Eleven years of terrorist violence in Nigeria, mainly at the hands of Boko Haram, has displaced more than three million people. Now, Boko Haram is expanding its reach.

“Boko Haram would love to have a caliphate. I don’t know that they’ve cobbled together the ‘organizational know-how’ to do it yet, but they’ve effectively begun the process,” David Curry of Open Doors USA says.

“They have always worked as a terrorist group, but now they want to capture territory.”

More about Boko Haram expansion here.

“It’s not a surprise to Open Doors. We’ve been trying to ring this alarm bell for some time now,” Curry says.

“The government of Nigeria and, to some extent, the Western governments, have seen this as a ‘second-tier’ problem, but it’s not. It’s a ‘first tier’ issue.”

Boko Haram’s ruthless pursuit

Boko Haram follows the tenants of radical Islam, putting Christians high on the ‘hit list.’ The insurgency also places Nigeria at #12 of 50 countries on Open Doors’ World Watch List.

(Representative image courtesy of Open Doors USA).

Nigerian believers often seek safety in numbers. Unfortunately, this only makes it easier to find them. Militants identify villages with high Christian populations, then “attack these villages [and] burn them down,” Curry says.

“[They] blow up churches, kill Christians that might be walking around the street.”

Read our full coverage of Boko Haram persecution here. After invoking more than a decade of wrath in northeast Nigeria, Boko Haram violence “[is] escalating,” Curry says.

“They want to take over the territory. [Boko Haram is] doing incursions into Burkina Faso, which wasn’t happening 24 [or] 36 months ago. Now it is, and that’s a sign of the [growing strength] of Boko Haram,” he continues.

“They’re attacking into Lake Chad; they’re in the northwest. They test to see what the resistance will be, and then they run attacks, murders, raids.”

Find your place in the story

Pray for persecuted believers using the prompts listed alongside this article. Then, use the buttons below to share this story.

“We need to raise our voice and let people know this is happening. Sharing these stories on social media is part of it because they’re getting drowned out by everything else.”

Finally, send tangible help through Open Doors USA. “If these sorts of things stir your heart, I encourage people to adopt a project,” Curry says.

“Open Doors is working with partners in the region, [identifying] families who’ve been cut off from food or medical care amid the coronavirus.”

Header image depicts Boko Haram militants. Photo courtesy Open Doors USA.

Tomb of Esther and Mordecai – Hamadan – Western Iran
(Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

David Curry of Open Doors USA says, “It’s not entirely clear who’s the villain in this except to say the Iranian government so devalues the Christian faith that they seem to either be looking the other way or be behind it.”

Fires ignite in three religious sites

Iranian activists reportedly described the incident to Simon Wiesenthal Center, one of the largest international Jewish human rights organizations. In a May 15 statement, SWC leaders warned history was repeating itself:

“The torching of this Jewish holy site is reminiscent of the Nazis, who not only killed the living but desecrated the dead. The attack took place against the backdrop of the Mullahocracy’s drumbeat of genocidal hatred against the Jewish people, its state-sponsored policy of Holocaust denial and denigration. In such an environment a violent attack against Jews, Judaism, and Jewish heritage should surprise no one.”

A number of anti-Semitic tweets were posted using the hashtag #covid1948 following the fire, along with calls for a “free” Palestine. In February, a paramilitary group threatened to destroy the tomb and replace it with a Palestinian consulate.

“Iran has tried to maintain some kind of grandfather policy towards religious sites, historical sites; the tomb of Esther and Mordecai is one of those,” Curry says. “Yet now we have these attacks and the discussion around whether or not they’re going to make it into some sort of government epicenter.”

After the arson at this ancient site, Article 18 reports, fires broke out at a Hindu temple and Christian cemetery. Iranian authorities persecute most religious minorities, but Jews receive much of the authorities’ attention.

Last week, the Iranian Parliament passed a new “anti-Israel” bill and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo condemned an Iranian foreign minister’s Tweet promoting genocide.

