February 2023 Persecution Magazine

WWW.PERSECUTION.ORG
FEBRUARY 2023
PERSECU ION
PAKISTAN SPECIAL REPORT
PERSECU ION
PERSECU ION
PERSECU ION.ORG
INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN CONCERN
PERSECU ION.ORG
INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN CONCERN
PERSECU ION.ORG
INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN CONCERN
PERSECUTION.ORG 1

Contents
FEBRUARY 2023
ON THE COVER
A shepherd in Pakistan attends to
his flock. Christians in Pakistan
are often forced into doing
unwanted or dangerous jobs due
to their second-class status.
Photo: iStock.com/Wirestock
FEATURES
12 16 18 22
STIFLING THE
PRAISE OF GOD
The Concerning Trend
of Persecution in
Pakistan
THE FLIGHT
OF AFGHAN
CHRISTIANS
Those Who Escaped
the Taliban’s Grip Met
Harsh Conditions
A GENERATION
TRANSFORMED
Giving Students a
Second Chance for a
Brighter Future
HEALING THE
INVISIBLE SCARS
OF PERSECUTION
Trauma Training for
Students in Pakistan
RECURRING
04
06
08
26
YOUR HANDS AND FEET
ICC NEWSROOM
FRONT LINES OF MINISTRY
HOPE FOR THE PRESENT
ICC Projects Made Possible by Supporters
Your Source for Persecution News
A Deep Dive Into the Lives of Church Planters and Pastors
Find Hope and Victory in the Messages of the Persecuted
@persecuted @persecutionnews @internationalchristianconcern International Christian Concern
OUR MISSION: Since 1996, ICC has served the global
persecuted church through a three-pronged approach of
advocacy, awareness, and assistance. ICC exists to bandage
the wounds of persecuted Christians and to build the church
in the toughest parts of the world.
DONATIONS: International Christian Concern (ICC) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) (all
donations tax-deductible). ICC makes every effort to honor donor wishes in regards to
their gifts. Occasionally, a situation will arise where a project is no longer viable. ICC
will redirect those donated funds to one of our other funds that is most similar to the
donor’s original wishes.
2
MEMBER
Persecution | FEBRUARY 2023
© Copyright 2023 ICC, Washington, D.C., USA. All rights reserved.
Permission to reproduce all or part of this publication is granted
provided attribution is given to ICC as the source.
STAFF
Publisher Jeff King
Editor Mike Anderson
Designer Hannah Campbell

Peril in Pakistan
The reality of persecution was cemented for me, in
part, as I sat in the back seat of a car in Pakistan eons
ago. It was during an in-country visit shortly after I
took the helm of International Christian Concern (ICC). As
I glanced out the window, I felt the rage of a terrorist who
wanted to kill me (more on that later).
That incident gave me a glimpse of the dangers our persecuted
brothers and sisters face in Pakistan, but it was a
widow who pierced my heart during that same visit.
Pastor Mukhtar had a heart for serving Muslims. He witnessed
to them for Christ, cared for them, loved them. Yet
despite strangers’ repeated death threats, warnings, and
visits to his doorstep, insisting he stop, Pastor Mukhtar continued
to preach to lost and hurting souls. You’ll read more
of my encounter with his widow on page 8.
Radicals assassinated him, leaving his wife to raise six children
and survive in a community that hated her, too. My
time spent with Mrs. Mukhtar was one of the most memorable
experiences of my ministry life.
Jeff King, President
International Christian Concern
Author: The Last Words of the Martyrs and
Islam Uncensored
We cover Pakistan this month to bring special attention to
this gaping wound of a place for believers. It’s a dangerous
mess and has been for quite some time. The country’s carte
blanche endorsement of Islam and blasphemy laws bring
constant peril to followers of Jesus. It is one of the worst
places to be a Christian on our planet.
As you recall, that peril reared its ugly head about a decade
ago when two suicide bombers killed 127 people and injured
250 more at All-Saints Church. We have chronicled
that incident over the years and continue to support victims.
We will bring special attention to the massacre on its
10th anniversary later this year.
Thank you for coming alongside the persecuted and supporting
our ongoing projects in Pakistan. Please know how
much it means to us and our brothers and sisters who want
desperately to openly worship their Savior but can only do
so behind closed doors.
In Him.
- JEFF
PERSECUTION.ORG 3

Your Hands and Feet
ICC PROJECTS MADE POSSIBLE BY SUPPORTERS
Changing
the world,
one life at
a time.
AFRICA
This Changed What I
Thought My Life Was
Supposed to be About
RESCUE: WIVES & KIDS
The war disproportionately affecting Christians in the Democratic
Republic of the Congo (DRC) uprooted Kavira’s family. Her father,
mother, and three siblings survived an ambush from radical
Muslim terrorists on April 9, 2022, and fled to Beni empty-handed
after their house was set on fire.
At the time, Kavira was in college when her family was forced to
abandon everything they had known.
Kavira was faced with no other choice but to drop out of school
due to her parents’ financial situation. She hoped to continue
school, but with three years of tuition ahead of her, she wasn’t
sure if she’d be able to.
In response to her story, ICC paid for one full year at a new
university where she’ll pursue her ultimate dream of studying
medicine.
“I thank ICC so much for this great support that has been given to
me, because as the time in DRC is very difficult, I had no hope that
I can get such support to go back to school. ...Now I hope that I
will be a strong person to help the suffering people in the DRC
when I complete my studies,” said Kavira.
4
Persecution | FEBRUARY 2023

