January 2018 Persecution Magazine

WWW.PERSECUTION.ORG 

JANUARY 2018 

PERSECU ION 

Nigeria’s Continuing Crisis: 

FULANI 

MILITANTS 

Christian Farmers Endure Relentless and 

Devastating Violence from Islam’s Army in Nigeria 

PERSECU ION.org 

INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN CONCERN

Table of Contents 

In This Issue: 

FEATURE 

14 | Crisis in the Middle Belt 

Fulani militants continue to target and 

attack Christian farmers in Nigeria. 

FEATURE 

18 | The Latest in a Long Series 

of Attacks 

Two villages are left devastated after 

the most recent attacks. 

FEATURE 

24 | Emissaries of Grace and 

Hope 

ICC brings hope to the families that 

face continual persecution in Nigeria. 

FEATURE 

26 | Miracle of Hope in the 

Midst of ISIS 

The miraculous return of Christina to 

her family continues to bring hope to 

Christians rebuilding their lives in Iraq. 

FEATURE 

28 | Enduring the Unthinkable 

in Pakistan’s Schools 

The religious intolerance taught in 

Pakistan’s schools has deadly consequences 

for Christian children. 

FEATURE 

30 | Why We Serve 

Members of ICC’s staff share their 

motivation for serving through this 

ministry. 

Regular Features 

3 Letter from the President 

A few words from ICC’s president, Jeff 

King, on the plight and lessons of the 

persecuted. 

4 World News 

A snapshot of the persecution that 

impacts our brothers and sisters daily, in 

every corner of the world. 

8 Your Dollars at Work 

Learn how your gifts are providing 

comfort, relief, Bibles, education and 

vocational training to the persecuted. 

12 Volunteers 

Learn how members of ICC’s volunteer 

teams are making an impact in their 

communities for the persecuted. 

14 

24 

26 28 

2 PERSECU ION.org 



President’s Letter 

“We ran [into] the grass but they set the grass ablaze and burned my sister, 

my father, my brother, and me. I ran and met my brother Godfrey, but the 

Fulanis came and [hit my brother with machetes]. They set my stepmother 

ablaze and slaughtered my brother Nathaniel. They burnt my 3-day-old 

stepbrother on the head and umbilical cord. They burnt Peace [my older 

sister]. [After the attack], when we saw our people, we were brought down 

from the hills and they took us to Kaura Hospital and later to Jos.” 

Azumi Francis, Nigeria, 7, remembers Feb. 20, 2017 (pg 14). 

“I would like to keep the beauty of my own vineyard and not be involved in such 

a huge fight. I would like so much to (live) somewhere in quietness and rest. But 

it is not possible... The quietness and rest for which I long would be an escape 

from reality and dangerous for my soul... The West sleeps and must be awakened 

to see the plight of the captive nations.” 

Richard Wurmbrand, Tortured for Christ 

Jeff King, President 

International Christian Concern 

In this month’s issue, you will read about the devastating war against the Body of Christ going on in Nigeria and it will be 

disturbing. Like me, you may be led to cry out, “How long, O Lord?” 

We who carry the burden of the persecuted fully understand the paradox of Richard Wurmbrand. As it was for him, life would 

be easier if we could forget the persecuted’s plight, go back to sleep, and live out our Christian lives, blissfully unaware of 

the suffering of the Body of Jesus. 

You see, there is a cost on the psyche of knowing and living with the persecuted and their pain, Yet, like Mr. Wurmbrand, 

we can’t abandon them for they have few friends in the slumbering Church, a Church distracted by trivial issues of pews, 

carpets, basketball courts, and turf that crowd out the distant and weak call for help coming from across the world. 

The Kingdom of Heaven will continue to be subjected to violence (Matt. 11:12), but having been chosen, we rise to the battle 

and understand that to be awake is preferable to sleep. 

Like Simon of Cyrene, we stoop down and lift the cross off of the back of the persecuted and carry whatever portion of 

their load we can. And while we help carry their cross, we find ourselves transformed, bit by bit, and inoculated against the 

deceitfulness of riches and the twin diseases of materialism and meaninglessness that infect our Western culture. 

For we have seen in the persecuted what true love can be and we rise to their example of deepest devotion, while paying 

the highest cost. 

For all this, we part with our time, treasure, and talent, to bring them relief and to lift the cross off their shoulders. 

As always, your donations will be used efficiently, effectively, and ethically. 

I promise! 

Jeff King 

President 

International Christian Concern 

www.persecution.org 


INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN CONCERN 

3

News 

1 

2 

4 

6 

3 

5 

“Religious 

education would 

no longer be 

permitted” 

Mob Attacks Coptic Church, Damages 

Other Christian Buildings 

1 | EGYPT On October 27, a Muslim mob formed 

in Egypt’s Ezbat Zakaria village and attacked St. 

George’s (“Mar Girgis”) Church. During the attack, 

the mob also damaged several homes and stables 

owned by Coptic Christians. Many doors and windows 

were broken in the attack and three of the stables 

were set on fire. One Christian woman suffered minor 

injuries during the incident. 

A local resident of the Christian community 

recalled that, on the morning of the attack, they 

found fliers near the village mosque that read, “We 

opened the church in spite of you.” He noted that 

the fliers were forged to appear as though they were 

written by the Christian villagers as a ploy to justify 

the attack. 

As the Christian community seeks to recover from 

the incident, security officials responded to the attack 

by closing down the church. Approximately 1,800 

Christians call Ezbat 

Zakaria home, all of 

whom have lost their 

place of worship 

because of this decision. 

One eyewitness 

to the attack noted 

that it was the mob’s 

goal to close the 

church. When authorities 

restricted the 

Christians’ access to 

their facilities, many 

felt frustrated, as if the 

radical Muslims were 

given what they wanted. 

While it is essential 

that their church 

building be restored 

to its rightful owners, 

it is encouraging that 

the authorities are taking 

action to investigate 

the violence. At 

the time of writing, 

15 people have been 

arrested pending an 

investigation. 

Unfortunately, this 

recent attack is just 

one example of growing 

anti-Christian 

sentiment in Egypt. 

Authorities must take 

stronger action to condemn 

this type of violence 

or else life for 

minority Christians 

will only grow more 

dangerous. 

Eritrea Forces Christian Schools to 

Close in Favor of Public Schools 

2 | ERITREA For years, the Eritrean government, 

led by Isaias Afwerki (pictured), has persecuted its 

Christian population. Rightfully earning its moniker 

as the “North Korea of Africa,” the Eritrean government 

only officially recognizes four religions: 

the Eritrean Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic 

Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Eritrea, 

and Sunni Islam. Those who practice their faith 

outside of the government’s strict parameters find 

themselves subject to severe persecution. 

In a recent move that further restricts religious 

activity, the Eritrean government ruled that all 

schools within the nation must be public. In doing 

so, religious education would no longer be permitted 

and students are no longer able to wear religious 

symbols such as crosses or Muslim headscarves. 

The government justified the decision by saying that 

the church’s sole function was to address the community’s 

spiritual needs. When a Catholic school 

refused to comply by closing itself, the government 

allegedly shut 

down the school and 

arrested both a nun 

and a priest. 

This decision has 

been met with widespread 

disapproval 

which led people to 

protest in the capital 

city of Asmara. In 

a country as oppressive 

as Eritrea, protests 

of this nature 

are not a common 

occurrence due to the 

harsh consequences 

that often follow. 




China Expels Hundreds of Missionaries from North Korea Border Region 

3 | CHINA Without explanation, three provincial governments in China have deported hundreds of South Korean missionaries from the North 

Korean border region. Many believe that the missionaries were deported because of their involvement with assisting North Korean defectors. 

Further still, as China’s Christian population continues to flourish, the government has tightened its grip within the past few years by cracking 

down on Christian house churches and other religious activities. 

Iranian Authorities Raid Home and Imprison 

Christian Convert 

4 | IRAN During a recent raid on his home, a Christian convert in 

Iran named Abdol Ali Pourmand was arrested in the city of Dezful. 

