Egypt's only hope: Freedom Fighters

By Dr. Ashraf Ramelah, founder and president of Voice of the Copts
Special to ASSIST News Service

Anti Morsi protestors in Cairo

CAIRO, EGYPT (ANS) -- This month marks the two-year anniversary of Egypt's revolution for democracy led by youth freedom fighters. Their movement remains as vital today as when the uprising began on January 25, 2011 -- currently the same number of core participants, zeal and commitment to human rights. To date, their failure to bring forth the democratic goals for which they stand is due largely to the spontaneity comprised within the origin of their revolt, lack of preparation and the absence of a plan.

Moreover, the tragedy of this rebellion to this moment remains in the fact that no political leaders have risen out of a body of more than 100,000 protesters (at times expanding to half a million like-minded demonstrators) making up this magnificent and courageous force responsible for toppling an authoritarian dictator in the name of freedom.
Steadfast and resistant to Egypt's embedded corruption and ruthless Islamists and admirably vigilant for the past two years, Egypt's 2011 "Spring" should have by now entered the annals of Egypt's modern-day history and celebrated for the dawn of democracy, or so this was the dream.

However denouncing and trouncing an authoritarian regime doesn't immediately or easily disintegrate a state, its ideology or its parasites. The complexities intrinsic to this process of rebellion so far are worth looking into in order to determine if Egypt's struggle for human rights and a democratic system is final and defeated, as it appears today, or just beginning.

Upon the overthrow of Mubarak in February 2011, there was unanimous hope within revolutionary ranks that the Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF, the interim governing body) would protect them and defend the principles of democracy on behalf of the people - naively taking for granted that Egypt's military, commonly perceived to side with the interests of the ordinary Egyptian, would solidly ally with freedom fighters. Here the benefits of youth (the might and the fight) gave way to the disadvantage of immature and inexperienced judgment in this critical matter (the majority of protesters are under 30 years old).

Witnessing the personal interests of SCAF members materialize at the expense of their country's future especially on the backs of their personal sacrifices which included torture and bloodshed, protesters persisted and ramped up their presence. In spite of this, SCAF began to share power with the Muslim Brotherhood in backroom deals. This frustrated the democracy effort causing further disgust.

Coptic Christians let their voice be heard

Furthermore the Muslim Brotherhood accelerated the date of the first Parliamentary election held after Mubarak's downfall with the consent of SCAF and a fixed outcome for an Islamist majority. Egyptian youths reacted again by staging protests against tyranny. Blinded by the momentum of what was deemed to be liberty unfolding, many bought into the pro-democracy rhetoric coming from Brotherhood spokespersons and either could not or chose not to see or judge their contradictory actions.
Meanwhile, a branch of protesters regarded Brotherhood involvement and their level of success as a categorical step oriented toward Sharia and were ignited against them. Disillusionment set in among a portion of the youth as Egypt's transformation backward fast forwarded. Protesters, however, were reunited and reinvigorated by this ill-fated development and resolved to persevere as the year 2011 came to a close.

Although the war was far from over for pro-democracy liberals, the battle for the rewrite of Egypt's constitution under the jurisdiction of SCAF was about to be lost with the upcoming of November 2011- January 2012 parliamentary elections. This proved to be a significant setback for the cause of freedom in Egypt as recent history has shown.

Mid-2012 brought the Presidential election with a list of candidates belonging to well-established parties with democratic-sounding names but with backgrounds of an opposite nature. Missing from the list was a candidate or party actually of the freedom fighters or genuinely linked to them.

When the "democratic" election took place, it was fraught with problems of fraud and visible cheating conducted by the Freedom and Justice Party and candidate Mohammad Morsi. Resulting in a count dispute, the election was resolved by a candidate selection made behind closed doors and handled by SCAF which publicly announced the highest vote getter of the final vote count to be Mr. Morsi. Rumors grew and skeptics were plentiful.

Immediately following his installation as President, Mr. Morsi systematically withdrew, negated or ignored every pro-democracy campaign promise he made to Egyptians. All eyes were wide open to his consolidation of power within the executive office in November 2012, and freedom fighters began to view Mr. Morsi as a dictator of a new and worse regime.

Within days of his expanded powers, Mr. Morsi used the Muslim Brotherhood to push back pro-democracy liberals voicing opposition to his power grab -- attacking, kidnapping and torturing peaceful protesters in front of the Presidential palace as Mr. Morsi escaped through the servants' quarters to avoid confronting freedom fighters enraged by his militia.

After the December 2012 constitutional draft referendum brought approval of "Allah's law" - officially moving Egypt away from democracy, freedom and human rights -- Egyptians now know two things. This vote does not represent the true desire of the majority of Egyptians and that Mr. Morsi's interest in democracy is nothing but a fantasy held by the West.

While visiting Cairo last month before the second half of the constitutional referendum, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Michael Posner was asked by CNN's Christiane Amanpour in a Dec 11 interview if he thought that Egypt would be worse off than before Mubarak was deposed should the draft constitution be approved. He did not flat out condemn the new Sharia draft constitution written by Islamists and refused to answer her question.

However, speaking with "great concern," Mr. Posner went on to insist that "consistent with what the government of Egypt says they will do," human rights content in Egypt's draft constitution can be achieved as well as a democratic process inclusive of all Egyptians. Unlike pro-democracy freedom fighters that have no faith in Morsi's government and never really had, Mr. Posner wrongly places his hope, albeit merely a shred, in Mr. Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood. America for some reason, in spite of all the evidence to the contrary, has shown faith in a Muslim Brotherhood rise to power in Egypt and from the earliest point has offered encouragement.

Barring an intervention (military, financial, media) bolstering Egypt's grass roots freedom fighters and advancing them toward civil war, 2013 could bring a crushing defeat for rebellion forces due to the divisive tactics of Morsi's regime spreading religious intolerance and suppressing speech within their defenses.

However, by Mr. Morsi allowing Egypt to decline economically and fall into bankruptcy, he would unwittingly serve to swell the ranks of revolutionary freedom fighters as the natural outcome of deprivation. Impoverished and depleted with nowhere to turn, the bereft -- without food, clothing, shelter, work or savings -- will pour into the streets to join the fight against the powers that be.

Meanwhile, Mr. Posner should take a lesson from Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Tawakkol Karmon, in her Lessen for Arab Spring. She cautions that the government's "good intentions" must never be relied upon.

Note: Copts are by far the largest Christian community in the Middle East. Ninety-five percent of Copts in Egypt are Orthodox and the remaining population is divided between Catholic and Protestant denominations. Copts living in Egypt represent between 15-20% of the total population of Egypt today.

