International Christian Concern

International Christian Concern
Abbreviation ICC
Formation 1995
Type NGO
Purpose/focus Human rights of Christians
Location 2020 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington DC, USA[1]
Region served Worldwide
President Jeff King
Website persecution.org

International Christian Concern (ICC) is a non-denominational, non-governmental, Christian watchdog group, located in Washington, DC, whose concern is the human rights of Christians.[2][1][3][4][5] Its mission is to help "all persecuted Christians who affirm the Apostles' Creed and believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God."[2]

Contents

History

ICC was founded in 1995 by Steve Snyder, former president of the USA Division of Christian Solidarity International. In 2002, Snyder was succeeded as ICC President by Jeff King, who had served 11 years with Campus Crusade for Christ.[2]

The organization has issued reports on persecution of Christians in countries such as China, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia,[6] Iraq,[7] and Algeria.[8] The organization publishes a "Hall of Shame", naming what it views as those countries that are the worst persecutors of Christians.[9] In 2011, the 11 countries on its list were China, Egypt, Eritrea, India, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Somalia, and Vietnam.[10]

ICC protested what it reported as the 2001 detention of 11 Christians in Saudi Arabia, for practicing their religion in their homes.[11] It also reported that in February 2001, Muslims burned a new Egyptian church and the homes of 35 Christians, and that in April 2001 a 14-year-old Egyptian Christian girl was kidnapped because her parents were believed to be harboring a person who had converted from Islam to Christianity.[12] In June 2004, ICC reported on what it termed a "pogrom-like" crackdown by Saudi police on Christians after media reports of Koran desecration in Guantanamo Bay.[13] In August 2004, the organization protested an attack by Islamists on Iraqi Christian churches that killed 11 people.[14] ICC reported that in October 2007, the Baptist manager of the only Christian bookstore in the Gaza Strip was murdered, following the firebombing of his bookstore and his receipt of death threats from Muslim extremists angry at what they viewed to be his missionary activity.[15]

In June 2009, ICC reported the rape and killing of a Christian man in Pakistan, for refusing to convert to Islam.[16] In August 2009, the organization reported that four Christians working to help orphans in Somalia were beheaded by Islamist extremists when they refused to convert to Islam.[17] Later in 2009, ICC said that over 3,000 Christians were being held prisoner in Eritrea, at times in underground dungeons or old metal shipping containers, and alleged a December 2009 mass arrest of 30 mostly elderly women who were praying together at an Evangelical church with a Methodist background.[18]

In February 2011, ICC lauded the release of an Afghan man who had been imprisoned for nine months for converting to Christianity, but said another convert was still in detention after he allegedly gave a copy of a Bible to a friend.[19] In March 2011, the organization said that a Muslim group spurred Muslim youths to burn up to 50 Ethiopian Christian churches and kill one person on the basis of accusations that Christians had desecrated the Koran.[20] In May 2011, ICC indicated that Christians in Syria were more afraid of the anti-government protesters than of the government itself, because under the Syrian Assad government there has been tolerance towards religious minorities.[21][22]

Mission

Its mission is to help "all persecuted Christians who affirm the Apostles' Creed and believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God."[2] It shares the view of Michael Horowitz that it is important to forestall a Christian holocaust because, as Horowitz put it, "You're only allowed to sit out one Holocaust per lifetime."[3]

ICC campaigns for the right of Christians world-wide, seeing to develop solidarity among Christians globally.[3][3][23] It encourages, aids, provides public awareness about, advocates and seeks support for, conducts research with regard to, and prays for Christians worldwide who the organization views as being persecuted.[2][4] The organization focuses on raising awareness via information gathering and sharing.[3]

