India: anti-Christian violence flares again in Orissa

Muslim population growth in Europe: what of the future?

Ethiopian famine: food aid for our brothers and sisters
november/december 2008

BARNABAS AID NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008

 6 Focus
15 Advocacy
To guard the safety of Christians in hostile

Project news
environments, names have often been changed or
omitted. Thank you for your understanding. Famine in Ethiopia: helping Write a letter to help David
Front cover: Lydia was widowed when her husband, our brothers and sisters Shestakov in Uzbekistan
a pastor, was killed in anti-Christian violence in
Orissa, India. Turn to page 8 to read more. Barnabas
These are the pages where we bring you news of
8 Newsroom
16 Resources
Fund is helping the victims (project reference 21-723).

some of Barnabas Fund’s recent grants to help

Contents
More mob violence targets Books, DVDs and other
Christians in India materials for you and Christians suffering because of their faith in the Lord
your church
Jesus Christ. We are so grateful for the generous giving
Information Pull-Out of Barnabas Fund supporters, which enables us to
The implications of Muslim
population growth in Europe
send this aid to our brothers and sisters in their time
of need. Thank you, and please pray as you read.

11 Martyrs
Five Christians who gave
their life for Jesus this year
th e
At
ti
g
m
3
e of
7 ,545
Burma:
blankets in the jungle
writ in
n ed our
12 Testimony
A former Hamas activist
have s ig
Save Ira ns
qi
Christia n
speaks of his new faith in
Christ
petitio The Karen people of Burma

3 Projects
Food, blankets, houses,
Scriptures, TV testimonies
14 Campaign Update
 aking a difference for Iraqi
M
Christian refugees
18 In Touch
From Kazakhstan
(Myanmar), who include many
Christians, are severely persecuted
by the military junta.
The army attacks their mountain villages,
shooting the inhabitants as they run for
FROM THE DIRECTOR their lives, or capturing them to work as
slaves. The army may then burn the village

Immanuel or plant landmines around the homes and

Immanuel – God with us.
This precious Name sums up the
heart of the Christmas message,
when God Himself came down
to earth as a human being to live
among us. Deity clothed itself in
human flesh and lived out,
before our eyes, divine love
and compassion.
But when the Lord Jesus healed a man
with a shrivelled hand on the Sabbath, His
compassionate action was not welcomed
by the Pharisees and the Herodians; they
walked out of the synagogue and began
to plot how to kill him (Mark 3:1-6).
The religious and the political combined in
their hatred for Jesus. Jesus too was angry
– angry with the legalistic and merciless
attitude of those who did not want him to
restore the man’s hand – and distressed at
their stubborn hearts.
Islam acknowledges the virgin birth of
Jesus or, as He is called in the Qur’an, Isa.
But Isa, revered though he is by Muslims,
is considered a mere prophet and healer.
Muslims are angry at any suggestion of His
divinity, which to them is blasphemy. Isa is
not Immanuel. He is not God incarnate.
Anger against Immanuel led to the death
of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. As
Stephen was about to die he saw heaven
opened and Jesus waiting for him. When
Saul, who had been involved in the stoning
of Stephen, had the blinding vision which
led to his conversion, Jesus asked, “Saul,
Saul, why do you persecute me?”
The death of Stephen was an act of
persecution against Stephen’s Master,
Jesus. And Jesus continues to be
persecuted in His people today. Just as
the religious coupled with the political
combined to kill Jesus, so, in many
contexts around the world today, the
religious combines with the political to
continue to kill Jesus as His followers are
persecuted and martyred. Religious
extremism allied to political nationalism
makes a deadly enemy of the
Christian Church.
Having celebrated Immanuel’s birth on 25
December, many Christians move on the
next day to remember the cost of following
Him. For 26 December is traditionally a day
to commemorate the martyrdom of
Stephen. Even as we remember Jesus
this Christmas time, and celebrate His
incarnation and the coming of Immanuel,
let us remember the price He paid and
that His Church still pays today.
Dr Patrick Sookhdeo
International Director
Turn to pages 8-10 to read news of the
persecuted Church, and to page 11 to
read about some martyrs of 2008.
the dead bodies to kill anyone who tries to
return. Many of those who flee to the
surrounding jungle die there, from
disease or snake-bites.
A grant of £2,439 (US$4,268; €3,073)
provided 1,700 blankets for Karen people
hiding in the jungle, without shelter.
The cost per blanket was £1.44
(US$2.50; €1.80).
n Project reference 00-345
(Victims of Violence Fund)
Burma: Cyclone Victims
Barnabas Fund is continuing to
provide significant amounts of
aid to help Christians affected
by Cyclone Nargis in May 2008.
(See Barnabas Aid, September/
October 2008, page 3.) A
September 2008 newsletter
is available by email or hard
Blankets to be distributed to Karen people hiding in the jungle after persecution
copy from your national office.
by the Burmese army. Bibles in the Karen language were also distributed
n Project reference 75-745

 BARNABAS AID NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008 BARNABAS AID NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008 

 Focus Focus

Ethiopian famine Anti-Christian violence is increasing.

In 2007 several churches and Christian
homes were set on fire or bombed,
and church leaders and other Christian
full-time workers were attacked and

Helping our Christian brothers and sisters beaten by Muslim extremists. In

February 2008 a Christian couple, who
had both converted recently from Islam,
were beaten during a meeting with
Drought, poor harvest and large increases in food prices have left millions of Muslim leaders in Addis Ababa when
people in five East African countries in desperate need of emergency food they refused to deny Christ. The
aid. While the famine is also threatening the surrounding countries Somalia, following month Muslim extremists
Kenya, Djibouti and Uganda, Ethiopia finds itself at the epicentre of this attacked two churches in the village of
impending catastrophe. The United Nations estimates that about 4.6 million Nensebo Chebi in the Oromiya region These two Ethiopian Christians, Dereba,
Ethiopians are affected, and around 75,000 children are at immediate risk of during Sunday worship. One man was a student aged 20, and Noru, a farmer
killed and several people had their and father of seven children, were
starvation as rains failed earlier this year, leading to one of the worst drought
hands or arms severed as they tried to severely injured when Muslims attacked
in years. Fears of another famine like the one that struck the country in their churches during Sunday service
1984-85 and killed around a million people are emerging; also, many protect their necks from the machetes
on 2 March 2008
Ethiopians are still recovering from the last crisis in 2003 when about of their attackers.
13.2 million Ethiopians were dependent on foreign food aid. Areas worst affected by the famine
include many Muslim-majority areas

Facts and figures:

• Ethiopia is one of the
poorest countries in the
world, ranking among the
bottom 10 in the 2007/2008
Human Development Index.
• 78% of its population lives
on less than $2 a day, with
23% living on less than $1
a day.
• Nearly half the population
is under 14 years old, and
life expectancy is at about
49 years.
• The infant mortality
rate is about 10%. Poor
agricultural practices,
the uncertain status of
Ethiopia’s main export
product coffee, frequent
droughts, wars with
neighbouring countries
and internal conflicts all
contribute to the struggles
of this country.
Ethiopia has considered itself a
Christian country since the fourth
century, and in recent centuries has
been very conscious of its position as
an “island” of Christianity surrounded
by a “sea” of Islam. In fact, the
percentage of the population calling
themselves Christian is now only
about 60% with Muslims estimated
at anything from 32% to 45%.
The increasing influence of Islam,
especially of Saudi-funded Wahhabi
extremism, is very noticeable. Many
Baptising new believers in Ethiopia
new mosques and Muslim schools are
being built, even in remote villages.
Because of the government’s policy of
regional administration, it is easy for
Muslims to gain local political power.
Foreign Islamists from countries such as
Afghanistan and Somalia have come to
Ethiopia to spread anti-Christian teaching
and to discourage Ethiopian Muslims
from having any contact with Christians.
This is challenging the relatively
harmonious Christian-Muslim relations,
which existed in Ethiopia not so long ago.
Barnabas
Fund is
helping
The areas worst affected by the
current famine include many of the
Muslim-majority areas of Ethiopia.
In these parts Christians are a
vulnerable minority, who could be
neglected in general aid distribution.
Barnabas Fund is therefore helping
through feeding schemes, working
with local Christian organisations to
take food to some of the affected
areas, including where anti-Christian
violence has recently occurred.
Grain has become especially important as droughts this year have once again
led to a poor harvest in hunger-stricken Ethiopia
In one project, Barnabas Fund
assists with providing direct food aid,
including grains and oil, to 200 families.
Additionally we have sent money to fund
a community programme run by a local
church, providing them with teff
(a traditional food plant in Ethiopia),
salt, onions, beans and spices. Another
project provides 1,200 people with
basic staple foods such as wheat and Food is being unloaded from trucks Children receive their much-needed
oil, covering needs for about two months. to help feed those affected by the food in one of the churches that
famine in Ethiopia Barnabas Fund supports
n Project reference 13-755