As part of the raid, authorities confiscated Bibles and other Christian 

materials from his home. Pourmand’s arrest took place shortly after 

the arrest of a fellow convert who, at the time of writing, is still being 

held after two weeks of detainment. While Christian converts often 

face abuse in Iranian prisons, the status of Pourmand’s health remains 

unclear at present. 

Indonesian Court Recognizes Minority Faiths in 

Landmark Ruling 

5 | INDONESIA In an encouraging step toward greater religious freedom 

in Southeast Asia, the Constitutional Court of Indonesia recently 

affirmed the status of all religious minorities as protected religious 

groups. In previous years, laws that affected specific religious minority 

groups, such as blasphemy laws, only protected six official religions. 

With the government making positive progress, this will hopefully pave 

the way for greater protection for minority groups, including Christians, 

throughout Indonesia. 

Authorities in India’s Tamil Nadu State Close Ten Churches 

6 | INDIA According to the local president of Synod Pentecostal Churches, authorities 

have ordered the closure of 10 Christian churches in India’s Coimbatore 

District in Tamil Nadu. Hindu radicals have also reportedly threatened 20 other 

churches in the region. Local Christians are speaking out against these church 

closures because all of the churches in question are house churches. Although 

authorities claimed that the services were not properly authorized, house churches 

are not required to seek government permission to exist. 

Since the Bharatiya Janata Party, as led by Prime Minister Modi (pictured), 

came to power in 2014, Christians and other religious minorities have experienced 

a sharp increase in religious freedom violations. Unless the government speaks 

out clearly against incidents of this nature, Hindu radicals will continue their 

campaign of discrimination, viewing the government’s silence as tacit approval. 



5

News 

4 

5 

3 

6 

2 

1 

Christian Human Rights Lawyer 

Escaped, Recaptured 

1 | CHINA With the aid of two friends, Gao Zhisheng, a 

Christian human rights lawyer in China, escaped from his 

home in Shaanxi where he was being held on house arrest. 

Gao hid in a neighboring province for more than three 

weeks before Shaanxi authorities mobilized a large group 

of officers to recapture him across the border. While 

many suspect that Gao is now in police custody in Beijing, 

his location has not yet been confirmed. 

One of the friends who assisted with Gao’s escape, 

Li Fawang, was also temporarily detained before he 

spoke with reporters regarding the ordeal. Li noted that 

he briefly saw Gao as he was being transported back to 

Shaanxi, but the encounter was so brief that the men were 

unable to speak with one another. Apart from that passing 

encounter, Gao’s whereabouts remain unknown. 

Both Li and the 

other friend suffered 

abuse during their time 

in detention. They 

were shackled, beaten, 

and denied important 

medical care. Li, who 

suffers from diabetes, 

lost his eyesight after 

being denied his medicine 

during the beginning 

of his detention. 

Gao’s disappearance 

is particularly 

concerning because he 

also faces health concerns. 

Due to years of 

torture and malnutrition, 

he suffers from 

severe tooth loss and 

other medical complications. 

Even when his 

friends offered to take 

him to a dentist during 

his brief stint of freedom, 

he turned them 

down because he did 

not want to risk being 

caught. 

Further still, since 

Gao has escaped once 

already, it is likely 

that he will face harsh 

retaliation after being 

recaptured. Please 

pray for Gao as the 

Chinese government 

often treats imprisoned 

Christians and 

human rights activists 

as they would treat 

terrorists. 

“The women are 

still in jail as their 

application for bail 

was not heard.” 

Christians in India Falsely Accused of 

“Kidnapping for Conversion” 

2 | INDIA As discrimination against Christians continues 

to worsen in India, false accusations of forced 

conversions are becoming increasingly common. In 

a recent incident following a complaint by a radical 

Hindu group, two Christian women were arrested and 

accused of kidnapping seven children for the purpose of 

forced conversion. As the women were arrested, a group 

of radical Hindus also attacked some of the parents of 

the children. The children were detained and taken to 

a shelter, without their parents, before being released 

shortly after. 

However, at a press conference in late October, the 

parents of the seven children announced that all of their 

children were indeed Christians. They also noted that 

the two women were taking the children to Mumbai 

with their full permission. Yet, at the time of writing, 

the women are still in jail as their application for bail 

was not heard. 

As of early November, there have been 27 cases of 

Christians in Madhya Pradesh being accused of kidnapping 

for conversion in 2017 alone. Unfortunately, the 

consequences of these accusations last long after the 

charges are dropped. Aside from physical harassment 

from radical groups, such charges also devastate these 

Christians financially. Furthermore, and perhaps most 

damaging, the charges foster the impression that the 

Christian community is dangerous, cementing the perspective 

of prejudice against local Christians. 




Christian in Kazakhstan Fined for Practicing His Faith 

3 | KAZAKHSTAN Although Kazakhstan’s constitution allows citizens to practice their faith freely, a Christian man named Yuri Bekker was 

arrested and issued a fine in 2015 for handing out religious literature. He was also charged a fee for the “expert analysis” of his Christian literature, 

even though he never requested it. After Bekker refused to pay the fine, he was convicted in October. 

As a result, he has been prohibited from moving houses or visiting public places, such as shops or restaurants. If he still refuses to pay the 

unresolved fine, the government has the authority to confiscate his home. Despite the constitutional guarantees, the government of Kazakhstan 

has made it increasingly difficult for Christians to exercise their rights to religious freedom. 

Fulani Militants Raid Village, Kill 29 Women 

and Children 

4 | NIGERIA During a recent attack led by Fulani militants, at least 

29 people, mostly Christians, were killed, including many women 

and children. The women and children were instructed by soldiers 

to hide in a local elementary school, but the soldiers fled as the 

militants arrived. Although members of the military were stationed 

in the village at the time of the attack, they did little to prevent the 

attack, leaving the Christian community wondering if the government 

has their best intentions in mind. This violent attack took place 

only a few weeks after another attack, during which 20 churchgoers 

were murdered in cold blood. 

Five Sudanese Pastors Continually Harassed 

After Release 

5 | SUDAN Five pastors in Sudan were arrested in mid-October for 

allegedly causing “sound pollution” during their church services. 

After they were summoned to court four days later, they were told 

upon arrival that the case had been postponed another five days. 

This is one of many recent examples in which the Sudanese government 

has persecuted Christian leaders throughout Khartoum 

by disrupting their daily lives. In some instances, Christians have 

been forced to check in with police on a daily basis, making it 

nearly impossible for them to maintain consistent jobs and support 

their families and congregations. 

Christian Families in Pakistan Flee Homes After False 

Blasphemy Accusation 

6 | PAKISTAN Several Christian families in Pakistan fled their homes on November 3 

after a member of their community was falsely accused of blasphemy. According to 

reports, a fake Facebook page, made to look like a local television channel, posted a 

photo of a teenager named Sonu Arshad and accused him of blasphemy. The post went 

further to encourage locals to “burn his church and give him the death penalty.” A local 

Christian noted that no one knows why this young man was falsely accused. 

According to authorities, police are investigating the situation to identify those who 

created the fake Facebook page. Thankfully, the actual television channel has not commented 

on the matter, minimizing media attention, and therefore backlash, against the 

Christian community. For years, radical Muslims in Pakistan have misused blasphemy 

laws to seek revenge or discriminate against religious minorities, including Christians. 



7

Your Dollar$ at Work 

Small Business 

for Nadia 

Suffering Wives and Children 

One Sunday morning, an explosion rang 

throughout St. Peter’s Church. Debris, 

smoke, and flames filled the church due to 

the 26 pounds of TNT hiding in the pews. 

Church member Mena Adel said that “the 

church bombing was planned and carried 

out meticulously.” The perpetrator used the 

crowds to sneak in and sneak out, but one 

person saw him leave. 

Nabil Habib, a church guard, saw the man 

leaving the church and tried to approach 

him, but the bomb detonated before Nabil 

reached him. Nabil was killed in the attack. 

