U.S. Recognizes Christian Persecution

OneNewsNow.com is reporting on the State Department being deeply concerned about the rise in Christian persecution worldwide.

U.S. State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told reporters at a recent press conference on Tuesday about the rise in attacks against Christians in Africa and areas of the Middle East. He explained that the State Department is aware of a "recent string of attacks against Christians" that has created heightened concern.

Jonathan Racho, regional manager for International Christian Concern (ICC), says his organization welcomes the response of the State Department. "The statement that they made is really powerful, and we believe that it will at least raise their concern with officials of countries where Christians are persecuted," Racho suggests.

 

He goes on to note a recent attack on an Egyptian church that left 21 people dead, as well as the 86 believers who were brutally killed in Nigeria. In October, a local al-Qaeda group claimed responsibility for the deaths of 53 people after militants entered a church in Baghdad.

The U.S. State Department says these acts are currently under investigation, and those who are responsible will be brought to justice. Racho applauds the pressure that is being laid on the U.S. to respond to the persecution of Christians.
 
"We know that the United States government has the resources in order to put pressure on those countries where there's persecution, and we have been contacting the State Department, the White House, [and] Congress…highlighting the situations in these different countries," he reports.