 BARNABAS AID NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008 BARNABAS AID NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008 

 Newsroom
This house, which belonged to a Christian, was torched by Hindu extremists
High death-toll after new
outbreak of anti-Christian
violence in Orissa, India
Only eight months after the large-scale
Christmas attacks on the Christian
community in Orissa State, India,
renewed mob violence led to the death
of at least 20 Christians, though other
estimates are as high as 70 Christians
killed, many of them burned alive.
Tens of thousands of Christians had
to flee their homes and many were
severely injured as Hindu activists
started attacking Christians, churches
and Christian homes after the
assassination of Hindu leader
Laxmanananda Saraswati and four
of his associates on 23 August.
Saraswati, who was a senior figure in the
nationalist VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishad),
had called for India to become a Hindu
nation, and strongly opposed the
conversion of Hindus to Christianity. While
the police and state officials blamed the
attack on suspected Maoist rebels, who
allegedly admitted responsibility one week
after the start of the anti-Christian attacks,
the VHP and its allies claimed that
 BARNABAS AID NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008
Christians were responsible and called a
protest that rapidly escalated into violence.people and refugees continues to rise. While
In numerous attacks happening over several the situation seemed to calm down in urban
weeks, Hindu activists demolished scores
of church buildings and destroyed hundreds assaults on Christians and Christian homes
of Christian homes. Other Christian
institutions, including schools, offices and
prayer houses, were vandalised, looted or
burned. Buses and other vehicles were
torched. Many Christians were attacked,
especially in rural areas where mobs
attacked whole villages. Church leaders
were beaten up and women raped, and
thousands of believers had to flee into
the jungle for safety, without food or
protection from the monsoon rains. A
paralysed man in another village was unable
to escape from a fire and was burned to
death. A pastor was killed and his body
cut in pieces.
Reports from the area commented on
the lack of effective intervention from
the state government. Curfews were
imposed, but not consistently enforced.
Additional protection was provided in the
towns, but not in the countryside. Christian
schools, which closed in a nationwide
protest on 29 August, even earned the
criticism of the Minister for Primary and
Secondary Education in Karnataka State for
closing without getting permission from the
government. He directed his officials to take
action against the schools that took part in
the protest.
At the time of writing violence and attacks
are still ongoing and the number of missing
areas by the first week of September,
and churches continued in the more remote
areas of Orissa.
Barnabas Fund is assisting the victims of
the Orissa violence.
n Project reference 21-723
Orissa Christians seeking to escape
from the violence in a relief camp
Ratification of new constitution puts harsh
end to religious freedom in the Maldives
On 7 August Maldives president
Maumoon Abdul Gayoom ratified a
new constitution that will bring key
democratic reforms to the country,
including a bill of rights and freedoms
and provisions for independent
commissions over the elections period.
However, the constitution also states that
“a non-Muslim may not become a citizen
of the Maldives” and that “no law contrary
to any tenet of Islam shall be enacted in
the Maldives”. As a consequence of this
clause, around 3,000 Maldivians will lose
their citizenship, and it will also affect
anyone who converts from Islam. While
they are allowed to stay in the country
and work, they will be stripped of citizen
rights such as freedom of speech,
freedom of movement and habeas
At least 17 injured in Muslim attack against
Setia Bible College in Jakarta, Indonesia
Students and staff of Setia Bible
College in Jakarta, Indonesia, had
to evacuate the college on Sunday
27 July following two nights of
disturbances by hundreds of
armed Muslim protestors. At least
17 Christians were injured.
The attacks were triggered by a
seemingly harmless incident. Two
students at the Bible college, Junius
Kily and Jony Gontho, were returning
to their dormitory on the Friday
evening when they saw a large rat in
the street. Junius threw his sandal at
it, and the sandal landed on a
neighbour’s property. When Junius
went to retrieve it, the owner of the
house cried out that he was a thief.
corpus. The Maldives’ previous
constitution required individuals to be
Muslims only in order to vote in elections.
Persecution of Christians in the Maldives
is not a new phenomenon. In one incident
in 1998 the government cracked down on
Christians, both Maldivian and foreign,
and expelled several foreign Christians
from the country. Maldivian nationals who
were suspected of being Christian
believers or sympathetic to Christianity
were arrested and interrogated. Fifteen
Maldivian women, Christians and friends
of Christians, were detained at a political
prison on Dhoonidhoo, a small island
close to the capital Male. This happened
after a young boy betrayed his mother,
who was a Christian, to the authorities,
also identifying those who were in touch
The local mosque began urging the
residents to attack the school, and
by midnight mobs were attacking the
dormitories, shouting Allahu Akhbar
(“God is great”). Stones were thrown
at the main campus building, and
the protestors tried unsuccessfully to
burn down one of the dormitories.
They were armed with knives and
sharpened bamboo.
The female students were evacuated,
but the next night a crowd besieged a
women’s dormitory, where some of the
male students had been transferred.
The violence continued through the
night, and the police began evacuating
the remaining students. As they left,
some of the students and staff were
Newsroom
Most people think of the Maldives as
a beautiful holiday destination. Yet
since August, it has become one of
the world’s worst places in terms of
religious freedom
with her. The boy had been encouraged
at school to mention anyone he knew
whose belief was different from the
government’s teachings.
slashed with swords, and acid was
thrown over others. They suffered
head, shoulder, stomach and hand
wounds. The assaults took place
in front of the police, but they
neither intervened nor arrested
the attackers.
The students were evacuated to
camp grounds and transmigration
facilities, and at the time of writing,
they are still waiting to return to their
college. Around 600 female students
are staying in tents at a camp ground
in East Jakarta, and classes are held
with megaphones under trees or the
tarpaulins. There is concern that the
rainy season might begin soon and
turn the camp ground into a swamp.
BARNABAS AID NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008 
 Newsroom
Zimbabwe: God’s hand of protection
While the political, economic and
humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe is
still extremely volatile and the danger of
starvation and violence, is an everyday
reality for many Zimbabweans, God’s
hand is on His people in that country.
One Zimbabwean farmer, who was attacked
and severely beaten by supporters of
President Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party, told
how his wife managed to escape with their
children: “When they got to the northern
fence line, she did not have wire cutters.
They said a prayer and out of the bush,
almost like an angel, walked a man with a
dog. Laura explained the situation and he
pulled out some wire cutters from his
pocket and cut the fence for her. She got
through to safety.”
God’s wonderful protection is also being
experienced by South African Christian
volunteers who demonstrate the love of
Christ by using their own cars to travel into
Zimbabwe in these difficult and dangerous
times to take food to people who are literally
starving to death. Barnabas Fund is
covering the costs of the food, which works
out at £9 (US$16; €11) for a monthly food
parcel for one family. A Barnabas Fund
representative, who accompanied a trip
earlier this year, writes:
“We arrived at the Zimbabwe border two
days after the June 27 elections. The border
was absolutely deserted. Because of the
pre- and post-election government-
sponsored violence no one was willing to
travel into Zimbabwe – except us it would
seem. Usually the border is a hive of activity.
We don’t mind the border being chaotic and
busy and having to wait in long queues. The
busier the border the easier it is to pass
through unseen. This is especially important
when we are trying to get food through
Attack by Muslim extremists in Angola
On 20 July about 100 young Muslim
extremists attacked the Christian
community in the town of Andulo, Angola.
One woman was seriously injured, and Leti
Raimundo, the school-age daughter of a
deacon at one of the churches, was
decapitated. Three church buildings were
burned and stones were thrown at the
headquarters of a local Christian project,
causing some damage. The Muslims
10 BARNABAS AID NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008
unnoticed to those who are starving in the
rural areas.
“We must have been the only people
passing through the border for some hours
and we caught the attention of the
Zimbabwe officials who were obviously very
bored. We were stopped and the vehicle
and trailer were thoroughly searched. We
were carrying more than one and half tonnes a Christian who helped other Christians. The
of food in food packs. One official noticed
the packs and we had to start unloading
them. I prayed while the South African
church leader I was travelling with unloaded was uttered his attitude changed. He looked
them. I noticed one official hide a bag,
obviously for himself. The officials had
decided that we were not allowed to
proceed and that our food would be
confiscated. More officials were called over
and we were worried that we would be
arrested. I prayed that that we would pass
through without any trouble and with all the
bags - even the one that the official had
taken. A church friend from South Africa had
been prompted to pray for us at that exact
time too. She sent me a text message that
read: ‘God is with you. Man cannot stop
you. God has given you favour.’ Less than a
minute later the officials inexplicably let us
go. We quickly piled the bags back into the
truck and were just about to head off when
one official stopped us again. My heart sank
until I noticed him holding the bag that had
been hidden. ‘You forgot this,’ he said,
‘Enjoy your time in Zimbabwe.’
“On our way to this particular food drop we
were stopped and searched eleven times.
Each time we prayed and smiled and were
friendly and even asked those who were
stopping us if we could pray for them. Most
agreed. Each time we were waved on
without much trouble. At one stop a Central
Intelligence Officer made us unload the
whole vehicle and unpack every single bag
forced their way into the houses of several
believers and assaulted them with sticks,
beating and also stoning them with bricks.
Seven Christians had to be taken to hospital Barnabas Fund, which is having a great
for treatment.
Commenting to Barnabas Fund, an Angolan opened a small chemist’s shop for basic
Christian leader said that the local police
were unable to stop the attack and fled the
scene, and the government seemed
reluctant to take action against the Muslims. be a reaction against its success.
we had. Even our clothes had to be laid out
individually on the road. He was being
extremely difficult and belligerent. He
wanted to know why we had the food and
who we were taking it to. I told him that the
food was for a church. I continued to pray
and smile and joke as we had done before.
He asked me what I did and I said that I was
South African with me then said, ‘Hey,
Shamari (Shona for friend), do you know
Jesus?’ The moment the name of Jesus
me in the eyes and I smiled back. After a
long pause he said ‘Ah this Jesus of yours!
Yes I know of him. I can see that you are
good people. You may proceed.’”
A truck full of food parcels for needy
Zimbabwean Christians
Zimbabwean Christians are in dire need
of food help from outside the country.
Barnabas Fund continues to support
courageous South African Christians
who drive into Zimbabwe to deliver food
parcels to the neediest there
The Gospel is advancing strongly in
Andulo. Twenty pastors supported by
Barnabas Fund are active in evangelism
among the people. The Christian project
has a bookshop, also assisted by
impact in the community, and it has also
health care. The work of the project is
greatly appreciated by the Angolan
government. The attack is believed to
Pull-out supplement
MUSLIM DEMOGRAPHICS AND EUROPE
Muslim Demographics
and Europe
Introduction
Muslims are currently a minority in numerical terms in Europe. Demographic studies,
however, indicate that Muslim populations are growing much faster than others. This is
due to continued immigration, conversion and the higher birth rate of Muslim families.
All Europe is experiencing a drastic reduction in the birth rate of indigenous
populations, while most Muslims in Europe hold to their tradition of large families. In
1900 there were some 50,000 Muslims in Western Europe. By 1970 the number had
grown to 3-4 million, and by 2008 to over 25 million.1 If present trends in birth rates
continue for the next 30 years it could be as high as 65 million.2
Muslim comments Europe will turn it into a Muslim continent within a few
decades.6
A wide variety of Muslim leaders have expressed their vision of an Yusuf al-Qaradawi, a leading Sunni cleric, looks to Islamic
Islamic Europe in the foreseeable future. Some of them see the mission activity (da‘wa) to accomplish the change. Thinking no
continent being won for Islam primarily by demographic means. doubt of the Muslim conquest of Spain (711-1492) and the later
As long ago as 1974 Algerian President Houari Boumedienne Ottoman conquests including Constantinople (1452), finally
