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Muslim Persecution of Christians: September, 2011 by Raymond Ibrahim
Muslim Persecution of Christians: September, 2011
by Raymond IbrahimOctober 12, 2011 at 5:00 am
This is a repost of an article published in Hudson New York.
See HERE.
An especially busy month in the persecution of Christians in the Muslim world, September also witnessed Secretary of State Hillary Clinton release the Annual Report on International Religious Freedom. Ironically, aside from Iran and Sudan, none of the countries that habitually appears in this series was designated among the "countries of particular concern," defined by the State Department as countries that are "engaged in or tolerated particularly severe violations of religious freedom."
Egypt, for instance—which this year alone has seen over fifty Christians killed, their many churches burned or bombed, and their daughters kidnapped and forcibly converted—was not listed as a "country of particular concern," despite the fact that the U.S. Commission for International Religious Freedom, an independent, bipartisan federal government commission, has recommended that the State Department designate it so.
Neither was Pakistan cited as a "country of particular concern." According to CNS news, "Clinton did not designate Pakistan even though the State Department's own report stated that Pakistani law calls for the death penalty for people who commit 'blasphemy' against Islam or who convert from Islam to another religion—and even though the report listed multiple instances of the Pakistani government using the law to persecute Christians."
September alone saw the following in Pakistan:
Blasphemy
Indonesia: A Muslim suicide bomber attacked a packed church, killing himself and wounding at least 27 worshippers, some critically. Security received advance warning but, as often happens in Muslim majority countries, left their post at the time of the attack.
Tunisia: Around 20 Muslims attempted to transform a Christian church into a mosque "in an ominous sign of the growing threat to the country's small Church in the wake of the revolution." The police dispersed them, but "they have been invited to make an official request to the faith ministry" to transform the church into a mosque.
Iran: A Christian pastor remains incarcerated awaiting execution for refusing to renounce Christianity. The government of Iran, under international criticism, now claims that he is getting the death penalty, not because of religion, but because he is a "Zionist," a "rapist," and other new charges, even though its own court documents clearly assert his crime is apostasy.
Somalia: A Muslim convert to Christianity was abducted and decapitated, his body dumped in the road, by Muslims from al-Shabaab, "a militant group with ties to al Qaeda" that has "vowed to rid Somalia of Christianity." According to a leader of the underground church: "It is usual for the al-Shabaab to decapitate those they suspect to have embraced the Christian faith, or sympathizers of Western ideals."
Sudan: 129 people in southern Sudan were arrested and charged with apostasy, which "carries a maximum sentence of death." The plaintiff maintains that while the defendants may be familiar with the Koran, they are not upholding the "Sunna ]path] of Muhammad": "Given the track record of the Government of Sudan, it is possible that Article 126 [which outlaws apostasy] is being used to suppress ethnic minorities and those who the state perceives as potential sources of opposition."
Iraq: Three Christians were kidnapped: According to police sources, "Gunmen in a modern vehicle blocked the Christians' way, set their white Landrover [car] on fire, killed their hunting dogs and led them to an unknown destination." This abduction comes "after several other anti-Christian attacks in recent weeks, including a car bomb that exploded in August near a church in central Kirkuk..."
Iran: Along with the aforementioned Christian pastor awaiting execution, five Christians, including a "heavily pregnant woman," were ordered to "report to prison immediately to serve a one year prison sentence," after being convicted of "crimes against the Islamic Order." Also, an adopted child was confiscated from its Christian parents, as a way to pressure them to testify against fellow Christians: "If you want your child back, you must file a complaint against your fellow Christians in prison."
Kazakhstan: "Lawmakers in Kazakhstan have voted for 'controversial legislation' that Christians and rights activists say will further limit religious freedom in the mainly Muslim Central Asian state." Among other things, the new law "makes[s] it more difficult for churches to worship freely," and bans "house churches."
Philippines: In Mindanao, "the Christian minority is suffering harassment and pressure from the Muslim population. Government officials are forcing Christians to sell their land to make room for Chinese industries. According to sources, the climate of impunity, the abductions, the continuing clashes between the army and extremist Islamic groups and the economic crisis have created an unbearable atmosphere for the Christian population, who are afraid to express their faith in public."
Sudan: A Catholic priest was beaten for allegedly "preaching against [the] Islamic government and opposing its teaching and rules." Likewise, Muslims sent text messages to at least 10 church leaders in Khartoum saying they are planning to target Christian leaders, buildings, and institutions: "We want this country to be purely an Islamic state, so we must kill the infidels and destroy their churches all over Sudan," said one recent text message circulating in Khartoum.
