{"id":2131146,"date":"2023-12-21T18:27:02","date_gmt":"2023-12-21T23:27:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/90-of-all-christian-martyrs-in-2022-were-from-this-african-country\/"},"modified":"2023-12-21T18:30:07","modified_gmt":"2023-12-21T23:30:07","slug":"90-of-all-christian-martyrs-in-2022-were-from-this-african-country","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/90-of-all-christian-martyrs-in-2022-were-from-this-african-country\/","title":{"rendered":"This African country accounted for 90% of Christian martyrs in 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2F90-of-all-christian-martyrs-in-2022-were-from-this-african-country%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2131146&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>Persecution at Christmas: Stories of Triumph and Hope<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Over 2,000 years\u2064 ago, \u200cshortly after Jesus&#8217;s birth, persecution reared its \u2063ugly head. In the second chapter of Matthew,\u200b we learn of King\u200b Herod&#8217;s desperate search for the newborn Jesus, fearing \u200bthat his rule might be\u2064 challenged one\u2063 day. Herod&#8217;s rage led to\u2064 the slaughter of innocent children in Bethlehem.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">But Herod&#8217;s rage was\u2064 in vain. He soon met his own demise, and Jesus returned to begin his ministry.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This pattern continues\u2063 to unfold across the world today. Governments \u2062and enemies of\u2062 Christianity persecute\u2062 believers who prioritize\u2063 their\u200c allegiance to God. Yet,\u2064 through their unwavering faith, these \u200dChristians bear witness to the enduring strength of Christ and emerge \u2064triumphant.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Christmas is a time to remember the persecuted, just as Jesus and the Holy Innocents were persecuted\u200c during that first Christmas. It is \u200balso a time to\u2064 give thanks when their witness triumphs over their oppressors.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Northern Nigeria stands as a\u200c place where the Church faces\u200c some of the most\u2062 severe persecution \u2062on earth. According to Open Doors, over <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.opendoors.org\/en-US\/persecution\/persecution-trends\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">90%<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">  of all martyrs in 2022,\u200c amounting to more than 5,000 Christians, were from Nigeria.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Among those martyrs was Deborah Emmanuel Yakubu, a Christian student at a university \u200bin\u2062 Sokoto State. \u2064In May 2022, she was <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalreview.com\/2022\/05\/a-christian-stoned-to-death-for-blasphemy-in-nigeria-when-will-it-end\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">stoned to death<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">  and burned by her Muslim classmates due to her unwavering faith in Jesus. Another\u200b Christian woman, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/253128\/nigerian-mother-charged-with-blasphemy-for-defending-murdered-christian\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Rhoda Jatau<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, faced a hostile mob\u2064 and was arrested for blasphemy after defending the \u200blynching\u2064 of Deborah.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Rhoda endured 18 months in a Bauchi State jail, only seeing her\u2062 family and lawyers \u2064during court hearings.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">However, \u200cher case sparked national outrage, shedding light on the injustice faced \u200cby Christians in\u200d Northern Nigeria. Earlier this \u2063month, after <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/is-america-becoming-pro-palestine\/\" title=\"Is America leaning towards supporting Palestine?\">immense public pressure<\/a>, Rhoda was \u200dfinally\u200b <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/news\/rhoda-jatau-bail\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">released<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">  on bail, allowing her to spend Christmas safely with her family. Efforts are underway \u200bto have the charges against her dropped entirely.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This year, legal victories in Nigeria may \u200dprovide greater\u200c freedom\u200c for Christians in the northern region to practice their faith. Converts to Christianity, particularly from Islam, often face \u200bextreme danger in\u2064 expressing their beliefs.<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/news\/evangelist-acquitted-nigeria\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Daniel Kefee<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">*, \u2062an\u2063 evangelist\u2063 in Northern Nigeria, faced threats from\u200b the \u2064family of a\u200b young Muslim woman, Hafsatu*, whom he brought\u2064 to Christ. \u200cDaniel found a Christian residential school to provide her with safety.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Nigerian\u200d authorities charged Daniel with kidnapping\u2063 for his act of compassion.\u2063 However, \u200cin a remarkable\u200d turn \u2063of events,\u2062 the judge not only acquitted \u2062Daniel but also questioned the prosecutors, asking what would have happened\u2062 to Hafsatu if \u200che had abandoned her.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Similarly, in \u2062another state in Northern Nigeria, Mary\u200d Olowe* \u200bconverted to Christianity\u2062 and faced death threats from her \u2062family. She\u2062 managed to escape and obtained a \u200drestraining order against her persecutors. The court&#8217;s decision \u200brecognized Mary&#8217;s fundamental right to change her religion without fear of violence.