{"id":1895,"date":"2011-12-21T11:33:57","date_gmt":"2011-12-21T16:33:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/faithandjustice\/?p=1895"},"modified":"2011-12-21T11:33:57","modified_gmt":"2011-12-21T16:33:57","slug":"jay-sekulow-christian-persecution-takes-no-holiday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/2011\/12\/jay-sekulow-christian-persecution-takes-no-holiday.html","title":{"rendered":"Jay Sekulow: Christian Persecution Takes No Holiday"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>This Christmas season reveals a growing danger facing Christians in many parts of the world and underscores why the international work of the American Center for Law and Justice and its international affiliates is so important.<\/p>\n

You don’t need to look past the headlines – report after report of Christians facing persecution – even death – because of their faith.<\/p>\n

Of course, our work continues to keep the spotlight and pressure on Iran, which has delayed a decision regarding the fate of Christian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani<\/a>, who faces a death sentence because of his faith.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, the list of Christians facing punishment and persecution this Christmas is not a short one.<\/p>\n

In Egypt, as I told you earlier this week<\/a>, Coptic Christians are facing grave danger as a new Islamic-based government is being formed with the radical Muslim Brotherhood gaining even more control. The Egyptian military is stepping up its violence against protesters – targeting women, who are now fight back. They are turning out by the thousands to call attention to the systematic abuse of women in that country.<\/a><\/p>\n

Muslims attack a Christian settlement in Nigeria<\/a>, killing one woman and wounding others.<\/p>\n

A gang attack in Kenya<\/a>. Muslim men beat a young Christian man unconscious – just weeks after the victim’s brother was targeted and severely wounded because of his Christian faith.<\/p>\n

Threats are on the rise in Kashmir, India<\/a> where Christians are becoming increasingly fearful this Christmas season as the Islamic government there is poised to punish missionaries on charges of proselytizing and what the government calls “forced conversions.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

And in Laos<\/a>, officials arrest eight Christian leaders for assembling some 200 church members to celebrate Christmas.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

This global attack on Christianity also has triggered a sharp rebuke from the Catholic Church with Pope Benedict XVI recently noting that Christians “are the religious group which suffers most from persecution on account of its faith.” The Vatican is even calling for a World Day to mark anti-Christian violence and persecution<\/a>, saying there might be more than 200 million Christians suffering discrimination. That’s a warning we issued<\/a> many months ago.<\/p>\n

Here’s the good news. We’re making a difference in this fight to safeguard religious freedom. Thanks to your support. We’re making a difference in places like Pakistan. For instance, we’re representing a Pakistani Christian convert as he seeks asylum from religious persecution. We secured a judicial victory<\/a> for the family of one Christian who was tortured and murdered because of his religious beliefs, ensuring that those responsible for the death faced punishment. We worked with a Christian pastor in Pakistan<\/a> to ensure that he and his congregation would retain ownership of their church, which was illegally taken and occupied by Muslims. We have also helped bring those responsible for abducting a Christian woman and forcing her to accept Islam to justice, and succeeded in defending 43 Christians who were falsely detained in their homes.<\/p>\n

Our expansion with an office in Pakistan has allowed us to battle Islamic blasphemy laws and defend many other persecuted Christians.<\/p>\n

As the threat against Christians in Islamic nations continues to mount, we remain committed to assisting those facing discrimination and persecution. Our promise is clear: we will work to protect religious freedom.<\/p>\n

Anti-Christian bigotry and persecution does not take a holiday. This Christmas season, stand with us. Support our work at the American Center for Law and Justice<\/a>,\u00a0and please pray for those Christians around the world who are sacrificing so much for their faith.<\/p>\n

