A Global Slaughter of Christians, but America’s Churches Stay Silent

Christians are being singled out and massacred from Pakistan to Syria to the Nairobi shopping mall. Kirsten Powers on the deafening silence from U.S. pews and pulpits.

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Christians in the Middle East and Africa are being slaughtered, tortured, raped, kidnapped, beheaded, and forced to flee the birthplace of Christianity. One would think this horror might be consuming the pulpits and pews of American churches. Not so. The silence has been nearly deafening.

As Egypt’s Copts have battled the worst attacks on the Christian minority since the 14th century, the bad news for Christians in the region keeps coming. On Sunday,Taliban suicide bombers killed at least 85 worshippers at All Saints’ church, which has stood since 1883 in the city of Peshawar, Pakistan. Christians were also the target of Islamic fanatics in the attack on a shopping center in Nairobi, Kenya, this week that killed more than 70 people. The Associated Press reported that the Somali Islamic militant group al-Shabab “confirmed witness accounts that gunmen separated Muslims from other people and let the Muslims go free.” The captives were asked questions about Islam. If they couldn’t answer, they were shot.

Pakistanis protest against violence against Christians in Lahore on Sept. 24, 2013. (Arif Ali/AFP/Getty Images)

In Syria, Christians are under attack by Islamist rebels and fear extinction if Bashar al-Assad falls. This month, rebels overran the historic Christian town of Maalula, where many of its inhabitants speak Aramaic, the language of Jesus. The AFP reported that a resident of Maalula called her fiancé’s cell and was told by member of the Free Syrian Army that they gave him a chance to convert to Islam and he refused. So they slit his throat.

Nina Shea, an international human-rights lawyer and expert on religious persecution, testified in 2011 before Congress regarding the fate of Iraqi Christians, two-thirds of whom have vanished from the country. They have either been murdered or fled in fear for their lives. Said Shea: “[I]n August 2004 … five churches were bombed in Baghdad and Mosul. On a single day in July 2009, seven churches were bombed in Baghdad … The archbishop of Mosul, was kidnapped and killed in early 2008. A bus convoy of Christian students were violently assaulted. Christians … have been raped, tortured, kidnapped, beheaded, and evicted from their homes …”

Lela Gilbert is the author of Saturday People, Sunday People, which details the expulsion of 850,000 Jews who fled or were forced to leave Muslim countries in the mid-20th century. The title of her book comes from an Islamist slogan, “First the Saturday People, then the Sunday People,” which means “first we kill the Jews, then we kill the Christians.” Gilbert wrote recently that her Jewish friends and neighbors in Israel “are shocked but not entirely surprised” by the attacks on Christians in the Middle East. “They are rather puzzled, however, by what appears to be a lack of anxiety, action, or advocacy on the part of Western Christians.” 

As they should be. It is inexplicable. American Christians are quite able to organize around issues that concern them. Yet religious persecution appears not to have grabbed their attention, despite worldwide media coverage of the atrocities against Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East.

It’s no surprise that Jews seem to understand the gravity of the situation the best. In December 2011, Britain’s chief rabbi, Lord Jonathan Sacks, addressed Parliament saying, “I have followed the fate of Christians in the Middle East for years, appalled at what is happening, surprised and distressed … that it is not more widely known.” “It was Martin Luther King who said, ‘In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.’ That is why I felt I could not be silent today.”

Wolf has complained loudly of the State Department’s lack of attention to religious persecution, but is anybody listening?

Yet so many Western Christians are silent. In January, Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA) penned a letter to 300 Catholic and Protestant leaders complaining about their lack of engagement. “Can you, as a leader in the church, help?” he wrote. “Are you pained by these accounts of persecution? Will you use your sphere of influence to raise the profile of this issue—be it through a sermon, writing or media interview?”
There have been far too few takers.

Wolf and Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) sponsored legislation last year to create a special envoy at the State Department to advocate for religious minorities in the Middle East and South-Central Asia. It passed in the House overwhelmingly, but died in the Senate. Imagine the difference an outcry from constituents might have made. The legislation was reintroduced in January and again passed the House easily. It now sits in the Senate. According to the office of Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO), the sponsor of the bill there, there is no date set for it to be taken up.

