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I'm in no way trying to downplay the persecution of Christians by creating this thread. There is a great deal of persecution taking place in the world, but you will often find that some of the stories about persecution don't always match up with the truth on the ground. I first became aware of this problem after moving to the Philippines in 2011, when I started to notice that some Christian websites and prosecution sites were misrepresenting events that were taking place there. Some of these events I had first-hand knowledge of and was working in the places where they took place.
This is the first story that made me realize that all persection stories are not as they seem:
Philippines: Islamic extremists attack a Christian majority city leaving 60,000 Christians as refugees
Jihadists attack Christian majority city, Zamboanga, in Southern part of Philippine, rendering 60,000 Christians without home... This massive attack has left about 60,000 Christians to flee from their homes. They have been forced to live as refugees now.
What is more, international media has turned a blind eye to this incident. Thousands of Christians have been left stranded as a result of this attack. No one has even highlighted their plight.
Muslim rebels held thousands of residents of these areas captives, for a period of six days. The coastal villages in the south came under attack by these Islamic rebels.
As a result of these attacks, the Islamic extremists killed about 56 people while about 60,000 local Christians were forced to leave their homes.
While the city this event took place in is a predominantly Christian city, it wasn't Christians who were displaced, although there were some. The six villages where the fighting took place were Muslim villages, and while some Christians live in these villages, the population would be 5% or less. How do I know this? I have been visiting those villages before and after this event took place. Based on my own observation, the number of Christians found in the refugee camps following the siege was less than 10%, with the remaining being Muslims.
Below is a local news report that confirms that it was primarily Muslims, not Christians, that were displaced.
Zamboanga City standoff not a religious war—ARMM gov
In Zamboanga City, the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s operations center reported that 62,329 persons are now staying in 20 evacuation centers in the city.
“A lot of people, about 90 percent Muslims, are suffering from this man-made calamity that Misuari is answerable for,” Hataman said. Hataman warned residents of Zamboanga City and Mindanao in general not to be misled by deceptive tactics aimed at driving deeper the wedge between Muslims and Christians. “We need to be informed properly and not to believe in deceptions,” he said.
When events like the example above and the ones I will give below happen in far-flung parts of the world, it's easy for media outlets and organizations that report on Christian persecution to misrepresent the facts to further their agendas. Not all are guilty of intentionally publishing misleading information, of course, but many are. Sometimes they rely on second-hand information from sources they believe to be reliable and run with a story without doing any fact-checking; in cases like that, they would not be at fault.
This next example comes from Uganda and is a story about a man who was killed for leading Muslims to Christ. Local news reports that he was killed for frequenting his ex-wife’s new home.
Christian Slain for Leading Muslims to Faith in Christ
Body found with note in Arabic saying he was warned.
Islamic extremists in eastern Uganda on March 8 killed a Christian for leading Muslims to faith in Christ, sources said.
Kiisa Masolo, 45, had returned to his home in Nakitiku village, Bunabuka parish, Bubeza Sub-County in Sironko District at 7 p.m. after preaching on the streets of Nakaloke and Busajjabwankuba when seven masked men dressed in Islamic attire broke in and took him away, said his mother, Norah Nandege.
“After whisking him away, three men remained behind and told me that, ‘Allah is very displeased with your son, and we’re out to punish him,’” Nandege told Morning Star News. “Then the three men left.”
“I tried to advise my son to be very cautious with his life, but he used to tell me that his life was in the hands of God and that he was called to carry out the preaching of the gospel of Christ,” Nandege told Morning Star News. “Since then, I knew that the life of my son was in danger, and he might not live for long due to the many threatening messages of Allah who was out to kill him.”
MBALE CITY: Man Murdered for Frequenting Ex-Wife’s New Home
A body of a 45 year old man hailing from Nakitiku village, Bunabuka parish, Bubeza Sub County in Sironko district has been found dumped in River Namala in Mbale City
Kisa Masolo’s lifeless body was discovered by residents on the morning of Sunday, 10th March, 2024.
Norah Nandege, the deceased’s mother says her son and wife only known as Jane separated in February, 2024 meaning each has been staying independently here in Mbale City.
