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MBBs (Muslim-Background Believers) are very vulnerable, and they do not need any reason to be persecuted, it is unfortunately a common occurrence. Persecution is part of their lives. MBBs are targeted by Muslims for any and every issue, no matter if they are involved or not. People of the majority religion seem to find new ways to persecute MBBs and it is not hard work to find a reason to persecute the MBBs. For brother Rafiqul and his family members, they live in fear due to the constant death threats they get for their faith. Please continue to pray for brother Rafiqul and his family.
MBB pastor, Rafiqul, has been in hiding for over a week now for fear of being killed. Rafiqul lives in the Northern part of Bangladesh. He has been serving as a local pastor and facilitating an Adult Literacy centre in his village. He is an active pastor of a local church in his village.
Over the last couple of weeks, Rafiqul received several death threats from an extremist and banned militant outfit, Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB). They threatened to kill Rafiqul themselves. Though they haven’t done it, the threat shook Rafiqul to the core.
The death threat came in the wake of a court verdict on the 23rd of June 2022 over a murder case that took place on March 22nd, 2016.
On the 23rd of June 2022, a court in Kurigram, northern Bangladesh, sentenced six accused JMBs to death for the murder of a freedom fighter, and MBB, Hossain Ali. Among the 6 accused, 2 are from brother Rafiqul’s neighboring village.
With both brother Rafiqul and Hossian Ali being linked as MBBs, family members of the accused and members of the JMB suspect Rafiqul provided information about the murder to the police. Because of this suspicion, they have threatened to kill Rafiqul.
“Rafiqul must die!” cried members of JMB.
Rafiqul is in hiding but his family, ten of them, are still in their family home and they are at risk. Members of the JMB are looking for Rafiqul every day, lurking around his home, awaiting his return.
“I worry for my family’s safety. I don’t know what to do,” said Rafiqul.
Open Doors local partners are praying for Rafiqul and looking into ways to keep him and his family safe.
Top image: representative photo only
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