Wolf has complained loudly of the State Department’s lack of attention to religious persecution, but is anybody listening? When American leaders meet with the Saudi government, where is the public outcry demanding they confront the Saudis for fomenting hatred of Christians, Jews, and even Muslim minorities through their propagandistic tracts and textbooks? In the debate on Syria, why has the fate of Christians and other religious minorities been almost completely ignored?

In his letter challenging U.S. religious leaders, Wolf quoted Lutheran pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who was executed for his efforts in the Nazi resistance:  “Silence in the face of evil is itself evil. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”

That pretty well sums it up.

-Kirsten Powers

For inquiries, please contact The Daily Beast at editorial@thedailybeast.com.

Whoa! a Megachurch in Pakistan?!?

On one hand, these Christians have....COURAGE.......cajones lol...to build a big church in KARACHI! But I am SO VERY WORRIED for them....what a way to wipe out all the Christians in the community by targeting this building during...Christmas or Easter. I'm nervous for them....but I guess they're not as nervous! They are trusting in God & will keep living for Him even in the face of danger. Though they are poor they are rich in faith!!! These are my Pakistani brothers & sisters! They are so much braver than me.

Anyway, this article is also from The Arab Times. 

‘Now We Can Pray Together’

 KARACHI, Pakistan, Nov 20, (AP): Pakistan’s tiny and downtrodden Christian community thought big when constructing its latest church — a domed, three-story building that towers over the sprawling slum it serves and is the largest yet in the violent, Muslim country.
St Peter’s of Karachi, which opened its doors this month and can fit around 5,000 people, is a sign of the resilience of a faith that has long suffered from state discrimination and attacks by extremists allied with al-Qaeda and the Taleban.
The church took 11 months to build and cost $3.8 million, raised from local donations and from Roman Catholics around the world, said Father Saleh Diego. It was built on the site of a smaller church in Azam Basti district, a jumble of lanes and simple brick houses that is home to around 15,000 Christians.
“There were so many people here it was not possible for us to accommodate them on Sundays. Some were sitting at the back, some in the corner, some on the terrace,” said Diego. “Now we can pray together, all 5,000 people, worship the Lord and really share and strengthen our faith.”
Pakistani towns and cities are dotted with striking churches dating back to the 19th century, when the subcontinent was ruled by Britain. Newer churches do get built, especially by Protestant and evangelical groups, but are smaller, single-room affairs.

Tensions
In some predominantly Muslim countries, such as Egypt and Indonesia, the construction of new churches can trigger tensions and even violence, but those built in Pakistan normally sit in poor Christian neighborhoods like Azam Basti, so they rarely spark protests. Those few that are built in Muslim or commercial areas can expect some problems, said a Western missionary whose church is about to begin construction of a school and church complex in Punjab province.
“We had some opposition at the start,” said the man, who has lived legally and openly on a missionary visa in Pakistan for many years, but declined to give his name for security reasons. “If we put up a big cross, and we called it a seminary, then we would expect that the locals would give us some problems. We will do it slowly.”

Christians are often discriminated against in Muslim countries, but in Pakistan they face unique problems.
Most are the descendants of low-caste, “untouchable” Hindus, who converted to Christianity when the region was under British colonial rule. Today, many still do the same work as their ancestors: street sweeping, domestic service or other menial jobs.
They tend to live in ghettos of extreme poverty, often separated from their Muslim neighbors by high walls.

In Pakistan, Christians account for between 3 percent and 5 percent of the country’s 180 million people, split approximately equally between Roman Catholics and Protestants. There are even smaller numbers of Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists.

Accommodate
St Peter’s is roughly the same size as Karachi’s imposing British-era cathedral, St Patrick’s. But it can accommodate many more worshippers because they sit on the floor, not on benches as is common in churches visited by wealthier Pakistanis like St Patrick’s.
The church is a simple rectangular building, adorned with arches and dozens of Gothic spires. Dozens of stained-glass windows depict the sufferings of Jesus Christ, while the walls inside are painted shiny white with large frescos.