Cuba: Church Leaders Denounce Government Threats to Destroy Church Property in Camaguey

By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries

A clip from the smuggled out video (see link below)

CAMAGUEY, CUBA (ANS) -- Leaders of the Apostolic Movement, a fast-growing unregistered network of protestant churches, have condemned threats by government officials to destroy church property in the central Cuban city of Camaguey. They are also calling on the government to cease its harassment of relatives of church members.

According to Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), Pastor Bernardo de Quesada, a national leader of the church group, has publicly denounced an order from the Provincial Ministry of Housing that he and his wife demolish an outdoor covered patio, used by the church for meetings.
Pastor de Quesada pointed out that this demand, made by housing official Leonel del Risco Franco, directly contradicts written permission for construction of the patio issued by another government agency, which added that "permission for this type of construction is not necessary."

Church leaders also complained that the Cuban government is targeting the family members of its leaders, some of whom are not otherwise associated with the religious group.

"In one particularly egregious case, the government has cut off the electricity to the Camaguey home of decorated retired military officer Lieutenant Colonel Orlando Porfirio and his 69 year old wife Nuvia Ortiz Acosta, in what they believe is an attempt to put pressure on their adult son, a worship leader in a church affiliated with the Apostolic Movement," said a CSW spokesperson.

"Lieutenant Colonel Orlando Porfirio Perez, who does not attend the church, and his wife Nuvia Ortiz Acosta, who suffers from thyroid tumours, have not had electricity to their home since 9 October and have received no response to repeated written complaints to government officials."

Pastor Omar Gude Perez with his wife during happier times

The Apostolic Movement has come under particular attack by government officials in recent years. Churches affiliated with the group have been subjected to repeated fines and had property confiscated or destroyed. A number of its leaders, including Pastor Omar Gude Perez, have been imprisoned for various lengths of time.
Officials at the Central Committee for the Cuban Communist Party's Office for Religious Affairs (ORA) have refused attempts to register the religious group. In 2010, CSW published a video of the head of ORA, Caridad Diego, speaking openly about the government's attempts to eradicate the group.

Andrew Johnston, Advocacy Director at Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) said, "Once again we call on the Cuban government to uphold the religious freedom of all its citizens and to instruct government officials at the national, provincial and municipal levels to cease their harassment of the Apostolic Movement and other religious groups.

"The government must also halt its policy of targeting those who have committed no crime except to be related to someone affiliated with the church. We specifically call on the Housing Authority to rescind the order to demolish the church patio in Camaguey and to restore electricity to the home of Lieutenant Colonel Porfirio Perez and his wife immediately."

The Cuban government has not responded to requests for an explanation and continues to maintain that there is religious freedom in Cuba.

However, in early 2010, Caridad Diego, the long-time head of the Office of Religious Affairs for the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party addressed a group of leaders from the Cuban Council of Churches and openly admitted to the government's targeted persecution of churches affiliated with the Apostolic Movement. Some of those in attendance were so shocked by her admission that they clandestinely filmed her speech.

The video was smuggled out of the country and leaders of the Apostolic Movement asked Christian Solidarity Worldwide to make it public so that the world might know, in a government official's own words, that they are the victims of an officially sanctioned campaign of persecution.

CSW's video of Caridad Diego is available here -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8QmvquACBM

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) is a Christian organization working for religious freedom through advocacy and human rights, in the pursuit of justice.

For further information or to arrange interviews please contact Kiri Kankhwende, Press Officer at Christian Solidarity Worldwide on +44 (0)20 8329 0045 / +44 (0) 78 2332 9663, email kiri@csw.org.uk or visit www.csw.org.uk.

Note from Dan Wooding. I have been to Cuba on three separate occasions, and after my last reporting trip, I was informed that I am no longer welcome in the country and will be arrested if I ever come back.

European Court to Rule on Controversial Christian Freedom Cases

The European Parliament building in Strasbourg, France

LONDON, Jan. 11, 2013 /Christian Newswire/ -- Judgment in the cases of four UK Christians will be handed down at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg at 09:00 GMT (04:00 EST) on Tuesday 15th January 2013.

The cases are being carefully watched across the world. Of particular interest will be the interpretation of how the very strong provision for 'freedom of thought, conscience and religion' under Article 9 translates into practical protections in diverse European societies.

The decision of the European Court will determine the direction of freedom of religion from Lisbon to Vladivostok; the rights of Christian employees in the workplace to 'reasonable accommodation' of their faith.

Two of the cases (Chaplin and Eweida) relate to the visible wearing of a cross. The other cases (McFarlane and Ladele) relate to protection of Christian conscience in the professional arena.

At a hearing in September 2012, the UK government contested all the cases in spite of public statements in support of freedom to wear the cross by the Prime Minister and other government ministers.

The Christian Legal Centre is directly supporting Gary McFarlane and Shirley Chaplin.

Nurse Shirley Chaplin had worn her confirmation cross on a small chain around her neck, without incident, throughout her nearly thirty years in front-line nursing. Then, as part of a new uniform policy, she was told to remove it although allowances were made for the religious dress of others.

Gary McFarlane, an experienced relationships counselor indicated that he might have a conscientious objection to providing sex therapy to a same-sex couple if the situation ever arose. He was dismissed for gross misconduct even though no-one had been denied a service, the scenario was only hypothetical and there were others who would have met any demand for the disputed service.

Andrea Minichiello Williams, Director of the Christian Legal Centre, said:

"These are landmark cases and we have waited a long time to get to this point. At stake is not only the future shape of Christian involvement in community life but the protection of important personal freedoms in a diverse society."

Mali rebels push government region

(Photo courtesy of Magharebia)

Mali (MNN) ― A pepper of gunfire continues to play back and forth between Islamic rebels in Mali’s north and the Mali army in the south.

On Wednesday, Mali’s military attacked the rebel Islamic group called Ansar Dine with heavy weapons along the north-south dividing line, according to Mali officials. Rebels boasted of capturing soldiers in the attack.

Earlier on Tuesday, Islamist fighters reportedly pushed toward Mopti--the last government-controlled city in the north--and the army held them off with “warning shots.”

Peace talks were scheduled between the Mali government and Ansar Dine group members in the neighboring country of Burkina Faso on Thursday.
The potential for rebel forces in the northern territory--an area the size of France--to push south is troubling. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said to BBC News, “Obviously we are very concerned about the situation, and the development of essentially an entire terrorist region is of grave concern to everybody in the international community.”