She adds that the wife got another lover (names withheld) with whom she has been living with in a rented house in Namatala.
She told this reporter, that the deceased used to visit her at the rented house pleading with her to go back to him.
Nandege also says that the deceased used to tell her about how his wife’s new lover was threatening his life. She now strongly believes, the death of her son is related to these threats.
The body was taken to Mbale city mortuary for postmortem and later handed over to the relatives for burial.
This example says this man was killed by Muslims in retaliation for preaching. The local news reports that his ex-wife killed him, and a source said that she had planned to kill her husband with poison.
Muslim extremists beat, kill evangelist in his home in retaliation for preaching
Muslim extremists on July 29 came to the home of an evangelist who had held open-air events in eastern Uganda and killed him, sources said.
Cut with a sharp instrument that left his head and neck with deep wounds, Sozi Odongo was killed at his home in Omorio cell, Agule Town Council, Pallisa District, while his wife and four children hid in a room, she said. Odongo was 45.
on July 29, he arrived home and had eaten dinner with his family when they heard a group of people coming toward their house at about 7:15 p.m., said his wife, Stella Kilo. They locked the door.
“We heard them talk in the Arabic language and wondered what could be the matter,” Kilo said. “They then arrived and knocked at the door.”
She and their children went into the bedroom, but Odongo unlocked and opened the door, and the assailants began beating him on all parts of his body, she said.
The neighbor arrived and informed the LC1 chairperson of the area, George Ochola, who came and found Odongo’s body cut several times in the head, neck and arm, Kilo said. Ochola called police, and officers immediately arrived.
Woman Arested Over Husband's Murder
The Police in Pallisa district is investigating circumstances under which a 45-year-old man was killed. Sozi Odongo, a resident of Omorio cell, Agule Town Council in Pallisa district was murdered while in his house on Friday morning.
Stella Kilo the wife of the deceased who had slept in the same house with the husband woke up at around 0300hrs and heard the deceased (husband) who had slept in another bedroom, alone, unwell.
"She informed him about the situation and he also informed the LC 1 of the area, George Ochola who came and found the deceased body was cut several times in the head,neck and the arm.
Sarah Akurut a neighbour said Kilo should be held responsible.
A young man who pleaded anonymity said Kilo had planned to kill her husband with poison and that case was still open at Agule police station.
Umar Mugerwa the Pallisa district police commander said communities are ever policed in how to handled issues arising from domestic violence and which office to go to before they take murder as the best option.
This example says that a man was killed by Muslim extremists because he led four men to Christ. The local news reports that he had recruited four men to make liquid soap and that these men may be connected to his death.
Muslim extremists target evangelist in eastern Uganda.
In Busei B village, Nakalama Sub-County in Iganga District, sources said Ronald Twinomugisha had received threats by text message from Muslims before he was hacked to death on March 30. He was 32.
Twinomugisha moved to the area from western Uganda in February 2022, and by the end of 2023 he had led four Muslims to Christ, a source said. The four former Muslims had relocated elsewhere due to threats from their families.
“In March 2023, Twinomugisha came to my office and reported threatening messages from Muslims,” area chairperson Gozan Waiswa told Morning Star News. “Their complaint was him changing Muslims to Christianity.”
Police in Iganga district are hunting for four men over the murder of a businessman.
Ronald Twinomugisha, 35, of Twinos Investment Ltd was murdered in cold blood using an axe in his compound.
Twinomugisha, who was a resident of Busei B village in Nakalama sub-county, was dealing in making plastics and liquid soap.
According to the Police, the deceased recently hired four people to help him in making liquid soap but the said persons escaped in the night purportedly after the tragic incident.
"Recently, he had recruited four workers and during day time, they were making liquid soap. However, after his death, they are nowhere to be seen,” he said.
"We have started hunting for four men whose identities are yet to be established. They are suspected to have information about the deceased,” Nandawula said.
She added that the deceased's body was found with two deep cut wounds on the head and Police managed to retrieve an axe suspected to have been used for the murder and will be used as an exhibit.
"The body of the deceased was found in the compound with deep cuts on the head while the axe was next to the dead body,” Nandawula said.
She noted that the body was taken to Iganga Hospital Mortuary for a postmortem as the hunt for the suspects continues and once arrested, they will be charged with murder.
