Christians Are Persecuted Throughout the Muslim World.
There are over 50 Muslim countries around the world. All of them incorporate some elements of sharia, or Islamic law in practice. This is the same sharia law that considers conversion to Christianity an offense punishable by death. And while many Muslim countries officially allow Christian worship, most have placed restrictions on Christians, making worship difficult and even dangerous.
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Here are some examples:
Egypt: Attacks by Muslim fundamentalists against Coptic Christians are common and not being effectively countered by the government. The government has conducted mass detentions, harasses and tortures Christian converts and restricts the expansion and repair of Christian facilities.
Indonesia: The government closes down churches without explanation, depriving Christians of places of worship. Christian women are forced to conform to Muslim dress codes. Churches have also been burned to the ground.
Iran: To convert from Islam to another faith is a criminal offense in Iran. Christians are routinely threatened, arrested, imprisoned and tortured because of their faith.
Jordan: Muslim woman are often killed by their own families for marrying Christian men. A court in Jordan ordered a Christian widow sent to jail because she refused to hand over her two young children to be raised as Muslims.
Lebanon: Once over half the Lebanese population, Lebanese Christians now make up 30% of the population. Civil war, persecution and anti-Christian violence have led to mass Christian emigration.
Nigeria: Northern Nigeria is mostly Muslim. The government there appears to be conducting a campaign to eradicate all evidence of Christianity in that part of the country. Anti-Christian mob violence and church burning is common.
Pakistan: Christians have been the target of trumped up charges of blasphemy. They are often the target of fundamentalist Muslims, who have even attacked Churches and schools with firearms and hand grenades. A high court judge who acquitted Christians in a blasphemy case was assassinated.
Palestinian Authority: There have been numerous reported cases of Christian worshippers and converts harassed, beaten, imprisoned and killed. In July, 2003, a Palestinian convert to Christianity was murdered and carved into four pieces as a warning to other Christians.
Saudi Arabia: All Christian worship is forbidden in the country - even within the U.S. Embassy. Christians have been jailed and deported for possessing a Bible. Saudi Muslim citizens who convert to Christianity are subject to the death penalty.
Sudan: The Muslim northern government has encouraged and facilitated attacks on Christians in the south, including mob violence and church burnings. Horrendous civil rights violations are conducted against the Christians and non-Muslims. Crucifixion and slavery have been reported.
United Arab Emirates: A Filipino pastor was arrested for distributing Christian materials. A Lebanese Christian man who married a Muslim woman from UAE was arrested, tortured and forced to divorce his wife after moving to UAE
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Jordan:
Lebanon:
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For additional information on this issue please read click on the following reports:
CHRISTIAN LIFE UNDER MUSLIM RULE
In Egypt, Two Coptic Activists Arrested
The MEMRI Blog- August 10, 2007
Christians Fleeing Violence in Iraq
Associated Press- Fox News- May 7, 2007
The Big Christian Exodus From the Middle East
Hussein Shobokshi- Assyrian International News Agency- January 11, 2007
A Christian Exodus From the Arab World
Amira El Ahl, Daniel Steinvorth, Volkhard Windfuhr and Bernhard Zand- Assyrian International News Agency- January 11, 2007
A Christian Exodus from the Arab World
Amira El Ahl, Daniel Steinvorth, Volkhard Windfuhr and Bernhard Zand- Spiegel Online International- January 10, 2007
CSI Highlights Plight of Persecuted Christians in Syria, Other Mideast Nations
Allie Martin- Agape Press- January 3, 2007
Arab Christians as Symbol: Disappearing Christians of the Middle East
Hilal Khashan- Middle East Quarterly- Winter 2001
All My staff at the Church Have Been Killed - They Disappeared
Stephen Farrell- Times Online- December 26, 2006
Countdown for Christians in Syria
Christian Solidarity International- December 25, 2006
The Christian Exodus and Lahoud's Fate Central to Maronite Bishops' Appeal
Yousef Hourany- AsiaNews.it- December 25, 2006
Coptic Patriarch in Retreat to Protest Anti-Christian Discrimination
AsiaNews.it- December 25, 2006
The Arab Christians of the Middle East: A Demographic Perspective
Philippe Fargues- Oxford University Press- December 25, 2006
The Arab Christians
Newsdesk.org - December 24, 2006
Vanishing Christians of the Mideast
Gregory Katz- Houston Chronicle- December 24, 2006
Lebanon Violence Forces Christian TV Network to Cancel Events