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Even when legal \u200cremedies are \u2064not possible, we witness \u2064God\u200b working through the persecuted to advance His kingdom. In Sudan, Nada and Hamouda, a \u2062married Christian\u2062 couple, were falsely charged with adultery after converting\u200d to Christianity\u2064 from Islam. Threatened\u200b by Nada&#8217;s \u200bbrother, their marriage was \u200ddissolved by a Sharia court. However,\u200c Nada returned to her husband and\u2064 embraced Christianity. Her brother\u200c then sought police intervention.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Unable to remain\u2062 in Sudan, Nada and\u2063 Hamouda sought refuge in the United States with the help of international \u200bpartners. They now serve as leaders in their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/utah-man-shot-dead-by-fbi-agents-was-kind-person-who-posed-no-real-threat-neighbor-says\/\" title=\"Neighbor: Utah man killed by FBI agents was harmless and kind.\">local church community<\/a>,\u200d sharing \u200btheir stories of persecution\u200c and celebrating their\u200b first Christmas <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/L3T5q4JlOBQ?si=kq8OnohJa9nuZjvZ\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">in \u200dfreedom and safety<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">During Christmas, we remember the vulnerable and persecuted, reflecting on \u2064the vulnerability and persecution our Savior faced in Bethlehem. \u2063These stories from around the\u2064 world remind us of the hope found in the Gospel and the promise\u2062 of Christmas.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>*\u200d * *<\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sean Nelson is an international human rights lawyer serving as Legal Counsel for Global Religious Freedom at ADF International.\u2064 ADF International has supported the cases of Rhoda\u2063 Jatau, Daniel \u2063Kefee*, Mary Olowe*, and Nada\u200b and \u2062Hamouda.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">*These names have been changed \u2064to protect these individuals&#8217; identities.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The views expressed \u2062in this piece \u200care those of the author and do not necessarily\u2064 represent those of The Daily \u2063Wire.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> \u200b How did Mary&#8217;s \u2062case gain attention and compel the police to investigate?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  , but her family continued to harass and \u2063intimidate her. Mary filed a complaint with\u200c the police, but they initially refused to take action. However, with \u200dthe\u200c help of a \u2062<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/desantis-moves-to-take-out-soros-backed-state-attorney-monique-worrell\/\" title=\"DeSantis Moves to Take Out Soros-Backed State Attorney Monique Worrell\">local advocacy group<\/a>, her <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/olympic-gold-medal-swimmer-sentenced-for-jan-6\/\" title=\"Olympic swimmer sentenced for Jan 6 incident\">case gained attention<\/a> and the police were finally compelled to investigate.<\/p>\n<p>In both Daniel and\u2062 Mary&#8217;s cases, the\u200d courage \u200dand perseverance of these individuals, along with\u2064 the support of their communities, led to positive \u200coutcomes.\u2063 These stories of\u2062 triumph\u2064 over persecution\u200c give \u200chope to countless others \u200c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/st-louis-archdiocese-closes-thriving-traditional-latin-mass-parish\/\" title=\"St. Louis Archdiocese Closes Thriving Traditional Latin Mass Parish\">facing\u2063 similar challenges<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>While these victories are\u200c worth celebrating, it\u200d is important to acknowledge that countless others continue to suffer. Christians\u200c in Nigeria and around the world face discrimination, violence, and death \u2063simply because of their faith. This persecution has deep and\u200d lasting impacts on individuals, families,\u2063 and entire communities.<\/p>\n<p>Christmas is a time to reflect on the true meaning of\u2062 faith and hope. It is a time to remember those who\u200b face persecution for their beliefs and\u2062 to support organizations and initiatives that provide \u200dassistance \u200cand advocacy for\u2062 persecuted Christians.<\/p>\n<p>We can \u2063draw inspiration from the stories of triumph\u200c and hope amidst persecution. They remind us of the enduring strength of the Christian faith and the power of individuals \u200cto make a difference. As we celebrate Christmas, let us not\u200c forget those who still face persecution and let us strive to create a world where religious freedom and \u2063tolerance are upheld for all.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It didn&#8217;t take long after Jesus&#8217;s birth for persecution to start. In Matthew 2, King Herod tried to locate and kill the newborn Jesus, fearing he would challenge his rule. Jesus and his family had to flee to escape Herod&#8217;s threat. This marked the beginning of persecution in Jesus&#8217;s early life<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2614,"featured_media":2131147,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[541],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2131146","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-daily-wire"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2131146","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2614"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2131146"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2131146\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2131147"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2131146"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2131146"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2131146"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}