Today's action is from In Defense of Christians:

"Saudi Arabia has a long history of promoting religious intolerance through schoolbooks for young children. In particular, Saudi textbooks promote Wahhabism, the radical ideology that serves as inspiration for Al-Qaeda and ISIS. These books, which encourage dehumanization of Christians, Jews, and others, are distributed by Saudi Arabia internationally and commitments made by Saudi Arabia to recall hate propaganda have not been adequately met.

Write your member of Congress and tell them to support H.R.4549 - Saudi Educational Transparency and Reform Act, a bipartisan resolution that mandates increased oversight from The State Department on Saudi Arabia’s performance on previous commitments to reform their education curriculum."

Today's action is from The American Center for Law & Justice (ACLJ):

"It’s an ultimatum: Boko Haram has promised to kill a Christian teen held captive for her faith.  A 15-year-old girl is being held captive by Islamic jihadists in Nigeria because she is a Christian. We must take action to save her.

Boko Haram – the Nigerian jihadist militia pledged to ISIS – stormed a village and abducted 110 schoolgirls. Five of those were killed, and 104 were freed.

Yet one brave teen named Leah Sharibu remains a prisoner because she won’t renounce her Christian faith.

Nigerian Christians are being targeted, abused, and murdered by sadistic jihadist groups like Boko Haram. Their government seems unable or unwilling to stop this violence against Christians.

We’ve delivered a critical oral intervention at the U.N. on behalf of Nigeria’s Christians. We’re sending a critical legal advocacy letter to the government of Nigeria demanding it act to free Leah.

Christian children must be protected. Leah Sharibu must be brought home safely. Now she urgently needs YOU before it’s too late."

Today's post comes from Voice of the Martyrs and its Prisoner Alert project:

"Mussie Ezaz was arrested in September 2007 when Eritrean authorities came after him for his work as a youth minister with the Kale Hiwot (Word of Life) Church. He worked as an evangelist for 14 years and served with Youth for Christ for a number of years before developing a ministry to youth at the Kale Hiwot Church, and other believers described him as a kind, generous and gifted leader.

Recent reports indicate Mussie is located at the maximum-security crime investigation unit (Wenjel Mermera) in the capital city of Asmara. Many other pastors and church leaders are and were imprisoned there, some for more than 10 years. As with other Christians imprisoned in Eritrea, Mussie has never been tried or charged. His family has no idea whether he will ever be released.

Mussie is married and has three children waiting for him to come home."

From the link below, click "Petition Official" underneath his picture on the left.  Then click on "Ambassador Representative," also on the left. 

In your email to the Eritrean Ambassador to the United States please be brief and respectfully request Mussie Ezaz's release. Do not mention Voice of the Martyrs, Prisoner Alert or Engage Daily. I suggest you also ask the government of Eritrea to respect Article 18 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states the following:

"Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance."

Today's action is from 21Wilberforce:

"On Monday, a special three-member panel of Pakistan’s Supreme Court heard the final appeal for justice by Asia Bibi, a Christian woman sentenced to death on charges of blasphemy. Following three hours of testimony by Asia’s defense attorney, the panel delayed its verdict indefinitely, again sending Asia back to prison while ordering the media and those present to refrain from discussing the case.

The mother of five already has spent more than eight years in prison, accused of making derogatory remarks against Islam during a 2009 argument with her Muslim co-workers. The argument began when Asia drank water from a communal cup while working in a field alongside the other women — an act that her co-workers charged made the water unclean for them because Asia is a Christian.

In 2010, Asia was found guilty of blasphemy and sentenced to death by hanging under section 295-C of Pakistan’s criminal code. In the years since, she has languished in solitary confinement as her appeal has moved slowly through the Pakistani judicial system. Her case has been at the center of an international uproar against blasphemy laws and resulted in the 2011 assassinations of then-Governor of Punjab Salmaan Taseer and the Pakistani Minister of Minorities Affairs, Shahbaz Bhatti, both advocates for Asia’s release. Her family continues to live in fear of mortal threats and harassment.

Hardline Islamists have warned of “terrible consequences” if Asia is granted leniency, which some believe may have contributed to the Court’s decision to reserve its judgment until a later, undetermined date.

“This is the truth of how the blasphemy law operates in Pakistan,” writes Reema Omer, a legal adviser for the International Commission of Jurists. “The accused has to suffer prolonged periods of pretrial detention, which in many cases is followed by years on death row before their appeals are decided. Additionally, lawyers and judges in blasphemy cases live in a climate of fear and face very real threats of violence.”

