Page 5 - Voice of the Persecuted Christians - Apr-Jun 2023 - 122

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BRINGING HOPE The last couple of years have seen a series of civil protests in Iran. These have been prompted by an economic crisis but also by a lack of freedom of expression and violation of women’s rights. Within that context Christians continue to suffer persecution for an active faith and witness. In this edition of the Voice podcast we speak to Simon, from our partners Transform Iran. He explains some of the background to the current climate in Iran and how the gospel continues to provide hope
in the midst of despair. Simon also provides an update on the welfare of several Iranian churches in Turkey in the light of the recent earthquakes.
TWEN: IMPRISONED FOR FAITH; SUSTAINED BY GRACE Twen had been a Christian for only two years when she was arrested and imprisoned in Eritrea at the age of 21. She had no idea she would spend the next 16 years locked away in the Eritrean prison system for choosing to follow Jesus. Over
the years she suffered intense persecution, but by the grace of God, she survived violent beatings, isolation in scorching-hot shipping containers, deprivation of water and food, and even being thrown into a pit of poisonous snakes. Hear from her now on this episode of the Voice podcast as we had the privilege of speaking to Twen after she was released from prison.
PERSECUTION TRENDS 2023 Following the recent publication of Release International’s Persecution Trends report for 2023, which highlights the pressures Christians are likely to face in several key areas over the year, we are speaking to the CEOs of three of our sister ministries. Hear from Cole Richards of Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) USA, Tony Benjamin
of VOM Australia and Floyd Brobbel of VOM Canada. Listen in as we discuss some of the key areas where persecution is expected to rise this year, as well as how this information can help all of us and our churches to be better informed, and to pray. You can read the Persecution Trends report in our January Voice magazine or on our website.
Militants have attacked buses and killed passengers
Evangelicals trapped in besieged city
Jihadist attacks in Burkina Faso are multiplying, causing many civilians to become internally displaced persons (IDPs). Among the 1.8 million IDPs in the country, 75,000 are believed to be evangelical Christians.
Our partner Dr Susanna (not her real name) said the situation in the country was worsening with jihadist attacks taking place simultaneously in different areas.
She said: ‘The jihadists are cleansing villages and small towns of people who don’t agree with their thinking or with the Sharia [Islamic law] they want to impose. In one of the recent attacks, they looked for the families of people helping the Government. As the village refused to hand over those families, they started killing people, and more than 12 lost their lives. Other places are depopulated, as all inhabitants decided to move to nearby towns, the so-called safe towns.’
At the time of writing one city in the east of the country was believed to have been completely encircled by jihadists. Dr Susanna said some people were able to escape before it was completely closed
off. However, 12,000 IDPs are inside the city, including about 600 evangelical believers. ‘This number does not include local Christians who lived there in the past. They decided to stay as the city used to
be safe. Now, all of them are inside. Jihadists continue their attacks around the city and in its suburbs. They destroy schools, houses,
and local markets and chase away or kill people. Christians are still able to gather for prayer/Bible reading only in the very city centre. Their situation is critical. Our contacts stay connected with them and encourage them by phone calls.’
She said the attacks on the roads were also continuing. In a recent incident, jihadists stopped two public buses, before killing all the male passengers and burning the vehicles.
Dr Susanna added: ‘The military government is trying to do something, but they cannot do so, as around 75 per cent of the area is out of their control, and they haven’t been able to stop the supplies for jihadists.’
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