On a recent evening, many hundreds flocked to the church, where several young girls were being confirmed.
Dressed in their best clothes, the worshippers took off their shoes — which, like sitting on the floor, is an Islamic custom adopted by some churches here — before walking inside. They sang hymns to the accompaniment of a piano and a ‘dhol’, a traditional drum.
Outside, conversation turned to the predicament facing the community.

Over the past 10 years, the rise of al-Qaeda and Taleban militancy has made Christians a frequent target of bombings and shootings, along with other non-Sunni Muslims. In March this year, militants shot and killed Shahbaz Bhatti, the sole Christian minister in the government, for his campaign to modify blasphemy laws used to persecute Christians.
“We are called sweepers, and Muslims do not like to share their meals with us,” said 18-year-old Joseph Messieh, one of the worshippers at St Peter’s. “It is disgusting.”

Sharoon Gill, another young man, disagreed, saying this was unfair.
“Most of my friends are Muslims and we dine out. I never feel discriminated against,” he said.
Father Diego said the church was concerned about rising radicalism, but that his building had received no threats.
“Without persecution there is no Christianity,” he said. “So we are faithful in persecution and we are faithful to the suffering.”

Pakistan Blocks 'Obscene' Texts Including "Jesus Christ"

BBC The Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) has told mobile phone companies to begin blocking text messages containing "obscene" words.

Mobile phone companies Telenor Pakistan and Ufone confirmed to the BBC that the PTA has sent them a "dictionary" of banned words and expressions.

The PTA has reportedly ordered operators to begin screening text messages by 21 November.

Ufone say they are now working on how to block the offending words.

A letter dated 14 November, apparently written by Muhammad Talib Doger, an official at the PTA, has been leaked to Pakistani media.

It states that mobile phone operators should begin screening the words, provided on a list attached to the letter, within seven days.

"We have received both the dictionary and the memo and we're discussing a way forward," said Anjum Nida Rahman, corporate communications director for Telenor Pakistan.

The ban is a reaction to consumers' complaints of receiving offensive text messages, Mohammad Younis, a spokesman for the PTA, told The Guardian newspaper.

"Nobody would like this happening to their young boy or girl," he said. He added that the list was not finished and that the authority would continue to add to it.

'What am I missing?'

An unconfirmed version of the PTA's list is being circulated online, containing hundreds of words and expressions in both English and Urdu.

According to this version, the entries range from those too obscene to repeat to the bizarre.

Some of the choices on the list have baffled Pakistani mobile phone users, many of whom have taken to Twitter to ridicule the move.

Syed Adnan Yousuf, tweeting as @AdnanWhy, asked: "Why is 'head lights' banned? What am I missing here?"

Some people have suggested bypassing the ban by replacing words with their number on the PTA's list.

Pakistan has seen a big increase in mobile phone use in recent years - 100m Pakistanis are now estimated to be mobile phone users.

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Texters in Pakistan better start watching their language.

Pakistan’s telecommunications authority sent a letter ordering cell phone companies to block text messages containing what it perceives to be obscenities, Anjum Nida Rahman, a spokeswoman for Telenor Pakistan, said Friday.

It also sent a list of more than 1,500 English and Urdu words that were to be blocked.

The order was part of the regulator’s attempt to block spam messages, said Rahman. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority refused to comment on the initiative.

Many of the words to be blocked were sexually explicit terms or swear words, according to a copy of the list obtained by The Associated Press.

It also included relatively mild terms like fart and idiot.

The reasons for blocking some words, including Jesus Christ, headlights and tampon, were less clear, raising questions about religious freedom and practicality. Any word could conceivably be part of a spam message.

The letter, which was also obtained by the AP, was dated Nov. 14 and gave cell phone companies seven days to implement the order.

Rahman, the Telenor spokeswoman, said her company first received the letter Thursday and was discussing how to proceed.