Keep praying for Iran

(Photo courtesy of Global Catalytic Ministries)

Ask the Lord to protect religious minorities in Iran. “The government is widely unpopular; they can sometimes use Christians as a wedge to drum up support from the more radical parts of the Islamic faith,” Curry explains. “Pray that Christians won’t be used as pawns.”

Pray Iranian authorities would come to a saving knowledge of Christ. “The people of Iran are welcome and open to the Gospel. There’s a strong Church… so, I think it’s really about the government,” Curry says. “We can, hopefully, through prayer, see some changes in the attitudes and the rules there towards Christian faith.”

Finally, support Iranian Christians here through Open Doors USA.

Header image is a representative stock photo obtained via Pexels.

David Curry of Open Doors USA says this “blame game” is part of a wider trend in India.

“Prime Minister Modi is part of the political party that’s putting the ‘Hindu first’ agenda forward and emboldening radicals to blame religious minorities. Right now, you see them attacking Muslims, blaming them for the coronavirus outbreak; you also have some groups blaming Christians,” Curry says.

“People are using religious minorities as scapegoats or they’re targeting them, or they’re withholding aid.”

COVID-19 doubles believers’ difficulties

As previously noted, India’s Prime Minister put the world’s second-most populated country under lockdown in March to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Churches haven’t been able to meet since then, so pastors don’t have the financial support that normally comes through tithing. More details here.

Furthermore, as reported here, some states won’t let Christians receive government food rations. “Christians in India largely come from the lowest caste, the Dalit. That means that they’re deeply affected by these sort of lockdowns because they’re living hand-to-mouth,” Curry explains.

(Photo courtesy of Open Doors USA)

“You can certainly see that there’s going to be issues of starvation. Open Doors has a Rapid Response Program to help feed Christians in India and throughout Asia who are from these low caste systems.”

Learn more about Open Doors USA’s Rapid Response Program here.

This isn’t the first time religious minorities face pressure from India’s government and society. “India has risen on our World Watch List to number 10, which means it’s one of the most difficult places for Christians to practice their faith. There’s a radical Hindu agenda that has developed since 2014,” Curry explains.

Earlier this year, Hindu radicals created a “spy network” to monitor Christian activity nationwide. Last week, the USCRIF urged U.S. officials to designate India as a “country of particular concern.”

“We need to continue to challenge Prime Minister Modi to control religious extremists within his country. He’s doing an exceptionally poor job of this,” he adds.

“He (Modi) has instigated a lot of the attacks against Muslims and Christian minorities in India. There’s no question about it.”

How to help Christians in India

Click here to send tangible support to persecuted believers through Open Doors USA. Most importantly, pray. “Pray for Christian leaders in India who try to find ways, even while they’re suffering themselves, to help their flock: people in their church who might be without food, without jobs, without access to medical care,” Curry requests.

Indian believers receive much-needed emergency aid due to the COVID-19 lockdown.
(Photo, caption courtesy of Open Doors USA)

“Pray for individuals who are on the frontlines helping people.”

Pray into the global coronavirus crisis here.

Header image courtesy of Open Doors USA.

“Over the last 24 months, [China] jumped almost 20 spots,” Curry says.

“That’s due to the consolidation of power from President Xi and his desire to go back to what I call the Soviet mindset of government, [or] government as God.”

Read our coverage of persecution in China here.

China uses technology to target faith groups

Oppression in China is sophisticated and tech-savvy, Open Doors reports. The Communist government uses widespread surveillance and artificial intelligence (AI) to target Christians and other faith groups.

(Photo courtesy of Open Doors USA)

“They are using surveillance technology and artificial intelligence in a way that no country ever has before. It really, I think, does not bode well for the future,” Curry says.

Surveillance and AI allow Chinese officials to monitor citizens’ activity, he explains. By watching who goes to church and how often they attend services, authorities can determine citizens’ loyalty to the Communist cause.

Anyone found “lacking” could be given a poor social score. “They have a score for every citizen on how well you are in alignment with the Soviet system… it’s a way to efficiently oppress people,” Curry explains.

“This is why we’re raising a red flag on China,” he adds.