Jennifer Riley - The Christian Post- December 8, 2006
In Lebanon, A Crisis for Christians
Nicholas Blanford- The Christian Science Monitor- November 28, 2006
International Christian Concern Weekly News Update
International Christian Concern- November 2, 2006
International Christian Concern Weekly News Update
International Christian Concern- October 27, 2006
Muslims attack Christians in Henno, Ethiopia
International Christian Concern- October 24, 2006
International Christian Concern Weekly News Update
International Christian Concern- October 24, 2006
International Christian Concern Weekly News Update
International Christian Concern- October 13, 2006
'In 20 Years, There Will Be No More Christians in Iraq'
The Guardian- October 6, 2006
Persecution of Christians Pervasive Across the Muslim World
Lisa Jones- Christian Freedom International- October 6, 2006
Open Doors Warns of Increasing Attacks Against Iraq's Christian Community
Daniel Blake- Christian Post- October 5, 2006
Al-Qaida No. 2 urges Pope, Christians to convert to Islam
The Associated Press and Haaretz Service- Haaretz - October 3, 2006
Open Doors Warns of Increasing Attacks Against Iraq’s Christian Community
Daniel Blake- Christian Today- October 3, 2006
The Forgotten Christian
AMNON RUBINSTEIN- The New York Sun- October 3, 2006
International Christian Concern Weekly News Update
International Christian Concern- September 29, 2006
Al-Qaeda threatens jihad over Pope's remarks
Jenny Booth and agencies- Times Online- September 19, 2006
Tensions still high over pope's remarks
THE JERUSALEM POST - September 19, 2006
Pope Remarks Worry Mideast Christians
Anna Johnson - Associated Press- September 18, 2006
Growing Christian-Muslim Divisions Worry Mideast Believers
Nadia Abou El-Magd - The Christian Post- September 18, 2006
International Christian Concern Weekly News Update
International Christian Concern- September 15, 2006
Cardinal Pleads for Rights
Barney Zwartz- www.fairfax.com.au- September 1, 2006
Hezbollah is Using Christian Villages to Shield its Military Operations in Violation of International Law
Rev. Dr. Keith Roderick- July, 2006
International Christian Concern Weekly News Update
International Christian Concern- August 4, 2006
International Christian Concern Weekly News Update
International Christian Concern- July 21, 2006
International Christian Concern Weekly News Update
International Christian Concern Weekly News Update- July 14, 2006
International Christian Concern Weekly News Update
International Christian Concern Weekly News Update- July 11, 2006
Persecution of Christians on the Rise
Wolfgang Polzer- ASSIST News Service- July 5, 2006
The Vatican Confronts Islam
Daniel Pipes - FrontPageMagazine.com- July 5, 2006
International Christian Concern Weekly News Update
International Christian Concern- June 30, 2006
Pakistan: Woman Raped for Leaving Islam
www.crosswalk.com- June 27, 2006
International Christian Concern Weekly News Update
International Christian Concern- June 23, 2006
Open Doors Wonders: Is Mistreatment of Believers in India Being Ignored?
Editorial Staff- crosswalk.com- May 31, 2006
Jerusalem is the key to solving Mideast problems, says Patriarch Sabbah
Youssef Hourany- www.asianews.it- May 23, 2006
Eritrea Jails Three More Orthodox Church Leaders
Editorial Staff- Crosswalk.com - May 23, 2006
Christians in Lebanon See Hopes, Numbers Diminish
Edward Yeranian- The Christian Science Monitor - May 9, 1997
Where Christianity faces a fight to survive
Isambard Wilkinson- Isambard Wilkinson- April 28, 2006
Egypt's Copts Speak Up
YOUSSEF IBRAHIM- April 24, 2006
International Christian Concern Weekly News Update
International Christian Concern- April 21, 2006
Persecution of Catholics Still Alive, Oppression’s Face Fanatic, Traditional
Mary DeTurris Poust- Our Sunday Visitor- April 19, 2006
The Montreal Conference for Coptic Associations and Activists
April 19, 2006
Free World has an obligation to protect Egypt's Christian Community and the Middle East minorities
Elias Bejjani- The Los Angeles Chronicle- April 15, 2006
Pakistan: Christian Woman Jailed for Defending the Cross
Grant Swank- The Post Chronicle - April 15, 2006
Remember Their Plight
www.theage.com- April 14, 2006
International Christian Concern Weekly News Update
International Christian Concern- April 14, 2006
Worshippers Attacked at 3 Egyptian Churches
Associated Press- April 14, 2006
Persecution Rises; Open Doors Pushes Forward
www.ChristianPost.com- April 13, 2006
International Christian Concern Weekly News Update
International Christian Concern- March 31, 2006
Conversion Prosecutions Rare to Muslims
AP - CBS News- March 28, 2006
African Christians a Growing Dynamic Force
Brian Murphy- www.forbes.com- March 25, 2006
International Christian Concern Weekly News Update
International Christian Concern- March 24, 2006
More Pleas for Persecuted Christian in Afghanistan
Spero News- March 22, 2006
Persecuted Christian in Afghanistan Not an Isolated Case
www.earnedmedia.org- March 22, 2006
Afghan Islamic law put to test