While most of the world is fixated on radical Islamic presence in countries like Iran, Afghanistan, and Nigeria, Mali has kept a low profile. Muslim extremists didn’t rise up until March 2012 in a coup that led to their north takeover. The Taureg insurgents wanted to make their own country in the north.

Paul Estabrooks with Open Doors USA says, “The first thing they did was a kind of religious ethnic cleansing. They began to do house-to-house searches. They literally warned Christians that if they didn’t get out of this new country in the north part of Mali, they would kill them--and they weren’t joking. Many Christians were killed; others were injured severely.”

The Open Doors World Watch List tracks the top 50 countries that carry out persecution of Christians and restrict religious freedom. When the 2013 World Watch List was released January 8, the results for Mali were shocking.

According to Estabrooks, “Mali was not even on the World Watch List last year, and because of all the challenges there, [Mali] has suddenly jumped to 7th place out of 50 countries. It is a significant factor.”

Members of the group Ansar Dine are applying Islamic law in their north region, even punishing moderate Muslims. There have been reports of public amputations, executions, and whippings. Several people fled to neighboring countries and are living in refugee camps.

“It’s been a fairly quiet country, so [Christians] haven’t had a strong history of persecution,” says Estabrooks. “So when it comes suddenly like it has in Mali, it’s a real challenge for believers because they haven’t really prepared for what’s going on. The fear factor is an extremely difficult thing for them to deal with.”

Estabrooks says, “It’s a highly speculative situation at the moment. I mean we just don’t know what’s going to happen. Is it possible that things could be returned to some kind of normalcy? Or if not, will the north just literally overrun the south which is what they want to do? We’re in a wait-and-see kind of situation.”

Please pray for Christians to stand strong under persecution. Pray also for their safety. Pray that they would be ambassadors for Christ and bring hope to others living in fear.

Christian workers need your help in Nigeria

(Image courtesy of Christian Aid Mission)

Nigeria (MNN/CAM) ― While past and present Nigerian presidents war over words, Christian Aid Mission reports a stark reality.

According to Human Rights Watch, the Boko Haram has taken over 2,800 lives, with 2012 slated as their bloodiest year. In the past, the militant Islamist group with ties to al-Qaeda targeted other Muslims they felt were on an immoral path, but increasingly they have targeted Christ-followers.

Earlier this week in an interview with CNN, former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo criticized the current government's handling of Boko Haram's terrorist activities. President Goodluck Jonathan, a believer who took office in 2011, responded through his spokesman on Twitter.

"In Jan. 2013, OBJ (Obasanjo) tells CNN Govt should adopt a carrot and stick approach to Boko Haram," the spokesman tweeted. "Genocide & dialogue? Where exactly does he stand?"

A ministry helped by Christian Aid says Boko Haram attacks are occurring almost daily in their location.

Christian Aid has helped an indigenous ministry in Yola, Nigeria, since 1986. Last year, multiple Boko Haram attacks killed over 20 people in Yola. A recent attack claimed the lives of four, including a grandmother and grandchild burned to death in their home.

"In an official letter to the Police Commissioner, terrorist spokesmen threatened to make Yola another center and target of their operations," a native missionary ministry leader told Christian Aid Africa Director, Rae Burnett, in an e-mail. "This week they used mortar weapons and heavy machinery to attack the police station.

"We are all shaking."

This ministry has 183 workers planting churches and discipling converts among unreached Muslim and animist tribes throughout Nigeria. They're trying to move their headquarters to a safer location, but they need your help to get there.

Click here to help Christian workers ministering in Nigeria.

There are several additional things needed that would enable the ministry to move forward in reaching those who have never heard the Gospel:

    • Building and furnishing the office, including relocation and cost of movement, staff accommodations, and other fees.
    • A one-year course in the School of Missions for 16 English-speaking and 21 Hausa-speaking Nigerian trainees.
    • Posting and settling 38 new missionaries. This will include transportation, new stations, building or renting simple homes, motor bikes, and other necessities for families.
    • Completing and providing materials for the Muslim Convert Care Center, which needs four sewing machines, one grinding machine, mosquito nets, food, an additional building, and two motorcycles. This is where Muslim converts are protected while being discipled.
    • Monthly support for missionaries and school fees for their children. None of the missionaries are on salary; they live by faith.
    • At least 16 motorcycles are urgently needed for fields in the far north with 87-99% Muslims.

Ask God to protect and encourage believers ministering in this dangerous region. Pray that all needed funding would come in.

Southern Baptist 32-year legacy lives on

Physician Martha Myers, hospital administrator Bill Koehn,
 and purchasing manager Kathy Gariety were killed Dec. 30, 2002
when a militant gunman burst into a room where they were holding an
early-morning meeting. He opened fire on them with a semiautomatic pistol,
 then moved to another room where he shot pharmacist Don Caswell twice.
 (Image courtesy of IMB)

Yemen (MNN/IMB) ― It's been just over decade since three Southern Baptist hospital workers were shot and killed in Yemen, and the Southern Baptist International Mission Board says one of the victim's passions is passing on to the next generation.

On December 30, 2002, a Muslim militant entered Jibla Baptist Hospital and shot Bill Koehn, Martha Myers, Kathy Gariety and Don Caswell. Myers died almost instantly, while hospital workers did their best to save Gariety and Koehn. Only Caswell survived.

Marty Koehn made it to the hospital before her husband passed away, and she was able to spend a few precious moments with Bill before he went to be with the Lord. After his passing, Marty realized there were many decisions to be made: would she stay in Yemen? Would she return to the United States?

Within 30 minutes of becoming a widow, she sensed an answer.

"Out of the blue, the Lord brought to mind Elisabeth Elliot's story," says Koehn. "I had never read the book, and of course the movie wasn't out at that point, but I had heard of [Elliot's] story, and the Lord reminded me of it.

"To me, it was His clear indication that I was supposed to go back to Yemen."

After going home to the United States to grieve and spend time with her two daughters, Koehn returned to Yemen -- a land where she and Bill had served for nearly 30 years. Upon her return, Koehn also found a role in which to serve: purchasing agent and warehouse manager for the hospital.

It had previously been filled by Kathy Gariety.

"To me, this was another indication God wanted me to go back," Koehn says. "That was the one job I could do because it required someone who knew both English and Arabic, and it was a nonmedical position.

"[The Lord] was preparing everything."
On December 31, 2002 -- the day after the shootings -- Jibla Baptist Hospital was transferred from Southern Baptist ownership to the Yemeni government. The government assumed responsibility of the medical facility in 2003 and continued to employ Southern Baptist workers until its closing in May 2007. Koehn chose this time to retire in Texas to be near family.