Nabil’s wife, Nadia, remembers her husband 

as a man who devoted his life to the 

church, “He died defending the church… 

and everyone loved him.” With Nabil’s 

death, Nadia is left to grieve and try to provide 

for her family. 

Nadia has three children who need her 

support, Marian, Justina, and Fady, ranging 

from ages two to 15-years-old. Two-yearold 

Fady still waits for his father by the 

door, crying until Nadia brings a photo of 

Nabil for him to hold. 

ICC sent a representative to determine 

how to best help Nadia earn a sustainable 

income despite having lost her husband. 

Nadia told ICC that a bedding and bath shop 

would be both manageable and financially 

lucrative. 

Thanks to your support, ICC was able 

to purchase the initial inventory for Nadia, 

including bed sheets, quilts, bedspreads, 

duvet covers, blankets, towels, bath robes, 

shower curtains, and bed sheets for kids. 

Nadia can now sell these goods to customers 

to both provide for her family and increase 

her inventory. 

After receiving the goods, Nadia said, 

“I thank you, ICC, so much for everything, 

for standing with my children and 

me after the martyring of my husband 

and making this great project for us. This 

project will help me to earn sustainable 

income for my children. May God richly 

bless you.” 




Education for 

Rachael Gikonyo 


Several students, staff, and teachers 

were killed or injured by al-Shabaab 

during the terrorist attack at Garissa 

University in 2015. Rachael Gikonyo, a 

student, survived despite sustaining seven 

gunshot wounds to the chest, leg, and 

back. Unfortunately, she now has paralysis 

in her lower body and is forced to use 

a wheelchair. 

Thanks to the support of generous donors, 

ICC was able to help with some of her medical 

and food expenses during 2015 and 2016. This 

year, ICC covered 75 percent of her tuition at 

Kenyatta University so she was able to return 

to college. She started her sophomore year in 

September. 

Remember to pray for Rachael’s academic 

goals and health, as well as for God’s provision 

for her family. 



Housing for 

Pastor in India 

Hand of Hope 

In southern India, Pastor Aryan led a small 

congregation in his rented house until radical 

activists closed the church and forced 

the pastor to move. The poor community 

could not afford to replace their church so 

Pastor Aryan found an isolated, empty piece 

of land to quickly build a shack for his family. 

The unsafe shack also proved to be a 

home for poisonous snakes, insects, and the 

sun’s harsh rays. 

To serve the pastor, his family, and church, 

ICC paid for housing materials, including 

walls, a roof, and a door to protect them 

from the elements. 

When the home was finished, Pastor 

Aryan was overwhelmed, “I have never 

expected to have a safe place for me and my 

family to live, as I did not have resources to 

build a house.” 

Iraq Bible 

Assistance 

Bibles for the Persecuted 

W 

hile there are a few Christian-majority 

areas in Iraq, there are far more dangerous, 

Muslim-only areas that many evangelists 

will not enter. One Iraqi ministry, 

however, is daring to minister in those areas 

and create a foundation for spreading God’s 

Word. The ministry’s work is even more 

timely in light of ISIS’ brutal reign and 

recent exit. 

Many Muslims are reconsidering their 

faith because of ISIS and our friends are 

ready to share an alternative with them. 

A major component of this ministry is 

literature distribution in the streets, so 

we supported the evangelists with 5,000 

Bibles. 

Continue to pray for this ministry, 

including safety, wisdom, and continued 

provision. 

9


Medical Clinic in South Sudan 


The conflict between the government and 

the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement 

has ignited a civil war in South Sudan. As 

a result, many people in South Sudan have 

either died or fled to different areas of the 

country with their families. Unfortunately, 

these victims have also lost their access to 

basic necessities such as food, water, shelter, 

health services and medicine, in addition to 

their homes. 

In the midst of this turmoil, a local medical 

clinic has been serving South Sudanese 

victims including malnourished children, 

nursing or pregnant mothers, and any other 

patients needing medical attention, medication, 

or medical testing. 

Thanks to the assistance of loyal donors, ICC 

was able to partner once again with this clinic 

to purchase $1,000 worth of medicine. The 

clinic depends exclusively on outside support 

to continue running; therefore, the acquisition 

of this medicine was indispensable since the 

demand for antibiotics and other medication 

is very high in the war-torn area. The clinic is 

now able to continue its assistance and service 

to the local community that is in desperate need 

of spiritual and physical help. 

ICC hopes to continue its partnership with 

this clinic since it is an effective ministry 

and also a tangible way to show God’s love 

and mercy toward others. For that reason, 

please remember to pray for the civil war that 

is taking place in South Sudan and for the 

Christians and non-believers who are being 

affected by it. Pray that these victims are able 

to seek God during times of despair and that 

God can work in their hearts. Pray also for 

God’s provision for this clinic as it continues 

to serve so many people. 




Assistance to Chawai 

Victims in Nigeria 



In November 2016, a group of Fulani 

militants attacked the Christian district 

of Chawai, Nigeria. Approximately 40 

people were killed, over 100 houses and 

crops destroyed, and two church buildings 

burned down. The majority of residents in 

the five villages that compose the district are 

Christian farmers who depend on their crops 

to survive. Therefore, these victims not only 

lost their properties, but the means to provide 

for and feed their families. 

In the midst of such hardship, we were 

able to assist 200 of the affected Christian 



families by providing them with the necessary 

materials to begin cultivating their crops 

again. Thanks to our donors, we supplied 

these farmers with over 250 bags of fertilizer 

and 10 irrigation water pumps. 

The victims were very grateful because 

God had provided for them once again. 

“They saw our plight, and God also 

made them think graciously to help us,” 

said Emmanuel who received one of the 

fertilizer bags. 

Please remember to pray for safety and 

provision for these Christian families that 

continue to live in fear of their persecutors. 

Food and Prison 

Assistance to 

Yasir and His 

Brother 

Hand of Hope 

Yasir ran a small bicycle repair shop, 

servicing Muslims and Christians until 

police threw him in jail for a false blasphemy 

charge. A Muslim customer leveled 

the charge against Yasir after Yasir asked 

him to pay for bicycle repairs. The Muslim 

customer told Yasir that he would not pay for 

the repairs because he was a Muslim. Yasir 

responded that he only believed in Jesus 

Christ. The Muslim customer claimed that 

Yasir’s statement was blasphemous and filed 

an official charge against him. 

Yasir was imprisoned and his family has 

gone into hiding, fearful of being attacked 

by radical Muslims. To ensure that Yasir still 

receives food and visitors, Yasir’s brother 

has been visiting the prison and bringing 

food to Yasir, despite the brother’s own 

financial needs. 

In order to support both brothers, ICC provided 

Yasir with three months’ worth of food 

and financial assistance for Yasir’s brother. 

Pakistan’s blasphemy laws are a continual 

source of persecution for Christians because 

they are often used by Muslims to settle 

personal disputes or vendettas. The result 

often ruins the lives of accused Christians 

and their families. 

11

Volunteers 

Volunteers Support International 

Day of Prayer for the Persecuted 

Spreading the 

Word 

Throughout the year, Christians around the 

world pray for their persecuted brothers 

and sisters. Once a year, however, the global 

Church specifies a particular day to pray for 

the persecuted Church. This day is called 

International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted 

(IDOP) and is traditionally recognized on the 

first Sunday of November. 

On this day, more than any other, ICC’s 

faithful volunteers mobilize their communities 

by raising awareness and prayer support 

for the persecuted. Many volunteers 

addressed the awareness aspect of this event 

and sought out several different avenues to 

spread awareness. Some distributed copies 

of Persecution magazine in their communities. 

Some took to the pulpit and spoke about 

persecution before their congregations. Some 

shared informational resources about recent 

news stories related to persecution. Some 

raised awareness about this vital issue on 

social media. 

In addition to spreading awareness, countless 

others recognized IDOP by gathering 

together for prayer. Some hosted prayer gatherings 

for members of their church. Some distributed 

prayer requests with others either in 

person or electronically. Many more set aside 

part of their day to pray, either individually or 

with their families. 