Nigeria: Over 100 Christians have been killed by Muslim militants, many hacked to death, aided by the military; "among them was a pregnant woman who died with a child in her womb." Similarly, Muslim militants "went to shops owned by Christians at a market at about 8 p.m., ordering them to recite verses from the Quran." If they were unable to recite anything, the gunmen shot and killed them.
Syria: An anti-Assad Muslim preacher urged Muslims through sermons televised in Syria to "tear apart, chop up and feed" the meat of Christians and others who support the regime "to the dogs."
Because these accounts of persecution span different ethnicities, languages, and locales—from Morocco in the west, to India in the east, and even throughout the West, wherever there are Muslims—it should be clear that one thing alone binds them: Islam—whether the strict application of Sharia, or the supremacist culture born of it.
Previous Reports:
August, 2011
Related Items:
Why 'Christian' Persecution?
Neither was Pakistan cited as a "country of particular concern." According to CNS news, "Clinton did not designate Pakistan even though the State Department's own report stated that Pakistani law calls for the death penalty for people who commit 'blasphemy' against Islam or who convert from Islam to another religion—and even though the report listed multiple instances of the Pakistani government using the law to persecute Christians."
September alone saw the following in Pakistan:
Blasphemy
- A Christian student was expelled from school because she misspelled an Urdu word that, instead of praising, insulted Muhammad, leading to accusations of "blasphemy," which carries the death penalty. After the teacher beat her, the principal was notified and Muslims staged demonstrations "demanding registration of a criminal case against the eighth-grader and her eviction from the area." As riots and violence were about to erupt, the military intervened: "They bundled the family in an ambulance and took them away..."
- "A Christian high school teacher has suffered false accusations of blasphemy by a student and some Muslim professors, because of dislike, revenge and hatred towards Christians. He was forced to leave his job and hide; he appealed to Court, but the laconic sentence of the judge of first instance invited him to 'leave the country'…. Married and a father of three, he has been uprooted and is in hiding."
- A 30-year-old Christian man accused of blasphemy and imprisoned, died in his cell from a treatable disease, "after officials denied him proper medical care." While in prison, he and others "accused of blasphemy, were kept in solitary confinement without access to a toilet, water or electricity."
- A Christian mother of five was raped by two Muslim men, who "tend to assume they will not be prosecuted if their victims are Christians"; she and her family are being threatened with violence unless they drop the charges.
- A Christian nurse was raped by a Muslim colleague who filmed the act in an attempt to blackmail her into renouncing Christianity and marrying him: "[he] raped me while his friend filmed the entire incident. They ruined my life completely."
- Accordingly, a new report estimates that some 700 Christian girls annually are abducted, forced to convert to Islam and marry their Muslim abductors.
Attacks on Churches
Egypt: Muslims threatened Christians near Aswan for fixing a dilapidated church, even though the repairs had been authorized. They demanded that the church not have a cross, dome, bells, or even be called a "church"; weeks later, after Friday prayers, thousands of Muslims attacked the church, burning it to the ground, and demolishing its domes, as Egyptian security watched.Indonesia: A Muslim suicide bomber attacked a packed church, killing himself and wounding at least 27 worshippers, some critically. Security received advance warning but, as often happens in Muslim majority countries, left their post at the time of the attack.
Tunisia: Around 20 Muslims attempted to transform a Christian church into a mosque "in an ominous sign of the growing threat to the country's small Church in the wake of the revolution." The police dispersed them, but "they have been invited to make an official request to the faith ministry" to transform the church into a mosque.
Apostasy
Indonesia: Under accusations of encouraging Muslims to convert to Christianity, an American family (husband and wife, two sons) were attacked by a Muslim mob who set fire to their property and vehicle. "Only the intervention of police saved the[ir] lives" from "an enraged mob spurred by a local religious leader."Iran: A Christian pastor remains incarcerated awaiting execution for refusing to renounce Christianity. The government of Iran, under international criticism, now claims that he is getting the death penalty, not because of religion, but because he is a "Zionist," a "rapist," and other new charges, even though its own court documents clearly assert his crime is apostasy.
Somalia: A Muslim convert to Christianity was abducted and decapitated, his body dumped in the road, by Muslims from al-Shabaab, "a militant group with ties to al Qaeda" that has "vowed to rid Somalia of Christianity." According to a leader of the underground church: "It is usual for the al-Shabaab to decapitate those they suspect to have embraced the Christian faith, or sympathizers of Western ideals."
Sudan: 129 people in southern Sudan were arrested and charged with apostasy, which "carries a maximum sentence of death." The plaintiff maintains that while the defendants may be familiar with the Koran, they are not upholding the "Sunna ]path] of Muhammad": "Given the track record of the Government of Sudan, it is possible that Article 126 [which outlaws apostasy] is being used to suppress ethnic minorities and those who the state perceives as potential sources of opposition."