THIS PAGE: Unsplash images used to protect the identities of our beneficiaries. Top: Photo by Stephanie Liao Bottom: Photo by Abdul Rauf Khalid.
SOUTH ASIA
Freed From Hospital Debt
GOSPEL: BIBLES & BROADCASTS
Christians in Madhya Pradesh, India, face two major problems:
the growing hostile discrimination against Christians and the
consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. This combination pushed
many pastors into vulnerable situations, as offerings and tithes to
churches dwindled drastically.
Despite this harsh reality, Pastor Lamar continues to train local
leaders for church planting and evangelism. After his family became
ill with COVID-19, they were all admitted to the hospital, incurring a
substantial bill that pushed the pastor into financial distress.
Not only has he struggled to make ends meet but it was also incredibly
difficult for him to continue spreading the gospel as intended.
ICC heard of Pastor Lamar’s plight and decided to intervene. We
assisted the pastor in starting up a business so he could support his
family and free them of medical debt. Now the pastor can return to
spreading God’s word with more financial stability in tow.
SOUTH ASIA
Land Stolen, Faith Restored
RESTORE: LIVES & COMMUNITIES
Yusuf is a Christian living in Pakistan whose inherited agricultural
land was stolen from him by a Muslim tenant. Mughal, the
tenant, had leased the land from Yusuf’s father in 2012, with an
agreement that it would expire in May 2021. When Yusuf’s father
died in 2016 and ownership of the land passed to Yusuf, Mughal
falsely claimed that his father had sold him the land.
Mughal and several other radical Muslims threatened and
violently beat Yusuf when he refused to leave his rightful property.
This injustice has left him without any savings or support for
himself and his family. He faces ongoing discrimination as a
Christian which has prevented him from taking legal action to
regain possession of his land.
In order to help Yusuf get back on his feet and provide for his
family, ICC set up a first-aid clinic for him as a small business. As
an experienced medical professional, this is a way for him to earn
an honest and dignified income while continuing to pursue legal
justice for his stolen land.
PERSECUTION.ORG 5

ICC Newsroom
YOUR SOURCE FOR PERSECUTION NEWS
Fulani Terrorists Slaughter 70 Christians in Central Nigeria
Fulani militants viciously attacked innocent Christian
citizens in central Nigeria, killing more than 70
and injuring over 100. The sheer magnitude of
the attack displaced thousands of families from their
homes.
Benue State government officials have now spoken
out on the matter and have urged the federal
government to take measures to protect its citizens’
defense groups.
“We are standing on our request for the federal
government to give us a license for our Volunteer
Guards to bear AK-47s and other sophisticated
weapons,” said Secretary to the State Government
Anthony Ijohor, representing Benue Governor
Samuel Ortom. “The security agencies have been
overstretched, and that being the case, our people
have to defend themselves.”
Unfortunately, attacks like these are all too common
across many rural villages in Nigeria. As this violence
continues with no signs of abating any time soon,
Nigerian citizens may continue relying on themselves
for protection.
Indian Police Arrest Pastors and Newly Married Couple at Wedding Reception
Nine Christian pastors and a newly married couple were
unjustly arrested in Uttar Pradesh, India. Authorities
detained the pastors after attending a wedding reception
held in one of their homes. Police responded to pressure
from radical Hindu nationalists who alleged that the pastors
were using the gathering as an opportunity to conduct
conversion activities.
Witnesses reported that police entered the private event
and searched the property, seizing Bibles and other
Christian items. Despite no evidence of any wrongdoing,
the police arrested the group using India’s draconian anticonversion
laws.
A Christian leader told ICC, “Christians are living under
the fear of being targeted and attacked for no reason, and
police just need a complaint for them to act and send them
to jail under the anti-conversion law.”
6
Persecution | FEBRUARY 2023

HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE, PERSECUTION.ORG, FOR THE LATEST NEWS
Nine Christians
Hospitalized After
Attack in India
120 Civilians Abducted in Village Raids
Local sources report that more than 120
people, including women and children,
were kidnapped in a recent raid by
unidentified bandits in northwestern
Nigeria. According to the resident,
who wished to remain anonymous, the
bandits split into two groups and raided
four villages – Kanwa, Kwabre, Yankaba,
and Gidan Goga – kidnapping victims.
This act of violence is yet another addition
to the numerous violent incidents
throughout Nigeria that have killed or
abducted thousands and left hundreds
of thousands internally displaced. Sadly,
Christians are especially vulnerable to
this religiously motivated violence.
Nine Christians in Chhattisgarh
were brutally attacked by a group of
radical Hindu nationalists. The mob
burst into a newly built church hall
while members of the congregation
were worshiping. According to local
sources, the mob surrounded the
church and demanded that the
pastor and his brother come out
of the hall. Many members of the
congregation were seriously injured
as a result and needed to be rushed
to the hospital for treatment.
Anti-conversion laws in Chhattisgarh
are often misused by radical Hindus
as a way to persecute Christian
minorities.
Christian Families Beaten Unconscious for
Refusing to Deny Their Faith
In India, a mob of radical Hindu
nationalists and their village leader
brutally beat two Christian families
for refusing to deny their faith. This
vicious attack occurred in the home of
one of the Christian families as they
were worshiping together. The violence
started when the village leader gathered
a group of people from nearby villages
and accused the Christians of converting
to a foreign religion and leading innocent
tribal people away from Hinduism.
Without warning, the mob entered
the home, assaulted the two families,
and inflicted serious injuries on three
members.
“The incidents of persecution have
increased so much these days,” a local
pastor told ICC. “Last month, a young
Christian was beaten for refusing to
recant his faith. Though we knock on the
police station all the time, we receive
little or no justice,” the pastor explained.
Odisha was the first Indian state to have
anti-conversion laws. Today, 11 Indian
states have enacted anti-conversion
laws, with two enacting them this year.
“The incidents of
persecution have
increased so much
these days.”
- Local Pastor in India
Attack footage shows the group
of radicals surrounding the
church with sticks as weapons.
PERSECUTION.ORG 7

Front Lines of Ministry
A DEEP DIVE INTO THE LIVES OF CHURCH PLANTERS AND PASTORS
P A S T O R M U K H T A R :
A Martyr for
Christ in Pakistan
BY JEFF KING
8
Persecution | FEBRUARY 2023

When I think of struggling persecuted
Christians, I think of Mrs. Mukhtar. She
was married to a pastor in Pakistan, a
man who was incredibly bold for Christ.
In Pastor Mukhtar’s neighborhood, people heard
the Muslim call to prayer five times a day from
minarets atop the local mosques. Not to be
outdone, Pastor Mukhtar installed a loudspeaker
on the roof of his church. He planned to broadcast
short prayers and sections of Scripture to the
neighborhood.
Pastor Mukhtar wasn’t some obnoxious rebel with
a microphone. He had a great love for Muslims
and was a compelling witness; many Muslims
came to Christ because of his outreach.
His deep love for Muslims and his success in
winning Muslims to Christ deeply bothered his
Muslim neighbors, earning him many enemies.
In fact, his effectiveness was practically a death
sentence.
“DON’T WORRY”
Strangers began to arrive at Mukhtar’s door to
politely warn him against witnessing. Over time,
the threats grew less subtle. He was told that he
would pay with his life if he did not stop converting
Muslims to Christianity.
After each visit, his wife asked him, “Who were
those people, and what did they want?” Pastor
Mukhtar kept these threats from his wife so
that she wouldn’t be afraid. He would answer by
saying things like, “Don’t worry, dear, it was only
business.”
Despite the threats, Pastor Mukhtar couldn’t stop.
God had revealed to him the key to life. He had
to share that key with all those still imprisoned.
Threats couldn’t stop him, even when his enemies
offered to let him live if he would only stop
preaching and allow the prisoners around him to
quietly rot in prison. But Pastor Mukhtar could not
accept such a small bribe. His deep love for the
Father and for the prisoners around him forced
him to keep going no matter the cost.
ASSASSINATED
Pastor Mukhtar was eventually assassinated. His
murder was highly publicized. His widow feared
that the men who killed her husband would
one day return and silence her as well. After his
assassination, state security services forbade her
from speaking with foreigners. These restrictions
applied to us, so we met with her in secret.
MRS. MUKHTAR
When I met Mrs. Mukhtar, I was suffering from
extreme jet lag and exhaustion after extensive
travel. But I was there to find out how I could
help her rebuild her life after the tragic loss of her
husband, so I was eager to meet with her.
Mrs. Mukhtar had six children, including several
older daughters at home. In Muslim culture, a girl
without a father is vulnerable, so daughters stay
with the family until they marry.
The stress of losing her husband and carrying
the load of a large family left her shell-shocked.
But Mrs. Mukhtar was stoic as she recounted the
details of her living nightmare. From the outside,
there was no sign that tragedy had engulfed
her life just a few weeks earlier. Her lack of any
outward emotion made it hard for me to relate
to her at first.
When I meet someone’s unvarnished pain, I
tend to respond with empathy. If I see a person’s
tragedy and their sorrows, hurts, and scars, I
share in their suffering. So, while listening to her
PERSECUTION.ORG 9

