While the Western media obsesses over “Islamophobia,” the real persecution is happening elsewhere.
“Sudan: No Chance to Celebrate Christmas in Sudan, Crackdown Continues,” AllAfrica.com, December 23, 2015 (thanks to Creeping Sharia):
Few Christians in Sudan will enjoy Christmas this year as government authorities continue to crackdown on churches and parishioners alike.
Just a week before Christmas, security forces arrested Reverend Kowa Shamaal and Reverend Hassan Abdelraheem from the Sudan Church of Christ denomination at their homes in Khartoum North and Omdurman, respectively. No reason for the arrest has been given for the two church leaders who come from the Nuba Mountain region in South Kordofan State, according to news reports.
Church demolitions
On October 17th, government officials warned the administration of the Lutheran church in Al-Thawra, Omdurman, that it will be demolished because they want to restructure the area. Without media attention except for a few Facebook posts and pleads from churchgoers, Sudanese authorities bulldozed the 33-year-old church building just three days later. “They gave us a notice that the church will be demolished after 72 hours,” said Pastor Gabriel Koko of the Omdurman Lutheran Church. Pastor Koko added that they were in the process of attempting to register the church when the demolition happened.
“The government asks you for consent from the local committee which in turn will not agree unless the higher council for Dawah and Guidance gives permission and vice versa, you are lost in the middle,” the frustrated pastor told Nuba Reports. Now parishioners worship outside in Omdurman’s blazing sun, singing hymns with the rubble of their church piled next to them. Two more churches were destroyed that month after alleged arsonists burnt down another church in Gedaref, Eastern Sudan, and security officers illegally demolished another church in Al-Thawra, Omdurman, according to human rights reports. “The Lutheran church in Gedaref was demolished by the police in 2006, then rebuilt and now burnt to ashes, nothing remains of the church which had a 300-member constituency,” said Samir Makeen, a lawyer closely involved in this case. Makeen travelled to eastern Sudan to follow-up on the case proceedings and found that the police force was largely uncooperative.
“The case file at Rowena police station cites an unknown assailant although I believe that the police can easily catch the arsonists, but they seemed unprepared to do anything regarding this case,” added Makeen who has worked on similar cases before.
South Sudan’s independence and the fate of Christianity in Sudan
The Gedaref-based church is at least the third church to be set ablaze while another four churches were demolished or partially demolished since a referendum in January 2011 that led to South Sudan’s independence from the country. Just a month before the referendum, Sudan’s President Omar Al-Bashir told supporters in Gedaref that Sudan will not be religiously diverse if South Sudan separates and the constitution will only be guided by Shariah law. “On the eve of South Sudan’s secession in July 2011, Sudanese phone users received a text message (from the state-influenced telecommunication companies) saying that Sudan is now 97% Muslim and since then we’ve felt that we don’t have a place in this country,” said Samia Joseph*, a Nuba human rights activist.
In April 2013, the Minister of Guidance and Endowments, Al-Fatih Taj El-Sir, announced in parliament that no new licenses would be granted to build churches in Sudan, citing a decrease in the mainly Christian South Sudanese population, according to news reports. While those in South Sudan started to enjoy the opportunity to practice their faith without oppression since independence in 2011, Christians in Sudan have faced greater religious persecution. Even the Christmas holiday has become challenging to celebrate. “Christmas is no longer a holiday in Sudan, Christian civil servants and students used to get three days off work, but now we can’t even celebrate Christmas properly. Last year the police stopped our celebration at four p.m.,” added Joseph. M.M., a Nuba hailing from Um-Dorein county in Southern Kordofan State and affiliated with a church in Omdurman said authorities have essentially stopped acknowledging the existence of other religions other than Islam after the 2011 secession.
“They cancelled Christian studies from public schools and many parents had to resort to the church for religious teachings,” said M.M. who insisted on using her initials to protect her security. Nabil Adib, a well renowned human rights lawyer, said that 2012 saw a sustained escalation of religious persecution in Sudan in the form of land-grabbing and demolishing of churches and mass arrests of church-related employees, including foreign and Sudanese pastors. “Since then, around 200 foreign pastors or church-affiliates were rounded up and arrested by the security apparatus and were given two choices, either leave the country and give up all belongings or continue to be detained and face charges,” said Adib adding that all of them chose the first option and fled the country.
