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Thousands of Muslims Converting to Christianity in Bangladesh Despite Rising Persecution.

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http://www.christianpost.com/news/t...bangladesh-despite-rising-persecution-166768/
Thousands of Muslims Converting to Christianity in Bangladesh Despite Rising Persecution

By Samuel Smith , CP Reporter
July 20, 2016|6:04 pm
image: http://images.christianpost.com/full/95373/bangladesh.jpg

bangladesh.jpg
(Photo: Reuters/Andrew Biraj)
Christian people pray during a sunrise prayer by Dhaka Pastors Fellowship on Easter Sunday in Dhaka, Bangladesh, April 12, 2009.

Even though persecution against Christians in Bangladesh is on the rise, so is the number of Muslims converting to Christianity in the south Asian nation.

Just as in other countries where the population is dominated by a Muslim majority government, Christians in Bangladesh are at risk of being killed or persecuted because of their faith in Jesus Christ.

But while nearly 90 percent of Bangladesh's population of 165 million people is Muslim, Christianity is gaining traction.

According to the human rights organization Christian Freedom International, it is estimated that as many as 91,000 Muslims across Bangladesh have converted to Christianity in the last six years, even though apostasy in many Muslim cultures is punishable by death.

Pastor Faruk al-Ahmed, a Christian convert from Islam who has been preaching since the mid-1990s, personally attested to the rise of Christianity in his own community in Northern Bangladesh during an interview with the British news site Express.

"When I began my ministry in Kurigram, there was only one traditional Christian family and one Muslim background family," the pastor explained. "Now, almost 1,500 believers from Muslim backgrounds are glorifying God in this area."

"Persecution will come more but the believers and I are ready to face it," al-Ahmed added.

The number of Christians in Bangladesh is estimated at 1.6 million, which comprises around 1 percent of the country's total population.

Despite reports that Christianity is growing in the country, CFI emphasizes that Christians are forced to keep their worship activities secretive to prevent "retaliations" for their faith.

"Churches, especially house churches where Muslim-background believers meet, prefer not to display any Christian symbols in order to avoid being recognised," a report from the Christian persecution watchdog ministry Open Doors U.K. states. "Sometimes, even historic or Mainline churches face opposition and restrictions in putting up a cross or other religious symbols."

image: http://images.christianpost.com/full/95374/bangladesh.jpg

bangladesh.jpg
(Photo: Reuters/Andrew Biraj)
A Christian family gather beside the grave of their relatives at the cemetery of Holy Rosary church during All Souls' Day in Dhaka, Bangladesh, November 2, 2009.

image: http://graphic.christianpost.com/images/homepage11/enlarge4.png

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Open Doors, which ranks Bangladesh as the 35th worse country in the world when it comes to Christian persecution, reports that nine churches were forced to close in 2015 due to security concerns.

Although many Christians have been killed, beaten, raped and tortured in Bangladesh because of their faith, persecution against believers comes in many different societal forms, according to Open Doors.

"Conversion is not forbidden by law, but pressure to recant the Christian faith will be exerted by family, friends and neighbors. There have been several reports of Christians having to give up their shops or businesses due to the pressure by the Muslim majority," the Open Doors report adds.

"Converts themselves are isolated from their family frequently and registration of converts' children is problematical as in most cases they are automatically registered as Muslims."

Muslim radicals often have a level of impunity because police in Bangladesh tend to turn a blind eye to the persecution of religious minorities, according to Christian Freedom International.

As the Islamic State and other extremist groups have penetrated the nation and killed a number of Christians and religious minorities in the last year, about 2,000 Christians gathered in the Archdiocese of Dhaka and the Diocese of Khulna in June to pray simultaneously for "humanity to wake up" to the threat of terrorist violence in the country.

"Let us pray that this will become a country of unity, peace and harmony," Catholic Archbishop of Dhaka Patrick D'Roazario was quoted by Christian Today as saying during the prayers.

"Let us pray that dormant humanity become aware of the violence, murders committed in secret, and the persecution," he continued. "May Almighty God bless [the terrorists] so that they change their minds."


Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/t...ising-persecution-166768/#tDxgRpmozZwotLKG.99
 
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According to the human rights organization Christian Freedom International, it is estimated that as many as 91,000 Muslims across Bangladesh have converted to Christianity in the last six years, even though apostasy in many Muslim cultures is punishable by death.

Pastor Faruk al-Ahmed, a Christian convert from Islam who has been preaching since the mid-1990s, personally attested to the rise of Christianity in his own community in Northern Bangladesh during an interview with the British news site Express.

"When I began my ministry in Kurigram, there was only one traditional Christian family and one Muslim background family," the pastor explained. "Now, almost 1,500 believers from Muslim backgrounds are glorifying God in this area."

"Persecution will come more but the believers and I are ready to face it," al-Ahmed added.

The number of Christians in Bangladesh is estimated at 1.6 million, which comprises around 1 percent of the country's total population.

Source: https://defence.pk/threads/thousand...pite-rising-persecution.440441/#ixzz4F3MYXC00

Is there any truth in this report,or it is mere propaganda? I found this report on google searching "Bangladesh."
 
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This shows that Ms. Haseena has indeed able to establish TRUE secularism in BD..........

God Bless the Iron Lady of BD!!!
 
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I can imagine some of the very destitute with absolutely nothing - converting. It tends to be the way everywhere. Those without hope are easily reached by evangelicals. Lots of tribals have/are converted(ing) to Christianity. While this article cites muslim to christian conversion...the largest group converting to Christianity are tribals. I think it's similar to the success of Christian evangelicals in India. Though India obviously has a long history with Christianity.

As for Christians making up 1% of the population? close...but not quite.

The Christian population might be 1.6mil, but we all know the real population of Bangladesh is close to 175mil, not the 160-161mil the govt census states.
 
