“The Church has ever proved indestructible. Her persecutors have failed to destroy her. In fact, it was during times of persecution that the Church grew more and more; while the persecutors themselves, and those whom the Church would destroy, are the very ones who came to nothing.” St. Thomas Aquinas
From Nigeria to Indonesia , passing through Egypt , Iraq and Malaysia … Christians are being persecuted killed slaughtered for their faith !
Starting by the latest killings in Nigeria . Sunday the 7th of March 2010 around 500 Christians were killed in the villages of Dogo Nahawa, Zot and Ratsat in the central Plateau state in Nigeria which lies on the division line between the northern Muslim majority and the southern Christian majority !
Moving to Egypt where the suffering of Christians never ends . Christians in Egypt make around 10 % of a population of 80 million (around 8 million) which is a large minority , but they aren’t allowed to build churches or even renovate it unless they get a special permit from the president while on the other side Cairo is flourishing with mosques , it is called the city of thousand mosques ! not to mention that Christians are barred from high government positions, diplomatic service and the military, as well as from many state benefits. Universities have quotas for Coptic students considerably lower than their actual percentage within the population… But the new there is that after a few years of relative calm , clashes are seen more often and Christians are being killed on everyday basis. On the 6th of January 2010 , six Christian Copts were murdered in the city of Nag Hammadi on the Coptic Christmas eve , and the Egyptian government seems not to care .
In Iraq , Churches , Christian’s owned shops and businesses and houses are a magnet for terrorists .The number of Christians has fallen from more than 1.4 million before 2003 to less than 600 000 in 2009 ! Since the break out of violence against and killings of the Indigenous Arameans of Mosul at beginning of February this year already 12 Arameans of various denominations have been killed and 720 families (4320 people) fled Mosul for outlying villages and areas for more safety. Last week around 8 Christians were killed also in Mosul…
The latest violence in Malaysia erupted after a decision of the Malaysia's high court that the word Allah (God in Arabic) is not exclusive to Muslims, therefore Christians can also use it! The decision angered radical Muslims in the countries that went on widespread protests that ended up in exploding three churches in Kuala Lumpur as well as several killings !
Finally in neighboring Indonesia , the most populous Muslim country in the world , radical Islam is flourishing . During the past month of February Muslim mob burned a pastor’s house and two churches , another two churches were forced to close…
It is estimated that around 100 million Christians are being persecuted worldwide , which make them the most persecuted religious group in the world. The fate of Christians has always been to give their blood for their faith but the course of history has proven that the more persecuted they are the more they grow up stronger , and Rome is the biggest example where Christians were the more persecuted and nowadays it’s the capital of Catholicism Christianity .
You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom.
Mat 5:10
More infos : International Christian concern - Persecutions
American chronicle - End of Aramaen Christianity in northern Iraq
Christianity's Modern-Day Martyrs
Noël : cent millions de chrétiens sous surveillance
Can Christians Say 'Allah'? In Malaysia, Muslims Say No
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