Tags

Martyrdom

• Dozens Slain in Recent Church Attack

  

  Hundreds of Christians were gathered to celebrate Pentecost Sunday at the St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Nigeria, on June 5th when the service was disrupted by gunshots and explosions. As worshippers attempted to flee the building, gunmen shot them down, both inside and outside the building. When the bloodshed was complete, dozens lay dead – including children. Surviving victims were rushed to the hospital with injuries. It is believed that the number of fatalities could reach as high as 100.

• Video Released Revealing Execution of Christians

  

  On May 10th, a video was released by the Amaq News Agency, a news outlet linked to the self-proclaimed "Islamic State" terrorist group. The video shows the execution of 20 Nigerian men, all believed to be affiliated with Christianity, along with a threatening statement from the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) declaring that the slaying is intended as a warning to Christians around the world. The spokesperson in the video also states that the killing was in retaliation for the death of Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi, the former leader of the Islamic State who died during a raid committed in Syria on February 3rd by American special forces.

• College Student Killed for Alleged Blasphemy

  

  A 25-year-old Christian student at the Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto state, Nigeria, was killed by a mob on May 12th after rumours spread that she had blasphemed against Mohammed on a WhatsApp group chat. The precise nature of her comments is unclear, but it appears that the problem started when Deborah Emmanuel Yakubu expressed exasperation at religious posts being shared by her classmates, asking that the others focus on issues related to their course work. Apparently, Deborah also rejected advances from one of the other students, who later made the blasphemy accusation.

• Multiple Attacks on Christian Villages

  

  The Nigerian state of Kaduna experienced multiple attacks on predominantly Christian villages between March 17th and March 24th. Due to the nature of these recent attacks, the exact number of victims is not yet clear, but survivors estimate that over 80 villagers were killed and approximately 150 others kidnapped.

• Pastor Killed by Masked Men

  

  Pastor Yallam Shankar was at home in Angampalli, Chhattisgarh, on March 17th when five masked men suddenly burst in. After dragging the pastor from his home, the attackers stabbed him to death outside. The slain man is survived by his wife, two sons and grandchildren.

• Invasion of Christian Residence Results in Abduction and Fatality

  

  On the night of February 6th, armed assailants entered the parish residence of St. Monica's Catholic Church in the Ikulu Pari Parish of Kaduna State. During the invasion, a kitchen chef named Sati Musa was killed; and the parish priest, Joseph Danjuma Shekari, was abducted – the latter incident presumably motivated by the perpetrators for the purpose of demanding ransom.

• Pastors Ambushed; One Fatally Wounded

  

  Two pastors were leaving All Saints' Church in Peshawar, Pakistan, together after the January 30th service when their car was ambushed by gunmen riding a motorcycle. Pastor William Siraj was fatally shot, and Pastor Patrick Naeem needed to be rushed to the hospital where he was treated and then released.

• Christians Murdered and Kidnapped by Islamic Militants

  

  Christians in Nigeria are appealing for prayer after yet another series of fatal attacks on their communities by militant Islamists. The following two attacks in January are recurring examples of the devastation that is being imposed on so many innocent people in Nigeria, particularly those of the Christian population. For more information on the relentless attacks on Christians in Nigeria, go to our country report.
  
  On January 11th, a group identified as Fulani militants attacked the village of Ancha in Plateau State, killing 18 Christians. According to witnesses, some of the attackers were wearing the uniform of the Nigerian army. During the raid, 30 armed Nigerian soldiers had been stationed to protect the town but stayed in their makeshift barracks, doing nothing to prevent the burning of homes, the destruction of vehicles, and the fatal wounding of villagers. When the attack was over, more than 500 bullet casings were found littering the ground.

• Ten Villagers Killed; Dozens of Homes Destroyed

  

  An overnight attack that took place in the Nigerian village of Ta'agbe on November 26th left ten Christians dead, including three children. According to witnesses, the attackers were dressed in black, carried sophisticated weapons, and shouted Islamic slogans while slaughtering the residents of the village and burning homes. It is estimated that over 100 houses were destroyed, displacing 690 people.

• Report Highlights Dire Conditions for Religious Minorities

  

  The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has stated that Christians and other religious minorities in Afghanistan face "dire consequences, including death, if discovered by the Taliban" for openly expressing their beliefs. Since most Afghan Christians are converts from Islam, all Christians are considered "apostates" by the Taliban – a crime that is punishable by death.