story, I became ashamed of my lack of
empathy. Mrs. Mukhtar had suffered so
much. Shouldn’t I feel her pain? Shouldn’t
I feel that deep sense of compassion that I
experienced in similar meetings with other
victims?
I was able to supply financial help for her
and her family, but we had to cut our
meeting short due to security concerns.
Before we left, I asked if I could pray for
her, and she consented.
As I began to pray, I felt compelled to place
my hand on Mrs. Mukhtar’s shoulder. I
knew that would be crossing a cultural
boundary in fundamentalist Muslim
Pakistan, but I felt compelled to do so. I
followed the Spirit’s leading and began to
pray aloud:
“Father, sometimes you ask us to carry
loads that are too heavy for us. My sister
here has one of those loads. Could you
touch her and let her know the peace that
surpasses all understanding? Lord, she has
a desert to walk through, and I pray she
would feel your hand holding hers as she
journeys through it.”
As I prayed over Mrs. Mukhtar, her
shoulders began to twitch. I continued to
intercede for her, and her body started to
shake. Soon the gentle, rocking motion
turned to outright heaving and muffled
cries. I kept my hand on her shoulder after
I finished praying, and her tears turned to
uncontrolled sobbing.
In Urdu, she cried out in anguish, “How
could they murder him? All he did was
love people. He loved the Muslim people.
I cannot forget him. How am I going to
live without him? What if they kill my son,
too?”
My Pakistani associate seemed
uncomfortable with this strong display
of emotion. He patted her on the back
awkwardly, telling her, “Don’t cry.
Everything will be fine. Please don’t cry.”
But everything would not be fine. God was
still in control, and He would walk with her
in her pain, but things were not fine.
Her life had been irretrievably broken.
I sat there with my hand on her heaving
shoulder and prayed in the stillness of my
heart. Then, my tears started to flow as
well. The Word tells us to weep with those
who weep, and I did.
Mrs. Mukhtar after the loss of her
husband when Jeff met her.
10
Persecution | FEBRUARY 2023

Front Lines of Ministry
A HEART RESTORED
My tears fell freely that day. I wasn’t
ashamed, and neither was Mrs. Mukhtar.
Before I left, she took my hand in both
of her own and looked at me with her
tear-filled eyes. I will never forget the
expression on her face or the tone in her
voice when she looked up into my eyes
and thanked me.
What was she thanking me for? I knew it
was more than the money.
I wish I could capture that moment in
time. I wish you could see her eyes. Full of
sorrow but coupled with gratitude after we
cried, prayed, and cried together.
My job is simultaneously thrilling,
exhausting, and rewarding. I’ve heard
and seen too many accounts of horrific
atrocities committed against Christians,
many of which are accompanied by
graphic photos and videos. When I sit
in my D.C. office, reading a report from
halfway around the world, I don’t always
feel the pain of my brothers and sisters.
But, when I’m sitting face to face with a
victim or when my hand is on their heaving
shoulder, I feel their pain.
When I meet with the persecuted, I become
acquainted with their suffering. I consider
the effect on my heart to be a great benefit.
In the west, there is a superficial quality to
life as we strive for wealth and continual
ease and comfort. This phenomenon is
consistent with our human nature, but it
has a decidedly negative effect on us. We
face a constant pull toward narcissism and
self-absorption.
Carrying the pain of our persecuted
brothers and sisters may be a burden, but
it is a restorative burden. I believe that it is
the cure for the frivolousness endemic to
Western life.
The pain of the persecuted needs to
become our pain. The Lord addresses this
repeatedly in the New Testament when He
refers to the Church universal as “the body
of Christ.”
On the day I met Mrs. Mukhtar, her sorrow
became my sorrow and still is. I left my
meeting with Mrs. Mukhtar knowing that
her heart had an exceedingly long desert
to walk through. I also knew she wouldn’t
be walking through that desert alone.
On that day, one exhausted and calloused
heart was softened and restored.
In short, the persecuted were changing
me. While I was paid to minister to
them, I found them discipling me in what
Christianity could or should be. They were
bringing life to my heart and leading me up
the mountain path of my spiritual journey.
I couldn’t see the path ahead, let
alone an endpoint
since the mist around
the mountain was
thick, and hid the
way.
So, I kept watching
and listening to
the persecuted
and the martyrs,
as I followed
the master’s
footsteps – one
step at a time.
“How could
they murder
him? All he
did was
love people.
He loved
the Muslim
people...
How am
I going to
live without
him? What if
they kill my
son, too?”
- MRS. MUKHTAR
READ MORE
Grab your copy of Jeff’s
new and revised book at:
www.jeffkingblog.com or
scan the QR code below.
PERSECUTION.ORG 11