(1976-1978) stated in the General Assembly of the United Nations: bringing the Ottoman armies to the gates of Vienna in 1529 and
1683, al-Qaradawi stated in 1999:
One day millions of men will leave the southern hemisphere of
this planet to burst into the northern one. But not as friends. Islam entered Europe twice and left it … Perhaps the next
Because they will burst in to conquer, and they will conquer by conquest, Allah willing, will be by means of preaching and
populating it with their children. Victory will come to us from the ideology. The conquest need not necessarily be by the sword
wombs of our women.3 … [The conquest of Mecca] was not by the sword or by war,
but by a [Hudabiyya] treaty, and by peace … Perhaps we will
Mullah Krekar, a Kurdish Islamist radical linked to terrorist groups
conquer these lands without armies. We want an army of
in Iraq and granted asylum in Norway, recently claimed that
preachers and teachers who will present Islam in all languages
Europe would be 30% Muslim by 2050:
and in all dialects …7
We’re the ones who will change you . . . Just look at the
The inexorable trend to growth of the Muslim community in
development within Europe, where the number of Muslims is
Europe is illustrated by Nabil Shabeeb, a Muslim freelance writer
expanding like mosquitoes. Every western woman in the EU is
and analyst based in Germany, in the popular Muslim website
producing an average of 1.4 children. Every Muslim woman in
IslamOnline:
the same countries are producing 3.5 children. By 2050, 30
percent of the population in Europe will be Muslim.4
Earlier this year the popular Egyptian Muslim preacher, ‘Amr
The ratio of Muslims to the total population of the EU countries
ranges between 3.5 and 5.5%. However, the ratio of Muslim
youth (between 45 and 50% of the Muslims) to EU youth is
Khalid, claimed that Muslims would form a majority in Europe
between 16 and 20%. In other words, in a few years Muslims
within 20 years:
will constitute 16 to 20% of the European workforce, and
T
 he Muslims keep having children, while the Europeans do
could therefore influence policies and decision-making.8
not – this means that within 20 years the Muslims will be the
Many Muslims who predict an Islamic Europe do not support
majority.5
their claims with objective data. It is unclear whether their
Libya’s leader, Colonel Qaddafi, had a similar message in 2006: comments are wishful thinking, encouragement for their fellow-
We have 50 million Muslims in Europe. There are signs that Muslims, intimidation of non-Muslims or reliable statistical
Allah will grant Islam victory in Europe - without swords, projections. Clearly, however, the growth of Muslim populations
without guns, without conquests. The 50 million Muslims of in Europe is dramatic.
BARNABAS AID NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008 I
 Pull-out supplement
MUSLIM DEMOGRAPHICS AND EUROPE
Muslim population growth
and its implications
The population of most Muslim states has doubled in the last 25
years and continues to expand quickly. It is projected that by
2050 the population of Turkey will number 100 million, that of
Egypt 114 million, that of Algeria and Morocco 45 million each,
that of Yemen over 100 million.9
Many Muslims migrated into European states as welcome and
much-needed workers for manual jobs that Europeans are
reluctant to do, as political refugees, as illegal migrants or in
other ways. Furthermore, climate change is now emerging as a
potent driving force of further Muslim immigration. The growing
desertification of North Africa has resulted in a major decline in
its capacity to sustain population, causing migration north to
Europe. Initially this was mainly from the Maghreb countries
such as Morocco, but it now includes countries south of the
Sahara such as Niger. The populations of these regions are
predominantly Muslim.
In addition the constant bringing of marriage partners from
Muslim home-countries continues to supplement the European
Muslim populations. As a result there are already areas in France,
Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Britain where Muslim
children constitute the majority of the school population.10
Because the Muslim population in Europe is far younger than the
indigenous population, the Muslim minority is set to continue to
grow in numbers for some decades at least while the indigenous
population faces further decline. In France Muslims compose
30% of those under 20, although only 10% of the total
population. In some European cities the percentage of Muslim
youth and children has reached 45%.11
In Britain, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith admitted in April 2008
that the number of Muslims in the UK may now number 2 million,
or 3.3% of the total population. Official sources had been using
the 2001 census figure of 1.6 million.12 The real figure might well
be over 3 million, based on estimates drawn from Muslim
embassies in the UK. Islam is certainly the fastest growing
religion in the UK.
In Austria a recent projection, based on conservative estimates
of immigration and fertility, predicted that Muslims would make
up between 14% and 26% of the population in 2050, up from
4% today.13 For Western Europe as a whole, observers estimate
that by 2050 a quarter of the population will be Muslim.14
It is facts such as these that cause some non-Muslim observers
to believe, like the Muslim leaders quoted above, that Europe will
be an Islamic continent within the foreseeable future. The highly
respected academic Bernard Lewis predicted in July 2004 that
Muslims would form a majority in Europe by the end of the
twenty-first century:
Current trends show Europe will have a Moslem majority by
the end of the 21st century at the latest . . . Europe will be
part of the Arabic West, of the Maghreb.15
Lewis repeated his warning in 2007, arguing that Europe is
experiencing a dramatic shift as it is being taken over by
Muslims. The Islamisation process, he said, is being helped by
immigration and misapplied democratic freedoms. Europeans,
II BARNABAS AID NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008
Estimated Muslim populations in Western European countries
having lost pride in their own traditions and culture, have
surrendered to this process in an atmosphere of political
correctness and multiculturalism. The growing support within the
Islamic world for extremist and terrorist movements was of
special concern, given the growing sway of Islam in Europe:
[The Muslims] seem to be about to take over Europe . . .
Will it be an Islamized Europe or Europeanized Islam?16
The demographic decline in
Europe and its implications
Keeping the population stable requires 2.1 live births per woman.
Western European women had an average of 2.4 children each in
1970, but that figure had fallen to 1.38 by 2005. The population of
the European Union is expected to drop from some 482 million
today to 454 million by 2050, unless replenished by immigration.17
In Germany, the birth rate is so low (1.35) that its population
could fall from 82 million to 24 million by the end of the century.
In Italy and Spain the birth rate is as low as 1.29.18 Britain (1.6)
and France (1.89) were somewhat higher because of their large
Muslim populations, with Muslim women tending to have more
children.19 The current ratio of Muslim to non-Muslim birth rates
in Western Europe is estimated at 3:1.20
To keep its working population at present numbers, the EU
needs 1.6 million immigrants a year. In order, however, to sustain
the present ratio of workers to retired people (and thus enable
the retired to live comfortably), the EU requires some 13.5 million
immigrants annually.21 With the indigenous population
apparently becoming reluctant to have children, with easy
abortion, and with the emigration of many white Europeans to
North America or Australasia, it seems that only massive
immigration can fill this void and thus maintain the lifestyles to
which Europeans have become accustomed. Migration patterns
within the EU, for example of Poles to the UK, do not solve the
problem as the sending countries themselves then need to have
their depleted populations boosted.
The hijra (migration) model
and Muhammad’s conquests
Most Muslims who have migrated to the West did so for economic
reasons or because of persecution in their home countries. Most
want simply to live a peaceful life enjoying democratic freedoms
and opportunities as well as economic wellbeing.
In the wider Muslim world, however, the dominant forces are
theological and ideological. In Islamic theology, Muhammad’s
migration from Mecca (where he was being persecuted) to Medina
in 622 AD is a model to be followed by Muslims down the centuries
– a model of escaping from a problematic region to a new safe
haven that is to be infiltrated and won for Islam. This place of safetyConclusion
then serves as a launching pad for Islam’s further expansion and
ultimate victory. Migration is thus seen by many contemporary
Muslims as a stage in the political quest for the establishment of
the ideal Islamic state according to classical Islam.
It is taught that the first Muslim community developed in clearly
defined stages that must be copied today: the stage of weakness
in which the message of Islam was proclaimed (da‘wa) to an
unbelieving society, the stage of migration (hijra) to a safe place
where Muslim strength could be built up, and finally the stage of
the jihad to reconquer lost territory, extend Muslim political
dominion and implement God’s ideal state on earth.
Classical Islam further teaches that all lands belong to God, who
has given them to the Muslims. Some lands the Muslims already
possess, while the rest are theirs in theory and will gradually
become theirs in practice. Lands taken from non-Muslims are
viewed as being restored by God to the Muslims.22 Since the
original hijra the gaining of territory has been an integral part of
Islam. New territory must be Islamised, cleansed from defiling
non-Muslim influence and ruled by Islamic law.
The population explosion in Muslim countries, coupled to the
growth in Muslim migration into Western states and the biological
growth of these minorities, is seen by many Muslims as being in
God’s providence, tilting the balance decisively in favour of Islam.
These Muslims believe that this is part of a new hijra, restoring
Islam’s glory and power as it achieves dominance in world affairs.
Numerical growth in the West will give Muslims a more effective
Comparison of total populations: 25 EU countries and 25
neighbouring countries of Asia and Africa
Pull-out supplement
MUSLIM DEMOGRAPHICS AND EUROPE
political lobby that will bring with it legal changes in favour of
Muslims. All this they hope will lead to state recognition of the
Muslim population as an autonomous community. The final goal
is the full Islamisation of the host countries and the establishment
of Islamic states under shari‘a.
Many Muslim governments, Islamists and other Muslims regard
demography as a political tool and are glad for their excess
population to move to Europe (and other Western nations such as
the USA, Canada and Australia). They know that the larger the
Muslim diaspora in the West, the greater the political influence it
will exert, and the more concessions the Islamic world will be able
to gain from the West.23
What are the likely implications of these demographic changes
for the future of Europe? Some might see nothing to fear. David
Miliband, the British Foreign Secretary, has predicted “a bleak
scenario for 2030” of threats, terrorism, a clash between the
West and the Islamic world, and growing hostility to the West.
His solution is to enlarge the European Union to include North
Africa and the Middle East.24 It appears that for him peace and
stability can be achieved only by integrating Europe with the
Islamic world, never mind the likely loss of its historic freedoms
and Judaeo-Christian values.
Others have said that is was Judaeo-Christian Europe, despite all
its shortcomings, that gave rise to modern concepts of equality,
liberty, tolerance, human rights etc. Will such a massive
transformation of European demographics bring stability or lead
to conflict? Will it create more tolerant societies or follow the
pattern of Muslim-majority countries in other continents?
One recent Christian claim that there is no danger of a Muslim
takeover of Britain is based on the argument that, as the British
Muslim community becomes more prosperous, its birth rate will
drop. A prosperous community with small families will be less
tempted, so it is argued, to embrace radical Islam. Muslims in the
West will integrate peacefully into their societies and contribute
to the formation of a more moderate Islam.25 But this viewpoint
does not seem to take seriously enough the current demographic
trends highlighted by so many sources, including the United
Nations, and is therefore over-optimistic. Islamic radicalism is not
simply a product of poverty, but is a theological and ideological
movement with deep roots in classical Islam; it is resulting in
Muslim individuals, organisations and governments moving
increasingly into an ultra-conservative position. The optimistic
argument also seems to ignore the Islamist infiltration of many
Muslim institutions in the UK and the growing radicalisation of
many well-off British Muslims, and it overlooks the hijra model
and its contemporary implementation.
Christians who are sceptical about predictions of the complete
Islamisation of Europe by 2100 should recall that all of the Middle
East and North Africa, as well as parts of Central Asia and the
region that is now Pakistan and Afghanistan, were once
Christian. The Church there was either completely eradicated by
the advance of Islam or reduced to a powerless and despised
minority. It would be arrogant to think that this could never
happen to the Church in Europe. Furthermore, it is unnecessary
for Islam to be a statistical majority in order to function as one. In
the eighth century, at the height of its power, the Islamic world
BARNABAS AID NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008 III
 Pull-out supplement Newsroom
Martyrs
MUSLIM DEMOGRAPHICS AND EUROPE

