By NWV Senior Political News Writer, Jim Kouri
While the news media and Democratic lawmakers continued their “Trump-Russian Collusion” chase and Democrats raising up “an army” of radical left and radical Islamic members of the U.S. Congress, the plight of Christians throughout the world continues. Christian persecution is even occurring within the United States despite the Constitution’s First Amendment regarding freedom of religion.
Two IEDs [improvised explosive devices) targeting a Roman Catholic church on Sunday shocked the Philippine community in Sulu, the province said to be the territory of the Islamic State-inspired Abu Sayyaf Group. At least 18 people were reportedly killed and 86 were believed wounded, according to Philippine’s federal police.
Lieutenant Colonel Gerry Besana, spokesman for Philippines Western Mindanao Command, condemned the bomb attack, which erupted at around 8:15 am in Jolo, the capital of Sulu province, as an act of terrorism, according to Asia Times.
In the United States, a group of Catholic High School boys speaking out against abortion were smeared and ridiculed by the Democrats, some Republicans and the vast majority of news outlets. However, a video shows that a Native American supporter of abortion and members of a radical hate group were the aggressors and the news media purposely misled the American people. However, the story had labeled these “white boys” as racists, anti-government religious fanatics who should be silenced.
In a disturbing and — unfortunately — rare report, the syndicated radio show Crosstalk America with Jim Schneider aired a segment on Thursday that provided an inside look at the worst persecutors of Christians on the planet.
David Curry, President and CEO of Open Doors USA, a non-government organization (NGO) that has more than 60 years investigating and exposing the world’s most oppressive countries while empowering and equipping these persecuted Christians in more than 60 countries to deal with religious intolerance and oppression.
Curry told host Jim Schneider that the Annual World Watch List began because the organization wanted to know where and to whom they needed to allocate their ministry efforts. David noted that today they want to: influence governments, show that persecution of Christians is real and not simply anecdotal, show how central religious freedom and freedom of conscience are to free governments and stable societies, and to remember that God has told believers to speak out and stand with those who are in chains for the name of Christ.
David Curry then listed the top nations on the Persecution World Watch List which includes: (1)North Korea, (2)Afghanistan, (3)Somalia, (4)Libya, (5)Pakistan, (6)Sudan, (7)Eritrea, (8)Yemen, (9)Iran and (10)India.
David also defined what his organization means by ‘persecution’, how this uniquely affects women compared to men, the number of believers being persecuted, the impact of Islamic oppression, the sophistication behind China’s style of persecution, and much more.
Persecution situations are usually highly complex and it is not always clear if and to what extent pressure felt by Christians or even violence against them is directly related to their Christian faith. Basically, persecution is related to religions, ideologies or corrupted mind-sets, i.e. elementary human impulses seeking exclusive power in society. The WWL methodology considers these impulses to be the power sources behind what is referred to “persecution engines”
The 50 countries where it is most dangerous to follow Jesus
1 North Korea 2 Afghanistan 3 Somalia 4 Libya 5 Pakistan 6 Sudan 7 Eritrea 8 Yemen 9 Iran 10 India 11 Syria 12 Nigeria 13 Iraq 14 Maldives 15 Saudi Arabia 16 Egypt 17 Uzbekistan 18 Myanmar 19 Laos 20 Vietnam 21 Central African Republic 22 Algeria 23 Turkmenistan 24 Mali 25 Mauritania 26 Turkey 27 China 28 Ethiopia 29 Tajikistan 30 Indonesia 31 Jordan 32 Nepal 33 Bhutan 34 Kazakhstan 35 Morocco 36 Brunei 37 Tunisia 38 Qatar 39 Mexico 40 Kenya 41 Russian Federation 42 Malaysia 43 Kuwait 44 Oman 45 United Arab Emirates 46 Sri Lanka 47 Colombia 48 Bangladesh 49 Palestinian Territories 50 Azerbaijan
The term “drivers of persecution (engines)” is used to describe people and/or groups causing hostilities towards Christians in a particular country. WWR uses 12 drivers in its documents:
- Government officials at any level from local to national
E.g. teachers, police, local officials, presidents, Kim Jong Un - Ethnic group leaders
E.g. tribal chiefs - Non-Christian religious leaders at any level from local to national
E.g. imams, rabbis, senior Buddhist monks - Christian religious leaders at any level from local to national
E.g. popes, patriarchs, bishops, priests, pastors - Violent religious leaders
E.g. Boko Haram (Nigeria), Hamas (Palestinian Territories), Bodu Bala Sena(BBS) and the Sinhala Ravaya(SR) (both in Sri Lanka) - Ideological pressure groups
E.g. LBTGI rights groups, Abortion Rights UK, National Secular Society - Normal citizens (people from the general public), including mobs
E.g. students, neighbors, shopkeepers, mobs - Extended family
E.g. one’s direct family members or the wider circle of kinsmen - Political parties at any level from local to national
E.g. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in India, AKP in Turkey - Revolutionaries or paramilitary groups
E.g. FARC - Organized crime cartels or networks
E.g. There are several cartels in Latin America, Italy and other parts of the world. - Multilateral organizations (e.g. UN/OIC) and embassies
E.g. UN organizations pushing for compulsory sex education programs contrary to Christian values, OIC pushing for Islamization of the African continent.
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Contact Jim Kouri – E-Mail: COPmagazine@aol.com
