Christian priest under threat by Islamic militant group

Christians are a minority in Bangladesh and are facing increasing threats of violent persecution from radical Muslims.

Simon Halder, Priest of a Seventh Day Adventist Church

Simon Halder, a Priest of Seventh Day Adventist Christian Church in Mongla, Bangladesh has been threatened with death by a letter from an Islamic Militant group saying that the Christians are exploiting Islam in Bangladesh by converting Muslims into Christians, so they will kill him and his family by any means. This threat was issued by Shayokh Mosaddek Al Arabi, spokesperson of Islami Khelafote Mujahidin Bangladesh (IKMB).

More than 2,000 Bangladeshi Christians gathered Monday to pray against brutal persecution at the hands of Islamic terrorists.

Christians comprise roughly one percent of the country’s nearly 170-million people, but that number increases, according to Open Doors investigators. “As the Christian minority is growing, it faces more and more restrictions and challenges. This pressure is not driven by the government, but by radical Islamic groups, local religious leaders and families.”

The killing by Islamic militants of four secular bloggers, an Italian and a Japanese citizen and, most recently, a secular publisher in October 2015 has prompted the government of President Abdul Hamid “to declare war” against radical elements, Open Doors noted.