“The UN and other international bodies need to have a very serious conversation about how facial recognition is going to be used to or could be used over religious minorities, whether they be Jews or Christians or anybody else, [and] what this means for the future.”

Worse yet, Curry says, China’s looking to export its techniques.

“We know that China wants to sell these technologies to Iran and other countries that may want to use it in negative ways. I think we [need to] pray for people to wake up to the implications of this.”

Additionally, Chinese pastors are being asked more often to register with the government. If they refuse, they risk church closure and arrest. More than 5,500 churches in China have been closed down, and churches in at least 23 provinces have been harassed or shuttered.

How to help

(Graphic courtesy of Open Doors USA via Facebook)

Now that you know, what will you do? Surround this situation in prayer, Curry requests, and find tangible ways to help persecuted Chinese Christians through Open Doors USA.

“In countries where there is oppression, people are speaking out courageously, but often you won’t hear from them again. So, we need to pray for these people who are speaking out for the right to worship Jesus, to read a Bible, to attend church,” Curry says.

Pray with Chinese Christians and church leaders for the fortitude to withstand increasing pressure and violent acts of persecution.  Find more prayer needs here.

Header image is a stock photo by Rodion Kutsaev on Unsplash.

Islamic State and Boko Haram militants are gaining control in northern Nigeria, warns Reuters. At the same time, Nigerian media claim military tactics are working. The Army’s public relations director says terrorists are retreating en masse to Sudan and Central African Republic.

Lately, Boko Haram terrorists have been showing up in Cameroon and Niger, which border Nigeria to the west and north, respectively. Last weekend, 100 Boko Haram militants torched an evangelical church in northern Cameroon.

“All the evidence is pointing [to] not only has the government lost control of the northern part of Nigeria, but [the crisis is] going to leak over to other areas,” David Curry with Open Doors USA says.

“You could have a situation like you had in northern Iraq, where a group like Boko Haram tries to set up a caliphate, or they control a whole swath of territory.”

In this detailed timeline, The Wilson Center describes the Islamic State’s rise and fall in Iraq. Christians were a primary target for the Islamic State – also known as ISIS or Da’esh – just as they are for Boko Haram.  Nigeria’s government seems unable to contain the crisis – just as Iraq’s government was unable to contain the spread of ISIS.

Read our past coverage here to find more similarities.

Nigeria by the numbers

It’s been ten years since Boko Haram began their reign of terror. Here’s a quick look at the rise of Boko Haram and why they’re targeting Nigeria’s Christians. In 2015, the militants joined forces with ISIS, but the groups went their separate ways a year later. Today, Nigerian believers face threats on three fronts: Boko Haram, the Islamic State, and Fulani herdsmen.

(Photo courtesy Open Doors USA)

As MNN reported in July, Islamic extremists killed 25,000 Nigerians during the last four years alone. A new report from the International Red Cross says 22,000 Nigerians remain missing. Of the missing, 8,000 are children stolen by Boko Haram for slavery, marriage, fighting, or to be used as suicide bombers.

The Nigerian government’s response to this crisis is largely unimpressive.

“[It] has really responded poorly and ineffectually, so it’s in their best interest to not draw attention to how badly things have gone in the northern part of the country, Curry says.

“Years now have passed; millions of people have been displaced. Christian villages are the most affected because they have been the targeted people group. But, others have been hurt and are missing as well.”

How to help

As when the Boko Haram crisis began, prayer is the best way believers can help. However, when it seems prayers for Nigeria have gone unanswered over the years… why pray?

Curry says, “We know that these are often spiritual battles, and we don’t always see what’s happening behind the scenes [but] we need to really be obedient and advocate on their behalf.”

Find prayer needs here, or use the prompts on the side of this page. Open Doors places Nigeria 12th on its World Watch List, citing Islamic oppression as the primary driving force behind persecution.

“These are our brothers and sisters in Nigeria who are being persecuted for one reason, and that is because they have become followers of Jesus. We cannot let violence against them go unchallenged.”

You can also meet persecuted believers’ tangible needs. Open Doors USA partners with local churches to strengthen, support and equip persecuted believers in northern Nigeria. Contact Open Doors here to learn how you can help Nigerian believers.

