Iraq
The new year of 2010 has brought great danger to the church in Iraq. Muslims are preparing for an “ethnic and religious cleansing.” Two church buildings were bombed, gunmen forced Christians out of two other churches, and a wave of car bombs killed 118 people and wounded 200 others. Despite the rash of bombings, several abductions, and multiple murders, authorities are taking no steps to protect Christians. Many families have fled, while many more are going into hiding. A local believer claims, “The Christian community is destined to die.”
Christians face the constant threat of kidnapping. Men are held for huge ransoms while women are forcibly converted to Islam and “married” to Muslim men. Violence against Christians is common, such as the April 2009 attack in which a woman and her daughter-in-law had their throats slit by Muslim militants. In October 2009, seven Christians were murdered and 200 more were forcibly displaced. Many of these have not yet found new homes.
Prayers for persecuted Christians in Iraq
Christians Facing Violence in Iraq
Faced with rising anti-Christian violence and other challenges, some Christians in IRAQ who fled to the Kurdistan region are now seeking a new refuge.
Ask God to provide. “For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.”
Christian-Owned Businesses Attacked
This December in the Kurdistan region of IRAQ, an imam’s Friday sermon reportedly inspired Muslims to attack local businesses, many of which were owned by Christians. Muslims chanted jihad and anti-Christian slogans during the attacks. Some area residents retaliated. Hundreds of Christian families are now afraid because of the volatile situation.
Ask God to encourage the believers and give them wisdom in how to respond. “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken.”
Family Threatened
An Iranian believer from a Muslim background living in IRAQ says that he and his wife receive numerous death threats. His son was beaten and called an “infidel” by a teacher. Last year his daughter was so frightened by a teacher that she stopped attending for the rest of the year. The siblings are beaten, scorned, and robbed by other children.
Ask God to give the family courage and wisdom. “For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.”
Convert Threatened by Landlord
A Muslim background believer in IRAQ has been threatened with increased rent and eviction by his Muslim landlord, who discovered his faith. The believer has also had to pull his daughter out of a Christian school because her government ID labels her as “Muslim.”
Ask God to encourage the family and provide a home. “And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
Christians Kidnapped, Released
Three Christians were ambushed and kidnapped by Muslim gunmen on September 21 in IRAQ. They were released on September 30 after a ransom was paid.
Praise God that they have been reunited with their families! “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
Converts in Iraq
In Iraq, being a Christian is dangerous—but being a Christian convert from Islam takes even more courage. Compass Direct News writes, “Whereas Assyrian Iraqis are accepted as Christians by ethnic identity, Iraqi Muslims believe Arabs have no business becoming Christians; it is not possible, according to society and the constitution.”
Listen to their stories:
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Christian’s Children Discriminated Against
A pastor from a Muslim background in IRAQ is struggling because he cannot register his children with the government as Christians. In the eyes of the state, the children do not exist, and are not eligible for medical treatment or education.
Pray for wisdom for this family. “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.”
Church bombed
A bomb exploded at a church on August 15 in IRAQ. This is the third attack against the congregation in 5 years. The pastor says, “For the sake of Jesus, even if we don’t have a building, we will keep praying.”
Pray that their love and perseverance will lead many to Christ. “And a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him.”
Pastor Kidnapped, Convert Attacked
A house church pastor in IRAQ was recently kidnapped by Muslims. He had helped to lead many former Muslims to Christ. Recently one of these new converts was also attacked. The Muslim background believers home was sprayed with machine gun bullets.
Pray for the release of the pastor. Ask God to give him, his family, and the Muslim background believers' courage to persevere. “Yet when they turned and cried to You, You heard from heaven, and many times You delivered them according to Your mercies.”
Car Bomb Outside Church
On August 2 in IRAQ, a car bomb exploded outside a church. Area residents and a pastor were wounded. Two other bombs targeting churches were disarmed. In the disarming process a smaller explosion broke a church’s windows. A church leader said, “We continue to witness to Jesus Christ and our Christian values; we are not afraid.”
Pray that believers will persevere. “In my distress I called upon the LORD; to my God I called.”