As part of IDOP 2017, ICC also hosted a 

petition on behalf of persecuted Christians 

in Nigeria. The petition calls on the Nigerian 

government to offer greater protection to persecuted 

Christians who are targeted by radical 

groups such as Boko Haram and Fulani 

militants. Several thousand signatures from 

countries all over the world have already been 

gathered in response. 

In ministries that serve the persecuted, volunteers 

don’t always have the ability to see the 

fruits of their labor. However, on International 

Day of Prayer for the Persecuted, it is undeniable 

that the global Church is making progress 

in alleviating the suffering of the persecuted. 

While there is still work to be done, it is 

encouraging to see the Church coming together 

year after year to support heroes of the faith. 

‘And pray in the Spirit on all 

occasions with all kinds of 

prayers and requests. With 

this in mind, be alert and 

always keep on prayer for all 

the Lord’s people.’ 

– EPHESIANS 6:18 (NIV) 

This ministry would not be possible 

unless the general public was aware 

of the plight of persecuted Christians. 

Therefore, ICC is always looking for new 

ways to reach out to various communities 

to inform them about different religious 

freedom issues. In doing so, ICC’s volunteers 

participated in a recent campaign that 

challenged them to reach out to their local 

newspapers to write letters to the editor 

about persecution. 

Specifically, volunteers contacted newspapers 

to write letters about the issues 

facing Christians in North Korea. In the 

midst of political tension surrounding 

North Korea, volunteers encouraged readers 

not to forget the egregious human 

rights violations that the Kim regime is 

constantly committing against its own 

people. By using local newspapers as a 

means of communication, these volunteers 

are reaching out to new communities 

that might not otherwise hear about these 

issues, specifically those that are affecting 

minority Christians. As long as persecution 

exists, it is vital for the free Church 

to continue spreading the word about the 

atrocities that its brothers and sisters in 

Christ are facing. 




Looking for a Way to Make a Difference in the World? Join Our Team of Volunteers! 

For those wishing to assist the persecuted Church, many are not sure how to get started. However, volunteers all over the world are making a 

difference within their own communities as members of ICC’s five different volunteer teams: Advocacy, Awareness, Office, Prayer, and Special 

Projects. By standing up for the persecuted in countless different ways, ICC’s volunteers play a crucial role in connecting the global Church by 

bridging the gap between the persecuted and the free Church. It only takes one person to make a difference – are you willing? 

Fighting for Justice 

One of the most important duties of volunteers who serve on 

ICC’s Advocacy Team is supporting ICC’s petitions. Between 

September and November, ICC hosted a petition that called for 

the release of four prisoners of conscience in Iran. Each of these 

men was sentenced to 10 years in prison for allegedly committing 

“actions against national security.” In response, volunteers all 

over the world called upon their churches, their families, and their 

friends, encouraging them to sign this petition on behalf of these 

wrongfully imprisoned men. As a result, this petition garnered 

nearly 4,500 signatures. 

The Power of Prayer 

In addition to praying on International Day of Prayer for the 

Persecuted, it is essential that volunteers pray for the persecuted 

on a consistent basis. As a result, several members of ICC’s Prayer 

Team address this need by forming prayer groups specifically 

dedicated to praying for the persecuted. These volunteers meet with 

their groups on a regular basis, ranging from daily to monthly, to 

pray over various issues related to religious freedom. Many focus on 

specific countries that experience severe persecution to ensure that 

their needs are lifted up in prayer. 

Volunteer Teams 

1 Advocacy Fight for justice for the persecuted through petitions, congressional 

calls, and more. 

2 Awareness Raise your voice by speaking in churches, writing, and social 

media. 

3 Office Lighten the load of our staff by helping with administrative assignments. 

4 Prayer Intercede for our brothers and sisters in Christ, both individually and 

as a church. 

5 Special Projects Volunteer on your own schedule through one-time projects. 



Are You Interested 

in Serving? 

Online 

Apply online at: 

http://www.persecution.org/how-you-canhelp/volunteer 

Or send an email to: 

volunteer@persecution.org 

Phone Want more information? Feel 

free to call us at (301) 585-5915. 

13

A CRISIS IN THE MIDDLE 

By Nathan Johnson 

ran [into] 

the grass 

but they set 

the grass 

ablaze and 

burned my 

“We sister, father, 

brother, and 

me. I ran 

to my brother Godfrey, but the Fulanis 

[attacked him with machetes]. They set 

my stepmother ablaze and slaughtered my 

brother Nathaniel. They burnt my 3-dayold 

stepbrother on the head and burned 

[my older sister]. [After the attack], they 

took us to [the hospital] and later to Jos.” 

This is how 7-year-old Azumi Francis of 

Nigeria’s Plateau State remembers February 

20, 2017. Early that morning, as Fulani 

militants raided the villages of Ashim, 

Mifi, Zilang and Bakin Kogi in the Attakar 

District, Azumi and her family fled from the 

sounds of gunfire and the smell of burning 

houses in the village. They ran toward the 

safety of the surrounding grasslands to wait 

for the attackers to leave. They laid low, 

breathlessly hoping that the tall, thick grass 

would protect them. Sadly, it didn’t work. 

The militants set the grass on fire. The 

flames drove the villagers out of hiding, 

towards the Fulani guns and machetes. 

By the end of the attack, Azumi lost her 

stepmother, stepbrother, and one of her 

brothers. She and her sister, brother, and 

father were taken to the hospital where ICC 

paid for medical support. Unfortunately, 

despite the treatment, Azumi’s father and 

older sister died. Now, Azumi and her only 

living brother, Godfrey, must grow up without 

any other immediate family. 

A Common Occurrence 

Azumi’s experience is common for 

Christians living in Nigeria’s “Middle Belt” 

region. Despite the large number of incidents 

and massive number of victims for more than 

a decade, the Fulani’s murderous violence 

has gained little attention from the Nigerian 

government, national media, or the international 

community. 

“The government and the media in 

Nigeria are tone deaf when it comes to facing 

up to outrageous human rights abuses 

in Nigeria,” said Stephen Enada of the 

International Committee on Nigeria (ICON). 

“[The government] doesn’t want the international 

community to be aware of the level 

of atrocities committed against [Christians] 

[and because the] government [is] in charge 

of the public conversation, serious skewed 

reporting and editorializing occurs.” 

The war against Christian farmers has 

gone on for many years and there are many 

explanations as to why it continues. Boko 

Haram’s destabilization of the North is a 

contributing factor as is the desertification 

of Fulani lands, as well as the fact that the 

Fulani are historically nomadic but becoming 

more stationary. Although there are 

several complex factors for the attacks, the 

simple truth is that the nomadic cattle-herding 

Fulani want the land that the Christian 

farmers are on. The other factor is that 

they are predominantly Muslim and their 

doctrine justifies violence toward infidels 

who oppose them. In the end, they murder 

infidels whose land they want. 




BELT: FULANI ATTACKS 

No Protection 

What makes the situation so difficult, 

however, is that the government is not protecting 

the Christians caught in the crosshairs 

of the Islamic violence. 

Victims cry out for help and have begged the 

government’s security agencies to adequately 

protect them from the marauding Fulanis, but 

nothing changes. 

The governmentstationed 

military units, 

part of Operation Safe 

Haven, have failed to 

protect those under their 

charge. Their blunders 

have been large and 

have led to the death 

and destruction of many 

villages. Communities 

have responded to the 

government’s failure by 

creating their own militias 

to defend themselves. 

While the government’s 

failure may initially be 

attributed to the vast 



“The ongoing 

conflict 

between 

Christian 

farmers and 

Fulani militants 

has been a 

problem for 

many years.” 

“Unless [the] administration is fully ready 

to condemn the violence... the safety of 

all Nigeria is at risk.” 

amount of distance to cover, it is not an 

acceptable excuse. These militants often 

attack the same areas repeatedly, because 

locals who initially flee 

from the attack usually 

try to return and rebuild. 

