North Korea's attacks on Christians unabated

North Korea's city of Pyongyang, a mission field for Christians

North Korea, where tens of thousands of Christians are kept in prison camps and tortured, many times to death, remains the No. 1 nation in the world for persecuting believers, according to a new report from Open Doors USA.

WND reported less than two weeks ago that there were reports that four Christians had been executed in North Korea because of their Christian faith. One incident involved a woman and her grandmother who were washing clothes when a New Testament fell out of the woman's clothing. Both she and her grandmother were executed for that offense.

And the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom repeatedly has recommended the U.S. Department of State list North Korea as among its "countries of particular concern" for its "egregious and systematic human rights violations" including policies that disallow any Christian faith.

"It is certainly not a surprise that North Korea remains No. 1. There is no other country in the world where Christians are being persecuted in such a horrible and systematic manner," said Carl Moeller, president of Open Doors USA.

He said the organization is sponsoring a Prayer Campaign specifically for Christians in North Korea, and will hold a North Korea Freedom Week in April to publicize how Christians in free parts of the world can help.

WND in 2006 finished a series of reports on Christian persecution in North Korea, including reports from those who have worked inside the restricted nation, reports from those who risk their lives by going into North Korea to minister, those who see the Christians' testimony and are drawn to it, and those who have died in their Christian witness.

Saudi Arabia, Iran, Somalia and Maldives also were listed by Open Doors in the top five, a list that was unchanged from the organization's World Watch List from 2006. Yemen, which was No. 8 a year ago, Bhutan (No. 6), Vietnam (No. 7), Laos (No. 9) and Afghanistan (No. 11) are in positions 6-10, the group said.

The conditions for Christians deteriorated in 2006 in countries like Uzbekistan, Eritrea, Comora, Iraq, northern Nigeria, Algeria, Mauritania, Turkey, Ethiopia and northeast Kenya, the report said.

"In No. 21 Iraq, there were reports of increased violence specifically targeted at Christians in addition to the daily violence. Iraq's Christian population is estimated to have dropped below 450,000, half the size in 1991," the report said.

The situation in Syria, ranked No. 45 and described overall as having "some limitations" on Christianity, the fourth-most severe category in the report, became an issue in 2006 when Pastor Rick Warren of the megachurch Saddleback Church in California was quoted by the official government-sponsored news agency in Syria as praising the government there.

The comments by Warren, which also were documented on a videotape posted briefly in the Internet, came as he visited that Middle East nation, and arrived first from SANA, the Syrian Arab News Agency.

He was quoted by the Syrian media and said on the Internet video that the Middle Eastern home base for terrorism is a "moderate" nation.

Warren reported Christianity and Judaism both are legal, and Christians enjoy some privileges even Muslims don't receive within a governmental structure that formally allows for faith in Christ and adherence to the Torah.

According to SANA, Warren said "many Americans don't realize that both Christianity and Judaism are legal in Syria. In addition, the government provides free electricity and water to all churches; allows pastors to purchase a car tax-free (a tax break not given to Muslim imams); appoints pastors as Christian judges to handle Christian cases; and allows Christians to create their own civil law instead of having to follow Muslim law."

The agency also reported:

"Pastor Warren hailed the religious coexistence, tolerance and stability that the Syrian society is enjoying due to the wise leadership of President al-Assad, asserting that he will convey the true image about Syria to the American people."
"Syria wants peace, and Muslims and Christians live in this country jointly and peacefully since more than a thousand years, and this is not new for Syria."
Warren told Syria's Islamic grand mufti there could be no peace in the region without Syria and 80 percent of Americans reject the U.S. administration's policies and actions in Iraq.

An audio recording of his Syrian video also can be heard here:

Listen to Rick Warren talk about Syria:

Others, however, noted in editorials that his praise for the Syrian regime either was misdirected or improper.

Jim Jacobson, president of Christian Freedom International, told WND that Christians are fleeing Iraq to go to Syria because of the threat of violence in Iraq, but they then find that Syria's persecution of Christians is "ruthless."

Media attention was focused on North Korea during 2006 because of its launch of missiles and purported nuclear weapons test, "which meant increased pressure for Christians," the report said. "Open Doors uncovered information which indicates that more Christians were arrested in 2006 than in 2005. Between 50,000 and 70,000 Christians are currently suffering in prison camps. Many of them are tortured. Others are still putting their lives at risk by trying to flee to China," the report said.

In Saudi Arabia, non-Muslim worship is prohibited and conversion to Christianity can mean the death penalty, the report said. Islam is the majority religion in six of the Top Ten nations on the persecution list, communism is the government in control in three such cases, and Buddhism controls in the last.

Open Doors estimates 200 million Christians around the world are subject to interrogation, arrest and even death for their faith in Christ, and another 200 million – at least – face discrimination and alienation. The group, which was founded by the Dutch Missionary Brother Andrew when he was smuggling Bibles behind the Iron Curtain, works to support and strengthen Christians in the world's most persecuted areas through Bible and Christian literature distribution, leadership training and help, Christian community development and advocacy.

"If we are going to make a difference for the church in these oppressive areas, the first step is awareness, which makes the World Watch List an extremely important took," said Johan Companien, president of Open Doors International. "Then we must pray and act to bring about change."

Jeff Taylor, vice president of development and communications, said over the last decade the plight of persecuted Christians has been publicized more than ever before. "Now … it's common to see even secular press coverage of attacks on Christians," he said.

He warns, however, no one can become complacent.

"My concern is whether the positive growing in reporting is resulting in a corresponding loss of interest – a kind of 'Christian persecution news fatigue,'" he said. "We can't let that happen. When you realize hundreds of Christians are imprisoned for their faith in one country alone – Eritrea (No. 13) – it should cause us to redouble our prayers and efforts to help."

The list – and an expanded description of the Christian situation in those countries with the worst records – is available at OpenDoorsUsa.org.

It details how, for example, in Uzbekistan, a "period of heavy Christian persecution" has developed following the government's suppression of a popular uprising about 18 months ago.

"The people of Uzbekistan consider Christians as followers of a western religion or members of an extremist sect. In 2006 many expatriate Christian workers were deported from Uzbekistan. In June the government launched a new law that punishes printing of religious books with three years in prison," the report noted.

In Eritrea, four religious groups are authorized and, "anyone caught worshipping outside the four recognized religious institutions, even in private homes, has been subjected to arrest, torture…" The report described the situation of 15 Christians who escaped a military camp, where they had been kept in metal shipping containers, in May.

"They escaped at great risk into the desert bordering Djibouti. Five of the men died of exposure and the remaining 10 disappeared without any indication whether they have made it across the Djibouti border," the report said.

In Iraq, where the U.S. military is trying to stabilize the situation, Christian churches are being bombed and priests kidnapped. In Nigeria, the imposition of Islamic law has contributed to riots that destroyed more than 50 Christian churches and triggered the murders of 60 Christian church members in Borno and Niger states alone.

Another long list of churches, along with 20 Christian homes and 40 shops, were destroyed in one region after a Christian woman was accused of blaspheming Muhammad in Nigeria.

Related special offers:

"Islam Rising: The Never Ending Jihad Against Christianity"

Definitive work on Mideast – available only here!

"Everlasting Hatred: The Roots of Jihad"

"The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades)"

"Israel in Crisis"

"Myths and Facts: A Guide to the Arab-Israeli Conflict"

Perfect gift! Compass that points to Jerusalem

Previous commentaries:

The last Rick Warren column

Rick Warren: Is he or isn't he

There you go again, Rick Warren!