Kim Barker- Herald and Weekly Times - March 22, 2006
Intruder Threatens Catholic Priests and Youths: Knife-wielding attacker insults priests and curses Christianity
Compass- March 20, 2006
International Christian Concern Weekly Update
International Christian Concern- International Christian Concern- March 17, 2006
Official Open Doors World Watch List 2006
March 15, 2006
International Christian Concern Weekly News Update
International Christian Concern- March 10, 2006
Christian Numbers on Decline in the Middle East
Neal Conan- March 8, 2006
International Christian Concern Weekly Update
International Christian Concern- March 3, 2006
Tunisian Reformist Researcher on Discrimination Against Christians in Egypt
WWW.MEMRITV.ORG - WWW.MEMRITV.ORG - February 28, 2006
International Christian Concern Weekly News Update
International Christian Concern- February 24, 2006
International Christian Concern Weekly News Update
International Christian Concern- February 16, 2006
Submission is all in your dhimmitude
Diana West- February 13, 2006
We were brought up to hate - and we do
Nonie Darwish- Telegraph.co.uk- February 12, 2006
Iran Outlaws Muslims To Convert
Iran News- February 10, 2006
International Christian Concern Weekly News Update
International Christian Concern- February 10, 2006
Childhood of Slavery, Fear Recalled
Toronto Star- Winter, 2006
University of Toronto Visitor Uges Muslims to Seak Out
National Post- Winter, 2006
Indonesian Intimidation
www.opendoorsuk.org- Winter, 2006
Muslim Youth Attack Copts in a Village Near Luxor
Sliwa News- January 19, 2006
Christians are Leaving the Middle East
Zlatica Hoke - www.voanews.com- January 17, 2006
International Christian Concern Weekly Update
International Christian Concern- January 15, 2006
Saudi Professor of Islamic Law Abd Al-Aziz Fawzan Al-Fawzan Calls for "Positive Hatred" of Christians
MEMRI- January 9, 2006
40 Christians Arrested in Saudi Arabia for Religious Activity By Saudi Religious Police: ‘For Spread[ing] Poison’
MEMRI- MEMRI- April 23, 2005
Saudi $20 Million Promotes Islam while Covering Over Persecution against Christians
International Christian Concern- January 9, 2006
ICC Weekly News Update
International Christian Concern- January 6, 2006
Christians' beheadings fuel religious terror Muslim militants have killed about 1,000 people in Indonesia between 2000 and 2002
Chris Brummitt- Associated Press- January 5, 2006
Open Doors Reports Escalation of Church Persecution in 2005
Allie Martin- Agape Press- December 29, 2005
The Cross in the Crescent
Catholic World Report- January,2002
The Christian Churches of the Arab World
Catholic World Report Vol. 12, No. 1- January,2002
First Comes Saturday, Then Comes Sunday
Eugene Korn - Fall,2005
International Christian Concern Weekly News Update
International Christian Concern- December 23, 2005
Islam’s Religious Intolerance
Rachel Ehrenfeld- FrontPageMagazine.com - December 20, 2005
The Forgotten Church - A fact sheet on the church in Iraq
Ekklesia - http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/content/services/theforgottenchurch.pdf- February 23, 2003
The Real War on Christmas- Being a Christian Can be Deadly
Nina Shea- The National Review- December 19, 2005
Concern expressed for Assyrian Christians in Iraq
Ekklisia- www.ekklesia.co.uk/content/news_syndication/article_051218xians.shtml- December 19, 2005
Plea for Assyrian Christians and Iraqi minorities-
Ekklisia- http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/content/news_syndication/article_050818iraq.shtml- August 18, 2005
Iraqi Christians fear Easter attacks
Ekklisia- www.ekklesia.co.uk/content/news_syndication/article_04047ixtns.shtml- April 7, 2004
International Christian Concern - Weekly News Update
International Christian Concern - International Christian Concern - www.persecution.org- December 16, 2005
For Copts, a conference that shows how Arabs embrace democracy
Mona Eltahawy - THE DAILY STAR (Lebanon) - December 15, 2005
The Syrian Occupation of Lebanon
Mordechai Nisan- The Syrian Occupation of Lebanon - 2000
Authorities Evict Pakistani Christians from Winter Shelters, Reports Claim
The Christian Post- December 14, 2005
An Unfulfilled Egyptian Promise
Nir Boms- The Media Line- November 20, 2005
Christians Oppressed
Saad Eddin Ibrahim- Wall Street Journal- November 18, 2005
Special Dispatch - Egypt/Reform Project
memri.org- November 16, 2005
Spreading the word to Christians
Bill Levinson- Israpundit- November 9, 2005
The Copts and Their Political Implications in Egypt
Khairi Abaza and Mark Nakhla- The Washington Institute- October 25, 2005
The Plight of Iraqi Christians
Dr. Nimrod Raphaeli- MEMRI - The Middle East Media Research Institute- March 22, 2005
The Plight of Iraqi Christians
Dr. Nimrod Raphaeli- Memri- March 22, 2005
Syrian Christians Have Faith in Muslim world
Kim Ghattas- BBC News- December 24
First Comes Saturday, Then Comes Sunday
Eugene Korn - 12/13/05
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