Header image depicts Yana Gana, a Nigerian mother still waiting for her daughter — one of the missing Chibok girls kidnapped by Boko Haram in 2014.  Photo, caption courtesy Open Doors USA.

On the one hand, the U.S. enjoys friendly trade with Saudi Arabia, though it’s not a significant part of the American economy.

Also, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo recently visited Saudi Arabia to strengthen national alliances in light of tensions with Iran. During his visit, Pompeo allegedly did not address the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.

Muslims in a mosque in Saudi Arabia.
(Photo courtesy of Pixabay)

On the other hand, the U.S. previously imposed sanctions on 17 Saudi officials for Khashoggi’s murder.

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom also designated Saudi Arabia a “Country of Particular Concern” in its 2018 Report on International Religious Freedom — the 15th year in a row the kingdom has earned this notorious label. However, Pompeo waived the sanctions that should have accompanied Saudi Arabia’s CPC stamp.

Dr. David Curry, President and CEO of Open Doors USA, says designating Saudi Arabia as a CPC is a start, but not the end goal.

“I think they need to be harder on the religious rights issues in Saudi Arabia. I know they’ve been talking about it, but I think that conversation needs to be a lot more public and front-and-center because the freedom for women and the freedom for Christians and other religious minorities in Saudi Arabia is minimal — or non-existent in the sense of Christian faith.”

Saudi Arabia’s official religion is Islam. The Quran is the law of the land and the kingdom’s legal system is largely based on sharia law. There is no freedom of religion. Worshipping outside the Muslim faith or converting carries steep penalties.

According to Open Doors’ World Watch List, Saudi Arabia is the 15th worst persecutor of Christians in the world.

(Photo courtesy of Open Doors USA)

“The State Department gets briefed on the World Watch List; they know of it certainly. Ambassador Brownback is very familiar with it and others and Secretary Pompeo,” Curry says.

“There [are] 50 countries where there’s very significant persecution of Christians…. There [are] about 250 million Christians that live under severe persecution right now.”

Pray for Saudi Christians who are living their faith in secret. Ask the Lord to bless and comfort them as they walk in His truth. Pray for lonely believers in Saudi Arabia to connect with other believers and find spiritual encouragement.

Curry says you can also advocate for our persecuted brothers and sisters in Saudi Arabia.

“We have to get really educated as Americans — but also particularly for Christians who are here in the West — about what’s happening to Christians around the world and wake up to it. Let our voice be heard, be thoughtful, prayerful, and [approach] our view of the world and these individual countries with a very sober mindset.”

Dr. David Curry leads Open Doors USA, a religious freedom watchdog group. He says USCIRF’s accusation mars India’s reputation and that’s why officials deny the claim. “They’re fighting it because India wants to be a global player in the international business community,” Curry explains.

“They understand that being seen as somebody who’s discriminating against lower class people… that’s a major issue for the world community.”

India ranks as the world’s 10th-worst persecutor of Christians, according to Open Doors’ World Watch List. As explained here, all believers in India face persecution:

Driven by a desire to cleanse their country from Islam and Christianity, nationalists do not shy away from using extensive violence to achieve their goals. Converts to Christianity from Hinduism bear the brunt of [persecution] and are constantly under pressure by the state, their community and their families to return to Hinduism (especially via campaigns knows as Ghar wapsi, which means “homecoming”). These Christians are often physically assaulted and sometimes killed.

Support persecuted believers here through Open Doors USA.

Secretary Pompeo visits India

USCIRF released its report on Friday just days ahead of U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s visit to India. Curry calls it a strategic decision.

“Secretary Pompeo is doing exactly the right thing,” he states. “[The U.S. is] sending the signal that ‘we are aware of what you say you believe; we are aware of the massive number of incidents that are violating international human rights.’ They’re calling them on it.

Michael R. Pompeo was sworn in as Secretary of State on April 26, 2018.
(Photo courtesy of State.gov)

“It sets a good tone – the proper tone, perhaps – for these talks to come this week.”

