Persecution Blog

Troubling Times in Tanzania

The past two weeks have seen two Christian leaders in Tanzania killed by radical Muslims. The first was an Assembly of God pastor killed on Feb. 11 in the northwest part of the country. Pastor Mathayo Kachili was killed when Muslims attacked Christians who had butchered an animal. (Traditionally all of the butcher shops in Tanzania have been run by Muslims, but in recent months Christians have tried to change that.)

Six days later, VOM received the following message from one of our Christian contacts in Tanzania:

"While we were busy trying to heal the wounded hearts of Christians of Buseresere-Katoro of Geita, I have just got a VERY SAD news that Rev. Fr Evarist Mushi of Roman Catholic Church and the head priest of St. Theresia Cathedral in Mtoni County of Zanzibar has just been attacked and shot dead by extremist Islamists and died on spot! He was driving a car to his church for Sunday service of this morning, now his life is taken away! HOW LONG SHALL CHRISTIAN BEAR WITH THIS BARBARIC ACTS WHICH ARE NOT SANCTIONED BY THE TANZANIAN GOVERNMENT?

A police spokesman said that Father Evarist Mushi was blocked by two men at the entrance to his Catholic church on Zanzibar Island and shot in the head. A group calling itself "Muslim Renewal" took credit for his murder and claimed the young attackers had been trained in Somalia. More concerning for Christians on Zanzibar and in the rest of Tanzania, the group says there are more attacks to come: "Many more will die. We will burn homes and churches. We have not finished: at Easter, be prepared for disaster."

Tanzania is a majority-Christian country, according to Operation World, but there is a growing radical-Muslim presence, and persecution is on the rise. Particularly concerning to Christians is the possibility that Islamists in Tanzania are linking with terrorist groups in other countries, such as al-Shabaab in Somalia.

Please pray for Christians in Tanzania. Pray that God will sustain and heal Pastor Kachili's widow and children. Pray that church leaders in the country will know how to respond to persecution and that Christians will be supernaturally empowered to forgive their persecutors. Finally, pray that Muslims will come to know Jesus Christ in a personal way.

Kenya: Church Attacks Kill 17

At least 17 Christians were killed in simultaneous attacks on two churches near the Somali border on Sunday, July 1. A group of masked assailants launched grenades and opened fire with assault rifles on a Roman Catholic church and an African Inland Church located about two miles apart in Garissa, Kenya. In addition to the 17 killed, more than 40 people were wounded in the attacks.

The deadliest attack was on the African Inland Church, where two policemen guarding the church were shot and killed. The attackers then threw two grenades into the building, causing serious injuries to worshipers.

Broadcast news footage showed the after-effects of the attacks—benches knocked over, blood pooled on the floor and splattered on the walls, clothing lying on the floor and Bibles strewn throughout the buildings.

“This is the worst single attack since October, when our troops went into Somalia,” national police spokesman Eric Kiraithe told Reuters. “It is the worst in terms of the numbers killed, the manner of execution, the anger behind it and the anguish it has aroused, as well as the national impact it has had.”

The northern Kenyan town of Garissa has been used as a base for operations against insurgents in Somalia since October. Although no group has claimed responsibility for the church attacks, Reuters reports that police blame sympathizers of Somalia-based al-Shabab.

“You can imagine for such a small town how the police and medical services have been stretched trying to deal with this,” regional deputy police chief Philip Ndolo told Reuters.

Sources: Reuters, BBC News

Injuries Severe after Bauchi, Nigeria Suicide Bomb Attack

Today, our friends at Compass Direct are covering another story of persecution in Nigeria, which is just heartbreaking.

Please continue your prayers for those in Nigeria. 

Islamic extremist bombing, alleged military shooting, kill 21.

BAUCHI, Nigeria, June 7 (CDN) — Amid allegations that soldiers were responsible for at least eight of 21 deaths after the suicide bombing of two churches here on Sunday (June 3), sources told Compass that most of those injured from the blast and alleged military shooting were in critical condition.

A statement reportedly from the Muslim extremist Boko Haram sect claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing of the Living Faith church in Yelwa, a Christian settlement on the outskirts of the northern Nigerian city of Bauchi. The blast also collapsed a wall of the nearby Harvest Field Church of Christ, leaving three people in critical condition.

Of 61 people taken to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital Bauchi after the blast, 38 were in critical condition, a staff member told Compass on condition of anonymity; the other 23 have been treated and sent home. Church leaders said at a press conference on Monday (June 4) that 45 Christians were considered injured.

“Twenty-five out of these were injured by the bomb blast, while 20 sustained various degrees of injuries from the gunshots by soldiers,” said the Rev. Lawi Pokti, chairman of the Bauchi chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, who said the military shot eight Christians to death.

FULL STORY HERE.

Source: Compass Direct 

Persecution Podcast 115: Egypt, Somalia, Israel, and the Philippines

If you missed the new episode of the Persecution Podcast, the good news is that it is still available online to listen to.  In this episode the focus is on Egypt, Somalia, Israel and the Philippines.

Sadly, the picture we have to show you is of a dear brother who had his hand cut off by Muslims and was blinded because the Muslims were obeying their Quran.  This happened in Somalia.  Please pray for this brother.

Please also join David and others in praying for the requests laid out in more detail at our Persecution Podcast page.

Click here to listen to this brief podcast.

Egyptian Judge Frees Attackers Who Knifed Christian

Hard-line Salafi Muslims cut off Copt’s ear, terrorize his family.

ISTANBUL, May 9 (CDN) — A judge in Upper Egypt has dismissed all charges against a group of Salafi Muslims who cut off the ear of a Christian in a knife attack and tried to force him to convert.

The Salafists, who say they base their religion on the practices of the first three generations of Muslims after Muhammad, had falsely accused 46-year-old Ayman Anwar Metry of having an affair with a Muslim woman, the Christian told Compass. On April 22 the judge exonerated the assailants only after Metry, under intense pressure in a “reconciliation meeting,” agreed to drop charges, said his attorney, Asphoure Wahieb Hekouky.

“Him dropping the case and accepting the reconciliation meeting is shameful,” Hekouky said of the Egyptian justice system.

The same Salafi Muslims who attacked Metry terrorized him and his family for a year, Hekouky said.

Full story at Compass Direct.

Muslim Extremists in Uganda Throw Acid on Bishop

They hate you because of Me, but the one who stands firm until the end will be saved.—Matthew 10:22

Compass Direct is reporting today on an incident that took place in Uganda on December 24th where a former Muslim and now a convert to Christianity, Bishop Umar Mulinde was attacked by extremist Muslims who threw acid on his face and back, which ended up burning thirty percent of his face.

Bishop Mulinde is now suffering loss of sight and may lose his eyesight in both eyes. Please pray for our brother as he now heals from these scars he has born for Jesus.

Read the full story at Compass Direct.