Amidu Kawanguzi, the LCIII chairperson of Nakalama sub-county decried the murder which has caused fear in the community.
He noted that he was informed about the death of the deceased through his local council community members.
“It's on a sad note that we have lost a business person who had come in the area and employed people who turned against him and took his innocent life,” he said.
Gozani Waiswa, the Busei B village LC1 chairperson, said the deceased had lived in the area for over two years.
He noted that on a glance into the house, the deceased's properties where distorted and we highly suspect the four retrieved documents he was asking from them on employment which include photocopies of national identity cards and passport photos.
And finally in this example, it says a man was killed for leading Muslims to Christ, but the local report says he was killed over a land dispute.
Muslim Extremists Suspected in Killing of Church Elder in Uganda
Muslim extremists in eastern Uganda are suspected in the killing of a 60-year-old Christian elder who had led Muslims to Christ, sources said.
“He was a peaceful man whose murder shook the community members and the Church of Christ at large,” said the Christian, unidentified for security reasons. “He was a very respectable elder and leader who frequently offered timely advice and God’s messages to warring parties within our community. We were shocked to find out that he had been butchered by Muslim extremists.”
“The murderers are not from heaven but from the community, so we call upon the community to give us information about the incident which can help us in arresting those behind this brutal murder,” Oese said.
60-year-old man beheaded, body dumped in sugarcane plantation in Luuka
Suleiman Dhabasadha, a resident of the area, says that Mukasa was a peaceful man whose murder has shocked his community members. "He was a very respectable elder who frequently offered timely advice to warring parties within our community. We were shocked to find out that he had been butchered," he said.
Kyotanalya told Daily Express that the deceased has been having misunderstandings with some people caused by land wrangles. The land in question according to Kyotanalya is over 40 acres and it’s found at Busandha LC 1 B in Bukoova Town council.
”He has been having misunderstandings with some people on land issues which is over 40 acres at Busandha LC 1 B. One of these people threatened to stab Mukasa one day,” Kyotanalya said before adding that they suspect them to be behind the brutal murder.
”The murderers are not from heaven but from the community, so we call upon the community to give us information about the incident which can help us in arresting those behind this brutal murder,” DPC Oese said adding that police will intensify investigations by involving the community.
This is the first story that made me realize that all persection stories are not as they seem:
Philippines: Islamic extremists attack a Christian majority city leaving 60,000 Christians as refugees
Jihadists attack Christian majority city, Zamboanga, in Southern part of Philippine, rendering 60,000 Christians without home... This massive attack has left about 60,000 Christians to flee from their homes. They have been forced to live as refugees now.
What is more, international media has turned a blind eye to this incident. Thousands of Christians have been left stranded as a result of this attack. No one has even highlighted their plight.
Muslim rebels held thousands of residents of these areas captives, for a period of six days. The coastal villages in the south came under attack by these Islamic rebels.
As a result of these attacks, the Islamic extremists killed about 56 people while about 60,000 local Christians were forced to leave their homes.
While the city this event took place in is a predominantly Christian city, it wasn't Christians who were displaced, although there were some. The six villages where the fighting took place were Muslim villages, and while some Christians live in these villages, the population would be 5% or less. How do I know this? I have been visiting those villages before and after this event took place. Based on my own observation, the number of Christians found in the refugee camps following the siege was less than 10%, with the remaining being Muslims.
Below is a local news report that confirms that it was primarily Muslims, not Christians, that were displaced.
Zamboanga City standoff not a religious war—ARMM gov
In Zamboanga City, the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s operations center reported that 62,329 persons are now staying in 20 evacuation centers in the city.
“A lot of people, about 90 percent Muslims, are suffering from this man-made calamity that Misuari is answerable for,” Hataman said. Hataman warned residents of Zamboanga City and Mindanao in general not to be misled by deceptive tactics aimed at driving deeper the wedge between Muslims and Christians. “We need to be informed properly and not to believe in deceptions,” he said.