“It’s a big issue, so it is being examined carefully from all points of view,” said Rahman.

The letter said the order was legal under a 1996 law preventing people from sending information through the telecommunications system that is “false, fabricated, indecent or obscene.”

It also stated that free speech can be restricted “in the interest of the glory of Islam.”

Under pressure from Islamists, Pakistan has blocked pornographic websites and ones deemed anti-Islamic. Last year, it temporarily banned Facebook because of material on the site deemed offensive to Islam.

There is a 1996 Pakistani Law where it states that free speech can be restricted "in the interest of the glory of Islam." 

Some of the allegedly banned words

• Athlete's foot
• Flatulence
• Jesus Christ
• Monkey crotch
• Back door
• Bewaquf (foolish)
• Bakwaas (nonsense)
• Wuutang (a presumed reference to American rap group the Wu-Tang Clan)
• Fart
• Idiot
• Tampons
• Headlights

Asia Bibi Tortured in Prison

Guys, this issue with Asia Bibi has been ongoing for a while now. I've posted about her before, just do a Google Search of my blog for "Asia Bibi" (the search bar is on the left column. Please read the recent article of her treatment & condition by a Christian Pakistani advocating for Minority Groups in Pakistan.

There is a creative way you can support Christians in Pakistan- by buying a Wristband, wearing it, & remembering believers in prayer.

Asia Bibi tortured by prison officers

By Wilson Chowdhry

British Pakistani Christian Association

According to a Pakistani newspaper, the Express Tribune, Asia Bibi, the poster-victim of Pakistan's wicked blasphemy laws has been tortured by one of wardens at the Sheikhupura jail where she is imprisoned in solitary confinement awaiting a death sentence for defending her Christian faith. The warden Khadeeja allegedly tortured her after claiming he found 'prohibited items' in her cell. Other prison staff watched and did nothing to stop the attack. (Well, she's only a kuffir Christian, after all.....) Thankfully, it appears that (eventually) the culprit has at least been suspended from duty (for how long, we shall have to see).

Don't forget to pray for Asia Bibi and also her family, who are being threatened and isolated by Islamic militants.

Also, spread the word - facebook this article, etc, and if you haven't already, sign our petition to free Asia Bibi and repeal the abominable blasphemy laws.

Trying to Make it Safer in Kuwait

Ministry Suspends Work Permits For Certain Nationalities

KUWAIT CITY, April 26: The Interior Ministry has suspended the issuing of work permits and new residence permits to Iraqis, Iranians, Syrians, Pakistanis and Afghans until further notice due to the current unrest in their countries. Reliable sources, however, added the final say in all matters related to work permits, visit visas and residence permits will lie in the hands of acting Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior Sheikh Ahmad Al-Humoud and Undersecretary Lt General Ghazi Al-Omar, reports Al-Rai daily.

Referring to the suspension orders, sources said the ministry will take further decisions depending on the developments in these countries.

The General Department of Immigration has reportedly started acting on the instructions, but is continuing to renew the residence of people of these nationalities.
Sources said the new directive will not affect residence law violators who want to legalize their status or leave the country during the amnesty period as they can re-enter the country once the situation in their respective countries stabilizes.

Via THE ARAB TIMES ONLINE

Kuwait imposes visa ban on Syrians, Iraqis, Pakistanis, Iranians and Afghans Via IRAQ NEWS

Monday, June 27, 2011 15:33 GMT

The temporary visa ban on citizens from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan is ongoing until further notice due to turmoil in these countries, Kuwaiti Interior Ministry said. Brigadier Talal Al Maarefi, an official at the Immigration Directorate at Kuwait Interior Ministry told Kuwaiti Al Ra’i Newspaper that the ongoing visa ban on citizens from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan is ongoing until further notice. “The visa ban removal depends on the security situation in these countries affirming that Kuwait has the right to take preventive security measures which it deems convenient to secure the country from turmoil in other regions”, Al Maarefi said. “There are no exceptions regarding the visa ban omitting however those who have entered Kuwait before April 24 and did not manage to complete their papers before the law entered into force”, he added. Kuwait had announced on April 24 that concerned authorities at Kuwait’s Immigration General Directorate have halted visa procedures for five nationalities including Syria, Iraq, Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan until further notice on account of demonstrations and turmoil in these countries. Visa ban on Syrians, Iraqis, Pakistanis, Iranians and Afghans include all kinds of visa whether familial, touristic, personal, commercial or visas for joining family members.

