The whereabouts and well-being of 15 Christian Rohingya detained in Delhi for unknown reasons, and then thrown into the Andaman Sea by the Indian navy, are unknown since they swam for their lives to Myanmar, the very country they fled to escape genocide. (Morning Star News, July 1)
The Rohingya are a Muslim people group who have faced severe persecution in Buddhist Myanmar for decades. More than two million have fled to other countries, and about 40,000-79,000 live in India.
Nearly ten years ago, 150 Rohingya who had heard the Good News about Jesus and chose to follow Him came to India to escape brutality from Myanmar’s military. They were given long-term visas in Delhi, and registered with the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The adults found menial jobs and their children, like Nasir David, became rag pickers to make their way through school. With high school degrees, they were eventually able to secure decent jobs. Nasir’s uneducated father learned to read Bengali and Rohingya so he could teach the Bible to others.
But in 2017, India declared the Rohingya illegal immigrants and cancelled their visas. Then in February this year, authorities called the 150 Christians in for fingerprints and other identification. On May 6, 15 of those were called back in and detained along with 23 Muslim Rohingya.
The next day, the military transported the 15 Christians by air to Port Blair in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. They confiscated their money, belongings and U.N. documentation, and then loaded them onto a navy ship, where they were blindfolded and bound.
John Anwar’s hands were bound so tightly, his wrists bled. His wife, who was recovering from a difficult miscarriage and suffering from emotional and mental health challenges, was also bound.
When the navy personnel noticed a cross on John’s T-shirt, they assaulted him, demanded to know how many were Christians, and inexplicably accused them of being Pakistanis involved in the Pahalgam terror attack in Kashmir just a few days prior.
They offered them two choices: return to Myanmar or transfer to Indonesia. Still fearing what awaited them in Myanmar, the Christians chose Indonesia.
After midnight on May 8, naval personnel removed their restraints, gave them life jackets and told them to jump into the sea, assuring them someone would pick them up. But after treading water for some time, they decided to swim for shore. Several among them could not swim, so those who could dragged them.
All made it safely to land, but were surprised to find themselves in Myanmar, not Indonesia. A fisherman lent John his phone, and he called his brother, Sadeq Shalom, to tell him their terrifying story, but no one has heard from any of them since.
“Authorities gave neither them nor their families any prior notice or information,” said Nasir, whose elderly parents were thrown overboard without their daily medicines or money to purchase them. “My mother is a diabetic and my father is on blood pressure medication – both need their daily dosage of medicines,” he told Morning Star News. “My mother faints due to sugar fluctuation, and it scares me to death wondering how they are surviving.”
Delhi police are now hunting down Nasir, the relatives of the deportees, including those mentioned in this story. They are moving from place to place, waiting upon God to make a way for them to get political asylum in a country where they can “live without any fear,” said Nasir.
“We believe that God is sovereign and trust that He watches over His children even in the darkest valleys,” he continued. “Though I may never see my parents again in this life, I hold on to the eternal hope that we will meet again in heaven — in the arms of our Savior, where every tear will be wiped away and sorrow will be no more.”
Lord, please have mercy on the Rohingya, especially these Christians who landed in Myanmar and their relatives who are in danger in India. Be a Shield around them and provide for all heir needs. Hide them from those who seek to do them harm. In the midst of so much danger, Lord, please bring forth great good. Thank You for getting the believers safely to land. We know You have a plan and we trust You, Lord, to take them where You’re taking them. Please make the way for them to contact their family in India and let them know where and how they are. Use all these Christians for Your glory to help the lost hear the good news. We ask You also, Lord, for Muslim Rohingya and those who persecute them, that You will visit them in their dreams to tell them Your plan for their salvation. Lift the veil from their eyes so they will see You as You truly are, and give them courage to lay down traditions, seek Truth with all their hearts and find You. Bring them in contact with Christians who will share with them Your good news. O Merciful Father, so many lives have been lost, so many orphans and widows made already in Myanmar’s war. Please protect the innocent. Protect Christians who are aiding those in need, and empower them to share Your good news and shine Your love to the lost. Please, Lord, make a way for the violence to end soon, and for the people of Myanmar to at last live in peace and have a government who protects, rather than harms their citizens. Awaken every heart to You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Mikaela Vincent and her husband are missionaries who have served many years in a country where Christians are persecuted. They live by faith, trusting in God to provide for their needs as they pray for and share Christ with the nations. If you would like to help their ministry through a donation, or by finding gifts for those you love at Mikaela’s online bookstore, click the buttons below:
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