ICC’s Nigerian staff 

noted that, after villagers 

return, “the [Fulanis] 

often return to demolish 

the structures being 

rebuilt by the farmers, 

or [mow down villager’s 

crops.] They ambush 

and attack the men or 

abduct their women 

on the farms and rape 

them, or continue to send 

threats to intimidate the 

villagers.” 

The attackers also often occupy the land 

which they have just attacked and taken 

from these farmers. “In other cases, the 

[Fulanis] actually occupy and settle down 

in the villages they have sacked, regarding 

them as ‘conquered territory’ and setting 

up their own camps and build[ing] homes 

there.” 

This reoccupation is devastating for 

Nigerian farmers, where land is seen as 

ancestral and ownership has been with a 

single family for decades. 

A denunciation of Fulani militant violence 

from President Buhari would be particularly 

meaningful because he is Fulani himself. 

Unless his administration is fully ready to 

condemn the violence, hold the criminals 

accountable, help rebuild communities, and 

protect vulnerable citizens like Azumi, the 

safety of all Nigeria is at risk. 

15

The Forgotten 

Terrorists: 

Fulani Militants 

in Nigeria 

29 

From 

January to 

October 2017 

alone, there 

were more 

than 

68 

7 

8 

71 

90 

attacks* 

10 

9 

100 

injured 

400 

killed 

35 

67 

65 

2 

30 

53 

73 

100 

houses burned 

and tens of 

thousands 

in damages 

*Not all attacks represented. Map features 50 of the worst 

attacks from 2017, numbered in chronological order. 




33 

84 

3 

15 31 

69 12 

11 

32 

52 

92 

91 

56 

63 

66 

37 40 

34 64 55 

61 

18 39 46 62 

1 

60 

87 

49 

21 

23 

13 

14 

25 

How 

you can 

help: 

6 

47 

1-5 deaths 

6-10 deaths 

11-20 deaths 

$30 

$100 

buys fertilizer to 

restart farming 

buys food for 

a month 

>20 deaths 

$150 

buys a water 

pump for farming 

$1,000 

buys the internal supplies 

for a home to be rebuilt 



17

The Latest in a Long 

Series of Attacks: 

Fulani Militants Hit Ancha and Nkedoron Villages 

By Nathan Johnson 

In 2017, Fulani militants perpetrated 

no less than 92 attacks on Christians 

and their communities. These attacks 

caused the deaths of more than 392 

people, with many more injured, and 

thousands of homes, farms, and essential 

pieces of equipment destroyed. The 

death and destruction caused by this 

group in Nigeria is only surpassed by 

Boko Haram. The two most recent Fulani 

attacks have shown the true brutality and insidious 

nature of the Fulani militancy. 

Ancha Attack 

On September 7, 2017, Fulani militants raided the 

small village of Ancha in Plateau, Nigeria. During 

this attack, they killed 20 Christian villagers, 19 of 

whom attended one church. 

“My heart is terribly heavy. I haven’t been able 

to sleep. I was called (on the phone) at about 12:00 

midnight when the Fulani militia came into the village,” 

mourned Rev. Nanchwat Laven, the pastor of 

Salama Baptist Church in Ancha village, which lost 

19 members in the attack. 

One villager, Lami Ishaya, a mother whose four 

children were killed, recounted, “They hit the front 

door, then I ran into the second room and jumped off 

through the window to the back of the house and fled 

into the bush. They killed four of my children and 

a daughter-in-law. The mother of this 2-year-old 

small boy was killed. Monday Musa is his name.” 

When the Fulani attack, they do not only target 

the men in the village. They indiscriminately kill 

women, children, and the elderly alike. To add to 

the brutality of their gruesome attacks, they use fire, 

machetes, and automatic gunfire. 

Another villager, who lost his father, mother, and 

brother, told ICC, “I was sleeping, and got woken 

by sound of gunshot. I came out and looked behind 

the house, then I saw three persons holding guns. 

I quickly ran back into the room and locked the 

door. After a little while, I hear movements towards 

my father’s hut, then heard gunshots. I heard loud 

screams. I was so scared. And they continued 

shooting. After a little while, it got quiet. I peeped 

out to see as there was moonlight. I saw them beck- 




Lami Ishaya lost her four children 

and Monday Musa lost his mother 

due to Fulani attacks. 



19

Feature Article 

oning each other to leave. It appears they 

distributed themselves to different houses. 

When I peeped into my parent’s room, I saw 

them on the floor motionless, dead.” 

To add to the Ancha villagers’ trauma, the 

attackers left the bodies of the people they 

killed in the streets. This means that families 

that returned to the village from their hiding 

places were surrounded by dead friends and 

family. Sometimes, however, there is no one 

left in the family to return. One entire family 

was killed in the attack on Ancha. They 

were the last surviving members of their 

direct line. 

When ICC asked why the Fulani attacked, 

Rev. Nanchwat stated, “We didn’t have a 

quarrel [with the Fulani militants]. Some 

of the herdsmen [would] relax among the 

villagers, sometimes way into [the] late evening, 

when the local vigilante would advise 

them to go home. Of course we have had 

issues from time to time with the herdsmen 

letting their cattle graze into our farms and 

destroy our crops. It would appear [that] the 

Fulanis [launched this] attack because they 

had…some provocative attitude [about] their 

cattle graz[ing] on our farms.” 

While some observers will use the agricultural 

dispute to downplay the religious 

nature of the conflict, it is important to 

recognize that Fulani militants don’t attack 

Muslim communities for grazing land. 

Fulani herders allow their cattle to graze 

on land owned by Christian farmers and 

militants use violence to ensure that herders 

keep the land. Militants use the justification 

that Christians are infidels who are not worthy 

of the land that they own. 

Nkedoron Attack 

The attack on Nkedoron on October 16, 

2017 was just as horrific and violent as 

Ancha. Fulani militants killed 29 people, 

mostly women and children. The victims 

were led to the local elementary school by 

military personnel to hide. Unbeknownst to 

‘[Islamic] Fulani militants 

have increased their 

attacks against defenseless 

Christian farmers and they 

must be held accountable 

for their actions.’ 

them however, the military personnel fled 

the scene and provided no protection during 

the attack. 

Rev. Andrew Okebe, the Zonal Coordinator 

of Christian Association of Nigeria, Miango 

District, told ICC, “The soldiers had told the 

women and children to go and hide in the 

primary (elementary) school class at night 

while the men in the village constituted a 

vigilante group and join[ed] the soldiers in 

patrolling the area. Sadly, the [Fulani] militia 

descended and the soldiers fled, leaving 

the defenseless villagers to be massacred by 

the terrorists.” 

According to Rev. Okebe, these persistent 

attacks have left villagers feeling like the 

security agencies and personnel assigned to 

protect their communities are not committed 

to protecting their villages from aggressors 

whom they believe to be Islamic jihadists 

who want to occupy their land. These soldiers 

are a part of Operation Safe Haven, 

which is the government’s attempt to confront 

the Fulani militant violence and reprisal 

attacks in the Middle Belt. Even though 

these soldiers were on the scene before the 

attack, and the entire area was under curfew, 

their only action was to gather all of the 

women, children, and elderly into a central 




Opposite Rev. Nanchwat Laven speaks with ICC about the murder of 19 of his church members. 

Top This house was destroyed by Fulani militants as the roof was ripped down. 

Bottom In the middle of this Anglican church that was burned down, the cross survived the flames. 

location before fleeing. 

The Commander of OPSH, Maj. Gen. 

Anthony Atolagbe, stated to the media, 

“Soldiers have been sent to the headquarters 

of the OPSH for a proper investigation 

on how the attack took place in the village 

under their watch, especially when curfew 

was imposed in the village and there was 

supposed to be restriction on movement.” 

It has left many questioning the dedication 

of these men to protecting the communities 

with which they are charged, and possibly 

even being complicit in some of the actions 

that have taken place. 

A 74-year-old man, Goh Rohu, was left 

completely devastated by this violence. He 

lost his wife and 15 relatives in the attack. 