Pakistan Primer
PERSECUTION HOTSPOTS AND A BRIEF HISTORY
When we think of humanitarian concerns, typically we think of Africa,
the Middle East, and maybe India. Pakistan is a nation that garners
less attention than neighboring India and Afghanistan. There is no
Islamic extremist group that has seized control of the country like
the situation in Afghanistan, nor is it governed by radical Hindu nationalists who
use “anti-conversion” laws as a means to target Christians, such as in India.
In a way, the situation in Pakistan is more egregious, as it combines the
oppressive-like nature of radical Islam with the pseudo-legitimate cover of
its nation’s laws to inflict persecution on its most vulnerable group.
The Islamic Republic of Pakistan has proven intransigent to other
beliefs by enacting and abusing blasphemy laws. These laws create a
divide that marginalizes the Christian community and encourages
violence against Christians.
Despite the egregious treatment of Christians, their
faith remains firm.
ICC STAFFER’S PERSPECTIVE
12
I have had the pleasure of working with
Pakistani Christians from various walks of life,
and I am constantly humbled by their resilience.
Despite the abuse that Christians in Pakistan
suffer, they are some of the most gracious and
faithful people I have encountered.
I reflect on Psalm 82, where we are called to
“defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold
the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue
the weak and the needy; deliver them from the
hand of the wicked.”
Persecution | FEBRUARY 2023
These believers are anything but weak. In
fact, they are among the strongest people our
Father has graced us with. But they do need
help.
We will do all that is in our power to keep young
girls from being kidnapped and forced to marry,
to give young believers the means to do more
than work in the sewers, and to break the cycle
of persecution in Pakistan and lift up those who
suffer because of their faith.

Quick Facts
POPULATION: 238,181,034
RELIGIOUS BREAKDOWN: 96.5% Muslim, 3.5% Other
(Christian and Hindu)
MAJOR SOURCES OF PERSECUTION: Radical Islam, government
oppression, religious nationalism, religious extremism, cultural
threat.
Forms of Persecution
DIRECT
FORCED
CONVERSION/
MARRIAGE
ATTACKS ON
PLACES OF
WORSHIP
FALSE BLASPHEMY
ACCUSATIONS
INDIRECT
DISCRIMINATION
FORCED CONVERSION AND
MARRIAGE: Women and girls are
kidnapped from their families, married
to an assailant, and held in sexual
captivity. The perpetrators justify this
through forged marriage and conversion
documents. Investigations into these
crimes are often nonexistent and a lack of
justice encourages further victimization.
ATTACKS ON PLACES OF WORSHIP:
Extremists often target Christian places of
worship for deadly terrorist attacks. Many
Pakistani Christians fear the possibility
of further attacks, particularly when
celebrating major Christian holidays.
FALSE BLASPHEMY ACCUSATIONS:
According to a 2020 report by the Center
for Social Justice (CSJ), a human rights
organization in Pakistan, at least 200
people were accused of committing
blasphemy. Blasphemy accusations often
have their roots in personal, professional,
or business disputes. These types of
comments can spark mob lynchings,
vigilante murders, and mass protests.
DISCRIMINATION: Pakistani Christians
face extreme levels of discrimination
due to their religious identity. They are
often regarded as second-class citizens,
working the filthiest jobs with no hope
of advancement. This discrimination
is frequently seen in the number
of Christians involved in Pakistan’s
sanitation workforce.
1990
1991
2000
2010
2020
Time Line of Events
Sharia law formally incorporated
into Pakistan’s legal code
leading to a spike of persecution
incidents.
2001
Pakistan postures itself toward
the west by joining the U.S. in
its fight against the Taliban in
Afghanistan.
2002
Election results strengthen role
of Islamist parties within the
political system.
2004
Two pastors killed and a church
compound bombed. Police
protection is absent from these
and other cases.
2009
A mob murders eight Christians,
leading to mass protests from the
Christian community about the
state of persecution.
2013
Two suicide bombers kill scores
of congregants at the All-Saints
Church in Peshawar.
2018
A ruling by Islamabad’s High
Court states that citizens must
declare their religion when
applying for ID documents,
voting, or applying for
government positions.
2022
Gunmen assassinate a pastoral
leader at All-Saints Church;
vote of non-confidence thrusts
Pakistan into political instability.
PERSECUTION.ORG 13

Stifling the
Praise of God
THE CONCERNING TREND OF
PERSECUTION IN PAKISTAN
14
Persecution | FEBRUARY 2023