If Asia loses her appeal at the Supreme Court, her only recourse will be a desperate and direct appeal to Pakistan’s president for clemency. Under the current government of newly elected Prime Minister Imran Khan, who has publicly defended Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, the prospects of a response favorable to Asia seems tenuous. Failure at this step could mean Asia Bibi would be the first person in Pakistan to be executed for blasphemy.

Like other human rights groups, 21Wilberforce is concerned that blasphemy laws — in Pakistan as well as some 70 other countries — are being exploited by religious extremists and used to settle personal scores against religious minorities. Indeed, the U.S. Secretary of State placed Pakistan on a Special Watch List earlier this year for severe violations of religious freedom. 21Wilberforce supports S. Res. 647, introduced by Senators James Lankford [R-OK] and Christopher Coons [D-DE], calling for the global repeal of blasphemy, heresy, and apostasy laws."

Click below to see if one of your Senators is on the Foreign Relations Committee, then email him or her a quick note to urge passage of S. Res. 647.

Today's action is from 21Wilberforce:

"Congressional Resolution,  H. RES. 673, Expressing concern over attacks on Coptic Christians in Egypt is stuck in Congress. We need your help to get it passed!This resolution now has the support of 47 Congressional cosponsors. But our work is not finished. We need to get this resolution passed before the current session ends. 

How the Process Works
After being introduced, H. RES. 673 was assigned to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and will be reviewed by the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who is an original cosponsor of the resolution. 

This is where your participation is critical!  

How Can You Help? (It Only Takes a Minute!)​
Please send a message to Rep. Ed Royce, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and to Rep. Illean Ros – Lehtinen , Chairman of the MENA Subcommitee, asking that H. RES. be urgently marked up so it can be voted on before this session of Congress ends. 

A sample letter is provided. You may edit or send as is.  Enter your name and information and the message will be delivered directly to Rep. Royce and Rep. Lehttinen's offices."

Today's action is from Open Doors:

"Looking for a simple way to pray for persecuted Christians in need around the world? Pray for the Perescuted Church will send you regular, specific prayer requests submitted by Christian leaders, field staff and partners living out their faith in the world’s most difficult places. This app allows you to quickly scroll through the prayer request from one screen and then click “I prayed” to let persecuted Christians know that you’re standing with them in prayer.

If a particular request grabs your attention or pulls at your heart, you have the option to share the prayer request to your social media, email or text with just one-click. In this way, you can also encourage others to learn about and pray for persecuted brothers and sisters around the world."

Today's action comes from In Defense of Christians:

"The Global Fragility and Violence Reduction Act would require the U.S. government – in collaboration with global civil society – to develop a 10-year strategy to bring down current levels of global violence and better address the root causes of violence, violent conflict, and fragility that drive recurrent global crises.

The Department of State, in partnership with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of Defense, and other federal agencies, would develop a new strategy to reduce and prevent violent conflict. It would give the U.S. government the tools it needs for a long-term, coordinated approach to identify and mitigate the drivers of violence in order to prevent conflict.

H.R.5273 was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representatives Eliot Engel (D-NY), Ted Poe (R-TX), Michael McCaul (R-TX), Adam Smith (D-WA), Bill Keating (D-MA), and Paul Cook (R-CA) on March 14.

This timely legislation comes at a moment when violent conflict has forcibly displaced a record 68.5 million people and costs the world an estimated $14.76 trillion annually. There is an urgent need to improve the U.S. government’s ability to reverse these trends and prevent future conflict."

Today's action comes from The American Center for Law & Justice (ACLJ):

"China’s Christians are facing persecution like never before.The Chinese government has begun a massive crackdown on Christians. House churches throughout China face government harassment, intimidation, and mistreatment. Thousands have been forced to shut down.

Christians have been forcefully arrested and detained for months on end before finally being sentenced to harsh prison terms, simply for sharing the Gospel.

China has even banned the sale of Bibles online. It is banning children from going to church.

The Chinese government is trying to stop the spread of Christianity. This blatant persecution cannot be tolerated.

We’re working at the United Nations, addressing the severe persecution of Chinese Christians. They urgently need your voice.

We are working internationally to put pressure on China to stop persecuting Christians. We need YOU."

Today's action comes from The International Committee on Nigeria and its Stand With Nigeria project:

"Among the 25 most populous countries in the world, Nigeria ranks highest in religion-related social hostilities.These issues have combined to create one of the most neglected humanitarian crisis in the world today — a crisis that the global community ignores and underestimates at its own peril.

Two of the world’s top five deadliest terror networks — Boko Haram and Fulani extremists — operate with great intensity within Nigeria and are the largest among 35 other such groups/networks.

Terrorism has caused more civilian deaths in Nigeria than war-torn Syria or Pakistan has experienced.

Terrorism and ethno-religious violence within Nigeria have produced nearly 1.8 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) — whole villages have been decimated."

Urge your Senator to have President Trump name a Special Envoy to Nigeria and the Lake Chad Region in Africa.

Today's action comes from The American Center for Law & Justice (ACLJ):

"Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani has been arrested yet again for being a Christian.  Iranian authorities brutally beat him as his terrified family watched.  His young son was tasered by authorities after he opened the door.

Years ago, the ACLJ worked tirelessly to save Pastor Youcef who was sentenced to death after refusing to recant his Christian faith and convert to Islam.

Now he’s been thrown into an Iranian prison, notorious for its appalling inhumane conditions – because of his Christian faith. Iran’s actions violate its own constitution that guarantees religious freedom, and multiple international human rights treaties.

We’re once again ramping up our legal advocacy efforts to fight across the globe for Pastor Youcef’s freedom and hold Iran accountable for its heinous persecution of Christians.

We must take swift action to free Pastor Youcef before it’s too late."

Today's action comes from Prisoner Alert, a ministry of Voice of the Martyrs. For an earlier action concerning the same prisoner, go to the Persecuted Church category to the right.

"Pastor Bakhrom Kholmatov, who was detained by police in April [2017], was sentenced in July to three years in prison. The 42-year-old pastor also known as Bakhrom Holmatov, was arrested on April 10 after KNB officers raided the Sonmin Sonbogym [Good News of Grace] Protestant Church, harassing and beating church members in addition to arresting the pastor. During the raid, the officers confiscated items from the church, including the pastor’s computer and the book “More Than a Carpenter” by Josh McDowell."

From the link below, click "Petition Official" underneath his picture on the left.  Then click on "Permanent Representative of Tajikistan to the United Nations," also on the left. 

In your email to the Tajik Ambassador to the United Nations please be brief and respectfully request Bakhrom Kholmatov's release. Do not mention Voice of the Martyrs, Prisoner Alert or Engage Daily. I suggest you also ask the government of Tajikistan to respect Article 18 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states the following:

"Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance."

Today's action comes from Prisoner Alert, a ministry of Voice of the Martyrs:

"Pastor Bakhrom Kholmatov, who was detained by police in April [2017], was sentenced in July to three years in prison. The 42-year-old pastor also known as Bakhrom Holmatov, was arrested on April 10 after KNB officers raided the Sonmin Sonbogym [Good News of Grace] Protestant Church, harassing and beating church members in addition to arresting the pastor. During the raid, the officers confiscated items from the church, including the pastor’s computer and the book “More Than a Carpenter” by Josh McDowell."

From the link below, click "Petition Official" underneath his picture on the left.  Then click on "Ambassador," also on the left. 

In your email to the Tajik Ambassador to the United States please be brief and respectfully request Bakhrom Kholmatov's release. Do not mention Voice of the Martyrs, Prisoner Alert or Engage Daily. I suggest you also ask the government of Tajikistan to respect Article 18 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states the following:

"Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance."

Today's action comes from Prisoner Alert, a ministry of Voice of the Martyrs.  To write another Iranian official on behalf of the same prisoner, go to the Persecuted Church category to the right.

"Christian convert from Islam Ebrahim Firouzi has been in and out of prison in Iran since 2011, and though he was due to be released in January 2015, authorities instead retried him and extended his sentence by five years."

From the link below, click "Petition Official" underneath his picture on the left.  Then click on the first option "President."

In your email to the the President of Iran please be brief and respectfully request Ebrahim Firouzi's release. Do not mention Voice of the Martyrs, Prisoner Alert or Engage Daily. I suggest you also ask the government of Iran to respect Article 18 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states the following:

"Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance."

Today's action comes from Prisoner Alert, a ministry of Voice of the Martyrs:

"Christian convert from Islam Ebrahim Firouzi has been in and out of prison in Iran since 2011, and though he was due to be released in January 2015, authorities instead retried him and extended his sentence by five years."

From the link below, click "Petition Official" underneath his picture on the left.  Then click on the third option "Leader of the Islamic Republic."

In your email to the the Supreme Leader of Iran please be brief and respectfully request Ebrahim Firouzi's release. Do not mention Voice of the Martyrs, Prisoner Alert or Engage Daily. I suggest you also ask the government of Iran to respect Article 18 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states the following:

"Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance."

Today's action comes from 21Wilberforce:

"It is a new day for international religious freedom. Today [July 24], the U.S. Department of State kicks off the first-ever Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom. The three-day summit brings together leaders from more than 80 foreign governments, representatives from non-profit organizations, religious leaders, grassroots activists, and hundreds of civil society partners. The singular focus: to promote and protect religious freedom around the world.

The Ministerial arrives at a critical time. A recent study from the Pew Research Center reveals that restrictions on religion around the world are on the rise, with one-third of the population surveyed living in places with high or very high levels of persecution.

Oppressive governments need to know it's not just the State Department that cares about religious freedom, but the people's representatives do also! Passing H.Res. 319 would be one way to make sure those governments know that, and that reforming government's know they are headed in the right direction!"

From the link below urge your U.S. Representative to support H.Res. 319, which reaffirms the commitment of the United States to promoting religious freedom globally.

Today's action comes from The American Center for Law & Justice (ACLJ) and was posted July 18:

"Today, Turkey held its third day of trial for the falsely imprisoned American Pastor Andrew Brunson. He has now been remanded back to prison and his next trial date will not be until October 12th.  Pastor Andrew is innocent. Yet he's being accused of "Christianization" as a crime by the Turkish regime. This loving father and husband has been unjustly imprisoned for more than 21 months, and now this travesty could continue for another three months.

This mockery of justice – bogus charges, hearsay testimony from "secret" witnesses, and intolerable delays – must end.  We’ve recently received Turkey's response from the U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention reviewing Pastor Andrew’s case, and our reply is due in just days.

Pastor Andrew has said: "I desperately miss my wife and children. Yet, I believe this to be true, it is an honor to suffer for Jesus Christ, as many have before me. My deepest thanks to all those around the world who are standing with and praying for me."

We will aggressively continue to fight across the globe until he is free.

Join over 580,000 others in demanding his freedom."

Today's action is from 21Wilberforce:

"This July, members of Congress, human rights activists, and representatives of persecuted groups in China honored [Chinese human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu] Xiaobo’s life and legacy with a rally on Capitol Hill.  Rally participants called for renewed attention to the tens of thousands of individuals who remain unjustly imprisoned in China. Speakers encouraged the crowd to stand in solidarity for human rights and urged passage of H.Res. 750, a bipartisan resolution introduced by Reps. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) and Randy Hultgren (R-Ill.) that would establish a Prisoners of Conscience Day. In addition to McGovern and Hultgren, other rally speakers included Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.), Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), and former Congressman Frank Wolf."

From the link below urge your U.S. Representative to support this resolution creating a Prisoners of Conscience Day.

Today's action comes from 21Wilberforce:

"What would it take to organize people of faith to defend people of faith? What is the spark needed to ignite a grassroots movement in support of those who suffer religious persecution globally? These are questions Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback is asking, and 21Wilberforce has answers.

We believe solutions start with existing American faith-based networks — well-organized champions of civil society that readily embrace the values of freedom and justice so essential to the preservation and promotion of religious freedom. Today, more people suffer for their faith than at any other time in history. Yet, if properly equipped, American faith-based networks could be a force multiplier in combating social hostilities, religious extremism, and government repression the world over.

These civil society powerhouses include dozens of Catholic, Protestant and non-Christian faith denominations; youth groups; missions and ministry teams; and international aid organizations. American faith-based networks run broad and deep. They embrace religious freedom, yet to a large extent, they have not been organized as a grassroots force. There is untapped power here.

That’s why we are launching an Action Hub to provide tools to mobilize grassroots networks aimed at assisting persecuted communities and religious prisoners internationally.

The IRF Action Hub will feature user-friendly web-based and social media resources. It will help activate large Western groups, including denominations and diasporas, for scaled advocacy, financial support, and informed prayer. It will connect persecuted communities around the world with trainings, defenders, and protection campaigns. Practical “networked” help via the Action Hub could look like this:

• Crowd-funding by youth groups for legal defenders: $4000 pays for one lawyer for one year to defend a Chinese religious leader, an amount readily raised by youth groups as a “service project
  
• Fast, broad-based advocacy campaigns via social media: Denominations advocating on behalf of prisoners like Pastor Andrew Brunson, who faces 35 years in a Turkish prison, or coordinating with members of Congress at key legislative moments
  
• Targeted outreach to persecuted communities: Diaspora groups and missions organizations instructing embattled communities on persecution incident reporting, even genocide prevention, for evidence-based advocacy
  

American people of faith are exceedingly generous with charitable contributions and volunteer efforts. At our best, we are defined by a dedication to justice and grieved by those suffering for their beliefs around the world. 21Wilberforce asks you to partner with us as we spearhead this practical next step."

Today's action comes from Prisoner Alert, a ministry of Voice of the Martyrs:

"Lacheng Ren, a Christian sponsoring a new Christian bookstore in Taiyuan, and Wenxi Li, a Christian bookstore employee, were arrested and sentenced to prison terms for their role in the Enyu Bookstore in Taiyuan. On June 17, 2013, Lacheng Ren was sentenced to five years in prison by the court of Xiaodian district of Taiyuan in central China."

From the link below, click "Petition Official" underneath his picture on the left.  Then click on "Permanent Representative of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations ," also on the left. 

In your email to the Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations please be brief and respectfully request Lacheng Ren's release. Do not mention Voice of the Martyrs, Prisoner Alert or Engage Daily. I suggest you also ask the government of China to respect Article 18 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states the following:

"Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance."

Today's action is from 21Wilberforce:

“Happy Birthday to my beloved daughter. Wish you were here to celebrate your 20th birthday with you, I pray that the Almighty will bring you home safely. I can’t wait to be with you again and forever. I miss you so much my child. #Bringbackdorcas”

This heart-breaking message was posted to Facebook Friday morning. Dorcas Maida Yakubu, youngest of the 276 Chibok secondary school girls kidnapped by Boko Haram in 2014, turned 20-years-old this week. It’s been four years since her abduction, and while 164 girls have been reunited with family, Dorcas remains in captivity

In the four years since Dorcas was kidnapped, her mother Esther Yakubu has demonstrated incredible courage and faith as she has advocated for the release of her daughter and all the girls still missing. On Dorcas’ birthday, I asked Esther what she would like me to share with you. This was her reply: “I would like you to ask those who know 21Wilberforce to pray for the protection of Dorcas and for her freedom.”

This family is not alone. In the last decade thousands upon thousands of girls and boys have been kidnapped, injured or killed. Abducted children are taught how to handle assault rifles and they are being indoctrinated into violent fundamentalism.

But today, ours is a plea for Dorcas, whose story has drawn attention to an entire generation at risk in Nigeria.
With the hope that Dorcas’ story moves you to take action..."

"Write a letter of encouragement to Esther Yakube and Yakube Kabu, the parents of Dorcas — email it to info@21Wilberforce.org."

Today's action is from Christian Solidarity Worldwide:

"Leah refused to renounce her faith. She paid the price: with her freedom.

She was one of 110 girls abducted from their school in Dapchi, Nigeria by Boko Haram in February 2018. The next month, following negotiations by the government, the remaining girls were put into trucks to go home. But Leah wasn’t among them. She wasn’t released because she refused to convert in exchange for her freedom.  

Join the campaign. Free Leah. "

Today's action is from The 21st Century Wilberforce Initiative, aka 21Wilberforce:

"In a remote village in the South of Nigeria, a recent church service was shattered by violence. The Roman Catholic mass on April 24th was interrupted when men thought to be Fulani extremists opened fire, killing two priests and 17 parishioners.

21Wilberforce and other NGOs urged President Trump to raise this and other incidents that underscore growing conflict in Nigeria during a planned visit to the White House this week by Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari. The violence falling along ethno-religious fault lines is pulling Nigeria apart, displacing whole communities and threatening even more mass migration into Europe. In a press conference following that meeting, President Trump commented, “We’re deeply concerned by religious violence in Nigeria, including the burning of churches and the killing and persecution of Christians.

Contact the White House to thank President Trump for meeting with President Buhari and to urge his support of Nigeria’s efforts to bring rule of law, human rights, and religious freedom to all her people."