He and his extended family were deeply 

wounded during this attack. Five of his brothers, 

four of their wives, and six children were 

killed that day. He told the New Telegraph, “I 

want Federal and State Government to investigate 

these killings; it was carefully planned 

to wipe out the entire village and my house 

was mostly affected.” 

Something must be done to end these 

atrocities. Fulani militants have increased 

their attacks against defenseless Christian 

farmers and they must be held accountable 

for their actions. The government of Nigeria 

must not only condemn these attacks, but also 

take major steps to ensure that the perpetrators 

are punished and unable to commit these 

acts again. They must help rebuild the lives 

and communities of these families to show 

their commitment to their citizens. Until then, 

Christian villagers in the Middle Belt will be 

left wondering which village is next. 



21

A NEW 

FOUNDATION 

Building Hope in Nigeria 

Stones, bags of cement, 

and cement-molded 

blocks. Wood and zinc 

roofing sheets; plaster. 

The building materials 

for Mrs. Laraba’s 

new home are simple, 

yet they formed a new 

foundation: a visible 

placeholder for the 

hope she held inside her heart as she and 

her six children endured months of living 

in an internally displaced persons (IDP) 

camp. With the help of generous donors, 

ICC built this new home which will serve 

as a safe place for this family to recover 

from the trauma they have walked 

through together. 

After her husband was killed and her 

home was destroyed by militants, Mrs. 

Laraba became one of thousands in Nigeria 

who have been displaced by the relentless 

assaults of Fulani militants. They chased 

farmers from their land, subsequently occupying 

the abandoned real estate with thousands 

of cattle for grazing. 

Many are still waiting to recover, but we 

can pray for peace in Nigeria’s tumultuous 

“Middle Belt” region. We can pray for help 

to come to victims who still need it. And we 

can pray that Mrs. Laraba and her children 

will continue to serve the Lord and be a 

light to others in their community. 

Pray that their light will spread across 

Nigeria, that there won’t be one soul untouched 

by the grace they have received. 

‘I am very happy for 

the work you’ve done 

for me. If not for God’s 

intervention, I couldn’t 

do this myself. Words 

fail me to express my 

thanks to God for this 

great thing you’ve done 

for me. I thank you 

greatly for this work 

you’ve done.’ 

– MRS. LARABA 




Top Left Mrs. 

Laraba sits with 

some of her children 

at the village 

celebration. 

Top Right 

Despite facing the 

devastating effects 

of the militant attack, 

Mrs. Laraba’s 

faith remains 

steadfast. 

Bottom The entire 

village comes 

out to celebrate 

the new home 

built just for Mrs. 

Laraba. 



23


Emissaries 

of Grace 

and Hope 

ICC brings hope to the families 

that face continual persecution 

in Nigeria. 

By Amy Penn 

As Boko Haram 

and Fulani 

militants carry 

out simultaneous 

campaigns 

of violence, 

Christians 

throughout Nigeria continue to 

be devastated as their villages 

are repeatedly destroyed. Further 

still, the government has proven 

largely unsuccessful in pushing 

back against these groups’ 

attacks. Despite the destruction, 

Nigeria’s Christians want to 

restart their lives. They want to 

recover and rebuild, but they lack 

the resources to do so. With the 

support of generous donors, we 

responded to the call. 

Between October 15-17, 

2016, Fulani herdsmen attacked 

Godogodo and surrounding 

villages. As a result, 30 were 

killed, 326 were injured, over 

300 families’ crops were burned, 

and over 27,000 people were 

displaced. Of the 27,000 people 

displaced, approximately 1,000 

people registered at an internally 

displaced persons (IDP) camp in 

Kafanchan with no food, clothing, 

or shelter. As we monitored 

the IDP situation, we discovered 

that they had yet to receive any 

government support. 

Sustaining the families became 

our top priority, so we purchased 

one month’s worth of food packages 

and clothing for these displaced 

Christians. Food packages 

included necessities like rice, 

beans, cooking oil, salt, and nutritional 

supplements for children. 

On behalf of the IDPs, the community 

leader noted, “We are 





“We are grateful for all these relief materials that you have brought 

for us... You promised to return and here you are again today.” 

grateful for all these relief materials 

that you have brought for 

us… You visited some time ago to 

ascertain the plight of victims on 

this camp. You promised to return 

and here you are again today.” 

In November 2016, Christians 

in the Chawai district lost their 

homes, neighbors, family members, 

businesses, and food supplies 

in yet another Fulani militant 

attack. Forty people were killed, 

over 100 homes were demolished, 

including two churches, and the 

militants ensured that Christians 

had no food supplies. By destroying 

food storages, irrigation 

pumps, transportation vehicles, 

sewing machines, and other tools, 

the militants did everything in 

their power to starve out Chawai’s 

Christian community, physically 

and economically. 

When we heard about the 

attacks, we asked the families 

what would be the most helpful 

as they worked to restore their 

community. The families determined 

that agricultural supplies 

like seed, insecticide, and irrigation 

equipment would provide 

sustainable development for their 

villages. After testing the soil, 

we bought and distributed more 

than 400 bags of fertilizer as well 

as irrigation equipment to ensure 

that the families would have a 

bountiful harvest. “By the grace 

of God,” said Kiri, “this [water] 

pump will be very beneficial and 

profitable.” 

In February 2017, Fulani militants 

attacked Attakar, killing 26, 

injuring 19, and destroying 70 

homes. Of the 19 injured, seven 

required expensive medical treatment 

at Jos University Hospital, 

totaling over $4,000. The injuries 

included lacerations from 

machetes, extensive burns, and 

gunshot wounds. We were able 

to pay the medical bills to ensure 

that these Christians had the best 

possible care in response to such 

tragedy. One young girl who 



Opposite Food and clothing assistance are necessary after an attack. 

Top One farmer receives his seed from ICC. 

Bottom In addition to providing seed, fertilizer, and herbicide, we 

also train farmers to ensure that they use the supplies correctly. 

received skin grafts after being 

burned said, “I have nothing to 

give to ICC, but to say thank you. 

I also thank God.” 

The Fulani militants, however, 

are not the only problem 

in Nigeria. Boko Haram has 

destabilized much of Nigeria 

by kidnapping, attacking, and 

killing Christians. One of their 

most notable acts of persecution 

included the kidnapping of the 

Chibok girls in 2014. Militants 

took nearly 300 schoolgirls 

from their school to unknown 

locations. #BringBackOurGirls 

became an international, 

resounding cry as celebrities, 

politicians, pastors, neighbors, 

and family members shared the 

hashtag on social media and in 

the news. 

We went beyond the hashtag 

to bring assistance to the broken 

families and raise awareness 

about the realities of life after 

the kidnapping. Using exclusive, 

in-person interviews with the 

families, we fought to share the 

families’ stories, but also alleviate 

some of their needs. Many 

of these families have struggled 

to provide for themselves since 

the event because of Nigeria’s 

economic struggles and a high 

inflation rate. Without crops, the 

families faced imminent starvation. 

We were able to provide fertilizer, 

herbicides, and corn seeds 

in 2016 to ensure that the families 

could harvest in the next season. 

We will continue to seek ways to 

support the families and girls who 

have been released. 

In the midst of the persecution 

facing Nigerian Christians, we 

may not be able to bring back their 

loved ones. We may not be able to 

wipe away the horrible memories 

of the attacks. But, we can restore 

hope through God’s grace and 

provision in difficult times, helping 

Nigerian Christians rebuild 

their homes, replant their crops, 

and restart their lives. 

25

Miracle of Hope in 

the Midst of ISIS 

The miraculous return of Christina to her family 

continues to bring hope to Christians rebuilding 

their lives in Iraq. 

By Claire Evans 

Rapturous joy paints 

the faces of the poverty-stricken 

parents, 

lighting up a room of 

expressionless white 

walls. Though blind, 

the dark sunglasses 

of the father can 

hardly hide his happiness. 

The mother’s 

delight is indescribable, her wide smile signaling 

the end of three years of uncertainty. 