Pakistan’s systematic suppression of religious freedom
has repeatedly earned its designation as a Country
of Particular Concern (CPC) by the U.S. Government.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at that time
that Pakistan’s designation was “for having engaged in or
tolerated systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of
religious freedom.”
Just months after this designation, Pakistan was thrust
into political turmoil following a vote of no-confidence
which ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan. No prime
minister has ever completed their term of service,
and historically, periods of political transition increase
religious minorities’ vulnerability.
Meanwhile, institutions such as the National Rehmatullil-Alameen
Authority, created to ensure education and
media adhere to Islamic values, are given increased
opportunity to function in ways that suppress human
rights.
While blasphemy laws have existed in Pakistan since
the mid-1800s, their formal usage within society has
increased steadily. These laws carry harsh sentences,
including life in prison and the death penalty. The laws
overwhelmingly penalize religious minorities for any
actions deemed offensive to Islam, and their subjective
nature magnifies the inherent religious freedom issues
contained within them. Any Christian may face blasphemy
accusations based on community perceptions rather than
any actual crime.
Women who belong to a religious minority group are
often more severely targeted for persecution. Within
the Christian context, forced marriages are a common
practice that legally compels women and girls to convert
to Islam. Often these victims are kidnapped before the
marriage. Despite laws declaring a minimum age for
marriage, law enforcement is not reliable, and therefore
perpetrators often walk away with impunity.
While these are the two predominant forms of
persecution faced by Pakistan’s Christian community,
broader trends within the community exist that actively
discourage Christians from identifying and practicing
their faith publicly. For example, a Christian clergyman
was assassinated in January 2022 while traveling home
from church. Targeting a clergyman, whose dress is often
distinctly Christian, discourages other believers from
openly identifying their faith within society. That case also
served as an example of the authorities not conducting a
serious and effective investigation into persecution cases.
The U.S. decision to designate Pakistan as a CPC was
a positive step toward acknowledging the extreme
persecution that Christians face in Pakistan. The country’s
current political instability is expected to increase the
vulnerability of Christians, requiring further detailed
human rights monitoring and a more detailed focus on
those groups regarding the status of minorities.
DIVE DEEPER
Pakistan made the list for one of the worst countries
to be a Christian in ICC’s Persecutor of the Year Awards
report. If you’re interested in learning more about
Pakistan or the other persecutors featured, scan the QR
code or visit www.persecution.org/poy
PERSECUTION.ORG 15

The Flight of
Afghan Christians
to Pakistan
16
Persecution | FEBRUARY 2023

THOSE WHO ESCAPED THE TALIBAN’S GRIP
MET HARSH CONDITIONS IN PAKISTAN
Christians and other refugees looking to leave
Afghanistan have few choices. Neighboring
Pakistan had potential exit routes, but the Pakistani
government has clamped down on refugees wishing
to enter the country.
Pakistan was not equipped to manage a refugee crisis, but
thousands of refugees crossed the border after the Taliban
takeover. Once Afghan Christians step foot in Pakistan,
however, their plight and journey are far from over.
WEIGHING THE COSTS AND RETURNING HOME
ICC found 60 Christian families that had fled Afghanistan for
Pakistan. At least three decided to return to Afghanistan after
months of turmoil as refugees in Pakistan.
Sardar and his Christian family initially had difficulty getting
into Pakistan after the Taliban takeover. He was abducted by
the Taliban en route to the border and held until his family
could pay a ransom. They managed to scrape the money
together, devastating them financially.
While Pakistan received refugees previously, the number of
families that arrived following the collapse of Afghanistan was
unprecedented. Thousands of Afghans flooded into Pakistan,
so Sardar’s family was insignificant and their struggles
commonplace. As with all the Christian refugee families,
these struggles would undoubtedly have been worse had
they been discovered as Christians.
Sardar and his family considered it better to return to
Afghanistan. The fact that he had been subjected to the
Taliban’s cruelties firsthand and still decided to go back
illustrates the dreadful state of Afghan refugees in Pakistan.
He has experienced what the Taliban is capable of and knows
how much worse it will be if the Taliban captures him again.
Despite the ever-present danger to him and his family in
Afghanistan, he felt there was a better chance of survival
hiding in the shadows of the Taliban rather than eking out a
life in Pakistan.
Once in Pakistan, Sardar and his family were not well received.
Like nearly all refugees, they faced hunger and poor living
conditions. With no means of work, they were at the mercy
of Pakistan’s refugee system.
WANT TO READ MORE?
ICC released a report detailing the experiences of Afghan
Christians after the Taliban takeover and what life looks
like in the wake of the destruction. Visit our website’s
Report Page or scan the QR code to read the report.
PERSECUTION.ORG 17

A GENERATION TRANSFORMED
with Knowledge and Skills
18
Persecution | FEBRUARY 2023

GIVING STUDENTS A
SECOND CHANCE FOR
A BRIGHTER FUTURE
Survivors of gruesome terrorist attacks have a long
journey ahead of them after the dust settles from
the bombs and loved ones are laid to rest. For
the All-Saints Church bombing in Pakistan that claimed
the lives of 127 and injured 250 churchgoers Sunday
morning, September 23, 2013, many children were left
to navigate the world as orphans.
The children lost parents, but ICC launched a school
program to ensure that their futures weren’t stolen,
too. ICC’s Generation Transformation program, borne
out of trial and loss, gives long-term hope through
education and job training.
Persecution, rooted in a prison of desperate poverty
and political powerlessness, stems from generational
educational deficits, job discrimination, and lack of
access to capital. Education and vocational training can
break cycles of persecution.
PERSECUTION.ORG 19