“Be faithful to death, and I will

stretched from Spain to India, yet only a minority of the rights as Muslim minorities in Europe. They should vigorously
population was Muslim. resist pressures to stop evangelism among Muslims. They must
Yet whatever the future brings – and as Christians we recognise ask Muslims to reform Islam, annul the Islamic apostasy law and

give you the crown of life”

that God is God of the past, present and future, directing the condemn the persecution of Christians and converts from Islam.
course of history – the Muslim presence in Europe provides a Within wider society, indigenous Europeans must hold fast to all
wonderful opportunity for Christians to demonstrate the love and that is good in the values and traditions of their society, yet
compassion of Christ and to make their Saviour known. without moving to a far right response, which is totally
Furthermore, it may be in God’s providence that this Muslim unacceptable and unchristian.
presence will spur Europeans to rediscover their Christian faith,
just as Israel in the desperation of exile rediscovered their faith.
Governments must plan strategies not for short-term affluence
but for true social cohesion; they must not sacrifice the essential
Revelation 2:10
Where dialogue and cooperation with Muslims are called for, values of their societies for short-term expediency and gain.
Christians must ensure that it is a two-way street, and press for On 26 December many churches
Christian minorities in Muslim countries to be given the same © Barnabas Fund, 2008 commemorate Stephen, the first
recorded Christian martyr (see Acts
1
Philip Jenkins, “Islam and Muslims In Europe Today: Some Key Issues”, Evan Osnos, “Islam shaping a new Europe”, Chicago Tribune, 19
14
7:54-60). So in this November-December
The Cambridge Interfaith Programme, www.divinity.cam.ac.uk/cip/ December 2004.
edition we recognise and honour some
documents/IslamandMuslimInEuropeToday.pdf (viewed 13 August “Islamic Europe?”, The Weekly Standard, 4 October 2004; “Europe Will
15
of those who have given their lives for
2008). Be Islamic By End Of This Century Says Princeton Prof”, Free Republic,
Christ this year.
2
“Islam is and will be a European religion”, Today’s Zaman, 14 August 28 July 2008.
2008. David Machlis and Tovah Lazaroff, “Muslims are ‘about to take over
16 Iran: Beaten to death
3
Oriana Fallaci, The Force of Reason, Rizzoli, 2006, quoted in Brendan Europe’”, Jerusalem Post, 29 Jan 2007.
On 17 July the evening gathering of a
Bernhard, “The Fallaci Code”, LA Weekly, 15 March 2006, http://www. James Graff, “We Need More Babies!”, TIME Europe Magazine, Vol.
17

