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October 26, 2022
Dear John,
Each month, FRC's Center for Religious Liberty covers international religious freedom news--exploring challenges that believers face abroad.
Here is FRC's top content on international religious freedom in Autumn 2022:
Iran's Heroes Take Center Stage
Today's news about international religious freedom is increasingly grim. Reports from Iran shock and trouble us. Every day, the Iranian regime's ferocious abuses continue unabated while courageous Iranian women and men--including many Christians--march and chant in protest. Lela Gilbert has written two articles about the ongoing crisis in Iran:
Christians in Peril in Afghanistan
Meanwhile, Afghanistan's Christians continue to flee their fanatical Taliban persecutors. Lela Gilbert writes:
Continued Violence in Nigeria
According to Open Doors' World Watch List, Nigeria accounted for nearly 80 percent of Christian deaths worldwide in the past year, with more than 4,650 believers killed. The death toll once again makes Nigeria the world's most violent place for Christians. FRC's report on Nigeria's persecution provides in-depth research on the violence that continues to inflict death and misery on our Christian brothers and sisters.
Center for Religious Liberty: International Travel
And finally, countless Asian Christians are also experiencing persecution--and many are suffering severely. Arielle Del Turco recently returned from a visit to Asia, where she met with persecuted Christians.
Family Research Council participated in "North Korea Freedom Week" in Seoul, South Korea, joining North Korean defectors, leaders of human rights organizations, and influential activists in drawing attention to human rights issues in North Korea, which is widely recognized as the most dangerous place to be a Christian. For more on what's happening in North Korea and to learn about the people Arielle met with, see:
In Thailand, Arielle met with Christian survivors of persecution from China, Vietnam, Pakistan, and Myanmar in partnership with Christian Freedom International, a non-profit that serves the persecuted church.
Arielle also visited the "Mayflower church," a devoted Chinese house church that escaped China together and is now in hiding in Thailand. Chinese agents have been spotted multiple times stalking and taking videos and photos of the church members during outings. This has convinced human rights advocates familiar with the case that the group is in "imminent danger." Read more about the church and their predicament:
Arielle also met with several Christian families from Vietnam. Matthew is a Christian belonging to the Montagnard ethnic minority group from the Central Highlands in Vietnam, which fought alongside American soldiers during the Vietnam War. When he was caught bringing Christian materials back to his village from the capital of Saigon, he was arrested and tortured. Read his story here:
Stay in Touch
In many parts of the world, Christians face hostility and danger. These believers are at risk specifically because they believe in Jesus Christ, have chosen to follow Him, and are determined to share His message with others. Our mission at FRC is to stay informed about their circumstances and to share their stories. And we very much hope you'll be praying for them along with us.
Thank you for your ongoing interest in FRC's Center for Religious Liberty. Stay tuned to this newsletter for information regarding new resources to keep you up to date about the state of religious freedom around the world. You can also visit frc.org/irf for the latest information and resources from the CRL.
In His Name,
Lela Gilbert
Senior Fellow for International Religious Freedom
Arielle Del Turco
Assistant Director of the Center for Religious Liberty
"Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them..."
Hebrews 13:3
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