed to feed 1,000 individuals for one month as our part of the partnership, but need your help.

$45 will feed one Christian for a month $225 will provide food for an entire family for a month $4,500 will feed 100 Syrian Christians for a month

The great news is that ICC will match anything you give towards these Christians, dollar for dollar. If you give $50, we will pitch in $50. If you give $100, we will pitch in $100 making your gift $200, effectively doubling your gift.

We will do this for the first $10,000 donated.

Would you join us today as we provide care for those who are fleeing Syria? As always, we will use your gifts efficiently, ethically, and effectively, to assist the Christians victimized by this civil war. I promise!

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