Muslim refugees are forcing Christian refugees to participate in Islamic prayers at German refugee camps, according to a report by Open Doors.
The charity, which supports Christians across the globe who are persecuted for their beliefs, found that 231 of the refugees questioned said they have been bullied or harassed by Muslims at the camp by both refugees and security guards.
The findings add to numerous reports of the mistreatment of Christian refugees in Germany – most of whom converted in their home countries, and some of whom embraced the gospel after arriving in Germany.
Who was surveyed?
Open Doors Germany published results based on 231 questionnaires, that were filled out earlier this year. 82 per cent of those questioned were male, and over half were younger than 30 years old. Around 70% came from Iran; the rest from Afghanistan and Syria.
'Not taken sufficient measures'
The report states:
"Discrimination and violence against Christian refugees in refugee centers happens far more frequently than this testimony."
It went on to say that although many recognise the "increasing number" of documented assaults, "policymakers have generally not taken sufficient measures to protect the Christian minority."
It found that the majority of perpetrators were fellow refugees, who viewed those who had recently converted to Christianity apostates.
In one incident, a German pastor in Berlin reported that Christian refugees were threatened after they refused to take part in Islamic prayers at their camp.
Perhaps even more concerning is that over half of those surveyed said that they had received abuse from Muslim security guards – whilst in the capital Berlin, this number rose to two thirds.
'Tip of the iceberg'
A member of Open Doors, Markus Rode, said that this study is only the “tip of the iceberg”, while Berlin-based pastor Gottfried Martens said he has heard of hundreds of cases in the Berlin and Brandenburg area alone.
"The paradigm of the isolated incident must stop," he said.
Volker Baumann of Action for Persecuted Christians (AVC) believes that up to 40,000 Christian refugees are persecuted for their faith in Germany.
Rode, Baumann and others representing Catholic charity Kirche in Not (Church in Need) and the Central Council for Oriental Christians in Germany, spoke at a press conference in Berlin, highlighting the dangers to Christian refugees and recommending housing Christians separately from Muslims and increasing the number of non-Muslim security guards.
Growing number of Christian converts
There are growing reports of refugees coming to faith after encountering the gospel in Germany. Last Thursday, over 80 Muslim refugees embraced the gospel and were baptised in Hamburg. Pastor Albert Babajan, who conducted the baptisms, has baptised 196 former Muslims in 2016, and expects this number to grow to 500 by the end of this year.
Speaking to German magazine Stern, he said that the "the motive for the change of faith is the same for many: they are disappointed with Islam.”
Solmaz, one of the Iranian refugees, said: "In Islam, we always lived in fear. Fear God, fear of sin, fear of punishment. However, Christ is a God of love."
True intent
Yet Pastor Babajan is aware that some have ulterior motives for wishing to convert.
German immigration authorities give priority to Christian refugees, as they would be in greater danger if they returned to their home countries.
"If I have the impression that someone does not believe from the heart, then I do not baptise them," said Babajan.
Please pray
Please pray for the protection for Christian refugees in Germany and other parts of Europe, and for wisdom for the countries' leaders in tackling this crisis.
Related Links:
Open Doors persecution Germany highlights persecution of refugees in Germany (Open Doors)
Muslim migrants are forcing Christians to take part in Islamic prayers at refugee camps, and regularly threatening those who converted from Islam, German study claims (Mail)
Attacks on Christians in German refugee shelters condemned (DW)