Between them sits the source of their happiness: 

a 6-year-old girl named Christina, 

dressed in her customary polka dots and 

wearing a large cross necklace. 

In June 2014, hundreds of ISIS militants 

raced across Iraq’s Nineveh Plains, intent on 

erasing all signs of Christianity from Iraq. The 

Nineveh Plains is the historic home of Iraq’s 

Christians; the target of ISIS’s famed brutality. 

Most residents fled, but not everyone was 

able to escape the fury of ISIS. The elderly, 

frail, and disabled were unable to quickly 

flee and thus stayed behind, hoping that ISIS 

would show them some mercy. Such was the 

case with Christina’s family. 

The youngest in a family of nine, Christina 

is her family’s treasure. Her name, which 

means “follower of Christ,” was a symbol 

of her family’s faith. Her father, Khader, is 

blind; her mother, Aida, is slightly disabled. 

Christina was only 3-years-old when ISIS 

swept through Qaraqosh, images of which 

forever remain seared in the memory of her 

family and friends. Her older siblings left 

when the other residents fled, but Christina 

and her parents remained in the city. Her 

mother Aida recalled, “My husband, a blind 

man, was sick and unable to escape. I sent 

my older children to run away with people 

in town. I stayed behind with my husband 

and younger daughter, Christina, and I 

thought she would be safe, no matter how 

cruel they were.” 

However, it quickly became apparent that 

ISIS would show no mercy to those who 

remained behind. Just a few weeks after the 

militants seized Qaraqosh, on August 22, 

Girls taken 

captive by 

ISIS often 

disappeared, 

their fate 

unknown. 

2014, the militants rounded up the town’s 

remaining Christians under the guise of conducting 

medical checkups. Instead, all of 

their possessions were confiscated. Money, 

cell phones, ID cards, jewelry—whatever it 

was, ISIS took it. The frightened Christians 

were then shuttled onto a bus. Aida placed 

Christina onto her lap, holding her close in 

an attempt to shield her from whatever horrors 

ISIS had in store for them. Then, without 

explanation, a militant walked up to Aida, 

picked up Christina, and walked away. 

One eyewitness, Kafah, later explained 

to local media: “I saw a bearded ISIS guy 

carry off a girl, about 3-years-old, called 

Christina. Her mother started to scream and 

cry. [She said,] ‘Poor girl, what has she done 

wrong? For the sake of Allah, for the sake of 

Muhammad, what do you worship? Give her 

to me; I’m nursing and she’ll die if she’s not 

with [me].’” She added that Aida started to 

follow the man, who then “drew his machine 

gun and said, ‘Go quickly to the bus. If you 

come close to this little girl, you will be 

slaughtered. We will slaughter you.’” 

Dejected, Aida returned to her seat in tears, 

unsure of what would happen to Christina 

and the other young women taken from the 

bus. One of the hostages later managed to 

find a cellphone and report that the captives, 

including Christina, were taken to Mosul. 

Meanwhile, the families remaining on the 

bus were driven far from their homes and 




Top Joy radiates from Christina’s face as 

she sits with her family upon her return. 

Bottom ICC provides aid to Christina’s 

family after her return. 



released. Christina’s family was completely 

devastated. After all, girls taken captive by 

ISIS often disappeared, their fate unknown. 

Over the next few years, the family would 

hear rumors about Christina. They heard that 

Christina was living with a Muslim family in 

Mosul. But after two years, the rumors faded 

away. Aida would wander from camp to 

camp, asking if anyone knew what happened 

to her little girl. Posters reading “Lost Girl” 

and featuring Christina’s photo were scattered 

throughout the displacement camp her family 

called home. At one point, Christina’s father 

thought he heard the voice of a young girl. 

He recalled, “I heard, ‘Papa! Papa!’ I called, 

‘Christina! Christina!’ but she didn’t reply.” 

The hope of Christina’s family for her 

eventual return was an inspiration to other 

displaced Christians. Their hope was memorialized 

in a stage play written and performed 

by Qaraqosh Christians, Christina’s former 

neighbors. In one scene, a girl portraying 

Christina wanders onto the stage as another 

character cries out, “Christina, where have 

you been, beautiful? Your mother is looking 

for you. She looked for you everywhere. Where 

did they take you, beautiful?” 

Three years after ISIS took Christina 

from her family, that question was finally 

answered. Iraqi Special Forces found her in 

Mosul in June 2017, just days before her 

sixth birthday. Joyous ululation echoed 

along the dirt street as a huge crowd sang 

and danced to welcome Christina home. Her 

mother cried tears of joy as she hugged her 

child closely; her father beamed with happiness. 

Aida noted, “The best day of my life 

is when Christina came back.” Christina 

moved to sit between her parents, and contentedly 

said, “I’m with mum and dad.” 

Although her family has yet to return 

home, the emotion of that moment continues 

each day. Thankfulness fills the entire family; 

the haunted expressions previously worn by 

Christina’s parents are replaced with radiating 

joy. Her family never lost hope during 

the three years of Christina’s disappearance, 

and that hope continues to provide strength to 

their community. 

27

ENDURING THE 

UNTHINKABLE 

IN PAKISTAN’S 

SCHOOLS 

By William Stark 

For many parents, sending 

their child away for the first 

day of school is anxietyprovoking. 

Concerns such 

as, will my child make 

friends, will my child sit 

alone at lunch, and will my 

child get teased, are what 

most parents worry about. 

In Pakistan, Christians 

must accept the possibility that their child 

will be mocked by classmates, beaten by the 

teacher, or even forced to convert to Islam 

because of the religious intolerance pervading 

Pakistan’s educational institutions. Some 

worry that they’ll never see their child again. 

Unfortunately, two families have already 

endured the unthinkable this school year. 

In August and again in October, Christian 

students were killed at school. In each case, 

authorities quickly claimed that the students’ 

religion had nothing to do with their deaths, 

but the victims’ parents believe otherwise. 

Sharoon Masih 

Sharoon Masih, a bright 17-year-old 

Christian, started the new school year 

at MC Model Boys Government High 

School in Pakistan’s Punjab Province. 

Unfortunately, Sharoon’s first day, August 

25, did not go well. According to Sharoon’s 

parents, his teacher pulled him in front of 

the class, in which Sharoon was the only 

Christian, and berated him for not wearing 

the proper uniform. 

Ilyasab Masih, Sharoon’s father, told 

Pakistan Today, “His mother told me that 

Sharoon told her the teacher hit him in front 

of the whole class and also called him a 

‘Choora’ (a derogatory word used for Pakistani 

Christians that denotes them as “unclean”), 

“Sharoon faced 

high-scale 

religious hatred 

[at] the school.” 

among other curse words. She said he was 

quite upset at being humiliated in front of the 

whole class on the very first day of school.” 

After the brutal reprimand, Sharoon was 

ordered to stand outside the classroom for the 

rest of the day. There, his Muslim classmates 

began imitating the prejudiced behavior 

modeled by their teacher. 

Being teased and singled out as someone to 

be mocked had such a deep effect on Sharoon 

that he skipped his second day of school, 

August 26, and used the money he earned 

over the summer to buy a new uniform. When 

Sharoon returned for his third day of school, 

August 27, the stage was already set for 

something terrible to unfold. 

According to his classmates, Sharoon 

and Ahmed Raza, a Muslim classmate, got 

into a quarrel after Ahmed tripped Sharoon 

on his way out of the classroom. In this 

quarrel, Ahmed’s cellphone was damaged 

which he quickly blamed on Sharoon. For 

this, Ahmed became enraged with Sharoon 

and beat him to death. 

“The teacher was not present in the 

classroom during that time,” Ilyasab reported 

to Pakistan Today. “Some students did try to 

break up the fight. Ahmed was said to have 

chased [Sharoon] and viciously punched and 

kicked him. It was probably then that he kicked 

him fatally in the abdomen or the chest.” 

