Date: Monday, November 4, 2019To: Friends & SupportersFrom: Gary L. Bauer, Director Iran Celebrates Hostage CrisisChants of "Death to America! Death to Israel!" filled the streets of Tehran and towns across Iran today as Iranians celebrated the 40th anniversary ( [link removed](?x-mi:(?%3C=href=)[%5Cs]*[ ) of the seizure of the U.S. Embassy and the ensuing hostage crisis. On November 4, 1979, Iranian students and militants stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and took more than 50 Americans hostage. They remained prisoners for 444 days until the inauguration of Ronald Reagan. The repressive theocratic regime of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini refused to negotiate with the United States. In fact, Khomeini took to referring to the U.S. as "the Great Satan."His successor, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has continued to use the phrase ( [link removed](?x-mi:(?%3C=href=)[%5Cs]*[ ), and also rejects talks with the United States. Khamenei vowed yesterday that Iran would never negotiate with the U.S., saying, "Those who believe that negotiations with the enemy will solve our problems are 100 percent wrong." Of course, Khamenei also vows to annihilate Israel ( [link removed](?x-mi:(?%3C=href=)[%5Cs]*[ ).Not surprisingly, the Trump Administration once again labeled the Islamic Republic of Iran as the world's leading state-sponsor of terrorism. In a report released Friday, the State Department declared ( [link removed](?x-mi:(?%3C=href=)[%5Cs]*[ ):"Iran remains the world's worst state sponsor of terrorism. The regime has spent nearly one billion dollars per year to support terrorist groups that serve as its proxies and expand its malign influence across the globe. Tehran has funded international terrorist groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. It also has engaged in its own terrorist plotting around the world, particularly in Europe. . ."Furthermore, Tehran continued to allow an [Al Qaeda] facilitation network to operate in Iran, which sends fighters and money to conflict zones in Afghanistan and Syria, and it has extended sanctuary to [Al Qaeda] members residing in the country."Addressing the Christian Media Summit in Jerusalem yesterday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ( [link removed](?x-mi:(?%3C=href=)[%5Cs]*[ ) applauded the Trump Administration's efforts to restrain Iran, saying:"The most important thing is to make sure that Iran does not develop nuclear weapons and that its march towards empire and conquest is stopped. I think that President Trump's policy of putting maximum economic pressure on Iran is the right one, and I'm glad to see that it's been increased recently [with] more sanctions. "I know that it's having a telling effect on Iran's ability to fund its aggression. We can see that. And equally, we are committed to preventing Iran from entrenching itself militarily in our borders, especially in Syria. And we take the necessary action to prevent that."Pray For The Persecuted ChurchYesterday Christians around the world came together in spirit for the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. This annual event is observed every year on the first Sunday of November. The sad reality is that nearly 250 million Christians around the world face high levels of persecution simply for their faith. In addition to promoting the U.S.-Israel alliance, Christians United for Israel and CUFI Action Fund are committed to fighting Christian persecution in the Middle East, where many Christians are facing genocide ( [link removed](?x-mi:(?%3C=href=)[%5Cs]*[ ).As you know, President Trump appointed me to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. The Commission monitors religious persecution against any group anywhere in the world. But let me be clear: The evidence is overwhelming that no group suffers more persecution than Christians. From China to Nigeria, Syria to North Korea, Christians suffer unbelievable pain and penalties. All too often it is ignored by international organizations and the news media. The Pew Research Center ( [link removed](?x-mi:(?%3C=href=)[%5Cs]*[ ) reports that Christians are the most persecuted religious group in the entire world. According to Open Doors ( [link removed](?x-mi:(?%3C=href=)[%5Cs]*[ ) just in the past year alone:More than 4,300 Christians were killed for their faith.More than 1,800 churches were attacked.More 3,100 Christians were imprisoned for following Jesus.As men and women of faith, we are not powerless. Please pray that God would comfort those who are suffering. Pray that Christians facing persecution would remain strong in their faith. Pray that their witness would inspire others. If your church did not recognize the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church yesterday, please urge your pastor to address this urgent issue from the pulpit soon, and to mark it on the calendar for next year.Christians United for Israel Action Fund is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization, donations are not tax deductible for federal income tax purposes. To make a donation, please call 202-738-4714, or send a check to:CUFI Action Fund ( [link removed](?x-mi:(?%3C=href=)[%5Cs]*[ )300 Pennsylvania Avenue, SEWashington, D.C. 20001EMAIL GARY BAUER ( [link removed](?x-mi:(?%3C=href=)[%5Cs]*[ ) ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] ) CUFI Action Fund300 Pennsylvania Avenue, SEWashington, D.C. 20001 Update your Email Preferences ( [link removed] ) or Unsubscribe ( [link removed] )