"Dhimmitude" (Abuse, Debasement, and Suppression of Christians)
Egypt: A 14-year-old Christian girl was prevented from entering school because she refused to wear a veil: "The school management described her as a 'flaunt' for not covering her hair"…. Coptic students were forced to obey for fear of the school management's threats" except the girl and her parents, who "refused this decision because it is inconsistent with religious freedom and a blatant Islamization of education."Iraq: Three Christians were kidnapped: According to police sources, "Gunmen in a modern vehicle blocked the Christians' way, set their white Landrover [car] on fire, killed their hunting dogs and led them to an unknown destination." This abduction comes "after several other anti-Christian attacks in recent weeks, including a car bomb that exploded in August near a church in central Kirkuk..."
Iran: Along with the aforementioned Christian pastor awaiting execution, five Christians, including a "heavily pregnant woman," were ordered to "report to prison immediately to serve a one year prison sentence," after being convicted of "crimes against the Islamic Order." Also, an adopted child was confiscated from its Christian parents, as a way to pressure them to testify against fellow Christians: "If you want your child back, you must file a complaint against your fellow Christians in prison."
Kazakhstan: "Lawmakers in Kazakhstan have voted for 'controversial legislation' that Christians and rights activists say will further limit religious freedom in the mainly Muslim Central Asian state." Among other things, the new law "makes[s] it more difficult for churches to worship freely," and bans "house churches."
Philippines: In Mindanao, "the Christian minority is suffering harassment and pressure from the Muslim population. Government officials are forcing Christians to sell their land to make room for Chinese industries. According to sources, the climate of impunity, the abductions, the continuing clashes between the army and extremist Islamic groups and the economic crisis have created an unbearable atmosphere for the Christian population, who are afraid to express their faith in public."
Sudan: A Catholic priest was beaten for allegedly "preaching against [the] Islamic government and opposing its teaching and rules." Likewise, Muslims sent text messages to at least 10 church leaders in Khartoum saying they are planning to target Christian leaders, buildings, and institutions: "We want this country to be purely an Islamic state, so we must kill the infidels and destroy their churches all over Sudan," said one recent text message circulating in Khartoum.
Incitement Against, and Killing of, Christians
Egypt: In a circulated video, the grand mufti of Al Azhar, Ali Goma'a, referred to Christians as "infidels"; in the same vein, Wagdi Ghoneim, a popular cleric and former U.S. imam, called Copts "Crusaders" on Al Jazeera television, insisting that they do not deserve equal rights with the Muslims in Egypt; Abu Shadi, a representative of the Salafis, told Tahrir News that the Copts must either convert to Islam, pay jizya [an increased tax for not being a Muslim], and assume an inferior status, or die.Nigeria: Over 100 Christians have been killed by Muslim militants, many hacked to death, aided by the military; "among them was a pregnant woman who died with a child in her womb." Similarly, Muslim militants "went to shops owned by Christians at a market at about 8 p.m., ordering them to recite verses from the Quran." If they were unable to recite anything, the gunmen shot and killed them.
Syria: An anti-Assad Muslim preacher urged Muslims through sermons televised in Syria to "tear apart, chop up and feed" the meat of Christians and others who support the regime "to the dogs."
About this Series
Because the persecution of Christians in the Islamic world is endemic, on its way to reaching epidemic proportions, "Muslim Persecution of Christians" was developed in to collate some—by no means all—of the most offensive instances of Muslim persecution of Christians that surface each month. It serves two purposes:- To document that which the mainstream media does not: habitual, if not chronic, Muslim persecution of Christians.
- To show that such persecution is not "random," but systematic and interrelated—that it is ultimately rooted in a worldview inspired by Sharia Law.
Because these accounts of persecution span different ethnicities, languages, and locales—from Morocco in the west, to India in the east, and even throughout the West, wherever there are Muslims—it should be clear that one thing alone binds them: Islam—whether the strict application of Sharia, or the supremacist culture born of it.
Previous Reports:
August, 2011
Related Items:
Why 'Christian' Persecution?
Related Topics: Raymond Ibrahim receive the latest by email: subscribe to the free hudson new york mailing list
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Australian Parliament Calls for an End to Coptic Persecution in Egypt
Today, the House of Representatives honoured Australia’s commitment to religious freedom with a clear endorsement of a historic private member’s bill addressing the ongoing persecution of the Coptic Christians of Egypt.