When events like the example above and the ones I will give below happen in far-flung parts of the world, it's easy for media outlets and organizations that report on Christian persecution to misrepresent the facts to further their agendas. Not all are guilty of intentionally publishing misleading information, of course, but many are. Sometimes they rely on second-hand information from sources they believe to be reliable and run with a story without doing any fact-checking; in cases like that, they would not be at fault.
This next example comes from Uganda and is a story about a man who was killed for leading Muslims to Christ. Local news reports that he was killed for frequenting his ex-wife’s new home.
Christian Slain for Leading Muslims to Faith in Christ
Body found with note in Arabic saying he was warned.
Islamic extremists in eastern Uganda on March 8 killed a Christian for leading Muslims to faith in Christ, sources said.
Kiisa Masolo, 45, had returned to his home in Nakitiku village, Bunabuka parish, Bubeza Sub-County in Sironko District at 7 p.m. after preaching on the streets of Nakaloke and Busajjabwankuba when seven masked men dressed in Islamic attire broke in and took him away, said his mother, Norah Nandege.
“After whisking him away, three men remained behind and told me that, ‘Allah is very displeased with your son, and we’re out to punish him,’” Nandege told Morning Star News. “Then the three men left.”
“I tried to advise my son to be very cautious with his life, but he used to tell me that his life was in the hands of God and that he was called to carry out the preaching of the gospel of Christ,” Nandege told Morning Star News. “Since then, I knew that the life of my son was in danger, and he might not live for long due to the many threatening messages of Allah who was out to kill him.”
MBALE CITY: Man Murdered for Frequenting Ex-Wife’s New Home
A body of a 45 year old man hailing from Nakitiku village, Bunabuka parish, Bubeza Sub County in Sironko district has been found dumped in River Namala in Mbale City
Kisa Masolo’s lifeless body was discovered by residents on the morning of Sunday, 10th March, 2024.
Norah Nandege, the deceased’s mother says her son and wife only known as Jane separated in February, 2024 meaning each has been staying independently here in Mbale City.
She adds that the wife got another lover (names withheld) with whom she has been living with in a rented house in Namatala.
She told this reporter, that the deceased used to visit her at the rented house pleading with her to go back to him.
Nandege also says that the deceased used to tell her about how his wife’s new lover was threatening his life. She now strongly believes, the death of her son is related to these threats.
The body was taken to Mbale city mortuary for postmortem and later handed over to the relatives for burial.
This example says this man was killed by Muslims in retaliation for preaching. The local news reports that his ex-wife killed him, and a source said that she had planned to kill her husband with poison.
Muslim extremists beat, kill evangelist in his home in retaliation for preaching
Muslim extremists on July 29 came to the home of an evangelist who had held open-air events in eastern Uganda and killed him, sources said.
Cut with a sharp instrument that left his head and neck with deep wounds, Sozi Odongo was killed at his home in Omorio cell, Agule Town Council, Pallisa District, while his wife and four children hid in a room, she said. Odongo was 45.
on July 29, he arrived home and had eaten dinner with his family when they heard a group of people coming toward their house at about 7:15 p.m., said his wife, Stella Kilo. They locked the door.
“We heard them talk in the Arabic language and wondered what could be the matter,” Kilo said. “They then arrived and knocked at the door.”
She and their children went into the bedroom, but Odongo unlocked and opened the door, and the assailants began beating him on all parts of his body, she said.
The neighbor arrived and informed the LC1 chairperson of the area, George Ochola, who came and found Odongo’s body cut several times in the head, neck and arm, Kilo said. Ochola called police, and officers immediately arrived.
Woman Arested Over Husband's Murder
The Police in Pallisa district is investigating circumstances under which a 45-year-old man was killed. Sozi Odongo, a resident of Omorio cell, Agule Town Council in Pallisa district was murdered while in his house on Friday morning.
Stella Kilo the wife of the deceased who had slept in the same house with the husband woke up at around 0300hrs and heard the deceased (husband) who had slept in another bedroom, alone, unwell.
"She informed him about the situation and he also informed the LC 1 of the area, George Ochola who came and found the deceased body was cut several times in the head,neck and the arm.
Sarah Akurut a neighbour said Kilo should be held responsible.
A young man who pleaded anonymity said Kilo had planned to kill her husband with poison and that case was still open at Agule police station.