Reuters reports that Pompeo and his Indian counterparts will discuss trade and online commerce, as well as India’s recent interactions with Russia and China. According to the Associated Press, it’s part of “a trip aimed at building a global coalition to counter Iran.”

If global leaders really want to see India change how it regards religious freedom, Curry says, they’ll need to take decisive action. “They’re going to need to make religious freedom part of the international agenda. I think we need to pray for that,” he explains.

“I don’t think anything short of massive international pressure will move India on this.”

Ask God to do the ‘impossible’

Global pressure works within India’s honor-shame culture, Curry continues. People (or governments) experience shame when they do not fulfill community expectations. These individuals can turn that shame back into honor, but only by changing their behavior to satisfy the majority group. More about honor-shame cultures here.

In this area, India “needs to be publicly shamed,” Curry says. “I know that’s a shocking idea for people, but…there’s no way that Christians are going be heard within India.

(Photo courtesy of Open Doors USA)

“This is an administration in a country [with] a caste system that oppresses millions and millions of people. [The caste system] puts them in a category and never lets them move out of it. [India’s] culture is not going to allow for a review of this without some international pressure.”

Now that you know, would you pray? Ask the Lord to embolden Indian believers. Pray for wisdom for government leaders outside of India. Pray for those within India to experience total transformation that can only come through Christ.

Header image courtesy of Open Doors USA.

Between June 3 and 4, 1989, unknown thousands of Chinese citizens died at the hands of armed military forces. As recounted here, soldiers had been ordered to clear Beijing’s Tiananmen Square of protestors “by whatever means necessary.” Documents released by China’s government place the death toll between 200 and 300, but BBC News reports 10,000 people perished.

Following the incident in Tiananmen Square, China’s government warmed to Christianity because they saw how it helped society. “The Communist structure had…no moral underpinning… so, they (government officials) allowed Christianity to flourish for a season,” says David Curry of Open Doors USA.

“Now, you see a great tightening of restrictions in a way that we haven’t seen before, largely because of their capacity for surveillance.”

The changing face of persecution in China

As described here by Open Doors USA on its World Watch List, China is the 27th most difficult place in the world to be a Christian:

The management of religious affairs in China lies with the Communist Party now, not just with the government. And Christians are intensely and increasingly feeling this shift and fear of Christian persecution. Since the Communist Party took over, the implementation of the regulations on religion, the treatment of religious groups, especially Christians, became much harsher across the country.

(Image screenshot courtesy of ChinaAid)

Typically, persecution looks like this: government officials use “the available laws to restrict Christians [and] to ‘pick on’ Christian churches,” Curry explains.

Chinese authorities previously used zoning regulations to tear down church buildings, he describes as an example. Officials in some locations refused to let believers put up crosses or build churches because they lacked the proper permits.

“Well, that’s not untrue,” says Curry regarding the permits. “But, what it fails to mention is that nobody in that city might have a permit for any building, because that’s not the way that was done… when the city was constructed.”

Recent developments are more tech-savvy.

“China has this ability to track Christians and their behavior…. They’re now keeping a social score,” he states. More about China’s “social score” and “social credit” here.

“At some point in time, the fear is that they’re going to put those two lists together and say, ‘We don’t think Christians are good citizens.’ They could…withhold food, withhold jobs, withhold all kinds of things from them.”

(Photo courtesy of Open Doors USA)

Ask the Lord to protect His followers in China. “We need to pray for boldness for the Christian Church in China — for the leaders, for the pastors, for the individuals,” Curry adds.

“I’d like to see every church every Sunday praying for the persecuted Church. I think that’s our responsibility.”

Header image: A seal on a closed church in the Guangdong province in China – one of the multiple churches closed over the last year throughout China. (Photo courtesy of China Aid; photo and caption obtained via the Open Doors USA blog).

Amnesty claims military forces “have killed and injured civilians in indiscriminate attacks since January 2019… [and] carried out extrajudicial executions, arbitrary arrests, torture and other ill-treatment” in Myanmar’s Rakhine state. The army was reportedly acting upon government orders to destroy the Arakan Army (AA), an ethnic Rakhine armed group.