State security’s infamous “religious security” unit have arrested dozens of Christian leaders, including five Anglican pastors in Khartoum after the Anglican Cultural Center was shut down and all the books in its spacious library were confiscated.
Land grabbing
In 2014, three churches in Khartoum states were demolished under Bashir’s zero-tolerance policy towards religious pluralism. The policy also acts as a veneer for land-grabbing opportunities with investors affiliated to the ruling National Congress Party (NCP), according to several Christian sources in the capital. The Pentecostal church on Sayed Abdel-Rahman street in Khartoum, for example, lies on a valuable and very expensive piece of land which was sold as a house in the 1990s.
Adib was involved in the land sale for the church almost two decades ago and again involved when state security took over the church land last year without recourse to the law. “We filed a constitutional case citing the illegal acquisition of the Pentecostal church without any allegations for persecution on religious basis” said Adib who added that they have received no response for almost a year now. National security currently occupy this land, one of the most expensive plots in the capital, Adib said, even confiscating personal belongings found on the land, such as cars. The Anglican Church in Khartoum North faces a similar fate after the state replaced a democratically-elected Church committee in 2014 with a government-appointed one in a bid to acquire the large Church land plot….

Neil Jennison says
The tolerant Religion of peace don’t you know?
Captain says
Surprise!
Ex-muslim says
Islam is an evil and hateful cult death filled with violence, ignorance and jealousy. The only language that muslims understand is toughness and resolve and every thing they see in the Western world is the opposite of that and that encourages them to even be more violent and more evil. The more politically-correct, the more weak and the more anti-Christ Western peoples become the more violent persecution will muslims unleash against Christians in the islamic lands and even against Christians who live in the West. Right now, muslims started persecuting ex-muslims and other Christians who are living in Germany, Sweden, UK, Norway and many other EU countries. Right now Christians cannot live among the muslim refugees who live in European refugee shelters all across the EU and this persecution of Christians in the EU and in North America will only increase as there are NO peoples that are counter this arrogant islamic aggression in the West.
mortimer says
Agree with Ex. Muslims see our kindness, mercy, generosity, goodness, consideration and magnanimity as nothing more than WEAKNESS to be EXPLOITED.
Islam inculcates HATRED, SPITE, REVENGE, HARD-HEARTEDNESS, INSENSITIVITY and MORONIC ANTI-INTELLECTUAL STUPIDITY.
No Muslim can practice Islam daily and enthusiastically and be a good person at the same time.
Azacque says
There is no joy, only a death wish expecting heaven but getting a grave only until judgement day.
Murderers will be condemned to the lake of fire…there is NO allah.
Ex-muslim says
Mortimer
True. Islam is PURE EVIL and every muslim that fully practices it becomes pure evil as well. The only thing that muslims understand is toughness, ruthlessness and resolve and anything other than those qualities will only embolden them to be even more aggressive and more violent and this is what is now happening all across the world.
Azacque says
Just don’t call those cowards brave. They resolve in their rotten heads that to die serving their false god is to gain an eternity doing nothing but screwing, robotic idiots.
mortimer says
Genocide.
Crime against humanity.
The UN has an obligation to step in.
Lioness says
The UN? Corrupt, pro-islamic, useless UN? They only critisize Israel, they will not lift a finger to defend persecuted Christians.
particolor says
And that’s EXACTLY what I thought they were there for ?? But maybe only when it suits them ! 🙁
I think they are too busy at the moment collecting Carbon Cash ?
The Last English Prince says
Under Islamic law no new churches can be built and existing buildings cannot be enlarged nor improvements done. Convenient, of course – for the Islamic State.
Linde Barrera says
When Ex-Muslim and mortimer describe adherents of Islam, the words “spoiled, rotten brats” come to my mind. Islam needs to be re-characterized as a totalitarian political system, not a religion. As David Wood said, “Allah does what Muhammad wants”. And to my mind, Muhammad is a spoiled, rotten brat. He is also a murderer, rapist, slave taker and pedophile. Bad role model for any human.
