Title: Newscan, Jan. 2010 Date: Jan. 1, 2010

1,960 Christians Killed in Iraq Since War Began, Says Survey

Around 1,960 Christians were killed by gunmen in Iraq since March 2003, head of the Chaldean Cultural Association for Peace in Iraq said. “Christians in Iraq are going through miserable conditions,” Hawal Ziqiya Masho told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

According to the association’s survey, the property of at least 500,000 Christians was taken away, and 200,000 Christians were forced to pay extortion money, while dozens of others were kidnapped and released for ransom.

“Before 2003, there were around 2.1 million Christians in Iraq, but now there are not more than 500,000 of them,” Masho said. He criticized the Iraqi government for being unable to protect Christians, and said that it did not fulfill its promises to compensate them. “There is a plan to flush all Christians out of Iraq,” Masho said. He said that the violence against Christians in Iraq is supported by one of the neighboring countries. He did not name it. (Christian Observer News)

Swedish Family Persecuted for Homeschooling

Christer and Annie Johansson, a Christian homeschooling family, could permanently lose custody of their only child, seven-year-old Dominic, simply because they homeschool.  In June, Swedish authorities removed Dominic from his parents. They did not have a warrant, nor have they charged the Johanssons with a crime. On Dec. 17, a Swedish court ruled that social services was right to take the child. The court cited the fact that Dominic had not been vaccinated as a reason to remove him permanently from his parents, and also repeated the false charges that homeschoolers do not perform well academically and are not socialized.  (EP News)  

North Carolina School Rethinks Action Against Pro-Life Student

Officials at Randleman High School in Randleman, N.C., have reversed course in action taken against Brianna Caldwell. Caldwell participated in the Pro-Life Day of Silent Solidarity this fall by wearing a T-shirt with the word “abortion” crossed out on the front. She also passed out fliers during nonclass hours. Her fliers were confiscated and she was told to cover up the T-shirt. An assistant principal also informed Caldwell her speech was offensive and a violation of the separation of church and state. 

David Cortman, senior legal counsel with the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), said the administration went too far. ADF sent a letter to the school explaining Caldwell’s rights under the First Amendment. Caldwell has had her fliers returned and has been given permission to wear her T-shirt next year. (EP News)