Young Pakistani's Vow Revenge for Bin Laden's Death

Pakistan....oh Pakistan...what a twisted, violent, hopeless country. I feel sorry for Pakistan. Most Pakistanis are illiterate, so they get their zeal & dogmas from their religious leaders.

Osama Bin Laden was guilty of initiating attacks against people- against Americans. That is why America has been after him. Why would a 10yr old Pakistani boy vow revenge on America?

Because we killed their hero.

Let me first just say- Islam does not mean "peace" but "submission." I just needed to clarify that b/c many Muslims take the convenience of the interpretation to loosely translate that for itching ears. Being a Muslim means being submissive to God, although it seems like they are more submissive to the prophet Mohammed rather than Allah.

I challenge Muslims who read this post to seek out Allah for his truth. Ask Allah to reveal himself to you. God has said that if you seek him you will find him, when you search for God with all of your heart. Do not just believe what you are told by your Imam or what is customary- research it. Pray about it. The problem with people such as those in Pakistan is that they don't even know WHAT their own religion teaches. Most of them can't even READ to confirm what they are being taught is true. Is it a coincidence that most of the countries at the bottom of the world's literacy list are Muslim nations?

 SOURCE 1
 SOURCE 2

This is what a Pakistani himself says on illiteracy in Pakistan & Terrorism:

Terrorism is the worst form of illiteracy when people do not have sense to realize the importance of innocent lives which are lost in the terrorist activities. Some people consider poverty as one of the major causes of terrorism. If people are given enough education to cope up poverty, this might enable people becoming less hopeful and going for the bold steps such as getting involved in wrong or criminal activities. In Pakistan, government is making its best efforts to reduce the illiteracy rate as a result of which the standard of education in Pakistan is increasing day by day. However terrorism will take time to remove.

SOURCE

However, the article that I have re-posted talks about literate, middle-class, youngsters who pledge allegiance to Bin Laden's ideology. Are they doing their homework? They have zeal without knowledge. They want to be heroes...their ego inspires them to their demise.

For reasons such as this AND b/c of Pakistan's dishonesty, deceit, & just plain scandalousness- My opinion: CUT OFF FUNDING FOR PAKISTAN. What has our money done for that country but breed terrorism & support human injustices such as oppression to religious minorities?


From the Arab Times Online: Arab Times Online Article


Bin Laden's Young Neighbours Vow Revenge Over Death

ABBOTTABAD, Pakistan, May 10, 2011 (AFP) -In a madrassa close to the house where Osama bin Laden lived and died, young Pakistani students are furious over the death of a terror mastermind they considered a religious hero.

Venting their anger over a US raid a week ago in which commandos killed bin Laden, reportedly in front of his family, at the villa that hid him from the world, metres (yards) from their school in Abbottabad they vow revenge.

"This war is not over yet. There are so many mujahedeen (fighters) who will continue Osama's fight and will defeat America," said Muhammad Tofail, a 15-year-old student at the biggest seminary in Bilal Town, the suburb that proved to have been bin Laden's home for up to five years.

"There are many Osamas in the Muslim world and the US can't defeat his ideology," he said.

The West fears such madrassas preach a zeal that encourages extremism and builds support for Al-Qaeda-linked militants in Pakistan, particularly in the tribal northwest where training grounds groom future Islamist fighters.

Islamic seminaries are an alternative to mainstream education for several million children in Pakistan, where only two percent of GDP goes on public schooling and where 31 percent of men and 41 percent of women aged 15 to 24 are illiterate.

"I will myself become Osama and revenge his death one day," said 10-year-old Abbas Khan, sitting in the playground outside the seminary and metres away from the Al-Qaeda chief's hideout.

