Falahow refused to surrender the book and reminded them that they were living in Addis Ababa and not in Mogadishu, and [...]]]> Washington, D.C., International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned on July 16 five Somali Muslim men assaulted and seriously injured a Christian man in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for reading a book critical of the Prophet Muhammad.

Falahow refused to surrender the book and reminded them that they were living in Addis Ababa and not in Mogadishu, and therefore had religious freedom.

One of the Muslim men attempted to seize the book from Falahow’s grasp, but when he failed, he proceeded to punch and kick Falahow. Fourother Muslim men joined in, ganging up on Falahow and beating him mercilessly.

Falahow suffered injuries that included a broken leg and cuts to his face. Currently, he is recovering in a safe house provided by the Somali Christian community in Addis Ababa. The incident has been reported to the police.

A Somali church leader in Addis Ababa spoke to ICC, describing the attacks as ‘a brutal attempt to subdue the growing Somali Christian community in Addis Ababa’

This is not the first time that Somali Muslims have attacked Somalis who converted to Christianity in Addis Ababa. However, this is the first time that such an attack took place in a crowded public place.

Jonathan Racho, ICC’s Regional Manager for Africa, said “Several Somali Christians have been killed by Islamic radicals in Somalia and many have left their country due to the persecution they face. Sadly, they don’t escape from persecution even after they leave their country. We urge Ethiopian authorities to stop the attempt by Islamists to import their violent ideologies from Somalia. The mistreatment of Christian converts will get worse unless the authorities take action against the individuals responsible for attacking Falahow.”

Muhammad Guul Hashim Idiris, a Christian convert from Islam, was traveling by land from Kalafo, an Ethiopian border town, to visit [...]]]> Washington, D.C. — International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that members of the Al-Qaeda linked Somali Islamist group, Al-Shabaab, publicly executed a Christian convert from Islam in the in Hudur district, Somalia on July 1st.

Muhammad Guul Hashim Idiris, a Christian convert from Islam, was traveling by land from Kalafo, an Ethiopian border town, to visit his mother in Mogadishu.

A fellow passenger recognized his Christian background and asked him if he thought the prophet Muhammad was a genuine messenger from God. Idiris responded by saying, “If I thought so, I would have believed in him instead of the Messiah.”

Once they reached the Hudur district, a stronghold of the Al- Shabaab terror network, the Muslim man reported Idiris to Al-Shabaab and had him detained on June 27th. Idiris was accused of insulting the prophet Muhammad. It is a serious sin to consider Muhammad not to be a genuine prophet and it warrants the death penalty.

Sheik Adan Yare, the Al-Shabab governor of the Bakol region, spoke to the press on July 1st and said, “Our holy warriors have today, on July 1st at 11: 45 am, executed in front of angry Muslim witnesses a young man whose name was Muhammad Guul Hashim Idiris who insulted our beloved prophet.”

The execution, which took place at a make-shift soccer stadium, was attended by hundreds of people, including school children who were forced to watch the execution.

The martyr had been married since January 26th and is survived by his pregnant widow.

Idiris’ paternal uncle and a Christian convert from Islam spoke to ICC from Addis Ababa, calling the Al-Shabaab execution “further evidence of Al-Shabaab’s attempt to eliminate Christianity from among Somali people in the Horn of Africa.”

Jonathan Racho, ICC’s Regional Manager for Africa, said “We are deeply saddened by yet another execution of a Somali Christian. Al-Shabaab and Islamic extremist groups in Somalia have repeatedly vowed to wipe out Christians from Somalia. Al-Shabaab has murdered several Christians, chopped off the hands of Muslims suspected of crimes and even stoned Muslim women to death for allegedly committing adultery. The cruel and inhumane action of Al-Shabaab shows its complete disregard for human life.

Sajid Hameed Bajwa accused Rehmat Masih of blaspheming the prophet Muhammad. According to article 295 C of Pakistan’s penal code, blaspheming Muhammad [...]]]> Washington, D.C. – International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that a Pakistani Christian was imprisoned on June 19 and faces the death penalty after a Muslim man accused him of blasphemy in Faisalabad, Pakistan.

