International Christian Concern
Encyclopedia
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. Its mission is to help "all persecuted Christians who affirm the Apostles' Creed
and believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God
."
. In 2002, Snyder was succeeded as ICC President by Jeff King, who had served 11 years with Campus Crusade for Christ
.
The organization has issued reports on persecution of Christians in countries such as China, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Algeria. The organization publishes a "Hall of Shame", naming what it views as those countries that are the worst persecutors of Christians. In 2011, the 11 countries on its list were China, Egypt, Eritrea, India, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Somalia, and Vietnam.
ICC protested what it reported as the 2001 detention of 11 Christians in Saudi Arabia
, for practicing their religion in their homes. 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 convert
ed from Islam
to Christianity. 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. In August 2004, the organization protested an attack by Islamists on Iraqi Christian
churches that killed 11 people. 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.
In June 2009, ICC reported the rape and killing of a Christian man in Pakistan, for refusing to convert
to Islam. 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. 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.
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. 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. 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.
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."
ICC campaigns for the right of Christians world-wide, seeing to develop solidarity among Christians globally. 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. The organization focuses on raising awareness via information gathering and sharing.
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
, Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
watchdog group, located in Washington, DC, whose concern is the human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
of Christians. Its mission is to help "all persecuted Christians who affirm the Apostles' Creed
Apostles' Creed
The Apostles' Creed , sometimes titled Symbol of the Apostles, is an early statement of Christian belief, a creed or "symbol"...
and believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God
Biblical inspiration
Biblical inspiration is the doctrine in Christian theology that the authors and editors of the Bible were led or influenced by God with the result that their writings many be designated in some sense the word of God.- Etymology :...
."
History
ICC was founded in 1995 by Steve Snyder, former president of the USA Division of Christian Solidarity InternationalChristian Solidarity International
Christian Solidarity International is a Christian human rights NGO that is "committed to defending religious liberty, helping victims of religious repression, victimized children, and victims of disaster."...
. In 2002, Snyder was succeeded as ICC President by Jeff King, who had served 11 years with Campus Crusade for Christ
Campus Crusade for Christ
Campus Crusade for Christ is an interdenominational Christian organization that promotes evangelism and discipleship in more than 190 countries...
.
The organization has issued reports on persecution of Christians in countries such as China, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Algeria. The organization publishes a "Hall of Shame", naming what it views as those countries that are the worst persecutors of Christians. In 2011, the 11 countries on its list were China, Egypt, Eritrea, India, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Somalia, and Vietnam.
ICC protested what it reported as the 2001 detention of 11 Christians in Saudi Arabia
Christianity in Saudi Arabia
Accurate religious demographics are difficult to obtain in Saudi Arabia but 85 to 90% of citizens of Saudi Arabia are Sunni Muslims, who predominantly subscribe to the Government-sanctioned interpretation of Islam, while 10 to 15% of citizens are Shi'a Muslims....
, for practicing their religion in their homes. 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 convert
Religious conversion
Religious conversion is the adoption of a new religion that differs from the convert's previous religion. Changing from one denomination to another within the same religion is usually described as reaffiliation rather than conversion.People convert to a different religion for various reasons,...
ed from Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
to Christianity. In June 2004, ICC reported on what it termed a "pogrom
Pogrom
A pogrom is a form of violent riot, a mob attack directed against a minority group, and characterized by killings and destruction of their homes and properties, businesses, and religious centres...
-like" crackdown by Saudi police on Christians after media reports of Koran desecration in Guantanamo Bay. In August 2004, the organization protested an attack by Islamists on Iraqi Christian
Christianity in Iraq
The Christians of Iraq form one of the oldest Christian communities of the Middle East. The vast majority are Aramaic speaking ethnic Assyrians with much smaller numbers of Armenians, Arabs, Turcoman and Kurds....
churches that killed 11 people. ICC reported that in October 2007, the Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
manager of the only Christian bookstore in the Gaza Strip
Gaza Strip
thumb|Gaza city skylineThe Gaza Strip lies on the Eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The Strip borders Egypt on the southwest and Israel on the south, east and north. It is about long, and between 6 and 12 kilometres wide, with a total area of...
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.
In June 2009, ICC reported the rape and killing of a Christian man in Pakistan, for refusing to convert
Forced conversion
A forced conversion is the religious conversion or acceptance of a philosophy against the will of the subject, often with the threatened consequence of earthly penalties or harm. These consequences range from job loss and social isolation to incarceration, torture or death...
to Islam. 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. 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.
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. 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. In May 2011, ICC indicated that Christians in Syria
Christianity in Syria
Christians in Syria make up about 10% of the population, the largest Christian denomination is the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch, closely followed by the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, and then the Syriac Orthodox Church; there are also a minority of Protestants...
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.
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." It shares the view of Michael HorowitzMichael Horowitz
*For the British poet, see Michael Horovitz.*For the U.S. electrical engineer see Michael J. HorowitzMichael Horowitz is an American author and archivist in San Francisco....
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."
ICC campaigns for the right of Christians world-wide, seeing to develop solidarity among Christians globally. 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. The organization focuses on raising awareness via information gathering and sharing.
See also
- Anti-Christian sentiment
- Christian Solidarity InternationalChristian Solidarity InternationalChristian Solidarity International is a Christian human rights NGO that is "committed to defending religious liberty, helping victims of religious repression, victimized children, and victims of disaster."...
, a Christian human rights NGO - Persecution of ChristiansPersecution of ChristiansPersecution of Christians as a consequence of professing their faith can be traced both historically and in the current era. Early Christians were persecuted for their faith, at the hands of both Jews from whose religion Christianity arose, and the Roman Empire which controlled much of the land...
- Religious intoleranceReligious intoleranceReligious intolerance is intolerance against another's religious beliefs or practices.-Definition:The mere statement on the part of a religion that its own beliefs and practices are correct and any contrary beliefs incorrect does not in itself constitute intolerance...
- Religious persecutionReligious persecutionReligious persecution is the systematic mistreatment of an individual or group of individuals as a response to their religious beliefs or affiliations or lack thereof....