On 19 September, Mr Craig Kelly MP, Liberal Federal Member for Hughes moved the following:
That this House:
(1) recognises that Coptic Christians in Egypt are suffering ongoing and increasing persecution;
(2) condemns the recent attacks on Coptic Christians in Egypt;
(3) expresses its sympathy for Coptic Christians who have been victims of recent attacks in Egypt; and
(4) calls on the Government to:
(a) issue a public statement condemning the ongoing attacks against the Coptic Christian minority in Egypt;
(b) make immediate representations to the United Nations to end the persecution of Coptic Christians in Egypt; and
(c) strongly urge the Egyptian Government to provide equal rights and protection for all Egyptian citizens regardless of race or religion.
Speaking to his private member’s bill, Mr Kelly noted that Egypt “is currently experiencing a period of unprecedented transition, the success of which hinges on full respect for the rule of law and compliance with international human rights standards including freedom of religion”.
At 10:00am today, Mr Kelly’s motion was passed by all members of the House.
With approximately 30 Coptic Christians observing proceedings from the Gallery, Mr Kelly acknowledged the presence of His Grace Bishop Suriel, Rev. Father Johnathan Isaac, Rev. Father Gabriel Yassa and former Sutherland Shire Councillor Magdi Mikhail.
In his statement to the House, following the passing of his motion, Mr Kelly referred to the brutal military violence against Coptic Christian demonstrators on 9 October 2011, which left at least 24 dead and at least 270 injured. He stated the motion just passed could not have been more timely. He was right.
Mr Kelly urged members of the House to view videos demonstrating armoured military vehicles ploughing into unarmed Christian protestors, “although graphic and horrific.. to understand the gravity of the situation.”
In an emotional recount of a young Christian woman’s testimony, the House heard of how Miss Vivian Magi, tried to protect her dead fiancé’s body from soldiers after he was run-over an armoured vehicle. She told Egyptian TV:
“His body was in the middle of the wheels. His legs were torn. His head hit the pavement, breaking his skull. Soldiers gathered around us and started to beat him up. I begged them to leave him.. Then a soldier with a red cap came, shouting, cursing and hitting me with a stick then tried to beat him up. I threw my body on him (her fiance) … and the soldier said to me: ‘You infidel, why are you here?’”
Mr Kelly condemned the violence of the military, the very body that was meant to be protecting its civilians. He said that on that fateful day, the army had committed “mass murder” in Cairo. He also referred to the role that Egyptian State television played by instigating the violence, calling on so-called “honest Egyptians” to rush to the defence of the military who were under the attack of Coptic protestors, when in reality, it was the Copts who were being gunned down and beaten.
He spoke to the role of the international community, stating:
“Now is not the time for silence or appeasement from the international community, for as the Copts go so may go the entire Middle East. If a Christian minority cannot live in a country with a Muslim majority population without suffering persecution and institutionalised discrimination our future looks bleak.
…The moderate voices in Egypt must be put on notice in the strongest terms to root out any anti-Christian element in the army and to give equal rights to all Coptic Christians and to ensure their protection.”
The Australian Coptic Movement (ACM) thanks Mr Kelly for voicing the concerns of Australian Coptic Christians and for bringing the plight of the persecuted Christian minority of Egypt to the attention of the Australian Government. After attending a protest held by the ACM earlier this year, Mr Kelly did more than appreciate the extent of ongoing persecution that the Coptic Christians have suffered for decades. He did more than just offer words of sympathy. It is because of his tireless efforts that the result of today’s vote in that Chamber went the way it did.
The ACM also thanks each member of the House of Representatives today for doing the right thing by passing the motion.
The House of Representative’s endorsement of Mr Kelly’s motion sends a clear message to the Egyptian caretaker Government and indeed the world, that Australia does not and will not stand by in silence, whilst innocent Christians are being persecuted for their faith.
The Australian Coptic Movement
Sydney, Australia
http://www.auscma.com/2011/10/13/australian-parliament-calls-for-an-end-to-coptic-persecution-in-egypt/
On 19 September, Mr Craig Kelly MP, Liberal Federal Member for Hughes moved the following:
That this House:
(1) recognises that Coptic Christians in Egypt are suffering ongoing and increasing persecution;
(2) condemns the recent attacks on Coptic Christians in Egypt;
(3) expresses its sympathy for Coptic Christians who have been victims of recent attacks in Egypt; and
(4) calls on the Government to:
(a) issue a public statement condemning the ongoing attacks against the Coptic Christian minority in Egypt;
(b) make immediate representations to the United Nations to end the persecution of Coptic Christians in Egypt; and
(c) strongly urge the Egyptian Government to provide equal rights and protection for all Egyptian citizens regardless of race or religion.