Bill and Marty's legacy is living on in a granddaughter who is considering the mission field. She had visited her grandparents in Yemen as a child and seen their ministry firsthand.

Pray that the Lord would guide her steps.

Yemen is in the Top 10 on the Open Doors USA World Watch List, a ranking of 50 countries where persecution of Christians for religious reasons is worst. Many Christians have been abducted, physically harmed and killed, and churches have been damaged or destroyed. Tens of thousands of Christians have fled Yemen.

Syrian Takeover Could be 'Game-Changer' Says Christian Aid Mideast Director

By Bill Bray
Special Correspondent, ASSIST News Service

Scene during fighting in Aleppo

ALEPPO, SYRIA (ANS) -- Now, ten weeks after the take-over of this ancient Syrian capital from the government, local indigenous leaders are telling Christian Aid Mission that the rebel army is clearly reorganizing the surrounding cities under Sharia law.

"Emirs" or "ruler princes" are being appointed over suburban and outlaying towns along the lines of similar Sharia Taliban-controlled areas in Pakistan and Afghanistan according to local mission sources on the ground here.

"This could a real game-changer," says the Middle East Area Director for the Charlottesville-based Christian Aid Mission, "there is a strong fear that changes being made now could stay in place for generations to come - and so we need to support indigenous evangelistic and refugee relief services while the door is still wide open."

Christian Aid is collecting and sending financial assistance to Christian communities here. Most of the aid is being used to buy bottles of cooking gas, pay electrical bills, buy bread and other food staples, medicine and clinic bills, and cash allowances to the most desperate. Contributions are being received by phone (434-977-5650) and online (www.ChristianAid.org) designated to Gift Code 400REF.

Inflation here is causing prices to soar, especially for heating fuel, critical now because of the winter cold. Christians rarely leave their homes or neighborhoods for fear of kidnapping, snipers and mortars. Most of the historic and industrial neighborhoods have been destroyed, which is where Christians had been employed before the civil war came here in October.

While most of the personal violence in the area has so far been directed against Alawite Muslims and government loyalists, there is a fear that Christians and other minorities might be next under the emerging system of Islamic Emirates. However, from the beginning there has been evidence of deliberate attacks on Christian institutions.

More churches and Christian institutions have been deliberately destroyed in the last two months than in the last 100 years as the various Christian communities here had worked out a respectful peace. Large minorities of Christian Arabs, Syriacs, Assyrians and Armenians live here.
"I'm most concerned for my son," said one of the indigenous Christian leaders, "like all the children here he is getting a big education in violence, learning about weapons and ways of killing - seeing and hearing about beheadings and slashings - I am very sad. Our teenagers are being tempted and urged to join the fight."

Electricity is only available one or two hours a day so refrigeration and regular communications and business activity is impossible.

From the early days of the revolution, many Christians here were deeply suspicious of the "Arab Spring" democracy movement. It is now evident that Syrian rebels are acting in line with what has happened in Egypt where the hardline Muslim Brotherhood has taken over and put an end to all hopes for freedom or justice.

Christian leaders in the community have made the distribution of aid and services such as counseling, evangelism and worship their primary activity during the fighting. Christmas and New Year's celebrations were conducted in churches and homes, but inflation made normal celebrations impossible.

Even simple things like a bag of bread, when it is available, now cost 12 times the price prior to the revolution.

"Anyway," says one of the most respected local missionaries here, "all this is a very good chance for the Gospel! What is a tragedy from one viewpoint is a blessing from the other - especially for the Sunni people who have fled to Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey. In the refugee camps, many are hearing the Gospel for the first time."

Christian Aid Mission, headed by Cynthia H. Finley, the wife of founder Bob Finley, is assisting indigenous missions groups working among 3000 tribes, tongues and nations in 122 countries. It was founded in 1953 as a ministry to foreign visitors from closed lands such as China and India and is headquartered in Charlottesville, Virginia, www.ChristianAid.org

Colombia: Murdered evangelist’s widow also killed after threats

3 orphaned by ELN guerrillas’ actions, death threats continue

Photo: Alicia Castilla, taken at her home in August 2012

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 9 (World Watch Monitor) — Four months after guerrillas of the National Liberation Army (ELN) sent a murdered evangelist's wife their first demand to abandon her home in northeast Colombia's volatile Arauca department, the militants made good on their threats, report sources close to Open Doors, a ministry to persecuted Christians.

On Monday, Jan 7th 2013, as the family's pastor finished an evening devotional in the home of widow Alicia Castilla, assassins entered the home and opened fire on her with pistols, killing her instantly in front of her three children and her father.

An Open Doors worker who cannot be named for security reasons told World Watch Monitor that before leaving the home, the guerrillas told Castilla's son, 18-year-old Hernán, that the rest of the family had three days to leave the region. After that, the killers warned, they would return and one by one kill other family members.

Castilla's death follows the murder of her husband, lay evangelist Nelson Ramos, two years before, in January 2011, also at the hands of the ELN. The armed rebel group holds a virtual sway of terror over the area.

Ramos, who had come to faith in Christ two years before his death, often shared the gospel in Saravena, a border town near Colombia's frontier with Venezuela. A few months after his conversion, the ELN issued its first expulsion order against him and his family.

"When Nelson preached, people were attracted to the gospel," the Open Doors worker said. "He was always talking about Christ."

Hernán Ramos, the couple's son, told the Open Doors worker that, beyond denouncing his father for preaching, the guerrillas never fully explained why they so adamantly wanted to drive out the family. After he had received threats during 2010, guerrillas entered the family's home and shot the elder Ramos as his wife and two small daughters watched.

In the months following Ramos' death, Castilla feared that her son would carry out his stated plans to avenge the death of his father. But at a July 2011 encounter ministering to children in the persecuted church who have lost one or both parents (held by the ministry), Hernán renounced his earlier vow to join the Colombian military to gain training in weaponry and avenge his father's murder. Instead he was baptized and became deeply involved in church activities.

Castilla, in her mid 40s, joined an Open Doors group that supports widowed victims of persecution. The group began in Arauca in 2010 and today includes 30 families across Colombia. The Open Doors worker last saw Castilla on Dec 21, in Saravena at a ministry workshop where Hernán restated his commitment to not avenge his father's death.

While she was away attending the workshop, guerrillas visited Castilla's house with a third warning to leave. Castilla was willing to move, but her elderly father was not.

"She was always bearing witness about forgiveness and living in peace," the Open Doors worker said. "Alicia was a woman who was very committed to God, but from the start she was very worried about the threats."