Newsletter

ICC publishes a newsletter, entitled Concern.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Derk Arend Wilcox (2000). The right guide: a guide to conservative, free-market, and right-of-center organizations. Economics America, Inc.. http://books.google.com/books?id=g51IAAAAYAAJ&q=%22International+Christian+Concern%22&dq=%22International+Christian+Concern%22&hl=en&ei=D3DyTayrIoebtweolvWwAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCoQ6AEwAA. Retrieved June 10, 2011. 
  2. ^ a b c d e "Who We Are « Persecution of Christians & Persecuted Churches". International Christian Concern. http://www.persecution.org/about-us/who-we-are/. Retrieved June 10, 2011. 
  3. ^ a b c d e Inderjeet Parmar (2009). New directions in US foreign policy. Taylor & Francis. http://books.google.com/books?id=5dI9U86Mu9EC&pg=PA127&dq=%22International+Christian+Concern%22&hl=en&ei=D3DyTayrIoebtweolvWwAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CC4Q6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=%22International%20Christian%20Concern%22&f=false. Retrieved June 10, 2011. 
  4. ^ a b c John Woodrow Storey, Glenn H. Utter (2002). Religion and politics: a reference handbook. ABC-CLIO. http://books.google.com/books?id=UilvmsrrvyQC&pg=PA152&dq=%22International+Christian+Concern%22&hl=en&ei=D3DyTayrIoebtweolvWwAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CDkQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=%22International%20Christian%20Concern%22&f=false. Retrieved June 10, 2011. 
  5. ^ Allen D. Hertzke (2006). Freeing God's Children: The Unlikely Alliance for Global Human Rights. Rowman & Littlefield. http://books.google.com/books?id=EkIvbxefBNsC&pg=PA402&dq=%22International+Christian+Concern%22&hl=en&ei=a3fyTcHSOIO4twfw9bWEBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CFYQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=%22International%20Christian%20Concern%22&f=false. Retrieved June 10, 2011. 
  6. ^ Robert Murray Thomas (2006). Religion in schools: controversies around the world. Greenwood Publishing Group. http://books.google.com/books?id=thrb4GpBIGoC&pg=PA184&dq=%22International+Christian+Concern%22&hl=en&ei=1nnyTYyuFoODgAeC97z0Cw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CD8Q6AEwBDgK#v=onepage&q=%22International%20Christian%20Concern%22&f=false. Retrieved June 10, 2011. 
  7. ^ Tom Doyle (2009). Breakthrough: The Return of Hope to the Middle East. Biblica. http://books.google.com/books?id=Tjpz8L_JK78C&pg=PA90&dq=%22International+Christian+Concern%22&hl=en&ei=cXvyTYWBLcO4tweC8pCRBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CDEQ6AEwATgU#v=onepage&q=%22International%20Christian%20Concern%22&f=false. Retrieved June 10, 2011. 
  8. ^ Michael Cromartie (2003). A public faith: evangelicals and civic engagement. Rowman & Littlefield. http://books.google.com/books?id=zd0nDBb6VYYC&pg=PA234&dq=%22International+Christian+Concern%22&hl=en&ei=a3fyTcHSOIO4twfw9bWEBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CEwQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=%22International%20Christian%20Concern%22&f=false. Retrieved June 10, 2011. 
  9. ^ Doug Bandow (May 19, 2009). Interfaith Dialogue: The Great Unmentionable. Cato Institute. http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=10215&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CatoRecentOpeds+%28Cato+Recent+Op-eds%29. Retrieved June 10, 2011. 
  10. ^ "ICC's Hall of Shame 2011; the world’s 11 worst persecutors of Christians". International Christian Concern. 2011. http://www.persecution.org/pdf/2011HallofShame.pdf. Retrieved June 10, 2011. 
  11. ^ Human Rights Watch World Report, 2003. Human Rights Watch. 2003. ISBN 1564322858. http://books.google.com/books?id=oFmIOWMjYhsC&pg=PA478&dq=%22International+Christian+Concern%22&hl=en&ei=cXvyTYWBLcO4tweC8pCRBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CDwQ6AEwAzgU#v=onepage&q=%22International%20Christian%20Concern%22&f=false. Retrieved June 10, 2011. 
  12. ^ "Copts Under Fire". The Free Lance-Star. November 23, 2002. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9C0zAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RggGAAAAIBAJ&pg=6308,5873985&dq=international-christian-concern&hl=en. Retrieved June 10, 2011. 
  13. ^ Saudi Arabia: friend or foe in the war on terror?: Hearing before the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate. Diane Publishing. November 8, 2005. ISBN 1422323730. http://books.google.com/books?id=9P3nTVX4HisC&pg=PA78&dq=%22International+Christian+Concern%22&hl=en&ei=1nnyTYyuFoODgAeC97z0Cw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CDAQ6AEwATgK#v=onepage&q=%22International%20Christian%20Concern%22&f=false. Retrieved June 10, 2011. 
  14. ^ Bill Wilson (2005). Warshod. http://books.google.com/books?id=XoOZGXIqb08C&pg=PA67&dq=%22International+Christian+Concern%22&hl=en&ei=cXvyTYWBLcO4tweC8pCRBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CEEQ6AEwBDgU#v=onepage&q=%22International%20Christian%20Concern%22&f=false. Retrieved June 10, 2011. 
  15. ^ "Gaza Christians Observe Somber Christmas after Murder « Persecution News". Persecution.org. December 25, 2007. http://www.persecution.org/2007/12/25/gaza-christians-observe-somber-christmas-after-murder/. Retrieved June 29, 2011. 
  16. ^ Nora Zimmett (June 13, 2009). "Christian Man Raped, Murdered for Refusing to Convert to Islam, Family Says". FOX News. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,526126,00.html. Retrieved June 11, 2011. 
  17. ^ "Al Shabaab Reportedly Beheads 4 Christians, Rips Gold Teeth From Locals' Mouths". FOX News. August 12, 2009. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,539129,00.html. Retrieved June 11, 2011. 
  18. ^ "Eritrea says not aware of mass arrest of Christians", Reuters, Jeremy Clarke, December 10, 2009, Retrieved June 11, 2011.
  19. ^ Adam Schreck and Heidi Vogt (February 25, 2011). "Jailed Christian Convert Is Freed in Afghanistan". ABC News. http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=12997051. Retrieved June 11, 2011. 
  20. ^ Aaron Maasho (March 13, 2011). "Ethiopia PM blames Muslim sect over church attacks". AlertNet. http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/ethiopia-pm-blames-muslim-sect-over-church-attacks. Retrieved June 11, 2011. 
  21. ^ "Syria: Activists set free to promote for National Dialogue". DayPress. May 16, 2011. http://www.dp-news.com/en/detail.aspx?articleid=84001. Retrieved June 11, 2011. 
  22. ^ Charlie Butts (May 16, 2011). "Anti-gov't protesters after Syrian Christians". OneNewsNow. http://www.onenewsnow.com/Persecution/Default.aspx?id=1346594. Retrieved June 11, 2011. 
  23. ^ C. Hope Flinchbaugh (2002). Daughter of China. Baker Books. http://books.google.com/books?id=H6n_5qXtT2wC&pg=PT169&dq=%22International+Christian+Concern%22&hl=en&ei=a3fyTcHSOIO4twfw9bWEBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CFEQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=%22International%20Christian%20Concern%22&f=false. Retrieved June 10, 2011. 

External links