Sajid Hameed Bajwa accused Rehmat Masih of blaspheming the prophet Muhammad. According to article 295 C of Pakistan’s penal code, blaspheming Muhammad is punishable by death.

Rehmat’s son, Boota Masih, told ICC that the family is fearful of attacks by Muslim mobs. Female members of the family and their children have already left their homes and moved to other areas because of safety concerns.

He also said that the real reason for the accusation stems from a land dispute between his father and Muslims. This has been awaiting trial for sometime.

Rehmat is held at the District Jail Faisalabad. He has not been tortured or mistreated by police.

Boota told ICC, “We want to make peace. We don’t want to leave our home. We have been living here for long time. We own property in this place. We want peace and justice and my father should be set free from jail.”

Several Pakistani Christians have been falsely accused of blasphemy by Muslims. The charges have resulted in mob violence against the accused and other Christians. In August 2009, 11 Christians were killed by Muslim mobs in Gojra, Pakistan after accusation of blasphemy.

ICC’s Regional Manager for South Asia, Jonathan Racho, said “Once again, Muslims are using the blasphemy law in order to settle a personal vendetta. We are extremely concerned for the safety of Rehmat and his family as well as other Christians in the area. We urge Pakistan to protect the Christians from any attacks by Muslims and to immediately release Rehmat.”

Please contact the Pakistani embassy in your countries and politely ask the Pakistani officials to release Rehmat and protect his family and property from any attacks. When you call the embassies, give them the following information: the name of the victim (Rehmat Masih), the name of the police station where he is detained (District Jail Faisalabad) and the names of the police officers in charge of the police station (Qaisar Mushtaq and Sardar Dogar).

Pakistani Embassies:

USA: (202) 243-3254 (phone), (202) 686-1534 (Fax)
Canada: (613) 238-7881 (phone), (613) 238-7298 (Fax)
UK: 0870-005-6967 (phone)

Mumtaz Masih, pastor of the Full Gospel Church of Pakistan, and his wife Noreen came under attack after Muslims accused them of evangelism.

Imam Maqsood Ahmed allegedly led the assault, [...]]]> Washington, D.C. – International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that on June 3, fourteen Muslims attacked a pastor, his pregnant wife, and his brother in Sahiwal, Pakistan.

Mumtaz Masih, pastor of the Full Gospel Church of Pakistan, and his wife Noreen came under attack after Muslims accused them of evangelism.

Imam Maqsood Ahmed allegedly led the assault, injuring the pastor’s legs and his wife’s hands and belly. The younger brother of the pastor was ambushed when he went to get medical help for his wounded brother and sister-in-law.

The Christians complained about the attacks to the police, but the police took no action against the perpetrators.

ICC’s Regional Manager for South Asia, Jonathan Racho, said, “We strongly condemn the violence against pastor Mumtaz and his family. Pakistani Christians come under attack from Muslims for expressing their faith in Christ. In our conversation with Pastor Mumtaz and many other persecuted Christians in Pakistan, the persecuted believers have repeatedly told us their determination to stand for their faith despite the persecution.”

Please contact the embassy of Pakistan in your country and ask the Pakistani officials to bring the perpetrators of the attack against pastor Mumtaz and his family to justice.

Pakistani Embassies:

USA:       (202) 243-3254 (phone), (202) 686-1534 (Fax)
Canada: (613) 238-7881 (phone), (613) 238-7298 (Fax)
UK:         0870-005-6967 (phone)

The Islamists [...]]]> Washington, D.C. – International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that on May 28, twelve heavily armed Muslim men attacked a pastor and his family in Smundri, Pakistan. Pastor Mubarak Masih and his family were assaulted after Shaid Masih, the pastor’s 13-year-old nephew, refused to read verses from the Qur’an despite pressure from his teacher.

The Islamists beat the pastor’s head with sticks and rods; almost killed his brother when they shot him, grazing his head and causing a minor injury; and broke their mother’s left arm.

In a statement to ICC, the family said that Zufair Gujhar, Shaid’s teacher, is a fundamentalist Muslim who routinely forces Christian students to read the Qur’an and other Islamic books. He pressures his Christian students to accept Islam.

Pastor Mubarak, a pastor of the Church of God, said, “We will continue our mission work at any cost and no one can stop us.”