The young views reflect part of an ideological battle raging in Pakistan -- a country at war with homegrown militants blamed for bomb attacks that have killed more than 4,200 people nationwide in the past four years.

But the perceived violation of sovereignty with last week's operation has united many in anger against the United States, and worsened the widespread perception that the government in Islamabad is servile to its superpower ally.

Anti-American sentiment is already rampant over of an ongoing covert US drone campaign that has killed hundreds in the northwest region.

Billions of dollars in military and civilian aid given by the United States to Pakistan fails to assuage mass mistrust of the Western power.

Parents in the garrison city of Abbottabad say they fear bin Laden's death on their soil will only worsen calls for revenge on the West.

"Osama bin Laden has developed a psyche. He has developed a mindset and younger generations are affected," said Farzana Anis, who took her daughter to see bin Laden's hideout, speaking in English.

"If there's no social uplift in Pakistan, if there's no education, there is no healthcare, there's no alleviation of poverty, then this mindset can take place... With the killing of Osama bin Laden, the problem has aggravated."

Children playing cricket in the street by the heavily guarded compound do not conform to the stereotype of uneducated religious youth.

But despite hailing from middle-class families and attending good schools in the area, this week they are sharing in the anger at America and joining calls for revenge.

"We will avenge Osama bin Laden's death. We are going to do jihad and we will win. We will beat the Americans," said one cricket-playing boy, Bilal Umar.

His friend Abbas Khan concurred. "I will grow up to be like Osama," he said.

Come quickly Lord Jesus. Save the lost, give sight to the blind. Reveal yourself to them in Jesus' name.

F the Blasphemy Law

To my fellow prayer warriors, we need to urgently unite in prayer- for SO many things, but I ask specifically for Asia Bibi. You may have heard about her- she's a
Pakistani Christian, mother of five who worked in the fields of a Muslim landowner. The women she worked with would mock her faith & question her. She explained why she followed Jesus & the women turned her in to the law of the land- Sharia- for blasphemy against the Prophet Mohammed.
Already the politician who was fighting to reverse her sentence was killed. Today I got an email that brings even more bad news:

"Shahbaz Bhatti, the Christian Federal Minister for Minorites in Pakistan, has been killed - this is the second highest profile humanitarian killing in Pakistan in the space of 3 weeks
http://britishpakistanichristian.blogspot.com/2011/03/shabaz-bhatti-has-been-assassinated.html
The BPCA condems the violence and calls for international intervention for a restoration of peace. The fate for Asia Bibi looks very dicey and we call for people to pray for her safety."

I know there are THOUSANDS more we need to pray for.... But with Asia's situation, just when it seemed there was hope for her release, the two most powerful people to stand before her are assassinated. God is greater than all those
People & their wickedness.
The bible says "do not fear man, for they can only kill the body. But fear God who can destroy both body & soul."
My friends I also ask that you pray for the Muslims in Pakistan, who are illiterate & zealous to follow the father of lies. According to some Muslims, blasphemy should only apply to Muslims. Pray that Jesus reveals himself to them!
If my God can calm a stormy sea, he can rescue & expand his kingdom through the deliverance of our sister Asia. It is under the threat of persecution that the Kingdom of God expands....
I know that for some of you in the US, this all seems so far away, not very urgent... But for me, being HERE, I am surrounded by death, darkness, injustice, persecution, racism.... Asia is someone who I've never met but have prayed for since I first heard of her arrest months ago. God has opened my eyes & heart to the persecuted church.
Friends, I ask for one more thing to pray for- me. Because I see so much evil prevail, my faith has been challenged. When I pray for deliverance of something that God can use for his glory & see the wicked get the 'victory'- like the 4 American's whose yacht was hijacked & they were killed- I..... Just don't know.... The Pslams talks about God rescuing his people... But He sometimes chooses not to. Why? I don't know... But as I struggle to reconcile that, I know I still have to trust him.
Thanks for praying alongside me. God bless each of you who have entered the throne on behalf of a stranger, who is really our dear sister.