laweekly.com/index.php?option=com_lawcontent&task=view&id=12921
house church in Isfahan was visited by
164, No. 21, 29 November 2004; Ruth Dudley Edwards, “Will Britain one
&Itemid=47 (viewed 15 August 2008). security officers, and everyone was
day be Muslim?”, Daily Mail, 4 May 2007.
arrested. Abbas Amiri, the host, was
4
“Krekar claims Islam will win”, Aftenposten, 13 March 2006.
James Graff, “We Need More Babies!”, TIME Europe Magazine, Vol.
18
attacked and savagely beaten, and he
5
‘Amr Khalid, in an interview on Dream 2 TV, 10 May 2008, quoted in 164, No. 21, 29 November 2004.
died of his injuries in hospital on 30 July. Funeral of Iraqi church leader Youssef Adel, killed in a drive-by shooting after
MEMRI Special Dispatch Series, No. 2003, 27 July 2008.
Ruth Dudley Edwards, “Will Britain one day be Muslim?”, Daily Mail, 4
19
Sakineh Rahnama, Abbas’s wife, was also
6
Mu‘ammar al-Qaddafi in a speech aired by Al-Jazeera TV on 10 April receiving several death threats
May 2007.
physically assaulted by the officers, and
2006, quoted in MEMRI Special Dispatch Series, No. 1152, 2 May 2006. 20
Nabil Shabeeb, “Muslims in Greater Europe”, IslamOnline, 1 July 2004, she died on 3 August from her injuries and sharing his faith with people in the town of brother found some Christian articles she
7
Yusuf al-Qaradawi on Al-Jazeera Television (Qatar), 24 January 1999, http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1156077742
stress-related causes. The couple were Afgyoye (eighteen miles from the capital, had written and a cross sign on her
http://www.aljazeera.net/programs/shareea/articles/2001/7/7-6-2.htm, 293&pagename=Zone-English-Muslim_Affairs%2FMAELayout (viewed
quoted in MEMRI Special Dispatch Series, No. 447, 6 December 2002. both in their 60s. Mogadishu), where he was working as a computer screen. Her life then became an
13 August 2008); “Islam is and will be a European religion”, Today’s
8
Nabil Shabeeb, “Muslims in Greater Europe”, IslamOnline, 1 July 2004, Zaman, 14 August 2008. The officers were angry with Abbas for teacher. ordeal, and she was killed after a further,
heated debate on religion.
http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=115607774 21
Daniel Pipes, “Muslim Europe”, New York Sun, 11 November 2004. making his home available to the church for Iraq: Drive-by shooting
2293&pagename=Zone-English-Muslim_Affairs%2FMAELayout , viewed their meetings, and they were further
22
Ibn Taymiyya, Majmu‘at al-fatawa li-Sheikh al-Islam Taq al-Din Ahmad Fatima’s father works for the Commission for
13 August 2008. On 5 April Youssef Adel had just left his
Bin Taymiyya al-Hurani, (al-Mansourah: dar al-wafa’ wal nashr wal tawzi‘, enraged to discover his personal history. Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice,
9
Walter Laqueur, The Last Days of Europe. New York: Thomas Dunne 1997), p308. English translation from Bat Yeor, Islam and Dhimmitude: home to drive to a church when gunmen in
Formerly a practising Muslim, he had been the government agency that enforces Islamic
Books / St. Martin’s Press, 2007, pp25-26. Where Civilizations Collide. Madison, NJ: Fairleigh Dickinson University another car sped past him and opened fire.
on pilgrimage to Mecca and had also religious purity. He is now in custody being
10
Rafael Israeli, “The new demographic balance in Europe and its Press, 2001, p59.
fought bravely in the Iran-Iraq war; yet now Youssef was an Iraqi church leader based investigated for his daughter’s murder. The
consequences”, Jerusalem Centre for Public Affairs, 1 March 2007. 23
Serge Trifkovic, “Islam’s Immigrant Invasion of Europe”, he had become not only a Christian, but in Karradah, the central district of Baghdad. killing sent shockwaves through the online
Mark Steyn, “It’s the demography, stupid”, The Spectator, 16
11 FrontPageMagazine, 6 January 2003.
even a church leader. He was aged 47, married, and employed as community: some of the websites allocated
November 2005. 24
David Miliband’s speech to the College of Europe, Bruges, 15 the director of a mixed high school, space to Fatima’s memory, while others
12
“Officials think UK’s Muslim population has risen to 2m”, The Guardian, November 2007, http://www.publicpolitics.net/modules.php?op=modload Somalia: Family tragedy attended by both Christians and Muslims. closed temporarily in protest.
8 April 2008. &name=News&file=article&sid=84959 (viewed 16 November 2007).
On 8 July two Muslim men approached He had received several death threats. His
Eric Kaufman, “Breeding for God”, Prospect Magazine, Issue 128,
13 25
“Christians do not need to fear Islamic takeover in UK, says Interserve Sayid Ali Sheik Luqman Hussein and asked funeral was attended by senior
India: Pregnant
November 2006. head”, Christianity Today, 18 July 2008. him whether he faced Mecca when praying, representatives of various Christian woman murdered
as Muhammad instructed his followers to denominations. In late August, in Orissa State, Kamalini Naik
Barnabas fund hope and aid for the persecuted church do. Sayid answered that as a Christian he
Saudi Arabia: was ordered by a baying mob to denounce
did not have to face in a specific direction Christianity and convert to Hinduism. When
UK New Zealand Jersey International Headquarters
as God is present everywhere. The two Father kills daughter she strongly maintained her faith in Christ,
9 Priory Row, Coventry CV1 5EX 14A View Road, Mt Eden, Auckland 1024 Le Jardin, La Rue A Don, Grouville, The Old Rectory, River Street,
Telephone 024 7623 1923 Telephone 09 630 6267 or 0800 008 8805 Jersey, Channel Islands JE3 9GB Pewsey, Wiltshire SN9 5DB, UK Muslims returned two days later armed In August a Saudi man cut out the tongue she and her 18-month-old son were cut into
Fax 024 7683 4718 Email office@barnabasfund.org.nz Telephone 700600 Fax 700601 Telephone 01672 564938
with a rifle and shot Sayid dead. He was of his daughter and burned her to death for pieces in front of her husband and some
From outside the UK Email bfjersey@barnabasfund.org Fax 01672 565030
Australia 28 years old. On hearing the news of her converting from Islam to Christianity. other Christians. Kamalini was seven months
Telephone +44 24 7623 1923 Postal Suite 107 USA From outside UK
Fax +44 24 7683 4718 236 Hyperdome 6731 Curran St, McLean, VA 22101 Telephone +44 1672 564938 husband’s death, his pregnant wife went pregnant at the time of her death.
Email info@barnabasfund.org Fax +44 1672 565030
Fatima al-Mutairi learned about Jesus
Loganholme QLD 4129 Telephone (703) 288-1681 into premature labour, and tragically the
Registered Charity Number 1092935 Telephone (07) 3806 1076 or 1300 365799 or toll-free 1-866-936-2525 Email info@barnabasfund.org Christ through the internet, and used to This killing was one of many in the recent
baby was stillborn.
Company Registered in England Fax: (07) 3806 4076 Fax (703) 288-1682 write on various blogs under assumed severe upsurge of anti-Christian violence in
Number 4029536 Email bfaustralia@barnabasfund.org Email bfusa@barnabasfund.org www.barnabasfund.org Sayid, a former Muslim, converted to names. Her family became suspicious Orissa. At least 36 people are thought to
Christianity in 2004. He was active in following a discussion with her, and her have died at the hands of Hindu extremists.