Azacque says
Satan just loves Muhammed and all muslims.
mortimer says
Aztec wrote: “Satan loves Muslims”.
No, Satan doesn’t ‘love’ anyone. John 3.16 ‘God so loved THE WORLD…’
That includes Muslims, Aztec. We should all behave like God, rather than Aztecs…the way Muslims do. We have to deprogram Muslims with great compassion and INTELLECTUAL understanding. Vindictiveness will not deprogram Muslims.
Azacque says
If a muslim converts to Christianity he deserves respect. I make one exception, I know a muslim who does not practice the religion, he seems to be ok, so far.
Ex-muslim says
Linde Barrera says “…Islam needs to be re-characterized as a totalitarian political system…”The world needs to go deeper into the Truth about islam Linda:
islam needs to be recognized, not only as “a totalitarian political system” but as an evil and genocidal cult of death and hate which is the most destructive enemy to all humanity.
mortimer says
Linde Barrera writes: “spoiled, rotten brats”.
Indeed, Muslim males are trained to be aggressive. The doctrine is called ‘ghayra’…Islamic rage. It is very similar to what we call ‘throwing a tantrum’. BUT, I differentiate between the behavior and the benighted followers of it.
In Islam, ghayra is a virtue…a male dominance display similar to a gorilla’s dominance display. We need to show Muslims that we understand their dysfunctional and delusional system. Muslims have been misled and lied to by their mullahs.
Most mullahs understand everything that Robert Spencer understands about the falsity of Islam, but they need the job and continue to promulgate this sick ideology. We need to find a way to help mullahs transition out of Islam to something useful and ethical.
Avenger says
Dream on Mortimer, for over 1,400 years the civilized world has shown Muslims a better, brighter way of life. Islams response was to subjugate and destroy each and every one of those “superior” civilizations.
Like Ex Muslim states, they only respect power and that’s only until they themselves attain the same level of, at that point they begin their murderous Pograms. Moslem clerics are the most evil force on Earth, you’d have a better chance of changing lead into gold than having them preach love of their fellow man.
revereridesagain says
Well, well. With all the havoc, massacre, and genocide being waged against Catholics and other Christians by various branches of Islam, the Muslim Brotherhood, Al Qaeda, ISIS, Boko Haram and other fanatical devotees of Allah, look who Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston — yes, Boston, where the Church got caught looking the other way while its priests raped, molested and terrified thousands of children in their “spiritual” care — thinks is responsible for all the evil in this world.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/12/24/christmas-address-malley-condemns-ayn-rand-extreme-individualism/U7oQalZTWZnmEU0eRDjtIO/story.html
Muslims clerics shrieking from their mosques every Friday that the Jews and Infidels must be destroyed? That Islam must conquer and rule the world under the tyranny of Sharia? ISIS “fighters” who burn captives alive in cages? O Dear Lord, no! The real enemy is… Ayn Rand. Well, you can include me, you superstition-peddling scum. I am proud to stand in her company.
As an Objectivist of 50 years standing, it’s helpful to get these occasional reminders that the Catholic Church, and Christianity in general, also holds me, as an atheist, to be more evil in the sight of their imaginary God than any rampaging Muslim savage. At least Islam doesn’t promote the evils of “individualism”.
Well, that s.o.b. O’Malley and his predatory priesthood can go f*** themselves, along with anyone who remains too terrified of losing that fantasy of eternal life in the DisneyWorldesque Planned Community of Paradise to condemn the utter failure of the Church to confront Islam even in defense of its own. Too busy blaming the ills of the world on anyone who refuses to toe their own supernaturalist line and too terrified, like sheep in the headlights, that the barbarians of Allah may beat them this time.
Azacque says
How can anyone with an education get to be 50 and not recognise anything God has done before their eyes?
Israel is the only destroyed and scattered nation to ever return, where are the Romans?
Western Canadian says
For someone who claims to be objective, you are remarkably ignorant, extremely bigoted, and more than just a little hate filled.