“I have gone through very difficult
times. Every moment I miss my
parents. However, I am thankful
to my guardians and ICC for
supporting and taking care of me.”
- MARIAM, GT RECIPIENT
ICC takes the best and the brightest
persecuted Christian children and gives
them a top-notch education in private
schools or provides vocational training to
turn them into carpenters, plumbers, and
electricians.
There are nearly 200 students in the
Generation Transformation program – most
are sponsored by donors. Almost ten years
after the All-Saints Church bombing, our
staff has walked with these children as they
have grown up, discovered their passions,
and developed big dreams.
“I lost my papa and mama when the [All-
Saints] Church was attacked in September
2013,” said Mariam. “I had no idea what
had happened on that day as I was just
about four years old. I have gone through
very difficult times. Every moment I miss
my parents. However, I am thankful to
my guardians and ICC for supporting and
taking care of me.”
ICC has been helping Mariam since the
church attack.
“In the future, I want to be a doctor. A part
of my professional career will be dedicated
to the uplift of the needy and deserving
people,” Mariam told ICC. “If ICC weren’t
there to support me, I would have never
gone to school because I lost my parents,
and my relatives were financially not so
good.”
ICC covers students’ tuition, books,
uniforms, travel costs, and other
educational expenses for the duration
of their enrollment – funds go directly to
the families, with heavy monitoring and
reporting.
Churches, ICC staff in the country,
representatives, and colleges and
universities or peer organizations refer
students to the program.
University students typically enter the
program on a three-year degree path across
a wide range of disciplines. Vocational
students are either on a one-year or
three-year degree path. The vocations
include electrical, mechanical, welding,
refrigeration/air conditioning, information
technology, and carpentry. The funds for
the academic year are released depending
on when the students are accepted into
the Generation Transformation program.
ICC has partnered with other Christian
organizations running educational
programs and internships in Pakistan.
These partners have expanded Generation
Transformation to include vocations in
media, broadcasting, writing, and more.
There are currently 115 university and
vocational students receiving aid from
Generation Transformation. The third
intake of students is being planned for the
second half of 2022, with more than 50
applications for university, vocational, and
internship opportunities.
20
Persecution | FEBRUARY 2023

PERSECUTION.ORG 21

22
Persecution | FEBRUARY 2023

Healing the
Invisible
Scars of
Persecution
TRAUMA TRAINING FOR
STUDENTS IN PAKISTAN
ICC recently conducted a trauma training session for students who have suffered
trauma and persecution due to their religious beliefs. This training helped equip
participants with the knowledge needed to establish a social support group,
create a work-life balance, and implement measures to mitigate trauma within
their families and lives.
“We hide our religion portion in our resume to avoid rejection. We don’t get jobs
easily if we reveal our identity no matter how qualified or capable,” said another
participant. “We are constantly made to believe that we are impure, dirty, infidels
in one way or the other by our peers, neighbors, colleagues, and friends. They
don’t drink and eat with us.”
The participating students were able to learn about the issue of trauma and its
impact on people as well as develop personal coping strategies. Many of the
students surveyed had a high level of stress and trauma. Together, in a safe
environment, they were able to share their experiences.
Art: iStock.com/stellalevi
PERSECUTION.ORG 23

“We are intentionally kept distressed,
disadvantaged, and vulnerable at all levels.
We don’t have any status in society. We
face unethical behavior from our law
enforcement agencies,” one student said.
“We are discriminated on the basis of our
faith, color, events, rituals, and dress code.”
One interesting note was that many of
the participants believed that some of
the issues they were experiencing in their
lives could be attributed to a plan by God.
Female students shared that they often
face gender inequality in their own families
from parents.
“Our parents start looking for our matches
for marriages instead of focusing on our
careers. They prefer if the match is from
any foreign country or aged with wealth as
they want to secure other siblings’ careers
at the cost of our choice,” said another
participant.
Male students expressed the weight they
feel to hold it all together for their families
despite the challenges they face.
“We don’t feel pain, we don’t have
emotion,” one participant expressed.
By the end of this trauma training session,
participating students had become more
informed about issues related to trauma,
had better coping mechanisms to rely on,
and understood ways in which they can
support one another when it comes to
mitigating issues within their families or
daily lives.
The trauma-informed therapist that was
conducting the two-day sessions observed,
“The meditation aspect of the training was
overwhelming for all. Each one expressed
their thoughts. There was a group who
felt connected with their loved ones, and
felt serenity, peace, calmness, joy, a divine
touch, and felt spiritually connected. Some
participants were overwhelmed with the
Holy Spirit and burst out with past trauma.
They released energy which was trapped
for years.”
Generation Transformation students gained
the knowledge, confidence, and awareness
of the impacts of direct trauma exposure,
and became empowered to explore and
utilize prevention strategies to increase
their resiliency to future persecution.
This crucial training helped many students
be better equipped to face the challenges
that come with being a minority in their
culture and future workplaces.
Photos of participants of the two-day trauma training sessions sharing their experiences.
Participants learned how to cope with the hard experiences they face as Christians.
24
Persecution | FEBRUARY 2023