IV BARNABAS AID NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008 BARNABAS AID NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008 11

 Testimony
The streets of Ramallah are no longer safe for Joseph
since he converted from Islam to Christianity
Hamas leader’s son
announces conversion to Christianity
The son of a prominent Hamas leader in the West
Bank has left Islam and become a Christian.
Masab Hassan Yousef, now called Joseph, has told
his story in a number of recent interviews.
Joseph’s father, Sheikh Hassan Yousef, is a Hamas
MP and one of the founders of the organisation in
the West Bank. Joseph assisted his father for years,
but in 2004 he decided to convert to Christianity,
and has since left his home in Ramallah to live in
the United States.
This testimony is a compilation of edited excerpts
from several interviews that Joseph has given.
12 BARNABAS AID NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008
As a child I grew up in a very religious
family, on the principle of hatred of
Israelis. The first time I encountered
them was at about the age of ten,
when soldiers entered our home and
arrested my father. We didn’t know
anything about the circumstances of
his arrest. His membership in Hamas
was a secret matter, and we certainly
didn’t think he was one of its founders.
I didn’t understand anything about
politics or religion. I only knew that the
Israeli army had arrested my father
repeatedly, and for me he was everything:
a good, loving man who would do
anything for me. In high school I studied
shari‘a, Islamic law. In 1996, when I was
only eighteen, I was arrested by the Israel
Defence Forces because I was the head
of the Islamic Society in my high school.
And my process of awakening began.
Until then I knew Hamas through my
father, who lived a very modest and loving
life. At first I really admired the
organisation, mainly because I admired
my father so much. But during the sixteen
months I spent in prison I was exposed to
the true face of Hamas. It’s a negative
organisation. As simple as that. A
fundamentally bad organisation. These
people have no morals; they have no
integrity. They receive money in dishonest
ways, invest it in secret places, and
outwardly maintain a simple lifestyle.
I remember how the family of Saleh
Talahmeh, a member of the military arm of
Hamas, who was assassinated by Israel,
was forced to beg for financial assistance
because they were left with nothing after
his death. The Hamas leadership
abandoned them as well as the families of
other shahids [martyrs], while the senior
members of the organisation abroad
wasted tens of thousands of dollars a
month only on security for themselves.
Even some of the current leaders of
Hamas were involved in the past in the
“security arm” in the prisons. They were
suspicious of prisoners who spent too
much time in the bathroom. They
suspected that the prisoner was
transferring information or alternatively
having sexual relations with other men.
Then I understood that not everyone in
Hamas is like my father. He’s a nice,
friendly man. But I discovered how evil his
colleagues are. After my release I lost the
faith I had in those who ostensibly
represented Islam.
About eight years ago I was in Jerusalem
and I received an invitation to come and
hear about Christianity. Out of curiosity I
went. I was very enthusiastic about what I
heard. I began to read the Bible every day
and I continued with religion lessons. I did
it in secret, of course. I used to travel to
the Ramallah hills and to sit there quietly
with the amazing landscape and read
the Bible.
When I studied the Bible carefully verse by
verse, I made sure that that was the book
of God, the word of God. A verse like
“Love thine enemy” had a great influence
on me. Every day I saw the terrible things
done in the name of religion by those who
considered themselves “great believers”. I
studied Islam more thoroughly and found
no answers there. I can’t hate [the
Muslims] because God loved them from
the beginning. And God doesn’t create
junk. God created good people that he
loved. I have a message for them: there is
only one way to Paradise – the way of
Jesus who sacrificed himself on the cross
for all of us.
I feel that Christianity has several aspects.
It’s not only a religion but a faith. I now see
God through Jesus.
Only those Christians with whom I met
and spent time knew about my decision
[to convert]. For years I helped my father,
and he didn’t know that I had converted,
only that I had Christian friends.
Just stop and think for a minute about
announcing your Christianity; you feel sick
immediately because it’s crazy. You’re not
just saying goodbye to a religion, to a
tradition. You are saying goodbye to a
culture, to a civilisation. Even the process
of taking your skin off your bones might
be easier than saying goodbye to your
mother and to everybody, especially when
you are a well-known figure in your society
and everybody has high expectations that
one day in the future you will be one of the
leaders.
Suddenly you are starting from scratch
and cancelling everything you have.
But when it started, I was ready for any
circumstances. I thought about the worst
conditions that could happen as
consequences after my announcement.
But – and I tell you this is a miracle, this is
how God works – you carry the cross and
rely on Him completely and He takes care
of everything.
This may be the first case that a well-
known Muslim just goes to the public
and says, “I am a Christian.” Many Muslim
sheikhs, many Muslim imams may be
converted to Christianity but they keep
that a secret. They didn’t announce it
because it is very embarrassing for them
and for their families. They were afraid for
their lives.
Testimony
But I decided to declare Jesus in front of
the world, so He declares me in front of
the Father. That was the main reason.
I am going to be worshipping God in a
very special way by doing this.
When Jesus says, “Carry your cross and
follow me,” it wasn’t to put a cross on
your shirt and keep walking the street. I
have many friends [in Ramallah] whom I
would like to see and I don’t know
whether I’ll be able to do that at all. I
mainly miss my mother, my brothers and
sisters, but I know that it will be very
difficult for me to return to Ramallah soon.
I helped my father and conducted his
affairs because he’s my father, not
because he’s a leader in Hamas. I’m not
a Hamas activist who converted to
Christianity. That’s not the story. I was
always opposed to the use of terror.
I wanted to help my father understand
that harming innocent people is forbidden
and through him perhaps to change other
people’s thinking.
Within Hamas there were leaders who
thought they had to continue with suicide
attacks as an effective means of achieving
their aims. I tried to understand those
people, their thoughts, in order to change
them from inside by means of a strong
person like my father, who admitted to me
in the past that he does not support
suicide attacks. He thinks that harming
innocent people gives the organisation a
bad name. I know people who support
Hamas but they never got involved in
terrorist attacks. They follow Hamas
because they love God and they think that
Hamas represents God.
Jesus is not going to give them a political
solution, but He has changed me and He
can change those people to a better
people. He can teach them how to forgive,
how to love. Everybody on both sides is
hurt – not only Israelis, not only
Palestinians. If we can teach them how to
forgive and move on and love their
enemies, for the next two generations,
we can build a new leadership for both
sides to be able to live together.
Now, as it is, there is no hope for them
but Jesus. It’s that simple.
BARNABAS AID NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008 13
 Newsroom Update
Campaign
Barnabas Fund’s “Save Iraqi Christians” stand drew
a lot of attention at exhibitions throughout the summer
We would like to express our
gratitude to all of you who have
signed our “Save Iraqi Christians”
campaign, collected signatures and
written letters to raise awareness of
the difficult and sometimes life-
threatening situation of Iraqi
Christians. It is only through
your support that change can
be brought about.
On 30 September 2008 the “Save Iraqi
Christians” campaign officially came to
an end but late additions can be
accepted, so if you still have signed
petition sheets, please do send them
in to your nearest Barnabas Fund office
(addresses on back cover). At the time
of writing 37,545 signatures have been
collected. The British signatures will be
presented at the Foreign and
Commonwealth Office on 5 November.
Arrangements are in progress for
presentation of the petition in Australia
(to be followed by other countries).
The end of the campaign comes at a
time when the situation in Iraq is
beginning to stabilise but the situation
of Iraqi Christians is still very precarious.
On the one hand, Iraqi Prime Minister
Nuri al-Maliki claims that it is safe for
Iraqi Christians to return to their home
country. He has asked the European
Union and especially Germany not to
promote the emigration of Iraqi Christians
to Europe. Following this demand,
14 BARNABAS AID NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008
At
the time
writing of
37
have sig ,545
ned
Save Ira our
Christia qi
n
petition s
German Interior Minister Wolfgang
Schäuble, who had previously been one
of the foremost supporters of granting
preferred asylum to Iraqi Christians,
performed a U-turn and has now
withdrawn his appeal to the other EU
member states to accept more Iraqi
Christian refugees. Instead he is now
encouraging Iraqi Christians to return to
Iraq in order to help with the rebuilding of
the country. The European Union is
“observing” the situation in Iraq.
On the other hand, Iraqi Christians are
still being targeted by militants,
demanding huge sums of money. The
improvements in security in certain parts
of Iraq do not seem to have made life any
safer for Iraqi Christians. “Nobody wants
to go back, nobody,” said a senior Iraqi
church leader in the West when Barnabas
Fund asked him whether Iraqi Christians
were willing to return home.
Furthermore experts fear that the legal
institutions and the necessary police
presence required to guarantee freedom
of religion for all are not yet effective.
In addition, it is a matter for concern that
