May 2017 Persecution Magazine (1 of 4)

Boko Haram Attacks Near Christian Town of Chibok
3 | NIGERIA In February, Boko Haram carried out yet another attack near the Christian town of Chibok, Nigeria. The attack killed one and seriously
injured another, a young boy whose hands were broken. Boko Haram has targeted Chibok several times in their violent campaign to rid
the region of Christianity. In April 2014, Boko Haram militants carried out a mass kidnapping, abducting more than 270 primarily Christian
schoolgirls, most of whom are still missing.
Boko Haram militants in Nigeria
60+ Churches Destroyed in Myanmar since 2011 Christian Teen Remains Imprisoned in Pakistan
4 | MYANMAR According to reports from Christian Solidarity
Worldwide, at least 66 churches have been burned down in Myanmar
since 2011, in addition to hundreds of villages being destroyed. In
2011, the Burma Army broke a longstanding ceasefire and more
than 100,000 have been displaced by the ongoing conflict. Although
their constitution promotes religious freedom, the government openly
favors Buddhism, leaving religious minorities, including Christians,
vulnerable to conflict in an already tense environment.
5 | PAKISTAN In September 2016, Nabil Masih, a Christian teenager in
Pakistan, was accused of blasphemy for “liking” a photo on Facebook
that allegedly blasphemed against Islam. Masih’s supporters report that
this is impossible because Masih is illiterate and does not use social
media, suggesting that the account was fake. Although Masih maintains
his innocence, reports suggest that police assaulted the teen until
he confessed. At the time of writing, Masih has been denied bail and
continues to suffer in prison.
Iranian Christian Prisoners Go on Hunger Strike
6 | IRAN Two Iranian Christians, Hadi Asgari and Amin Afshar, went on a
hunger strike following six months of imprisonment without charge. The
Christians are victims of the Iranian authorities’ all too common practice of
indefinitely detaining prisoners of conscience without adequate medical care
or legal attention. While the men suffer in Iran’s notorious Evin prison, their
families have been rejected any attempt to learn more about their loved ones’
cases. In previous cases, similar periods of confinement have caused prisoners
lasting physical and emotional damage. Meanwhile, the accusers are granted
more time to gather false evidence to condemn the already detained prisoners.
Unfortunately, one of the prisoners fell seriously ill. Finally, after receiving
promises of better medical aid and attention to their case, the men decided to
end their strike.
PERSECU ION.org
INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN CONCERN
Hadi Asgari (left) and Amin Afshar
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