PERSECUTION.ORG 25

Hope for the Present
FIND HOPE AND VICTORY IN THE MESSAGES OF THE PERSECUTED
Early in my career of serving the persecuted, I visited
Pakistan. I had dreaded going there because it is one
of the world’s most radical Islamic states and a very
dark place, especially for Christians.
The radicals are woven into all the culture of Pakistan.
Some are recognizable by their beards and dress, but
others wear the suits of businessmen, generals, and
government leaders. As a result, Pakistani Christians
must be incredibly careful about what they say and do.
One misstep can trigger a beating or cost them their
homes, jobs, their freedom, or even their lives.
Christian girls are often abducted, raped, and forced to
marry their rapists and convert to Islam, never to be
seen by their parents again. Many churches have been
bombed and pastors murdered. Pakistan is one of the few
countries in all my travels where I have felt vulnerable.
Once, in Islamabad, I was sitting at a stoplight in a state
of jet lag, dreamily pondering the plight of Christians
in Pakistan. I was thinking about how oppressed and
defenseless they were and thinking that I, too, was
defenseless, if only temporarily.
As I thought about that, I was staring out my open car
26
Persecution | FEBRUARY 2023

window at the surrounding traffic.
My gaze wandered from car to car as
we were boxed in and at a standstill.
I thought to myself, “If the radicals
wanted to kill me here, it would be
ridiculously easy.”
Suddenly, my eyes settled on a face
contorted with rage staring back at
me. The man’s clothing showed him
to be a radical Islamist. Leaning out
of a van 10 feet ahead us, he was
trying hard to get my attention and
there was no missing his message.
His face screamed, “You are not
welcome here, and if I could, I’d kill
you right now!”
Our eyes met for an instant before
I turned away, pretending to be
oblivious. As I looked away, my
host, Shahbaz, spotted him and
whispered repeatedly, “Do you see
him? Do you see him? Look at him,
he wants to kill you!” I let Shahbaz
know under my breath that I hadn’t
missed him, and I didn’t need to
look at him again! Within seconds
the traffic light changed, we turned
to the right, and the van went
straight, taking with it the hate-filled
eyes still locked on me.
Shahbaz relaxed when the incident
was over. Later, we sat down to eat,
and he said, “It’s not safe for you
to come here. Security is notified
every time an American comes here.
You never know if you are being
watched.” That day, at the stoplight, I
gained just a bit of an understanding
of the daily experience and mindset
of a persecuted Christian.
Walk through a dark alley at night
on the wrong side of town, and
you will get a taste of how the
persecuted Christian feels every
day. It’s a constant feeling of
vulnerability. They are keenly aware
that someone could be hiding in the
shadows, waiting to hurt them.
Christians in Pakistan are secondclass
citizens; in many restaurants,
Christians can’t eat with Muslims
or must use separate silverware. In
the Pakistani press (and society),
Christians (until recently) were
referred to as “garbage collectors.”
Consider what that would do to
“Suddenly , my
eyes settled
on a face
contorted with
rage staring
back at me. “
- JEFF KING
your psyche over time. You might
laugh at first and then feel angry,
but over time the abuse would take
its toll. You would start to think of
yourself as a “garbage collector.”
Christians are cowed, beaten down,
and always looking over their
shoulder to avoid any abuse coming
their way.
A FRIEND MARTYRED
I had known Shahbaz for a couple of
years, and the curious thing about
him was that from the beginning of
our relationship, he always told me
that one day he’d be assassinated by
Islamists.
I never knew how to take those
comments. Pakistan is a convoluted
and corrupt mess, and I always
wondered if it was a ploy to gain
sympathy and more financial
support, or if it was real.
As our relationship grew, I saw it was
a simple declaration of an obvious
and inevitable outcome.
For years, ICC’s founder, and
then myself, had introduced
him to government leaders in
Washington, D.C. With those
connections, his reputation grew,
and over time, he rose to become
Pakistan’s highest representative
of its religious minorities. He
repeatedly stood up for the rights
of persecuted Christians against the
fundamentalists. He had a target on
his back.
As his time drew closer, he began
to distance himself from friends,
knowing that his end would be
violent.
A couple of months before his death,
I met with him in Washington, D.C.
I keep a picture we took together
then on my desk. His beaming face
reminds me that the martyr often
knows his end is coming. Shahbaz
chose to walk out his last days with
courage, serving King and Kingdom
with courage and selflessness.
Just a few months later, I read that
he had been gunned down by
radical Islamists outside his house.
This was an excerpt from Last Words
of the Martyrs. To get your copy,
visit www.jeffkingblog.com
PERSECUTION.ORG 27

We’d love to hear from you!
ICC
PO BOX 8056
SILVER SPRING, MD 20907
OR ONLINE AT
WWW.PERSECUTION.ORG
OR BY PHONE
800-ICC-5441
Giving via Will
Provide now for a future gift to ICC by including
a bequest provision in your will or revocable
trust. If you would like more information on
giving to ICC in this way, please give us a call at
1-800-ICC-5441.
PERSECU ION.ORG
INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN CONCERN
PERSECU ION.ORG
INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN CONCERN
PERSECU ION.ORG
INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN CONCERN