To the surprise of Sharoon’s family, no staff 

members of the school were at the hospital 

when they claimed Sharoon’s body. In fact, 

the school’s staff had not even bothered to 

take Sharoon to the hospital after the fight. 

Instead, four of Sharoon’s classmates took 

him to the hospital on their own. 

“Sharoon faced high-scale religious hatred 

[at] the school,” Ilyasab shared with ICC. 

“Religious hatred was the main cause of 

killing my son, Sharoon.” 




Left Christian students in Pakistani schools 

often face intense persecution at the hands of 

their teachers and peers. 

Arsalan Masih 

On October 9, the unthinkable happened 

again. Arsalan Masih, a 15-year-old 

Christian boy, was attending tutoring lessons 

at the Ideal Science Academy in Jhabran village, 

also in Punjab, when he was attacked 

by a group of police officers. 

According to witnesses, seven police officers 

identified Arsalan, grabbed him by the 

collar, and began savagely beating him with 



fists, batons, and gun butts. Arsalan’s teacher 

tried to intervene, but was pushed aside by 

the officers. 

Mushtaq Masih, Arsalan’s father, told the 

media, “Arsalan was in visible pain and 

was screaming for the men to stop. [Police 

Constable] Rashid struck Arsalan’s head 

with a pistol which created a bleed. When 

they put him into the police van, Arsalan 

collapsed and died. Later, the police threw 

Arsalan’s body on the roadside and fled.” 

What motivated the savage assault? 

According to Arsalan’s mother, Arsalan got 

into a fight with a Muslim boy who had been 

bullying him and pressuring him to convert 

to Islam. The bully Arsalan fought with was 

the nephew of Constable Sardar Bilu, one of 

the seven police officers who killed Arsalan. 

As the only Christian in his class, Arsalan 

was separated for religious studies and 

would meet with a Catholic priest while the 

rest of the class met with an imam. After a 

few weeks, Muslim classmates began telling 

Arsalan that he needed to convert to 

Islam. Over time, these interactions became 

increasingly aggressive and insulting, leading 

to the fight that cost Arsalan his life. 

“Arsalan was killed because he refused to 

convert and was a brilliant student,” Mushtaq 

told ICC. “He wanted to become an engineer 

and serve the Christian community.” 

Pakistan’s Jim Crow 

To understand the motivation behind these 

murders, one doesn’t need to look far back 

into America’s own history. The discrimination 

and disdain with which Christians in 

Pakistan are treated is similar to that experienced 

by African Americans in the Jim 

Crow South. 

For many Pakistani Muslims, Christians 

are considered dirty and deserving of their 

low status. This is why there is such an overreaction 

to perceived slights by members of 

Pakistan’s Christian community. 

Unfortunately, Pakistan’s own education 

system perpetuates this intolerance. 

By allowing teachers to mock and abuse 

Christian children without consequence, the 

atmosphere of religious intolerance that led 

to the murders of Sharoon and Arsalan will 

persist and likely grow. 

“Being Christian is a ‘punishment’ in 

Pakistan,” Mushtaq told ICC. “Mostly 

Christians do sanitation work because they 

did not get an education. Now I think to 

save the lives of our children we should 

avoid sending them to school. At least they 

will survive.” 

29

WHY WE 

SERVE 

ICC staff members reflect 

on their experience working 

with the persecuted Church. 

By Tony Laudadio 

Jon, ICC’s video producer was deeply touched by Mrs. Laraba’s 

story (pg. 22). He saw her raw interview footage and produced 

a video about her plight, which led to her housing project. 

Another year 

is upon us 

and the battle 

against 

persecution 

rages on. 

You’ve been 

moved by 

the stories of our courageous 

brothers and sisters overseas, but 

we want to start the new year 

by introducing you to some of 

our staff. As our supporters, you 

are the reason we are able to 

effectively serve the persecuted, 

and we believe that you deserve 

to know why we do what we do. 

We come from diverse backgrounds, 

including some who 

have experienced persecution 

firsthand, and have come to ICC 

for different reasons, but none of 

us have been unchanged by our 

time here. In our diversity, our 

greatest shared lesson is that the 

worldwide Church is united by 

the fact that, together, we make 

up the Body of Christ which is a 

kingdom planted on earth by the 

King of Heaven. 

When details are stripped 

aside, we all came here to be a 

part of nurturing and building this 

Kingdom. Grace, ICC’s advocacy 

fellow and newest team member, 

said that she came to ICC “looking 

for a Kingdom-focused job” 

and that she “really wanted to 

have every day matter.” When 

asked why she specifically pursued 

the field of advocacy, she 

said, “I saw how powerful the 

government can be, and I felt like 

it was important that we engaged 

that side of [ministry].” 

Some of our other staff members 

came to ICC for more per- 

“Living here in 

the United States, 

you just have so 

much religious 

freedom that you 

are prompted to 

protect it.” 

Grace describes how the eternal impact of ICC’s ministry is what 

sets it apart from other professional pursuits. 




“I witnessed a lot of persecution and experienced a 

lot of discrimination at every single level... I grew up 

very passionate about it. I can’t leave it behind me.” 

sonal reasons. Jorge, ICC’s 

outgoing logistics manager, 

is from Colombia. When 

asked why he came to ICC, 

he said, “Our family was 

harassed a lot by communist 

guerillas, and we lost a lot 

when moving to the States 

and having to be kicked out 

of our native land, so I identify 

a lot with the plight of 

the persecuted.” 

ICC’s chief of staff, who 

is from Egypt, has a similar 

story. He explained, “I 

witnessed a lot of persecution 

and experienced a lot 

of discrimination at every 

single level…I grew up very 

passionate about it. I can’t 

leave it behind me.” 

Even those who have not 

experienced persecution on 

a personal level have found 

a deeper appreciation for 

the plight of our suffering 

brothers and sisters. Claire 

is ICC’s regional manager 

for the Middle East. When 

asked how her view of persecution 

has changed since 

working for ICC, she said, 

“I remember when I was 

quite little I would read 

Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, 

and I would think, ‘Surely 

there’s not persecution that 

much in the world today; 

this is all in the past.’ And 

then when I started working 

on…religious freedom 

issues…I realized it’s a very 

real problem, and it still 

exists today.” 

Milos, an ICC intern 

from Serbia, shared how 

the internship has impacted 

him, “I think it opened 

my mind a little more in 

the way [of] understanding 

more about persecution 

around the world. I was 

aware of it, I knew about it, 

but I didn’t know it as much 

I do now.” 

Our staff also reflected 

on how this ministry ties 

into the broader work of 

furthering the Kingdom. 

ICC’s graphic design intern, 

Natalie, said, “The Gospel 

is all about spreading 

Christ’s love and sharing 

the message with people 

who haven’t heard…so ICC 

is helping people in the 

field…fulfilling their role in 

spreading the Gospel.” 

Finally, our staff shared 

how their time at ICC has 

helped them grow personally. 

Claire reflected that the 

more time she spends with 

the persecuted, “the more 

I see God’s hand in everything…and 

so I mention 

it more.” As Jorge gave 

a parting farewell to ICC, 

he noted, “I will always 

have a heart for the cause… 

specifically for religious 

freedom. Living here in the 

United States, you just have 

so much religious freedom 

that you are prompted to 

protect it.” 

As a whole, the ICC family 

represents a microcosm 

of the global Church and its 

mission. Some of us have 

spent years reading about 

persecution, and others have 

experienced it firsthand. The 

brothers and sisters we serve 

are part of our family and 

play a vital role in the work 

of the Kingdom. All glory 

goes to our Savior for this 

incredible chance to share in 

their mission. 

As ICC’s senior regional manager, William has repeatedly visited and served the victims of persecution in 

Pakistan. The victims’ recovery after ICC provides aid motivates him to be a constant advocate for them. 



31

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OR ONLINE AT 

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out of their homes by violence 

from Boko Haram and Fulani 

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an ICC food and clothing 

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OR BY PHONE 

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to ICC in this way, please give 

us a call at 1-800-ICC-5441. 

MEMBER 

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January 2018 Persecution Magazine

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