International Christian Concern, 12 December 2021

As the United States and Iran come closer to reaching agreement on the renewal of a nuclear deal for Iran, Christians continue to face severe persecution at the hands of the Iranian regime.

Since President Biden took office, U.S. officials have been negotiating with their Iranian counterparts in an effort to revive an agreement that aims to curb the Iranian nuclear program.  Though the plan passed under President Obama in 2014 amidst heavy criticism for being too soft on the regime, President Trump withdrew the U.S. from the agreement in 2018.

The Biden administration is still committed to reaching an agreement with Iran, but as these negotiations continue, the regime continues to arrest Christians for worshipping. In addition to being named a Country of Particular Concern for religious freedom violations by the State Department, ICC highlighted persecution in Iran in its recent 2021 Persecutor of the Year Report.  ICC also listed Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi among the worst persecutors of Christians.

As talks continue between U.S. and Iranian diplomats, the United States must emphasize human rights for all Iranians in these meetings to promote greater religious freedom in the country.

Church in Chains, 23 November 2021

Hamed was the founder of an NGO that employed fellow Christians in Afghanistan and for 20 years his organisation oversaw many humanitarian projects.  When the Taliban took over they hunted him, ransacked his organisation’s office and stole the money on hand.  Shai Fund was able to keep Hamed and his family in a safe house until it was able to evacuate them from Afghanistan.

The withdrawal of remaining Western troops in August and Taliban’s return to power shocked the world with reports of summary executions soon after the takeover.  Taliban fighters went from house to house to search for members of specific groups, including Christians.

As apostasy is a crime punishable by death under Sharia law, the estimated 5,000 to 12,000 Afghan Christians are at extreme risk of being targeted with deadly violence.  Many have left or are trying to leave the country, some heading toward the mountains despite the approaching winter.

On 14 November Shai Fund reported that since the fall of Kabul, it has evacuated over 9,000 Afghans fleeing the Taliban and is also assisting those still in the country in safe houses with practical support.

Shai Fund is a Christian organisation that supports those affected by war, conflict, disaster, persecution and exploitation by partnering with local communities to provide urgent aid, practical support and humanitarian assistance.

Voice of the Martyrs, 25 November 2021

Boko Haram has been regrouping in Nigeria and increasing attacks there have correlated with increasing attacks in Cameroon.  Boko Haram’s previous incursions into Cameroon had not been well organized, but recent, organized attacks have specifically targeted churches and Christian activity.  In a typical attack, Christians are killed, churches burned, homes destroyed and Christians displaced.  

Several Christian villages have been abandoned completely after suffering repeated attacks.  From January 2018 to November 2019, 7 predominantly Christian villages were attacked in one northern region. The attackers killed 10 people and kidnapped 7 others, while burning 575 houses, 7 churches, 2 schools and 1 evangelical hospital.

Most of Cameroon has a thriving Christian presence and many churches. But Christians living along the Nigerian border have experienced repeated, brutal attacks by Boko Haram. In these villages 50 to 80 miles from the border, men, women and children are attacked simply for being known as Christians.

Bibles are generally available but distributing them in the north is challenging because of security issues.  Many people cannot afford a Bible and would prefer the Scriptures in a local language rather than French or English.  Bible translation ministries have done great work translating the Bible into local languages, such as the local Fulani dialect, in both Roman and Arabic script.

Joshua Project, 16 November 2021 (excerpts)

One of the most ancient ethnic groups in Southeast Asia, the Eastern Cham live in the provinces along the coastline of southern Vietnam in the coastal and Mekong Delta provinces.  A small minority group now overrun with poverty and persecution, the Eastern Cham kingdom once reigned in Southeast Asia and are descendants from the Champa kingdom in Vietnam, Cambodia and southern Laos. They are a mixture of Hindus and Muslims, highly influenced by traditional ancestor worship and animism.

Their religious beliefs contribute to their history and identity, making it difficult for Cham individuals to become Christians, as it would result in expulsion from the community.

Pray that Christians in other Vietnamese tribes will be led by the Lord to the Eastern Cham, to tell them about Christ, and that  this people group will comprehend that the blood of animals will never get them right with the one, true God.

A number of individuals in this tribe identify themselves as Christians.  Pray also they would be able to live as faithful followers of Christ yet be able to stay in their culture.  The Eastern Cham people have very low self-esteem and self-worth as individuals and as a people group. Yet, they have pride in their heritage, and vehemently point out to visitors that they are Eastern Cham, not Vietnamese.