the Iraqi Constitution specifies Islam as
the official religion of Iraq and the “basic
source of legislation”. No law can be
passed that conflicts with the
“undisputed rules of Islam” or with the
“principles of democracy”, a combination
that to some might sound like a
contradiction.
In the light of this, it is
potentially good news
that the United States
has significantly
increased the number of
Iraqi refugees allowed into
the country, and, at the time of
writing, they are aiming to reach the
12,000 goal set for September. Australia
has increased its quota of places for
asylum-seekers by 500 for the year 2008-
9 and expects that most of these will be
Iraqis. Please pray that the petition will
prompt many Western governments to
recognise the specific dangers facing
Christian Iraqis and to welcome them
in larger numbers, enabling them to
settle and live out their faith in peace
and freedom.
Barnabas Fund’s exhibition
stand: Raising awareness for
the plight of Iraqi Christians
Over the summer, Barnabas Fund had
a stand at several Christian events in
the UK. A big banner with vivid images
depicted the destruction that rages in
Iraq, and it testified to the hardship
and danger that Iraqi Christians have
been facing over the last years.
It generated a lot of interest and drew
many people to come over and sign
the petition.
A big “thank you” goes to all our
supporters who visited our stand
and took some time to chat and
encourage us.
Expressing the wonder
of God’s love
This drawing is
by an Iraqi
Christian
refugee,
Nora Akram
(aged 22).
She fled from
her home in
Baghdad to Syria.
Nora is deaf-mute.
Her drawing shows a
blind girl receiving
her sight and
praising God.
Pastor imprisoned in Uzbekistan:
How you can help
David Shestakov was sentenced to
four years in a harsh prison colony.
Please write to the Uzbek president
to request his early release
Dmitri (David) Shestakov, a Christian
pastor in Uzbekistan, is very active in
sharing the Gospel with non-
Christians. As a result he is persecuted
by the state authorities. In 1997 and
2004 he received warnings for his
allegedly unlawful religious activity.
Then in June 2006 official harassment
was intensified, apparently in response
to some Uzbek Muslims converting to
Christianity.
Three charges were brought against
David: illegal organisation of social or
religious groups, distributing materials
containing religiously extreme ideas, and
inciting ethnic, racial or religious hatred.
Before the opening of his trial in May
2007, the Uzbek state media tried to
smear him and his church, claiming for
example that he abused alcohol and was
dependent on drugs.
David’s friends have claimed that there
were numerous irregularities in the
conduct of the trial. He maintained his
innocence throughout, and two of the
charges against him were dismissed.
But in May 2007 he was found guilty of
“incitement to religious hatred”, and was
given a four-year prison sentence in a
remote and harsh prison colony. In his
final speech, he told the court that despite
the tears of his wife and children he forgave
those who had taken action against him.
David’s wife, Marina, and his three
daughters are allowed to see him once
every three months. The travel costs for the
long journey are paid by Barnabas Fund,
which is also helping to support his family.
David is permitted one two-hour phone call
every three months. Marina brings him food,
since he has lost 20 kg in prison.
Marina has many stories of God’s wonderful
provision and protection given to David.
Unlike many prisoners, he has been
assigned work that is not dangerous,
monitoring the computer system in the
prison office. On one occasion he was called
in by the authorities for questioning. All the
prisoners previously summoned had been
beaten, but when David said that he was a
Christian and a pastor, he was spared.
David’s daughters are aged fourteen, twelve
and eight. As a result of their father’s
imprisonment they have grown up very
quickly, says Marina. The older two are now
like friends to their mother, not merely her
children, as they support and encourage
each other in this time of trial.
Uzbekistan has the most restrictive
government in Central Asia. Churches find
official registration hard to obtain, imported • Pray for David in prison, that the Lord
Christian literature is liable to confiscation,
and missionary activity is illegal. The raiding
and interrogation of congregations and the
arrest and trial of active Christians are
among the tactics employed by the
authorities.
David’s wife and three daughters can
visit him only once every three
months. Barnabas Fund covers the
costs of the long journey
Advocacy
Actions
• Write to President Karimov of
Uzbekistan asking him to release
David. In your letter, use David’s
official name, Dmitri Shestakov.
Please send a short, polite
communication, starting “Respected
President Karimov”, and request him
as a favour to release Dmitri
Shestakov; do not demand it as a
right. Your letter / email should
be sent to:
Respublika Uzbekistan
700163 g. Tashkent
ul. Uzbekistanskaya, 43
Rezidentsia prezidenta
Prezidentu Islamu Karimovu
Uzbekistan
Fax: +998 71 139 15 17
Email: presidents_office@press-
service.uz
• Pray for a good and brave lawyer to
represent David. Pressure from the
Uzbekistan government inhibits the
actions of Uzbek lawyers, so a
Russian lawyer (who is permitted by
Uzbek law to act for him) is being
sought.
will protect him and preserve his
health in the difficult conditions at the
camp. Pray that his faith will be
nourished and strengthened by God’s
provision for him and his family, and
that he will soon be released.
• Pray for Marina and her three
daughters, that God will enable them
to endure the separation from their
husband and father. Pray that they
may continue to build each other up,
and may be guided in their support
for David.
Barnabas Fund is helping David’s family
through our Victims of Violence Fund.
Project reference 00-345
BARNABAS AID NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008 15
 Resources
Barnabas Fund produces many resources to support our ministry. These are designed to encourage and facilitate
prayer and financial support, and to raise awareness of the plight of the persecuted Church. They include books,
electronic products including downloadable content, and a variety of other materials.
Some of our resources are listed below. If you would like to purchase any of these, please complete the
form at the foot of the next page and send it with payment to your nearest Barnabas Fund office (addresses
on back cover). Alternatively you can order online by visiting www.barnabasfund.org/resources,
where some of the free resources are also available for download.
n Faith, Power and Territory: A Handbook
of British Islam Patrick Sookhdeo
An easy-to-use resource to help readers
understand Islam in Britain today, the way
in which Islam is developing, and Islam`s
influence on the country. Its insights are
applicable to other countries with
significant Muslim minorities.
Paperback, 370 pp, special offer price
£8.00 + £2.50 postage (normal price
£12.99)
n Global Jihad: The Future in the Face of
Militant Islam Patrick Sookhdeo
An in-depth look at the teachings of Islam,
past and present, that form the driving
force for Islamic violence
Hardback, 669 pp, special offer price
£10.00 + £3.50 postage (normal price
£15.99)
n The Challenge of Islam to the Church
and its Mission (new edition) Patrick
Sookhdeo
An examination of the growing impact of
Islam on Western societies and in particular
the challenge that it poses to the Church
and its mission
 ardback, 193 pp, introductory offer
H North Korea – Hope Beyond the Veil FREE
price £8.99 + £2.00 postage (normal
price £14.99)
n Stepping into the Shadows:
Why Women Convert to Islam
Rosemary Sookhdeo
An exploration of the attractiveness of Islam
to many women, analysing the problems
involved in conversion and its long-term
implications
Paperback, 121 pp, special offer price
£5.00 + £2.00 postage (normal price £7.99)
n Secrets Behind the Burqa (new edition)
Rosemary Sookhdeo
An examination of what really happens in
the daily lives of millions of Muslim women
and girls, detailing the male Muslim
perception of women and the regulations
that control their behaviour.
Paperback, 145 pp, special offer price
£6.99 + £2.00 postage (normal price £9.99)
16 BARNABAS AID NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008
n Islam and Truth
A booklet providing background
information for Christians seeking to
understand the nature of Islam, its
contemporary expression and the
growing challenge that it poses to
Western society, culture and Church
Booklet, 9 pp, free
n What is Shari‘a?
Part of a series intended to provide
background information for Christians
seeking to understand the nature of
Islam, its contemporary expression and
the growing challenge that it poses
Booklet / Download, 9 pp, free
Iraq DVDs
Three short DVDs on different aspects of the Church in Iraq
and the persecution and hardship it has suffered. They may
be viewed together or separately.
n Iraq – Fear and Hope
A five-minute video presentation
showing the extent of persecution
Christians have suffered in Iraq over the
years and how Barnabas Fund is
helping them
DVD / Download, free
n Remember the Refugees – Iraq’s
Christian Refugees
A five-minute presentation that shows
the plight of Christian refugees from Iraq
and what supporters can do to assist
DVD / Download, free
n Save Iraqi Christians
An eight-minute DVD presentation on
the place of Iraq in the Bible and on the
Christian presence in Iraq for two
millennia (available only as a download
from the Barnabas Fund website)
DVD / Download, free
n North Korea – Hope Behind the Veil
A five-minute presentation that movingly
shows the plight of Christians in North
Korea and what Barnabas Fund is doing
to assist them
DVD / Download, free
Resources
n Give Them a Fishing Rod n Gifts of Love
An informative DVD presentation about An “alternative gift” catalogue
Barnabas Fund`s self-sufficiency projects, describing a selection of the
which enable Christians to start up their projects and ministries supported
own small businesses and become self- by Barnabas Fund
sufficient Booklet, free
DVD / Download, free
n A Christian Response to Islam n The Other Nine resource pack
An information leaflet offering suggestions A pack of resources to raise