The family reported the incident to the police but they have not yet taken any action against the alleged perpetrators.

ICC’s Regional Manager for South Asia, Jonathan Racho, said, “The violent attack against Pastor Mubarak and his family as well as the beating of Shaid for refusing to read the Qur’an is another demonstration of the dire situation in which Christians find themselves in Pakistan. We are saddened by the utter disregard of the rights of religious minorities in Pakistan.”

Please contact the embassy of Pakistan in your country and ask the Pakistani officials to bring Zufair Gujhar and the other 12 perpetrators of this attack to justice.

Pakistani Embassies:

USA:       (202) 243-3254 (phone), (202) 686-1534 (Fax)
Canada: (613) 238-7881 (phone), (613) 238-7298 (Fax)
UK:          0870-005-6967 (phone)

Washington, D.C. – International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that police arrested Imran John, a 22-year-old shopkeeper, for blasphemy on July 1 in Faisalabad, Pakistan.

Imran was arrested after he was accused by Haji Liaqat, a neighboring Muslim shopkeeper, of burning pages of the Qur’an. Imran had been cleaning his [...]]]>

A typical shop in Faisalabad, Pakistan

Washington, D.C. – International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that police arrested Imran John, a 22-year-old shopkeeper, for blasphemy on July 1 in Faisalabad, Pakistan.

Imran was arrested after he was accused by Haji Liaqat, a neighboring Muslim shopkeeper, of burning pages of the Qur’an. Imran had been cleaning his small grocery shop and took the trash out to the street to burn – a common method of disposing of garbage in Pakistan. Haji saw him doing this, and went and told some other Muslims that Imran had desecrated the Qur’an.

Immediately a crowd of Muslims gathered, grabbed Imran, and started beating him. Some bystanders, both Christian and Muslim, ran up to help and called the police. The police soon arrived and took Imran into custody.

Hundreds of Muslims gathered later that day after imams announced over mosque loudspeakers that a Christian had blasphemed Islam. The mob blocked roads, burned tires, and demanded that Imran be put to death.

Karamat Gill, a Christian social worker from Imran’s neighborhood, told ICC, “We have lived in the area peacefully with Muslims for decades and nothing like this has ever happened here. There must be a conspiracy behind this.”

Christian leaders are urging calm and asking Muslims to let the police investigate the matter. The Christians maintain, though, that the police arrested Imran after the mobs gathered, conducted no investigation, and are holding him with no proof.

Islamic courts, known as Kadhi, have existed for a long time [...]]]> Washington, D.C. – International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that Muslim leaders are calling for Sharia to be enshrined in Kenya’s constitution. The move is opposed by Christian leaders who fear that it will lead to greater persecution, as it has in Sudan and Nigeria.

Islamic courts, known as Kadhi, have existed for a long time at district levels in Kenya. But they were limited to settling divorce, inheritance and marriage disputes among Muslims.

Kenya has drafted a new constitution which seeks to expand the power of the Islamic courts to include settlement of civil and commercial disputes. Kenyan Muslim leaders are also pushing to elevate the courts to the national level and give them the same privileges as the secular courts.

Christian leaders argue that recognizing Sharia courts in the constitution gives special privileges to Kenya’s Muslims. Rev. Dr. Wellington Mutiso, the general secretary of the evangelical alliance of Kenya, said in an interview with ICC, “We oppose the entrenching of Kahdi in the constitution of Kenya because religion and state should be kept separated in a secular state. Besides, the principles of Islamic laws are discriminatory to women’s right. Thus, entrenching Islamic principles in the Kenyan constitution violates constitutional principles of equality and non-discrimination.”

The majority of Kenyans are Christians with Muslims making up about ten percent of the population. But in the coastal and the northeastern provinces of Kenya, Muslims are the majority.

Jonathan Racho, ICC’s Regional Manager for Africa, said, “We urge Kenyan officials not to recognize Sharia courts in the new constitution. Such a move will lead to further violence and discrimination against Christians in the Muslim dominated provinces of Kenya.”

Please contact the Kenyan embassies in your countries and express your opposition to the inclusion of Sharia courts in the new constitution.

Kenyan Embassies: