News by email Donate

Suggestions

Migrants-in-Dortmund-Germany-main_article_image.jpg
AP Photo/Martin Meissner
World News

Christian refugees forced to watch IS beheading videos, claims Open Doors

Open Doors workers in the country claim believers, many of them Muslim-converts, are sometimes a tiny minority and easy targets for insults, being punched, spat at and sexually assaulted.

After surveying 231 people earlier this year, Open Doors Germany said Muslim security staff and translators joined in targeting Christians, some of whom reported being too scared to wear a cross or carry a Bible in public.

Open Doors Germany survey

- 231 questioned

- 82% male

- +50% under 30-years-old

- 69% came from Iran, 13% Afghanistan and 5% Syria.

Thomas Muller from Open Doors Germany told Premier clustering Christians together in the camps and hostels, and having more staff from minority groups (including Christians and Yazidis) might afford them greater protection.

He also explained one example of Christians being targeted for abuse.

Thomas said: "Someone shows a beheading video of I.S. It just lasts ten seconds and then they say 'You're the next'. No one notices it but you are scared to death, of course.

"The clustering of Christian refugees. Until now, we may find five or six Christians in a camp site or in a hostel of about four hundred people. We might hear different stories if it would be possible to have 50 or 100 Christians in a camp of 400.

"This is maybe one of the most uneasy findings of the survey, speaking for me as a German Christian: Christians who had hoped to be able to live their lives in freedom told us, 'And then we came to Germany and found there is no difference to our home countries at all."

A Monthly Gift Of $11 Makes A World Of Difference

In a world of fake news there’s never been a greater need for quality Christian journalism. Premier’s mission is to provide the Church with the most up to date and relevant news, told from a Christian perspective. But we can’t do it without you.

Unlike many websites we haven't put up a paywall — we want to keep our journalism free at the point of need and as open as we can. Premier’s news output takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. No one in the USA is sharing news like we are across radio, magazines and online so please help us to continue that today.

For a monthly gift of $11 or more we’d also be able to send you a free copy of the brand new Premier Bible, a wonderful Anglicised version of the NLT packed with exclusive bonus content, reading plan and resources to help you get the most out of scripture.

Your monthly support will make a world of difference. Thank you.

Support Us
Continue the conversation on our Facebook page

Related Articles

Sign up to our newsletter to stay informed with news from a Christian perspective.

News by email

Connect

Donate

Donate