Although local government authorities are mandated to remove murder victims from crime scenes, they refused to handle Castilla’s body, fearing reprisals from the ELN insurgents. Finally funeral home workers retrieved her body.

“The local authorities understand who the guerrillas consider their enemy, and they prefer not to visit certain places,” the Open Doors worker said.

Founded in 1964, the ELN is one of several illegal armed groups fighting for control of the rich petroleum resources in this area along Colombia's eastern-central border with Venezuela.

The violent groups use the Arauca department as a narcotrafficking route, forcibly recruit children into their ranks, and persecute those who oppose them, namely the church. A culture of death governs the region amid an atmosphere of fear and revenge.

“The ELN believe that Christians are brainwashed with the Bible, and that they will never support their revolution,” the Open Doors worker said. The militants are also suspicious that Christians are spies and informants for the government, and complain that they give funds to their churches and refuse to support rebel activities.

“They also notice that when Christians fast and pray, the guerrillas’ violent plans against them are oddly stopped!”

"We must pray that Hernán's heart and decisions don't change, that everything be transformed into blessing and not a chain of blood and hate," the Open Doors coordinator for Arauca said. “We pray for his protection, and also for his little sisters Rosmy and Jackeline, ages 9 and 6, who now face life without either one of their parents.”





Copyright 2013 World Watch Monitor

More religious activities proposed for legal chopping block

Kyrgyzstan (MNN) ― Throughout 2012, government officials tookone step after another, trying to keep extremist ideology from spreading throughout Kyrgyzstan.

Now, it appears they're moving beyond censorship to punishment. According to Forum 18 News, officials are trying to get more activities to be considered as "violations" of the nation's Religion Law.

Forum 18 says the proposed administrative code is much longer than the current one, Article 395. This article punishes youth ministry and the refusal by church leadership to register with the government.

Article 395 would expand dramatically if the new amendments are passed.

Sharing the Gospel openly or trying to lead kids to Christ would result in fines. Activities like praying outside the walls of a registered church building, teaching Christianity without personal registration, and conducting unregistered religious activity would be regarded as "violations" of the Religion Law.

Missionaries to Kyrgyzstan and missionary groups would also be subject to legal heat.

"Any religious activity without state registration by foreign organizations and individuals," reports Forum 18, "would be punished by fines…deportation…and a ban on the activity of the organizations, including local branches."

Multiple religious groups expressed concern about the new amendments, a source told Forum 18.

"All of the religious leaders present without exception were very worried about the amendments," said Galina Kolodzinskaia of the Inter-Religious Council in the Kyrgyz Republic. "If adopted, the punishments will definitely be used.

"We regard them as a way for the authorities to collect money from religious communities."

Representatives of Muslim, Protestant Christian, Jewish, and Buddhist communities participate in the Council. 

Kolodzinskaia spoke to Forum 18 after the council's meeting earlier this week and said members plan to make their opposition known to government officials.

Forum 18 says the new amendments would need approval from the Committee of Ministers Department before it can be considered by parliament. However, the drafts were returned "for further work" on December 31, 2012.

Pray that additional punishments would not be added.

Kyrgyzstan's Religion Law, which passed in 2009, requires all religious organizations to be registered with the state. Since the inception of the Religion Law, officials have repeatedly tried to make the code harsher.

New censorship amendments were added last month and increased state control over all religious literature. Additional draft amendments appeared before parliament in October 2012 and, if adopted, would impose the following restrictions: 

•   • Government permission would be required for students to attend foreign religious colleges.
•   • Each religious group would need 200 Kyrgyzstani founders in one location.
•   • Foreigners would need a state license to proclaim their faith.

Pray that Kyrgyzstani believers would share their faith boldly, despite governmental restrictions.

Salafi party selects new leader; parliamentary elections forthcoming

Egypt (MNN) ― Egypt's new constitution seems to have everyone on edge.

"There's a lot of fear, a lot of anxiety," says Rex Rogers, president of SAT-7, a Christian satellite television ministry to the Middle East and North Africa.

According to Rogers, vague wording could spell trouble for religious freedom.

"Though the regime says the constitution protects the right of churches to exist, it's rather ambiguous…they just don't buy into the idea of a pluralistic and free society," he says.

"So Christians come back, and SAT-7 comes back and talks a great deal about human rights, and freedom of worship, and respect for all people."

Factor in yesterday's election of a new hardline Islamist leader, and believers could face even more challenges in the days ahead.

"There are more Christians in that country than the rest of the Middle East combined," Rogers explains. "So as Egypt goes...it affects the entire Middle East. It's a great concern for those of us in the West, too."

A 58-year-old Muslim cleric, Younis Makhyoun, was chosen in a consensus vote to lead the Salafi Al-Nour party, Egypt's largest ultraconservative Islamist party. Makhyoun was also part of the Islamist-dominated constituent assembly that drafted the new constitution in early December.

The upcoming parliamentary elections are forefront on the newly-elected leader's mind. According to Makhyoun, Egypt's next parliament is "the most dangerous and most important" in the nation's history because its goal will be "to purify all laws from whatever violates Sharia."

The Salafi party was founded by a group of hardline Muslim clerics shortly after the 2011 Arab Spring which overthrew longtime leader Hosni Mubarak. Rogers says some believers miss Mubarak's heavily-biased rule.

Why?

"Because they have stability, some degree of protection, more senses that they were at least able to exist," Rogers explains. "Now, they're not sure where it's going, and whether or not this Arab Spring can turn into a so-called Christian Winter."

Ask God to protect Christ-followers, and pray that more people would find salvation.

"The bottom line is: they need Jesus, just like anybody else...and that's the difference," says Rogers. "You change the future of the Middle East...one heart at a time."

That's exactly what SAT-7 is trying to do through their programming.

"We talk about the Word of God, we talk about Christianity, and we try to give them the voice because it's an encouragement," Rogers says. "When you're a minority… it's very important to know that others are aware of you, care about you, reach out to you in prayer and fellowship."

Rogers says they also try to speak Truth into Middle Eastern culture.

"We try to emphasize Christian ideas without becoming political: Christian ideas of reconciliation, respect and love for others, forgiveness, peace -- those are Christian values."

You can participate in sharing the life-changing message of Jesus Christ with the people of the Middle East and North Africa, too. Just click here.

Boko Haram continues bloody path to dominance

(Photos courtesy CBN)

Nigeria (MNN) ― Suspected Boko Haram militants in northern Nigeria have killed at least 34 people since Christmas--including 27 Christians attending church services. 

So far, the body count tops more than 2,800, roughly a third of them Christians, according to Human Rights Watch. 