on how to come to an informed awareness of the “1 in 10”
understanding of Islam and respond to it Christians who suffer from
as a Christian (included in “The Other persecution around the world
Nine” pack but also available separately) Resource pack, free
Booklet, free
Order Form
Please send me Quantity Price inc postage Total
Faith, Power and Territory (Hardback)
Faith, Power and Territory (Paperback)
Global Jihad
The Challenge of Islam …
Stepping into the Shadows
Secrets Behind the Burqa
Islam and Truth FREE
What is Shari‘a? FREE
Iraq – Fear and Hope FREE
Remember the Refugees FREE
Save Iraqi Christians FREE
Give Them a Fishing Rod FREE
A Christian Response to Islam FREE
Gifts of Love FREE
The Other Nine resource pack FREE
Name: Address:
Tel:
Email: Post code:
I enclose a cheque, payable to “Barnabas Books”.
Please charge my: Visa Mastercard Maestro American Express
No. Exp date: / Start date: / Security No.
Maestro only
Signature: Date: Robert and Barney de Berry braved the
snowAlternatively
Send this form with payment to your nearest Barnabas Fund office (addresses on back cover). in late March
youand
cancycled
order 65 miles
online by
to raise money for Barnabas Fund
visiting www.barnabasfund.org/resources, where some of the free resources are also available for download. Sales are subject to
terms and conditions, available from Barnabas Fund. Please allow 28 days for delivery.
BARNABAS AID NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008 17
 In touch
NOVEMBER 2008: Suffering Church Sunday Poem for the
“Faith Costs”- Is YOUR church ready? persecuted Church
Many churches set aside a Sunday in November (or another month
if your church calendar is already fully booked) to remember our
suffering brothers and sisters all over the world.
This year’s Suffering Church Sunday
focuses on the issue of poverty and
looks at the cost of following Jesus. In
many countries where Christians are a
despised minority, choosing to follow
Jesus often means choosing poverty as
well. It may result in discrimination and
harassment, closing the doors to getting
a good education, securing a decently
paid job or even finding work at all.
To help your church organise a Suffering
Church Sunday service, Barnabas Fund
offers the following resources:
n A2 poster “Faith Costs” to advertise your
Suffering Church Sunday service
n Prayer-and-response card to distribute to
everyone attending the service
n Short DVD presentation “Faith Costs”
(approx 3:30 min; traditional and modern
version)
n Information file: “Persecuted Christians
and the Global Food Crisis” including a
first-hand testimony of “God at work in
Zimbabwe” (in Barnabas Aid Sept/Oct
2008)
n “Little Actions Remembered in Eternity”:
Sermon outline on Matthew 25:31-46
(in Barnabas Aid Sept/Oct 2008). A
powerpoint presentation to accompany
this sermon is available to download from
our website www.barnabasfund.org/scs
From Kazakhstan with Love and Prayers
Barnabas Fund received a donation for our
Zimbabwe Feeding Project from a Christian
in Kazakhstan, a country where believers
are facing increasing harassment and
restrictions. The donor wrote:
Psalm 84:5 Blessed is the man whose
strength is in the Lord
Dear brothers and sisters serving the Lord
in Barnabas Fund,
I read in the church and then on the internet
your news about Zimbabwe – helping the
starving people. This touched my heart very
much. I prayed for the people in Zimbabwe.
Also we told the children in Sunday School
about this, and they prayed fervently for
food and for the churches in Zimbabwe.
18 BARNABAS AID NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008
n Bible study on Matthew 25:31-46
(in Barnabas Aid Sept/Oct 2008)
n Ideas and challenges for youth groups
(in Barnabas Aid Sept/Oct 2008)
n Song “You - for the persecuted church”
by Australian singer/songwriter Claire
Hazzard, available to download from our
website www.barnabasfund.org/scs
Visit our website at www.barnabasfund.
org/scs to view, order and download
resources or use the form opposite to
order from your national office (addresses
on back cover).
We would love to hear about your
Suffering Church Sunday service. Please
send us photos, ideas and stories about
what you, your church or your housegroup
did to raise awareness of our brother and
sisters on Suffering Church Sunday.
Now when I pray before my meal, I often
kneel. I have much food, but many people
do not. I read that one monthly package for
one family costs only US$17. The Lord has
put it on my heart to help these people and
I give this money in Jesus’ Name for
Zimbabwe. May the Lord bless the political
situation in Zimbabwe, the ministry of
supplying food, and especially the Church
there.
I wish you, dear brothers and sisters from
Barnabas Fund, many blessings, joy, power,
wisdom and especially love from our Lord
Jesus Christ.
With prayers for you and Zimbabwe,
Sister Anna
Kevan Sutton, from the Prayer for the
Persecuted Church Group at Guildford
Baptist Church, UK, sent us this poem,
which he wrote after hearing about the
conditions persecuted Christians are
suffering in Eritrea.
In honour of my brothers in Eritrea, and all who
suffer for His Name.
Brother, Oh my Brother
Brother, Oh my Brother
I can’t see you, but I feel you
I can’t touch you, but I hear you
groaning
…deep…
…deep…
…groaning
Reach out through the Spirit
Grasp my hand
I stand in awe
For you are steadfast, immoveable
Deep faith, deep love
In the midst of darkness, you are light
May your lamp of forgiveness burn bright
Let hope, kind hope, strong hope kindle afresh
I give you my heart, and stand with you
Let me lift you up and hold you
Let me bring you to a place of rest
and bathe you with my tears
Let me lift your wasted limbs
and wash your wounded feet
© Kevan Sutton
Christmas Cards
for Barnabas Fund
This year we are partnering with
mycharitycards.co.uk to offer a selection
of Christmas cards. The scheme is run at
no cost to us, and a percentage of the
purchase price of each packet of cards
goes directly to the work of Barnabas Fund.
Please visit: www.
mycharitycards.co.uk/
barnabasfund for full
details. Barnabas Fund-
endorsed Christmas cards
are also available
through
selected
Christian
bookshops.
The aid agency for the persecuted Church
Please send the following resources for Suffering Church Sunday
(indicate quantity required):
A2 poster “Faith Costs” DVD “Faith Costs”
Prayer-and-response cards  opies of the Suffering
C
Church Sunday issue of
Barnabas Aid (Sept/Oct 2008)
Yes, I would like to help the persecuted Church
Here is my gift of ______________________ Gift Aid Declaration
I authorise Barnabas Fund, registered charity no. 1092935, to treat all donations
Please use my gift for I have made since 6 April 2002 and all subsequent donations as Gift Aid donations
until I notify you otherwise.
Wherever the need is greatest (General Fund)
Signature _________________________________________ Date _____________
Other ___________________________________________*
(Applicable to UK tax payers only)
I enclose a cheque/voucher payable to “Barnabas Fund”. If you have previously signed a Gift Aid Declaration for Barnabas Fund, you do not need
to sign again. To qualify for Gift Aid, what you pay in income tax or capital gains tax must
at least equal the amount of tax reclaimed on donations to registered charities in the tax
Please debit my Visa Mastercard American Express
year. Please inform us if you change your name or address or stop paying tax.
Maestro CAF card /other charity card
Name (Mr,Mrs,Miss,Ms,Rev,Dr)
Address
Number
Maestro issue number or issue date
/
Postcode Telephone
Email
Expiry date
/ Signature ______________________________
Please return this form to Barnabas Fund at your national office or to the UK office.
I do not require an acknowledgement of this gift. Addresses are on the back cover. Barnabas Fund will not give your address or
email to anyone else.
I would like to give regularly through my bank. Please send me the
Phone 0800 587 4006 or visit our website at www.barnabasfund.org to make a
appropriate form. (UK supporters may use the Standing Order form
credit card donation. From outside UK phone +44 1672 565031.
below.)
Registered Charity number 1092935 Company registered in England number 4029536
*We reserve the right to use designated gifts for another similar project if the one identified is
Alternative Gift Card To make an alternative gift for a loved one, please sufficiently funded.
contact your national office. Supporters in Germany: please turn to back cover for how to send gifts to
Mag 11/08 Barnabas Fund.
STANDING ORDER For UK supporters who would like to give regularly
Please use these gifts by Standing Order for
Wherever the need is greatest (General Fund) Other _________________________________*
To: (name and address of your bank)
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Post code: _______________________
Sort Code ____/____/____ Account Number __________________
Account name ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Please pay Barclays Bank, Canary Wharf Branch, Canary Wharf, 2 Churchill Place, London, E14 5RB, for the credit of Barnabas Fund
account no. 904 669 72 sort code 20-26-46
£ ___________ (amount in words) _______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Starting on (date) _________ and then every month/quarter/year (delete as applicable) until further notice.
From (Name) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(Address) _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________ Post code ____________
Signature __________________________ Date ____/_____/____
This Standing Order is a new one / in addition to / replaces an earlier Standing Order in favour of the Barnabas Fund (delete as applicable)
Please quote reference (to be completed by Barnabas Fund) ____________________________________________________________________________________
Please send this form to Barnabas Fund and not to your bank
If you are a UK tax-payer please complete the Gift Aid Declaration above to enable us to reclaim the tax on your standing order payments.
Barnabas Fund is a registered charity no. 1092935, and a company registered in England number 4029536
* We reserve the right to use designated gifts for another similar project if the one identified is sufficiently funded. BARNABAS AID NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008 23