August 23, 2022
On Monday, October 17th, 21Wilberforce will honor Dr. Bob Fu with the 2022 Frank Wolf International Religious Freedom Award at a dinner in the Great Hall at Dallas Baptist University.
After Bob and Heidi escaped from China to the U.S., they founded ChinaAid, now celebrating its 20th anniversary. Bob and ChinaAid have become a respected global religious freedom organization, rescuing Chinese who are being persecuted as well as being a voice for others of all faiths.
Bob and Heidi are one example of facing a life and death situation because of their faith. Following the award presentation, 21Wilberforce will share about the increased violence against Christians and other religious minorities around the world and how you can join with us in making a difference. Learn more and register here.
Dr. James W. Carr Elected to 21Wilberforce Board
21Wilberforce is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. James W. Carr to the organization’s Board of Directors for a three-year term, which began on August 1, 2022.
“The mission of 21Wilberforce resonates deeply with me,” Carr said. “They have developed impactful tools and training to equip persecuted groups — the same groups I advocated for as a former Commissioner for the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. Astonishingly, the number of people being persecuted for their faith or belief around the world is rising. There is much to be done. I am delighted to join 21Wilberforce’s board as we continue this much-needed work.” Read more here.
Honoring Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief
The United Nations General Assembly designated 22 August as the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief, deploring the widespread violations suffered by individuals, and persons belonging to minorities, who are targeted on the basis of their religion or belief.
On August 22 we honor these victims and recognize their inherent dignity and equal and inalienable rights as members of the human family, as upheld in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief is protected in all human rights instruments. In the 1981 UN Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, the international community committed to ensuring that no one be subject to discrimination by any State, institution, group of persons, or person on grounds of religion. Read more here.
Authors Arielle Del Turco, William G. Boykin and Lela Gilbert release new paperback
From Asia to Africa, from the Middle East to Europe and beyond, the global persecution of Christians becomes more ominous with every passing year. Heroic Faith takes a close look at the tragic circumstances Christians face due to dangerous and sometimes deadly opposition to their faith in Jesus Christ. The book’s true stories of courage, persistence and faithfulness offer inspiration and hope. Heroic Faith also provides insights into the ideologies that lie behind hostility and persecution, what steps the U.S. government might take to help, and how readers can best respond to the struggles of the faithful. Learn more here.
“Blasphemous” Pakistani Couple Tell of Their Extraordinary Escape from Death Row
In their first ever English-language interview, Shagufta Kausar and Shafqat Emmanuel give a personal insight into their journey facing the death-by-hanging penalty in Lahore, to finding refuge in Europe, as a consequence of Pakistan’s notorious “blasphemy” laws.
“We are so relieved to finally be free. The last eight years have been an unspeakable ordeal, but we are so happy to be reunited with our children. We are very grateful that so many people, especially the teams from ADF International and the Jubilee Campaign, helped and protected us by bringing us to safety. Although we will miss our country, we are happy to finally be somewhere safe. Hopefully, the blasphemy laws in Pakistan will soon be abolished, so others won’t suffer the same fate as Shagufta and me,” commented Shafqat Emmanuel. Read more here. Watch a trailer for the documentary about their story here.
OTHER USEFUL LINKS
Please join the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) on Wednesday, August 24, 2022, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM for a virtual hearing that will examine Afghanistan’s freedom of religion or belief under the Taliban’s rule since its takeover of the country in August 2021. The hearing will also highlight opportunities for U.S. policy to support vulnerable Afghans. Register here.
An Iranian Christian convert who has been seeking asylum in Germany for four years had until August 19th to accept his deportation or hand over his work license, after his final appeal – to the European Court of Human Rights – was rejected. Read more here.