Frustration is growing with the ineffective government response, although President Goodluck Jonathan celebrated the arrest of significant number of terrorism suspects accused in the bombings of the Nigeria Police Headquarters and the United Nations building in Abuja. These terrorists are also believed responsible for a church bombing in Madala which killed scores.

The name Boko Haram means "Western education is sacrilege." In the past, they have attacked other Muslims they felt were on an immoral path but have increasingly killed Christians. Greg Musselman, a spokesman for the Voice of the Martyrs, Canada, explains, "They want to turn the northern part of Nigeria into an Islamic state. That is their goal, and those that would stand against that are seen as legitimate targets for the Boko Haram." 

Musselman goes on to note that even if they accomplish this goal, it won't likely stop the violence. "Eventually, they would want to take over the whole country. So again, those that would get in their way are seen as legitimate targets." 

The U.S. State Department has accused Boko Haram of attacking mosques and churches to incite tensions between the two religious groups, hoping to drive a wedge between them. That's one explanation for the spike in attacks. Another, says Musselman, is "because the Gospel is advancing into the North, and many are becoming Christians. We need be praying that the Church will not be bogged down in fear." 

That's especially true now. "What terrorism tries to do is to bring terror to people, to lock them up and prevent them from advancing the Gospel," says Musselman. The pressure is refining the Church, and the boldness of Christians is having a direct impact on the community. "Pray that there will still be boldness and wisdom in how they go about advancing God's kingdom. We need to also ask the Lord how we can  practically help through ministries like Voice of the Martyrs, Open Doors, Christian Solidarity Worldwide." 

Under the current pressures, it is dangerous to convert and dangerous for churches to integrate new converts. However, Musselman says that won't stop the Gospel or the workers they support. "Be praying and then supporting the church the best that we can, helping them, encouraging them (i.e. with orphanages for the young victims who have lost parents because of the violence)." 

European Court to Rule on Controversial Christian Freedom Cases

By Peter Wooding
Europe Bureau Chief for ASSIST News Service

LONDON, ENGLAND (ANS) -- Judgment in the cases of four UK Christians will be handed down at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg on Tuesday 15th January, according to a Christian Concern press release.

Christian Concern added that all four cases relate to the extent of effective protection under the European Convention on Human Rights for the manifestation of Christian faith in the public sphere.

Nurse Shirley Chaplin

Two of the cases nurse Shirley Chaplin and suspended British Airways check-in clerk Nadia Eweida relate to the visible wearing of a cross. The other cases of Christian counsellor Gary McFarlane and former marriage registrar Lillian Ladele relate to protection of Christian conscience in the professional arena.

Christian Concern reports that the cases are being carefully watched across Europe. They say of particular interest will be the interpretation of how the very strong provision for 'freedom of thought, conscience and religion' under Article 9 translate into practical protections in diverse European societies. The decision of the European Court will determine the direction of freedom of religion from Lisbon to Vladivostok; the rights of Christian employees in the workplace to 'reasonable accommodation' of their faith.

The Christian Legal Centre is directly supporting Gary McFarlane and Shirley Chaplin.

At a hearing in September 2012, the UK government contested all the cases in spite of public statements in support of freedom to wear the cross by the British Prime Minister and other government ministers. On 11th July 2012, David Cameron told the House of Commons: "I fully support the right of individuals to wear religious symbols at work... it is a vital religious freedom."

Watch David Cameron's response to a question about freedom to wear the cross: http://youtu.be/tgDNdcPTrHo

According to Christian Concern Shirley Chaplin had worn her confirmation cross on a small chain around her neck, without incident, throughout her nearly thirty years in front-line nursing. Then, as part of a new uniform policy, she was told to remove it although allowances were made for the religious dress of others.

 

Watch Shirley Chaplin talk about her case in a short video clip: http://youtu.be/K6sesSXqDMY

Counsellor Gary McFarlane

Gary McFarlane, an experienced relationships counsellor, indicated during a training course that if the situation ever arose he might have a conscientious objection to providing sex therapy to a same-sex couple on account of his Christian faith. He was dismissed for gross misconduct for discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, despite the fact that the issue involved a hypothetical scenario and the fact that there was no risk of anyone being denied a service, since there were many other counsellors who were willing and able to provide it.

Nadia Eweida, a British Airways employee, was also prevented from wearing a cross, whilst Lillian Ladele, a civil registrar, was disciplined by Islington Council for not being prepared to conduct civil partnership ceremonies in spite of the fact that other registrars were prepared to meet any demand for the service and Ms Ladele's conscience could have been easily accommodated by her employer.

Andrea Minichiello Williams, Director of the Christian Legal Centre, said:

"These are landmark cases and we have waited a long time to get to this point. At stake is not only the future shape of Christian involvement in community life but the protection of important personal freedoms in a diverse society."

Further information go to: www.christianconcern.com/europeancases

Teacher's Throat Cut in Mosul Becoming Latest Martyr in Northern Iraqi City

By Peter Wooding
Europe Bureau Chief for ASSIST News Service

MOSUL, NORTHERN IRAQ (ANS) -- Police in Mosul yesterday found the body of a Christian woman with her throat cut, according to Asia News.

Christian Priests in Mosul

Reporters say the gruesome discovery was made in an area where  attacks have been carried out in the past against members of the city's Christian minority, including abducted Bishop Faraj Rahho and Fr Ragheed Ganni, who was murdered.

Sources told AsiaNews that the victim is Shdha Elias, a 54-year-old Chaldean, who worked as a teacher "in a school in the al Bath neighbourhood."

She "lived however in Bar Nirgal, near the university". With her death, she joins "the long list of Christian martyrs in Mosul."

Asia News reported, "Tensions between Sunnis and Shias are running high across Iraq, not only in the North. And peace and national reconciliation appear far off."

Mosul is said to be a stronghold of Sunni Wahhabism, which is closely tied to Saudi Arabia. For experts on Iraqi politics, the aim is "to set up a state based on Sharia," with the Qur'an and the Sunnah as the basis of legislation and "Islam as the only state religion". In such a system, members of other religions can choose between conversion, flight or paying taxes for non-Muslims.

Asia News says in northern Iraq, Christians have been targeted for murder and kidnapping for the purpose of extortion. They have also been caught in the crossfire between Arabs, Turkmen and Kurds vying for power and control of the area's rich oil resources.

In ten years of conflict, the Christian community has lost more than half of its members in an exodus of 'Biblical' proportions following a series of murders.