Jay Sekulow<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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He is also Chief Counsel of the European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ). Jay Sekulow is one of the leading defenders of constitutional rights and religious liberties in the United States. Over the past 25 years, Jay Sekulow has amassed an unparalleled record of accomplishment, arguing before the U.S. Supreme Court on 12 occasions. His aggressive litigation strategy before the Supreme Court has led to many landmark First Amendment victories. In his first case before the Supreme Court, Jews for Jesus, Jay Sekulow secured the right of religious groups to pass out tracks in airports. In Mergens, Jay Sekulow successfully protected the right of students to form Bible clubs and prayer groups on public school campuses. In Lamb\u2019s Chapel, Jay Sekulow cleared the way for churches to have equal access to public facilities in the same way that other groups are permitted to utilize those facilities. In the Bray and Operation Rescue cases, Jay Sekulow protected the free speech rights of pro-life advocates to be free from criminal prosecution for conveying their pro-life message. In McConnell v. FEC, Jay Sekulow protected the right of young people to engage in the political process by donating to the campaign of their choice. In Pleasant Grove, Jay Sekulow paved the way for governments to be able to display Ten Commandments monuments, and other monuments of their choosing, in public parks. Through the ACLJ, Jay Sekulow engages the political, legal, and cultural battles facing America today. He routinely works with Members of Congress, advising them on proposed legislation and representing them in critical legal matters. Jay Sekulow has also testified before Congress on the constitutionality of proposed legislation. Also, in addition to being a successful Supreme Court advocate, Jay Sekulow is a highly respected broadcaster. Jay Sekulow is the host of Jay Sekulow Live! which airs each weekday on over 850 radio stations nationwide, in addition Sirius and XM satellite radio. He brings insight and education to listeners daily through this national call-in radio program. He is also the host of the ACLJ This Week, the ACLJ\u2019s weekly television program. Jay Sekulow regularly appears on major media outlets, including FOX News, CNN, ABC, CBS, and NBC, where he is sought out for his vast experience in constitutional law and his unique insight into many of the pressing legal and political issues facing America today. He is frequently quoted in the nation's leading newspapers and often contributes opinion editorials to national publications. Jay Sekulow has also published numerous law review and other scholarly articles. Jay Sekulow has received numerous honors for his groundbreaking legal work in the area of free speech and religious liberties. The Legal Times has named Sekulow one of \u201cThe 90 Greatest Washington Lawyers of the Last 30 Years\u201d and the National Law Journal has twice named Sekulow one of the \u201c100 Most Influential Lawyers\u201d in the United States. In addition, TIME Magazine listed Jay Sekulow as one of the \"25 Most Influential Evangelicals\" in America. Jay Sekulow\u2019s legal work in defense of religious liberties and human rights extends beyond the United States, having founded the ECLJ in Strasbourg, France, which maintains consultative status with the United Nations. He has also opened offices in Pakistan, Africa, and Jerusalem, Israel. Jay Sekulow is a staunch defender of Israel, presenting arguments before the International Criminal Court at the Hague. His efforts in support of Israel\u2019s right to defend itself from terrorist attacks have been commended by Israeli government officials, one official stating, \"Jay was instrumentally-involved in projects that the President of Israel and the Prime Minister put on our national agenda.\" Jay Sekulow also has a passion for educating the next generation of religious liberty advocates. He is a member of the Regent University Law School Faculty as a Distinguished Professor of Law and routinely teaches courses on constitutional law and presents guest lectures. Jay Sekulow has also started educational programs in international human rights law in Strasbourg, France and at Handong University in South Korea. Jay Sekulow is a graduate of Mercer University, earning both a bachelor\u2019s degree and doctor of jurisprudence. Sekulow served on the editorial staff of the Mercer Law Review and graduated cum laude. He later earned a Ph.D. from Regent University, writing his dissertation on American Legal History. Jay Sekulow also serves on the Board of Trustees for The Supreme Court Historical Society in Washington, D.C. Jay Sekulow, ACLJ Chief Counsels full biography and video. Jay Sekulow on Facebook. Jay Sekulow on Twitter. Jay Sekulow on YouTube.","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/author\/jay_sekulow"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1895","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/401"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1895"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1895\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1907,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1895\/revisions\/1907"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1895"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1895"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1895"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}