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Another report on this subject.Just google 'Bangladesh' in news section these report will come in 1st page.

Rise of Islamic extremism as number of Christians soar in Bangladesh
http://www.express.co.uk/news/world...-on-rise-as-number-Christians-soar-Bangladesh

By Katie Mansfield
PUBLISHED: 18:38, Sun, Jul 17, 2016 | UPDATED: 18:53, Sun, Jul 17, 2016

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ISIS-690364.jpg


Islamic extremism is on the rise in Bangladesh as the number of defiant Christians soars
Some 22 people were killed in a deadly attack on a cafe in Dhaka on July 1 with the Government blaming local homegrown militants despite Islamic State (ISIS) reportedly claiming responsibility.

Local pastors say the attack is the latest in a string of targeted killings which have left Christians and religious minorities fearing for their lives.

The attack took place in Dhaka's diplomatic zone, Gulshan, causing widespread fear and concern about the rise in Islamic extremism in the country.

A worker for Christian advocacy charity Open Doors said: "Survivors of the attack said the killers made their hostages recite verses from the Koran.


When I began my ministry there was only one traditional Christian family.Now, almost 1,500 believers from Muslim backgrounds are glorifying God in this area

Pastor Faruk al Ahmed

"Those who could were spared, while those unable to were killed.

"This latest attack, however, is the first concerted attack on foreigners, marking a major escalation in a campaign by militants.”

So far, it's not clear if the plot was organised by ISIS in Syria, or developed locally in Bangladesh.

Over the last few years, Open Doors' World Watch researchers have been observing the rise of extremism and terrorism against minorities in Bangladesh, including Christians.

Of the country’s 162million, 89 per cent population are Muslim with just 828,000 Christians.

Believers have been targeted for their faith on numerous occasions by extremist groups - on June 5, a 72-year-old Christian was murdered in the village of Bonpara, and in March, Christian evangelist Habib Alam was killed by members of ISIS.

There have also been reports of banned Islamist groups threatening to kill people who do not conform to their rules which include having a copy of the Koran, not allowing women to work and removing Christian sacred images from shops.

Thomas Muller, persecution analyst at World Watch Research, warned: "The increasingly volatile situation remains dangerous for the Christian minority."

But despite the threat the Christian community is growing in size.

ISIS-595229.jpg
AFP

ISIS has claimed responsibility for a number of attacks in Bangladesh
Pastor Faruk al Ahmed, a believer from a Muslim background, has been preaching the gospel in Kurigram in northern Bangladesh since the mid-1990s.

He said: ”When I began my ministry in Kurigram, there was only one traditional Christian family and one Muslim background family.

"Now, almost 1,500 believers from Muslim backgrounds are glorifying God in this area.”

But these Christians are beginning to attract danger from Islamist terrorists.

Since November 2015, dozens of Christian pastors in Bangladesh have received death threats from extremists - including recently murdered Habib Alam, who was Pastor Faruk's first convert.

Bangladesh-595231.jpg


People have been left fearing for their lives after the Dhaka attack

"There had been attacks on bloggers and a university professor had been killed.

“People are certainly very fearful and they are concerned about their future and they are concerned about going out.

“They are taking precuations, not going out after dark and are reconsidering how often they go out and where to. There’s a sense of insecurity and instability and certainly one of fear. People are disturbed.

“Targeted killings have focused on secular bloggers and people who have been outspoken about fundamentalism. I think now people are being much more careful about what they say.

Bangladesh-595235.jpg
GETTY

The government has blamed homegrown terrorists for the attack despite ISIS' claims


ISIS claimed responsibility for the murder of professor Rezaul Karim Siddiquee in Apri
"There seems to be confusion over who is responsible for the attacks, with the current government saying it is homegrown terrorists.

"But then you have groups such as Al-Quaeda and Daesh who have also claimed responsibility for some of the attacks.

"People need reassurance that the government knows who is responsible and has intelligence about these terrorists.

"I think part of the reason we have seen a rise in these attacks is some of these terror groups wanting to place their brand of Islam on Bangladesh.

"You also have to consider the political context and the party Jamaat-e-Islami has astrong allegiance with Pakistan and Islam.
 
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Christian Missionaries give free food, education, money, job and migrating opportunities to western countries. If some dirt poor people convert, not surprising.
 
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Probably propaganda. There is no reason for a muslim to convert to christianity for ideological reasons. Its like a christian becoming a Jew because he doesnt believe in jesus but believes in Moses and Abraham. Doesnt make sense
 
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Christian Missionaries give free food, education, money, job and migrating opportunities to western countries. If some dirt poor people convert, not surprising.
I think this statement is an exaggeration.If that was the case then 1 billion hindu Indian would have migrated to USA by becoming Christian.:lol:
 
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Probably propaganda. There is no reason for a muslim to convert to christianity for ideological reasons. Its like a christian becoming a Jew because he doesnt believe in jesus but believes in Moses and Abraham. Doesnt make sense
Specially in BD, where they know they will be persecuted. Few may have did temporarily for some financial gains. but 91,000 seems over exaggerated.

I think this statement is an exaggeration.If that was the case then 1 billion hindu Indian would have migrated to USA by becoming Christian.:lol:
But in muslim countries it's easier, all they gotta do, Cry persecution. :whistle:
 
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Pastor Faruk al-Ahmed, a Christian convert from Islam better get security now, or face the machete from the islamist opposition party followers.
 
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Is there any truth in this report,or it is mere propaganda? I found this report on google searching "Bangladesh."

@ This is a pure propaganda. I have never seen in my life. Never heard in my life. Well, during the British period low caste Hindus converted to Christian, lately some Muslims and Hindus also converted to Christian but it was the end of story in Indian Sub-continent.
 
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