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The horrible 1997 Top 10 of countries persecuting christians
- Saudi Arabia
- South Sudan
- Somalia
- North Sudan
- Yemen
- North Korea
- Iran
- Morocco
- Lybia
- Afghanistan
Of the Top 30 only 6 are non-islamic:
(6) North Korea
(11) China
(16) Vietnam
(18) Colombia
(21) Bhutan
(24) Laos
(source: Open Doors International)
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News from Open Doors International
A few recent examples of stories about christian persecution
Burning churches in Indonesia
In Indonesia attacks on churches are very common: it hardly appears in the papers.
According to the Forum Kommunikasi Kristen Indonesia (FKKI) in 1997 at least
53 christian churches were set on fire. Sometimes this terror may turn into something
good: a congregation in East Java notified that 40 fire-raisers and plunderers became christians in the end! (Open Doors)
Buddhist violence against christians in Sri Lanka
Fanatic Buddhist priests encouraged muslims to disturb christian services and to
molest christians. At Christmas Eve a church in Naramnale was set on fire. On
another occasion, a church under construction in Katuneria was destroyed by a crowd.
Buddhist priests have tried for six years to stop the church being built. In
Matara a crowd of 800 people disturbed a christian service. They threw stones at people
and destroyed cars parked nearby. Christians trying to escape were molested. Thirty
people got hurt. (Open Doors)
Sudan evangelist put in Khartum prison
The former muslim Faisal Abdallah was taken into custody in the Khobar jail of Khartum,
May last year. Officially he was accused of involvement with terrorist activities and
having explosives. According to christians however, he was put in prison because he
brought the gospel among muslims. Apparently he was arrested for supplying someone
with a christian book. (Open Doors)
Christian book-store burned down in Jordan
End of january, a fire was set to the Manara book-store in Amman. This book-store has
been sponsored for several years by Open Doors. The firemen could not prevent
the book-store from burning completely. Manara Ministries is a christian organisation
specialised in e.g. activities for youths and prisoners. Though all
activities of Manara are allowed by the authorities, fundamentalist groups try to disturb Manara's
activities constantly.
Source:
Open Doors P.O.Box 47 NL-3840 AA Ermelo the Netherlands
Phone +31 341 417844; fax +31 341 412622
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