In the bigger picture, Kurds are a stateless people. Millions live across parts of Turkiye, Syria, Iran, and Iraq alone, with many more across Europe. 

“They’ve always longed for their own state, but it has not been allowed by the governments that own those lands,” Samuel* with Redemptive Stories explains. “I think their end goal is to create a state for themselves, to live freely as a people, to not be oppressed as a minority.” 

He continues: “The northern swath of Iraq — which is one of probably the most recognized Kurdish bases, Iraqi Kurdistan — still is not its own state. It’s just basically [a governorate] within the context of Iraq.” 

Politics aside, Samuel says many churches have been planted in the Kurdish-controlled region of Syria, called the Rojava.

“Kurdistan” means “the land of Kurds”. Originally this designated a region of Western Iran. This map extends the concept to cover the greater region with any significant Kurdish population and encompasses parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey.
(Wikimedia Commons)

“During the Syrian crisis in particular, there’s been a huge movement of the gospel among Syrian Kurds,” he said. 

While Iraqi Kurds strongly identify as Muslims, it’s not the same for Syrian Kurds. “That identity of Islam is far less than their identity as Kurds, and so for them to abandon Islam in order to follow Jesus, it’s less of a huge step,” he said. “Many are coming to faith. That’s happening online. It’s happening in person.”

If Kurdish armed forces integrate with Syria’s new government forces, Syria could see greater stability. But the new government has a track record of persecuting minorities. This could prove to be devastating to Kurds in the region, including Christians.

“If they are forced to lay control back to Damascus, then there [are] deep concerns that persecution will increase —  persecution that could be just ethnic in nature, but then also spiritual persecution,” said Samuel. 

Please pray for God’s peace and mercy in this unfolding situation. Pray for bold gospel witness from Kurdish believers in Christ no matter what happens. 

“Pray for God’s peace in the midst of that, pray that His faithfulness will continue to go forth. Pray for our brothers and sisters that are from a Muslim background [who] are working in that space [in Syria],” said Samuel.

*Pseudonym

Header photo: Sipan Hamo (Sîpan Hemo), general commander of the People’s Defense Units (YPG) and a member of the general command of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). (Photo courtesy of YPG Press Office – “Nirxandinên endamê fermandariya QSDê Sîpan Hemo li ser Şehîd Nûreddîn Sofî”, YouTube, CC BY 3.0)

At a Karen refugee camp. (Photo courtesy of Vision Beyond Borders)

Burma (Myanmar) is 23rd on Open Doors World Watch List for Christian persecution. Open Doors says much of it stems from the Buddhist radical monks organization called Ma Ba Tha as well as more violent manifestations of persecution through the Burmese Army.

For the 16th year, Burma has also been listed as a Country of Particular Concern when it comes to religious freedom violations.

And though the persecution is manifested through religious avenues, Dyann Romeijn of Vision Beyond Borders says it’s largely based on ethnic divisions.

“Even if they were a Buddhist and they were part of either the Kachin or the Karen ethnic group, even if they were animists or Buddhists, they would still be persecuted by their government,” she says.

The report details a variety of ways these groups have become targets.

First of all, they face discrimination when it comes to education and government jobs and representation. They also have a hard time gathering for worship. Additionally, a set of laws passed last year has threatened to moniter religious conversions.

Christian ethnic minorities also face outright hatred and violence. It gets a little complicated because each group has their own brand of persecution. Romeijn says currently the worst-off are probably the Kachin.

A Kachin refugee camp. (Photo courtesy of Vision Beyond Borders)

As the report explains, fighting in the Kachin state in 2011 between the Burmese Army and ethnic armed groups displaced thousands of Kachin. They’ve been living in IDP and refugee camps ever since, unable to return home.

In Kachin areas where fighting still exists, Christians are scared to gather. They might be accused of associating with armed groups. There are many reports of Christians and civilians being arrested, interrogated, and tortured under this accusation. Sometimes the action even escalated to sexual crimes and extrajudicial killings.

Resilient in faith

Despite the challenges facing the Kachin and Karen and other Christian minority groups, they aren’t giving up.

“I believe their faith is very strong and it really shines as an example in the country,” Romeijn says.

Vision Beyond Borders takes teams to camps where Christians have fled from violence. One time they visited a camp where 126 orphans were living. Most of them did not have a living adult relative. But their morale was shocking.

“Many of them had actually seen their parents killed by the Burmese army,” Romeijn says, “And these same kids were actually praying for the soldiers that persecute them. So they really truly have a vibrant faith, a real faith that’s not a faith of convenience, but a faith that’s real and tried and true and just a testimony of the forgiving and healing power of Jesus.”

The Karen at a refugee camp in Thailand. (Photo courtesy of Vision Beyond Borders)

In fact, she says, they were some of the happiest and content children she’s ever met.

Similar to our prayer request for the Rohingya last week, will you pray for the Burmese government, military, and nation to see these ethno-religious minorities as people? Ask God to bring healing to Burma through his Gospel.

If you’d like to support the work Vision Beyond Borders is doing, click here.

"The Human Rights Commission did a report on the Burmese, and they violated all the codes of war," said Romeijn. "I mean, they should be indicted on war crimes. Why we don't enforce some of those things, I don't know."

The Free Burma Rangers, a group providing relief aid in Burma's war zones, reported that the Burma Army fired machine guns near the region for two hours before hitting the little boy. Bullets punctured his right hand and left thigh, fracturing the young boy's femur. After he was rushed to a nearby hospital, more bullets and mortar shells pelted the region for another two hours.

While doctors fixed the little boy's hand, they're not sure if they can save his leg. Pray for healing.

Romeijn said that despite what the government tells the outside world, Burma still has undeniable problems.

"They're known to have child soldiers; they're known to use rape as a weapon; they're known to have extra-judicial torture and killings," she stated. "These things are well-documented."

There are still over 70,000 people in the Kachin state who can't go home because of ongoing violence. Although Burma's President told the U.S. in September that he had ordered troops to stop attacking minorities in the Kachin state, Free Burma Rangers reports active units in the region totaling 700 soldiers.

One of their recent rape victims was a widowed mother of 12.

"They also will take civilians and use them to walk in front of the army to detonate land mines," Romeijn added.

About 90% of the Kachin people are believers. Pray that God would protect His people, and that He would move in the hearts of their persecutors.

"The only thing that's going to make a difference is if God moves on the hearts and changes hearts of those who are opposing these people," said Romeijn.

Ethnic refugees in Burma need basic necessities like clothing, shelter, and food. Click here to collect supplies to send with Vision Beyond Borders teams.