Bible college in Bangladesh which was earlier forced to leave the country’s third largest town, Khulna, officials and human rights watchers said Monday, October 17.
The threats came after "Islamic terrorists" forced the Grace Presbyterian Bible College in July to leave Khulna, a major commercial hub 375 kilometers (225 miles) southwest of the capital Dhaka, reported advocacy group Christian Freedom International (CFI).
"We had to move our Bible school out of Khulna because it was so dangerous. The fanatics beat our Bible school students [and] tried to kill them," the school’s principal Peter Khaleque added in remarks published by CFI, which supports persecuted believers in the region.
"We have 33 students at the Bible school[ and] they tried to kidnap the girls and kill the men. The fanatic groups attacked our school three times, two times this year, one time last year," he added.
NEW FEARS
But he suggested there are fresh fears the Bible College will have to leave its new location in the area of South Sayabithi, about 9 kilometers (15 miles) north of Dhaka, where Muslim extremists have allegedly threatened to amputate hands.
"We have to be quiet. The Muslim society in the area says if we sing too loudly they will cut off our hand. If we pray too loud they will cut off our hand. Neighboring Muslims from the local Mosque made this threat," Khaleque added in the CFI statement. It was unclear which group was behind the threat and there was no immediate independent confirmation of the allegations.
However several human rights groups have expressed concern about the situation of Christians in Bangladesh. Despite the persecution, the school is moving ahead. "We are afraid, but we work for the Lord, even if we are scared," Kaleque reportedly said. "We have our classes even though they threaten us."
GOVERNMENT APPEAL
CFI said it urged Bangladesh to protect the rights of religious minorities. "The persecution of Christians, especially those who convert to Christianity in Bangladesh, is getting worse," claimed CFI President Jim Jacobson, a former White House official. CFI recently established a shelter in Bangladesh for former Muslims who converted to Christianity.
The government has not reacted to the latest claims, but has been quoted as saying it "respects freedom of religion." Authorities have also made clear that violence against members of religious minority groups are "politically motivated" and cannot be solely attributed to religion.
Yet, "the growing persecution of Christians in Bangladesh is alarming and should be a matter of major concern for every freedom loving person," Jacobson said in comments monitored by BosNewsLife. The United States State Department has also expressed some concern about the situation in the Southern Asian nation and said recently that several [foreign] "missionaries who were perceived to be converting Muslims to other faiths subsequently were unable to renew their visas, which must be renewed annually."
CFI stressed it has asked the US government and the United Nations to use "their incredible influence" on Bangladesh to stop the "growing persecution of religious minorities, especially Christians." Officially Christians comprise less than one percent of the predominantly Muslim nation of over 144-million people. (With BosNewsLife Research and reports from Bangladesh).