A Christian official in Mosul Governatorate, anonymous for security reasons, acknowledged that "many Christian families" have fled. "They have lost confidence in everything," he said. "The government is incapable of doing anything to protect them. What future do non-Muslims have in countries where violence reins!"

Pakistani Schoolgirl Activist Leaves Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmigham

By Peter Wooding
Europe Bureau Chief for ASSIST News Service

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND (ANS) -- Teenage campaigner Malala Yousafzai who was shot in the head by the Taliban is on the road to recovery after being discharged from a hospital in Birmingham, England, according to the BBC.

Malala with her family before being discharged from hospital

The 15-year-old from the town of Mingora in the Swat District of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province was being treated at Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEHB) after being transferred following the attack in October. She will continue rehabilitation at her family's temporary West Midlands home.

The Taliban said it shot Malala, a campaigner for girls' education, for "promoting secularism".

The shooting, in a school bus, sparked domestic and international outrage.

The BBC added that Malala was returning home from school in the north-western Swat district on 9 October when gunmen stopped her vehicle and shot her in the head and the chest.

Reports said she received immediate treatment in Pakistan where surgeons removed a bullet which entered just above her left eye and ran along her jaw, grazing her brain.

The teenager was then flown to the UK and was admitted to the QEHB on 15 October to receive specialist treatment. Over the past few weeks, Malala has been leaving the hospital on home visits to spend time with her father Ziauddin, mother Toorpekai and younger brothers, Khushal and Atul.

The University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust said doctors believe she will continue to make good progress outside the hospital. The schoolgirl is due to undergo cranial reconstruction surgery in late January or early February.

Dr Dave Rosser, the trust's medical director, said: "Malala is a strong young woman and has worked hard with the people caring for her to make excellent progress in her recovery.

"Following discussions with Malala and her medical team, we decided that she would benefit from being at home with her parents and two brothers.

"She will return to the hospital as an outpatient and our therapies team will continue to work with her at home to supervise her care."

Since the shooting, Malala and her father have had threats made against their lives by the Taliban.

UK Foreign Secretary William Hague tweeted: "Delighted #Malala is well enough to leave hospital.

"The future Pakistan she dreams of is one we must support."

Malala came to prominence when, as an 11-year-old, she wrote a diary for BBC Urdu, giving an account of how her school in Mingora town dealt with the Taliban's 2009 edict to close girls' schools.

Her love for education, and her courage in standing up to the Taliban, made her an icon of bravery and earned her a national peace award in 2011.

The family has received thousands of cards, gifts and messages of support from well-wishers since arriving in the UK.

In a statement in November, her father said the family "deeply feel the heart-touching good wishes of the people across the world of all castes, colour and creed".

He added: "I am awfully thankful to all the peace-loving well-wishers who strongly condemn the assassination attempt on Malala, who pray for her health, and support the grand cause of peace, education, freedom of thought and freedom of expression."

Tens of thousands of people have also signed a petition calling for Malala to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

African Countries Make Persecution Surge on Open Doors World Watch List

Mali Jumps from Unranked to No. 7; North Korea Remains No. 1 on List of Worst Persecutors

SANTA ANA, Calif., Jan. 8, 2013 /Christian Newswire/ -- Persecution of Christians in Africa vastly increased in 2012, according to the Open Doors 2013 World Watch List of 50 countries where Christians face the most severe persecution for their faith.

The number of countries on the African continent sharply increased on the annual list due to the increasing influence of Islam, states Open Doors, an organization that supports persecuted Christians worldwide. Mali is a newcomer on the list and holds the No. 7 position. Tanzania (No. 24), Kenya (No. 40), Uganda (47) and Niger (No. 50) also moved onto the World Watch List and Ethiopia is one of the strongest risers (from No. 38 to No. 15) on the list. In addition, the small African country of Eritrea made the Top 10 for the first time at No. 10. Libya climbed from No. 26 to No. 17.

North Korea is still No. 1 when it comes to persecution of Christians. For the 11th consecutive year, the hermit communist country heads the World Watch List. Possessing a Bible alone can be a reason for a Christian to be executed or sent to a prison camp along with three generations of his or her family. It is estimated that between 50,000 and 70,000 Christians suffer in horrific prison camps. The intense persecution has continued under new leader Kim Jong-Un. The number of defectors to China greatly decreased in 2012 and half of those who try to defect do not make it.

"Nothing much has changed under new North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un," says Open Doors spokesman Jerry Dykstra. "In fact, persecution of Christians has increased. Reportedly one labor camp alone could hold up to 6,000 Christians."

Apart from North Korea, the Top 10 on the World Watch List consists of eight countries where extreme Islam poses the largest threat for Christians. They are (from No. 2 to No. 9) Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Maldives, Mali, Iran and Yemen. Worldwide, Open Doors reports an increase in the persecution of Christians.

Attacks and infiltration
The most notable trend Open Doors researchers found was the increase of persecution in Africa. Fundamentalist variations of Islam rapidly gain influence on the continent. On the one hand, this was due to focused attacks, such as Boko Haram in Nigeria (No. 13). On the other, the influence of Islam increased through infiltration in different social and economic areas. Open Doors saw a similar pattern in several African countries.

"We do not necessarily distinguish one overall plan from one source in the whole of Africa. However, we do see that radical Islamic groups are patiently waiting for the right time to show their power," Dykstra explains. "Apart from the pattern of violent attacks, we see that radical Muslims are infiltrating into politics, business and the judicial power, such as introducing Sharia family courts. On a number of occasions, Muslims were ready to step into a power vacuum. Take Mali, for example, where Touareg rebels and Muslim fundamentalists gained power in April 2012."

Mali was a model country
Of the African countries, Mali is the most noticeable newcomer on the World Watch List due to its sudden emergence to No. 7.The situation in Mali escalated after the coup.

"Mali used to be a model country," says Dykstra. "The situation in the north used to be a bit tense but Christians and even missionaries could be active. Currently the situation in northern Mali is somewhat similar to Saudi Arabia. Christians are simply no longer allowed to be there."

A pastor from the northern part of Mali told Open Doors that he was informed that Muslim fundamentalists were planning to kill all Christians. He warned all the members of his congregation to leave. That happened. Hundreds of Christians fled from the north to the south of the country or neighboring countries.

Syria makes big jump
Outside of Mali, Syria made the largest jump on the World Watch List. The country is No. 11 on the list, compared to No. 36 in 2012. For years under the regime of President Assad, Christians were allowed the freedom to worship but not evangelize. They have now come under pressure from rebels fighting against the regime. To add to this, jihadists entered Syria with an anti-Christian agenda making life for Christians in the country virtually impossible. Tens of thousands of Christians have fled.