Umar Mugerwa the Pallisa district police commander said communities are ever policed in how to handled issues arising from domestic violence and which office to go to before they take murder as the best option.
This example says that a man was killed by Muslim extremists because he led four men to Christ. The local news reports that he had recruited four men to make liquid soap and that these men may be connected to his death.
Muslim extremists target evangelist in eastern Uganda.
In Busei B village, Nakalama Sub-County in Iganga District, sources said Ronald Twinomugisha had received threats by text message from Muslims before he was hacked to death on March 30. He was 32.
Twinomugisha moved to the area from western Uganda in February 2022, and by the end of 2023 he had led four Muslims to Christ, a source said. The four former Muslims had relocated elsewhere due to threats from their families.
“In March 2023, Twinomugisha came to my office and reported threatening messages from Muslims,” area chairperson Gozan Waiswa told Morning Star News. “Their complaint was him changing Muslims to Christianity.”
Police in Iganga district are hunting for four men over the murder of a businessman.
Ronald Twinomugisha, 35, of Twinos Investment Ltd was murdered in cold blood using an axe in his compound.
Twinomugisha, who was a resident of Busei B village in Nakalama sub-county, was dealing in making plastics and liquid soap.
According to the Police, the deceased recently hired four people to help him in making liquid soap but the said persons escaped in the night purportedly after the tragic incident.
"Recently, he had recruited four workers and during day time, they were making liquid soap. However, after his death, they are nowhere to be seen,” he said.
"We have started hunting for four men whose identities are yet to be established. They are suspected to have information about the deceased,” Nandawula said.
She added that the deceased's body was found with two deep cut wounds on the head and Police managed to retrieve an axe suspected to have been used for the murder and will be used as an exhibit.
"The body of the deceased was found in the compound with deep cuts on the head while the axe was next to the dead body,” Nandawula said.
She noted that the body was taken to Iganga Hospital Mortuary for a postmortem as the hunt for the suspects continues and once arrested, they will be charged with murder.
Amidu Kawanguzi, the LCIII chairperson of Nakalama sub-county decried the murder which has caused fear in the community.
He noted that he was informed about the death of the deceased through his local council community members.
“It's on a sad note that we have lost a business person who had come in the area and employed people who turned against him and took his innocent life,” he said.
Gozani Waiswa, the Busei B village LC1 chairperson, said the deceased had lived in the area for over two years.
He noted that on a glance into the house, the deceased's properties where distorted and we highly suspect the four retrieved documents he was asking from them on employment which include photocopies of national identity cards and passport photos.
And finally in this example, it says a man was killed for leading Muslims to Christ, but the local report says he was killed over a land dispute.
Muslim Extremists Suspected in Killing of Church Elder in Uganda
Muslim extremists in eastern Uganda are suspected in the killing of a 60-year-old Christian elder who had led Muslims to Christ, sources said.
“He was a peaceful man whose murder shook the community members and the Church of Christ at large,” said the Christian, unidentified for security reasons. “He was a very respectable elder and leader who frequently offered timely advice and God’s messages to warring parties within our community. We were shocked to find out that he had been butchered by Muslim extremists.”
“The murderers are not from heaven but from the community, so we call upon the community to give us information about the incident which can help us in arresting those behind this brutal murder,” Oese said.
60-year-old man beheaded, body dumped in sugarcane plantation in Luuka
Suleiman Dhabasadha, a resident of the area, says that Mukasa was a peaceful man whose murder has shocked his community members. "He was a very respectable elder who frequently offered timely advice to warring parties within our community. We were shocked to find out that he had been butchered," he said.
Kyotanalya told Daily Express that the deceased has been having misunderstandings with some people caused by land wrangles. The land in question according to Kyotanalya is over 40 acres and it’s found at Busandha LC 1 B in Bukoova Town council.
”He has been having misunderstandings with some people on land issues which is over 40 acres at Busandha LC 1 B. One of these people threatened to stab Mukasa one day,” Kyotanalya said before adding that they suspect them to be behind the brutal murder.
”The murderers are not from heaven but from the community, so we call upon the community to give us information about the incident which can help us in arresting those behind this brutal murder,” DPC Oese said adding that police will intensify investigations by involving the community.
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