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Monday, October 10, 2005

CHRISTIAN FREEDOM INTERNATIONAL URGES ACTION FROM INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AS BIBLE SCHOOL FORCED TO MOVE, RECEIVES NEW THREATS IN BANGLADESH

By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service

DHAKA, BANGLADESH (ANS) -- Persecution of Muslim converts to Christianity in Bangladesh is increasing, says Christian Freedom International, an interdenominational human rights organization working for religious liberty which provides a safe house for those seeking refuge from persecution.

According to Christian Freedom International (CFI) the current situation for minority religions in Bangladesh is extremely tense. The organization urges Bangladesh to protect the rights of religious minorities in Bangladesh. (Pictured: CFI logo).

CFI also urges the U.S. government and the U.N. to use their incredible influence on Bangladesh to stop the growing persecution of religious minorities, especially Christians.

CFI president Jim Jacobson says: "The persecution of Christians, especially those who convert to Christianity in Bangladesh, is getting worse. The growing persecution of Christians in Bangladesh is alarming and should be a matter of major concern for every freedom loving person."

This past July, Grace Presbyterian Bible College was forced by Islamic terrorists to move out of Khulna, Bangladesh. The small school of 33 students is currently headquartered in South Sayabithi, about 15 miles north of Dhaka. (Pictured: Map of Bangladesh).

Peter Khaleque, the school’s principal told Christian Freedom International, "We had to move our Bible school out of Khulna because it was so dangerous. The fanatics beat our Bible school students they tried to kill them. There are so many fanatics in Khulna now."

"The fanatic groups attacked our school three times, two times this year, one time last year," said Kaleque. "We have 33 students at the Bible school. They tried to kidnap the girls and kill the men."

But in their new location outside Dhaka, the nation's capital, the school has received new threats.

"Here outside South Sayabithi we are now facing problems," Kaleque told Christian Freedom International. "We have to be quiet. The Muslim society in the area says if we sing too loudly they will cut off our hand. If we pray too loud they will cut off our hand. Neighboring Muslims from the local Mosque made this threat."

However, in spite of the persecution, the school is moving ahead.

"We are afraid, but we work for the Lord, even if we are scared, " said Kaleque. "We have our classes even though they threaten us."

SAFE-HOUSE PROVIDED FOR PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS IN BANGLADESH

Christian Freedom International operates a safe house at an undisclosed location outside Dhaka to provide refuge and care for Muslim converts to Christianity.

"I hope Christians in America will pray for us to remember us. We don’t want to be forgotten," says Abdul Gafur, 22, who converted to Christianity two years ago. He now lives in a CFI safe house at an undisclosed location outside Dhaka, studying to become a pastor.

"I have to hide from my relatives," Abdul told CFI. "They are so unhappy that I have converted."

"They tried to beat me. My uncle is a powerful leader in Muslim society. They forbid me to go to my village saying they will kill me if I come back," said Abdul.

Abdul's conversion has come with a price.

"By becoming a Christian I have lost my inheritance. I have lost my home. I cannot go back to my village. I have lost my family. I have lost everything. The only thing I get is from Christian Freedom International. I now get a place to live, food, and shelter," he said.

Abdul continued: "I am training myself to serve the Lord's Kingdom. To spread the Lord’s Kingdom here in Bangladesh. I want to help my relatives. I want them to know the Lord Jesus Christ."

"I don't hate my family, even though they hate me," said Abdul. "I feel sorry for them because they don't know what they do."

Abdul told CFI: "I want Christians in America to know that we as a converted have lost everything -- our homes, our families, everything. I hope Christians in America will pray for us to remember us. We don't want to be forgotten."

BANGLADESH: COUNTRY FACTS

Capital: Dhaka

Religions: Muslim 83 percent, Hindu 16 percent, other 1 percent

Population: 141,340,476

Background material on Bangladesh posted to the CFI website states that Bangladesh fails to prevent harassment, persecution, or other harmful acts against minority Christians. Bangladesh does not respond to violations of religious freedom against Christians by nongovernmental entities or local officials.

During a fact-finding trip to the country Christian Freedom International interviewed dozens of Muslims, Christians, and Hindus; visited house churches and a Christian school that was burned by angry militants this past May 2003.

"In this moment, we feel insecure. The country is going fundamentalist, 100 percent fundamentalist," said a Bangladeshi attorney who asked not to be named.

"If you disclose my name, I will be killed," he said.

A Muslim engineer at a Dhaka textile factory said, "The fundamentalists are angry at America. In the factory I work, American experts do not come any more since the war, only Japanese. The Americans are not welcome and it is not safe for him."

CFI says Muslim converts to Christianity are facing the brunt of persecution.

"If a Muslim converts to Christian, now he cannot live in this country. It is not safe. The fundamentalism is increasing more and more," said a Muslim convert to Christianity who asked not to be identified.

Another convert said, "None of us are safe now. We are all facing a tough time. We are really afraid to go out and preach the Gospel. It is really dangerous of us converts to live in Bangladesh. But we are working for the Lord. If we die we will be with the Lord."

CFI also says that extremist groups such as Jamaat-e-Islami are gaining more political clout, especially in the more economically depressed areas of the country.
Christian Freedom International (CFI) is an interdenominational human rights organization for religious liberty. Jacobson is a former White House policy analyst. For more information or interviews, contact Christian Freedom International at 540-636-8907 or visit online at www.christianfreedom.org.

A photograph of Abdul Gafur can be provided upon request to CFI.

CHRISTIAN FREEDOM INTERNATIONAL
CONTACT: Vickie Koth, 540-636-8907
** Michael Ireland is an international British freelance journalist. A former reporter with a London newspaper, Michael is the Chief Correspondent for ASSIST News Service of Garden Grove, California. Michael immigrated to the United States in 1982 and became a US citizen in September, 1995. He is married with two children. Michael has also been a frequent contributor to UCB Europe, a British Christian radio station.
** You may republish this story with proper attribution.