Speaking to his private member’s bill, Mr Kelly noted that Egypt “is currently experiencing a period of unprecedented transition, the success of which hinges on full respect for the rule of law and compliance with international human rights standards including freedom of religion”.
At 10:00am today, Mr Kelly’s motion was passed by all members of the House.
With approximately 30 Coptic Christians observing proceedings from the Gallery, Mr Kelly acknowledged the presence of His Grace Bishop Suriel, Rev. Father Johnathan Isaac, Rev. Father Gabriel Yassa and former Sutherland Shire Councillor Magdi Mikhail.
In his statement to the House, following the passing of his motion, Mr Kelly referred to the brutal military violence against Coptic Christian demonstrators on 9 October 2011, which left at least 24 dead and at least 270 injured. He stated the motion just passed could not have been more timely. He was right.
Mr Kelly urged members of the House to view videos demonstrating armoured military vehicles ploughing into unarmed Christian protestors, “although graphic and horrific.. to understand the gravity of the situation.”
In an emotional recount of a young Christian woman’s testimony, the House heard of how Miss Vivian Magi, tried to protect her dead fiancé’s body from soldiers after he was run-over an armoured vehicle. She told Egyptian TV:
“His body was in the middle of the wheels. His legs were torn. His head hit the pavement, breaking his skull. Soldiers gathered around us and started to beat him up. I begged them to leave him.. Then a soldier with a red cap came, shouting, cursing and hitting me with a stick then tried to beat him up. I threw my body on him (her fiance) … and the soldier said to me: ‘You infidel, why are you here?’”
Mr Kelly condemned the violence of the military, the very body that was meant to be protecting its civilians. He said that on that fateful day, the army had committed “mass murder” in Cairo. He also referred to the role that Egyptian State television played by instigating the violence, calling on so-called “honest Egyptians” to rush to the defence of the military who were under the attack of Coptic protestors, when in reality, it was the Copts who were being gunned down and beaten.
He spoke to the role of the international community, stating:
“Now is not the time for silence or appeasement from the international community, for as the Copts go so may go the entire Middle East. If a Christian minority cannot live in a country with a Muslim majority population without suffering persecution and institutionalised discrimination our future looks bleak.
…The moderate voices in Egypt must be put on notice in the strongest terms to root out any anti-Christian element in the army and to give equal rights to all Coptic Christians and to ensure their protection.”
The Australian Coptic Movement (ACM) thanks Mr Kelly for voicing the concerns of Australian Coptic Christians and for bringing the plight of the persecuted Christian minority of Egypt to the attention of the Australian Government. After attending a protest held by the ACM earlier this year, Mr Kelly did more than appreciate the extent of ongoing persecution that the Coptic Christians have suffered for decades. He did more than just offer words of sympathy. It is because of his tireless efforts that the result of today’s vote in that Chamber went the way it did.
The ACM also thanks each member of the House of Representatives today for doing the right thing by passing the motion.
The House of Representative’s endorsement of Mr Kelly’s motion sends a clear message to the Egyptian caretaker Government and indeed the world, that Australia does not and will not stand by in silence, whilst innocent Christians are being persecuted for their faith.
The Australian Coptic Movement
Sydney, Australia
http://www.auscma.com/2011/10/13/australian-parliament-calls-for-an-end-to-coptic-persecution-in-egypt/
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Egypt: Destroying Churches, one at a time
by Raymond Ibrahim
Hudson New York
October 10, 2011
What clearer sign that Egypt is turning rabidly Islamist than the fact that hardly a few weeks go by without a church being destroyed, or without protesting Christians being attacked and slaughtered by the military?
The latest chaos in Egypt—where the military opened fire on unarmed Christians and repeatedly ran armored vehicles over them, killing dozens—originates in Edfu, a onetime tourist destination renowned for its pharaonic antiquities, but now known as the latest region to see a church destroyed by a Muslim mob.
This church attack is itself eye-opening as to the situation in Egypt.
Read further at: http://www.meforum.org/3065/egypt-destroying-churches
Hudson New York
October 10, 2011
What clearer sign that Egypt is turning rabidly Islamist than the fact that hardly a few weeks go by without a church being destroyed, or without protesting Christians being attacked and slaughtered by the military?
The latest chaos in Egypt—where the military opened fire on unarmed Christians and repeatedly ran armored vehicles over them, killing dozens—originates in Edfu, a onetime tourist destination renowned for its pharaonic antiquities, but now known as the latest region to see a church destroyed by a Muslim mob.
This church attack is itself eye-opening as to the situation in Egypt.
Read further at: http://www.meforum.org/3065/egypt-destroying-churches
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