As noted here, Christians were among the affected ethnic populations surveyed by Amnesty during its investigation:

Amnesty International conducted 81 interviews, including 54 interviews on the ground in Rakhine State in late March 2019 and 27 remote interviews with people living in conflict-affected areas. They included ethnic Rakhine, Mro, Rohingya and Khami villagers, belonging to the Buddhist, Christian and Muslim faiths.

(Photo courtesy of Open Doors USA)

According to David Curry, president and CEO of Open Doors USA, conflict between the military and armed ethnic groups is an ongoing “status quo” in Myanmar. He explains, “For the last few years, the Myanmar government has been lashing out at minority groups or groups that challenge its power.”

Entire communities find themselves caught in the fray. In some cases, believers become the target.

What does persecution look like in Myanmar?

Over the past four years, Myanmar rose from 25th to 18th on Open Doors’ World Watch List — a ranking of the top 50 nations where serving Christ is most difficult. Gospel workers describe the hardships Christians face in a dossier obtained here:

The intense and even increasing fighting in predominantly Christian areas like Kachin and northern Shan State should not be overlooked… Christians are being killed, detained and forced to flee to live with tens of thousands others in refugee camps in dire circumstances. As access to these regions is very limited, their situation goes widely unnoticed….

Believers mostly face persecution from the military, the dossier adds.

“Clearly, the Myanmar government wants to come against any group that’s going to challenge them or is seen as a threat to the society, and Christians are a very large group that they have persecuted,” Curry notes.

(Photo by Guilherme Romano on Unsplash)

“We have 100,000 Christians in Myanmar who were pushed out of their houses. They’re living in camps deprived of access to food and health care, and that’s because of their Christian faith….

“They’re facing massive persecution in Myanmar, and nobody’s talking about it.”

Click here to support Myanmar Christians through Open Doors USA, and share this story on social media to help spread the word. Most importantly, please pray for persecuted believers in Myanmar.

“Pray, first of all for their safety [and] for their provision because they’re often cut off from economic means. They lose their jobs when they become followers of Jesus.”

Header image courtesy of Open Doors USA.

In the latest encounter, officials burned more than 5,000 Christian calendars. They also told parents not to bring kids under 10 years old to “religious meetings” – a broad category that could include church services. More details here.

Dr. David Curry of Open Doors USA tells us, “The incident you’re referring to…that’s a signal to us that Tajikistan may be going in a more radical direction. Certainly, we’ve seen a lot of that.

“A lot of really difficult things [are] happening in Central Asia, and Tajikistan is – in that way – falling in line with this radical agenda.”

Tajikistan persecution

(Photo courtesy of Open Doors USA)

Tajikistan sits at number 29 on Open Doors’ World Watch List. The list describes 50 countries where it’s extremely difficult or nearly impossible to live out the Christian faith. In Tajikistan, pressure comes mostly from the government, but also the wider Muslim society.

“Awareness is key; that’s why we’re talking here, obviously, because people don’t know a lot of the things that are happening in Tajikistan,” Curry says.

“They’re not aware of the limitations on Christians. They don’t know that governments are using laws to make sure that Christians can’t share their faith with their children.”

Along with the incident described earlier, Tajik Christians spoke with Institute of War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) about the oppression and uncertainty they encounter on a daily basis. Read the full article here.

How to help Christians

On its website, Open Doors USA describes how persecution is escalating throughout Central Asia. Along with meeting the immediate needs of persecuted Christians, Open Doors continues to support the local church in Tajikistan and other Central Asian nations.

No matter where you live, Curry says, there are a couple of easy ways you can help persecuted Christians in Tajikstan.

“Share these these powerful stories on social media so that the Christian Church wakes up… to the things that are going on, and then be people of prayer.”

Pray that governmental pressure would lessen and Tajikistan would become more open to Christianity. Pray for church leaders who are faced with the stress and anxiety of raids and arrests. Ask God to give them courage, wisdom and discernment as they serve the Body of Christ.

Give to meet the needs of persecuted Tajik Christians here.

Header and story images courtesy of Open Doors USA.