China continues drop
China continued its descent on the World Watch List. Five years ago, the country was ranked in the Top 10, but now it has dropped from No. 21 to No. 37. The government still considers the church to be a political movement and wishes to be informed of all Christian activity. However, house searches, arrests and the confiscation of Bibles and Christian books no longer occur on a large scale. Instead, the government forces many church leaders to keep an accounting for their whereabouts; a way to keep them subdued and under control. At least 100 Chinese Christians are still in prison.

Difficult situation in Egypt
Egypt has also descended on the World Watch List, going from No. 15 to No. 25. Nevertheless, the country's score does not show any improvement. The drop is a result of Open Doors' change in methodology to monitor and chart the persecution of Christians. The Christians with a Muslim background are facing the most serious problems. Apart from that, Egypt is going through a difficult stage. Islamist groups, such as the Muslim Brotherhood, are gaining more power after the election of Mohammed Morsi last summer.

Change in methodology
More than ever before, the World Watch List provides an insight in the overall spectrum of the persecution of Christians in all spheres of life (private, family, community, national and church.) The freedom to come together and the degree in which Christians are exposed to acts of violence are also included in the monitoring. This results in a balanced scoring, taking into account both the impact of violent incidents and less visible, structural developments threatening the position of Christians.

Christians are persecuted in at least 60 countries for their faith. They suffer interrogation, arrest and even death in some of the most dangerous and restrictive countries in the world. For 58 years Open Doors has supported and strengthened believers worldwide through Bible and Christian literature distribution, leadership training and assistance, Christian community development and prayer and presence ministry. To partner with Open Doors USA, call toll free at 888-5-BIBLE-5 (888-524-2535) or go to our Website atwww.OpenDoorsUSA.org. 

The 2013 World Watch list is out

USA (MNN) ― A priority for Open Doors is keeping track of the world's countries according to the intensity of persecution Christians face for actively pursuing their faith. Today, Open Doors released the 2013 World Watch List, and there are a few surprises.

The most notable trend Open Doors researchers found was the increase of persecution in Africa. Fundamentalist variations of Islam rapidly gained influence on the continent. On the one hand, this was due to focused attacks, such as Boko Haram in Nigeria (#13). On the other hand, the influence of Islam increased through infiltration in different social and economic areas. Open Doors saw a similar pattern in several African countries.

According to Paul Estabrooks with Open Doors, "There were five newcomers on the top 50 list. In fact, one of them jumped all the way to Number 7 in the top ten. That was a huge surprise. That was Mali. The other four are Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, and Niger."

Why are they on the list now? Eastabrooks says, "These countries of Africa are experiencing Islamism more significantly than they have before, and it's resulted in challenges for Christians in those countries and a deterioration of that situation."

Tanzania (#24), Kenya (#40), Uganda (#47) and Niger (#50) also moved onto the World Watch List, and Ethiopia is one of the strongest risers (from #38 to #15) on the list. In addition, the small African country of Eritrea made the Top 10 for the first time at #10. Libya climbed from #26 to #17.

"We do not necessarily distinguish one overall plan from one source in the whole of Africa. However, we do see that radical Islamic groups are patiently waiting for the right time to show their power," says Jerry Dykstra, a spokesman for Open Doors. "Apart from the pattern of violent attacks, we see that radical Muslims are infiltrating into politics, business, and the judicial power, such as introducing Sharia family courts. On a number of occasions, Muslims were ready to step into a power vacuum: take Mali, for example, where Touareg rebels and Muslim fundamentalists gained power in April 2012."

"Mali used to be a model country," says Dykstra. "The situation in the north used to be a bit tense, but Christians and even missionaries could be active. Currently, the situation in northern Mali is somewhat similar to Saudi Arabia. Christians are simply no longer allowed to be there."

A pastor from the northern part of Mali told Open Doors that he was informed that Muslim fundamentalists were planning to kill all Christians. He warned all the members of his congregation to leave. That happened. Hundreds of Christians fled from the north to the south of the country or neighboring countries.

North Korea is still #1 when it comes to persecution of Christians. For the 11th consecutive year, the hermit communist country heads the World Watch List. Possessing a Bible alone can be a reason for a Christian to be executed or sent to a prison camp along with three generations of his or her family. It is estimated that between 50,000 and 70,000 Christians suffer in horrific prison camps. The intense persecution has continued under new leader Kim Jong-un. The number of defectors to China greatly decreased in 2012, and half of those who try to defect do not make it.

"Nothing much has changed under new North Korean leader Kim Jong-un," says Dykstra. "In fact, persecution of Christians has increased. Reportedly one labor camp alone could hold up to 6,000 Christians."

Apart from North Korea, the Top 10 on the World Watch List consists of eight countries where extreme Islam poses the largest threat for Christians. They are (from #2 to #9): Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Maldives, Mali, Iran, and Yemen. Worldwide, Open Doors reports an increase in the persecution of Christians.

Outside of Mali, Syria made the largest jump on the World Watch List. The country is 11th on the list, compared to 36th in 2012. For years under the regime of President Assad, Christians were allowed the freedom to worship but not evangelize. Estabrooks says, "Many Christians have fled the country because the opposition to the Assad Regime is predominately Islamic. They are Islamists. They are strong believers that Islam should dominate all of society, and they have very little tolerance for Christians."

Is there good news? Yes. China continued its descent on the World Watch List. Estabrooks says, "Five years ago, China was in the top 10 countries where persecution was severe. Now, China has dropped significant. Last year it was #21. 

This year it has dropped down to #37." However, house searches, arrests, and the confiscation of Bibles and Christian books no longer occur on a large scale. Instead, the government forces many church leaders to keep an accounting for their whereabouts--a way to keep them subdued and under control. At least 100 Chinese Christians are still in prison.

Egypt has also descended on the World Watch List, going from 15th to 25th. Nevertheless, the country's score does not show any improvement. The drop is a result of Open Doors' change in methodology to monitor and chart the persecution of Christians. The Christians with a Muslim background are facing the most serious problems. Apart from that, Egypt is going through a difficult stage. Islamist groups, such as the Muslim Brotherhood, are gaining more power after the election of Mohammed Morsi last summer.

More than ever before, the World Watch List provides an insight into the overall spectrum of the persecution of Christians in all spheres of life (private, family, community, national, and church.) The freedom to come together and the degree in which Christians are exposed to acts of violence are also included in the monitoring. This results in a balanced scoring, taking into account both the impact of violent incidents and less visible, structural developments threatening the position of Christians.

To get the entire World Watch list, click here.