Daily briefs of the top news stories impacting Christians around the world.
In today's edition:
- African Faith Leaders Urge Engagement in Congo Crisis
- Iraq: Two Christian Sisters Murdered in Mosul
- Nuns Abducted in Kenya Near Somali Border
- Saudi 'Peace' Summit a Cover for Anti-Islam Resolution
African Faith Leaders Urge Engagement in Congo Crisis
The Christian Post reports that at least 250,000 have fled the eastern part of the DRC as government and rebel forced clashes continue in the region. In response, leaders of the Inter-Faith Action for Peace in Africa Commission, which is meeting this week near the Ugandan capital Kampala, urged African religious leaders to intervene in the political situation. The United Nations earlier this week approved 3,000 more peacekeeping troops to the religion, taking the largest peacekeeping mission in the world to 20,000 total. Nonetheless, attacks on natives, especially women and children, have continued in the battle for the country's resources, which include gold and diamonds. Both sides are using the resources to finance their side of the war, and have forced civilians into their mining operations. The conflict continues partly due to the failure of multiple peace agreements.
Iraq: Two Christian Sisters Murdered in Mosul
ASSIST News Service reports that two Christian sisters were killed Wednesday in the Al Qahira section in Mosul, Iraq, by Islamic terrorists for just being Christians. The two sisters were murdered as the terrorists stormed into their house. Their mother was severely injured as a result of stab wounds. In addition, the terrorists placed a bomb in the house, which destroyed the small building. A police officer said the terrorists placed another bomb near the house. It exploded when the police arrived and injured three officers. The incident came as more than 200 displaced Christian families from Mosul started to return to their houses in Mosul following the deploying of more Iraqi troops in the city. More than half of the families did return in the last two weeks. An estimated 25 to 40 Christians have been killed by extremists in the last month.
Nuns Abducted in Kenya Near Somali Border
Compass Direct News reports that negotiations continued Thursday for the release of two nuns abducted by insurgent Somali militia at midnight on Sunday (Nov. 9) from Kenya’s northern Mandera district near the Somali border. Pastor Alois Maina of Community Church in Mandera told Compass that the two nuns were being held in El-Haddah, Somalia, about 30 kilometers (19 miles) from the border. Kenya Broadcasting Corp. reported that it had confirmed the nuns were being held in Somalia. A Catholic priest in Mandera who requested anonymity told Compass that Catholic leaders were collaborating with village elders in both Kenya and Somalia to negotiate with the militia for the nuns’ release. “What we need at the moment is prayer,” said the priest.
Saudi 'Peace' Summit a Cover for Anti-Islam Resolution
Mission News Network reports that a persecution watchdog is calling the Saudi Arabian-hosted "Culture of Peace Summit" a farce. "Saudi Arabia calling on international religious tolerance is a little bit like the wolf calling for a sheep convention," said President of Open Doors USA Carl Moeller. "[The Saudis] are without question one of the worst examples of religious intolerance around the world, the way they treat other faiths within their country." Moeller fears that the central purpose of the summit - the endorsement of a UN anti-blasphemy law against Islam around the world - will result in further repression of Christian minorities worldwide.