Captain says
If he is? It does not change the facts Christians are killed because they are Christians by Muslims and the Koran condones it. Is the Cardinal speaking out and his his dialogue serving a positive purpose. As of now I have never seen or heard religious Muslims he is meeting with speak out against Islamic murder. There is a Saudi imam who has been critical but he is subject to attack as a heritic and is very muted careful to criticize the interpretation of the Koran by imam who quote anti Jewish and Christian passages and call for Jihad and not the text. But in law words speak for themselves and the text do condone destroying nonmuslims until they submit. So I ask you my critical self righteous friend how are you going to protect Christians in the Middle East? Please contribute to the conversation regarding a recognizable evil beyond saying someone is a hater. Is a hater of injustice wrong? What solution do you give. Certainly being PC will not save a single life will it? If it will show me when, where and how? Wishful thinking didn’t stop the Nazis. “Can’t we just get along” is not a solution as far as I know. History teaches there is only one way to stop people who our intent on dominating you. The Carthaginians failed appreciate Rome’s intent and tried peaceful dialogue. It’s a history we could learn from
Myxlplik says
After Hitlery shuts Donald Trump up, because he “upsets” Muslims she will recommend the ending of Christmas to defend the feelings of Muslims.
Sabri S. says
More lies and islamophobia garbage!! The issue is not christians in
Muslim lands being oppressed. I lived in that part of the world, and the
Issue was christians proselytizing in islamic countries…their zealot ry
And cultural imperialism was unwanted, unwelcome and disrespectful
To muslims…Infect truth…stop pushing western immorality onto
Muslim countries!!!
Azacque says
You can join with Christians and gain eternal life or remain a filthy muslim, kill your’ children and beat all 3 of your wives.
And don’t forget, toilet paper is a western invention!
Christianblood says
@ Sabri S.
Muslims are murdering tens of thousands of Christians in the islamic world every single year for being Christians and you are telling us “the issue is not Christians”?
Shame on you! Remember also muslims are free to proselytize in the West and they are free to build their evil hate-filled mosques and even spew their hate-filled islamic and ignorant “dawa” in our street corners whereas a Christian displaying a cross or a bible in Saudi Arabia could be beheaded. This tells me you are just another hate-filled ignorant, monstrous evil muslim and you have neither fully developed human self-awareness and NO Golden Rule Understanding in your evil hate-filled satanic islamic heart. Shame on you!
Western Canadian says
And another hate filled muslim comes by to tell us his favourite lies.
Avenger says
Sabri, is that why sunni Muslims also burn down Hindu temples, Jewish Synagogues, Buddhist Shrines and Shiite Mosques? You bet, it’s all that proselytizing
Now go take a shower and try to wash away your stench.
Shyam Kumar says
in reply the whole world must kick out all the muslims into the islamic countries only!
no-one muslim and islamic activity allow in non-muslims countries.
Angemon says
This is like porn to those “don’t say Christmas, say happy holidays” people.
Jon308 says
But we are told that Islam is a religion of peace and compassion.
revereridesagain says
And because I’m not finished yet with the oh so holy Cardinal Sean O’Malley and his ilk, here’s an example of the “evil” Ayn Rand represented that he thinks is worse than Islam.
https://snt153.mail.live.com/?tid=cm3OvlcJ2p5RGQBGw75af6Sg2&fid=flinbox
Standing up for the greatest virtues of America. Yes indeed, there’s something for the Catholic Church to hate more than Islam.
Walter Sieruk says
As for the Christmas . if it’s time to remember the birth of Person who as an adult was and is the God/Man ,and only Savior of all people who are wiling l to come to Him and put their total trust in Him, then Christmas is a good thing. In contrast, if Christmas is only a time for fantasy about the worthless and useless fictional character called Santa Clause then Christmas is just junk. The whole point in keyboarding this is in Christmastimes past there have been Muslims who so much hate the Santa Clause myth that they had cut the head of Santa Claus statues.. That’s fine with me. For that fictional mythical Santa Clause character is totally valueless . Yet the terrible and tragic reality is that many jihad -minded Muslims don’t stop at beheading figures of that worthless character of third level myth but go to further as to behead real people who in contrast to fictional character do have have actual worth and real value.
Matthieu Baudin says
Happiness doesn’t score too highly in the horn of Africa largely because the dominant faith tradition is instead obsessed by submission.
steve says
Well, I guess there wasn’t a midnight mass either.