Source: www.persecution.org
Date: August 7, 2024
(International Christian Concern) — Hostile face-to-face encounters naturally pose more of an immediate threat than online encounters. However, hostility expressed online can still cause emotional distress, and it can include threats that could be carried out in the physical world.
Abusive online behavior can also include “doxxing” — putting someone’s personal information (such as their home address or phone number) on the internet, enabling others to harass them more directly, or worse.
Though the persecution of Christians is as old as Christianity, it can now surface in ways that the earliest believers could never have imagined.
Modern Threats
Indeed, Jesus’ disciples had to live under the constant threat of violence. But they never had to worry about getting doxxed, having their IP address tracked, or seeing their inboxes full of abuse and threats.
Such are the 21st-century realities for Christians, particularly those who have converted from Islam.
Mohamad Faridi, an Iranian native, had been a devout Muslim who had even aspired toward martyrdom as a jihadi before a divine encounter with Jesus changed him forever. After starting to share the gospel with other Iranians, death threats forced him to flee his homeland. He now resides in the U.S. and serves as president of Iranian Christians International.
Moving across the world likely helped save his life, but it does not render Faridi immune to hostility. He said he “frequently” encounters harassment and threats online.
“The keyboard jihadis threaten you, harass you, and generally write nasty comments or emails to you,” he added.
Faridi said that Iranian Christians who are still in Iran worry about Muslims obtaining their personal information and doxxing them. Former Muslims often discuss this reality on online platforms such as Reddit.
Christians in Iran who are active on the internet must take protective measures, such as using VPNs (virtual private networks) and fake identities, he said.
In Faridi’s view, “keyboard jihadis” express a sentiment shared by much of the population in his homeland.
“(The) Islamic mindset sees itself (as) superior to other religions,” he said. “Apostates are filthy traitors.”
Setting a Brave Example
Ismail Youssef, who converted to Christianity about six years ago, estimated that at least 25% of Muslims —perhaps as many as 75% — want to see something bad happen to Muslim-born converts to Christianity like him.
Youssef, who was born in Canada but spent much of his childhood in Egypt, said that he has been harassed online several times, including receiving insults about his appearance and disability. He has also been the target of racial and homophobic slurs despite not being gay. He has also received death threats.
“I am not entirely sure how real these threats were,” he said. “When these occur, I usually just block them.”
In facing this abuse, Youssef realized he was not alone.
“(I’ve) never encountered a former Muslim, regardless of them converting to Christianity or any other faith, who has not been harassed, either online or in person,” he added.
Youssef said he knows many ex-Muslims turned Christian and that few, if any, of them are as vocal about their conversion as they would like to be “due to all the harassment and death threats” they have already received.
By remaining vocal about his faith amid the abuse he often receives, Youssef said he wants to set an example and “make a way for former Muslims who have embraced Christ as Lord to proclaim their conversions publicly.”
Not everyone is ready to do so just yet. Youssef said most fellow converts “keep their [social media] accounts quite private or hide their identities entirely.” He added that some use fake names and VPNs.
He knows of one Christian convert who had their home address leaked online to intimidate him or to encourage others to attack him physically, but he declined to elaborate out of concern for that person’s safety.
Currently, Youssef has just one remaining Muslim friend. “And I am only friends with him because he is not serious about his faith,” he added.
Youssef said that his brother and father are the only other Muslims he can talk with.
“Once a Muslim knows I have converted, it is almost impossible to have a peaceful conversation,” he said. “I have to end the conversation due to fear of my safety at times.”
Meanwhile, Youssef has seen the gospel preached on many online platforms. Of course, he has also seen online videos of Christians being murdered for their faith.
He does not think that social media has necessarily made Christian persecution more severe. “I believe social media is neutral,” he said. “What comes from the world makes it on social media.”
The growing concern is that threats might travel in the opposite direction — appearing first on social media before making their way to the real world.