Another IS target: Eritreans - 88 Christians were kidnapped.

(Photo courtesy Open Doors USA)

Libya (ODM/MNN) — It’s confirmed: fighters from the terrorist group Islamic State (IS) have another mass abduction under their belt in Libya.

Open Doors USA President and CEO Dr. David Curry tells us, “88 Christians were kidnapped. They were coming from Eritrea, and they were escaping from a very difficult situation. They were transporting into and through Libya when they were kidnapped by the Islamic State.”

He goes on to say that those taken were targeted. “There was a truckload full of Eritreans who were probably migrant workers. When the truck was captured, the Islamic State sorted the folks in the truck by whether they were Muslim or Christian.” Of this group that has been kidnapped, it is reported that there are numerous children and at least 12 women.

The Libya Herald, as cited by Open Doors, reported: “When IS first stopped the truck, the terrorists demanded that Muslims should make themselves known. All who responded were quizzed on the Quran and their religious observance.” Curry confirms, “They let the Muslims go, and they kidnapped the Christians; so they’re 100% Christians, self-identified.”

Concern for the group’s welfare is rising. Earlier this year in Libya, groups of 21 Egyptian and 28 Ethiopian Christians were kidnapped by IS and later killed. Curry doesn’t know if this group will be killed at the beginning of Ramadan, June 18, the start of the holiest month of Islam. “It’s the largest number that we know of within Libya, for sure. We had incidents where they kidnapped 320 in Syria along the Syrian-Turkey border there.” Even if that’s not the intent, he says, “The Islamic State is trying to gain control over Libya, over this area, and they’re making these episodic attacks on Christians in order to bring fear and instability to the region.”

Throughout North Africa, the Middle East, and even parts of Asia, unprecedented persecution has been occurring. On the policy side, “I think this is the most important thing we could be doing right now: trying to figure out what we can do to save Christian civilization within the Middle East, within Libya and these regions, and just be thoughtful and prayerful about it and let our voices be heard,” remarks Curry.

To create a way for you to advocate for those throughout this region, Open Doors has a petition for you to sign, asking President Obama to take action and address the urgent security concerns of believers in this region by appointing a Special Envoy.

On the spiritual side, the impact on religious freedom has been severe. Openly sharing personal faith in Christ or talking about their beliefs can have deadly results, Curry adds. “In many, many places around the world, it is very dangerous to identify yourself as a Christian, to be caught with a Bible, to call yourself a follower of Jesus.”

Pray for the kidnapped Eritreans. Pray that they will put their trust in God and that whatever happens, they will experience God’s peace in their hearts. Pray that their abductors would be supernaturally transformed by the power of God.

Source: Mission Network News

By Jeremy Reynalds, Senior Correspondent, ASSIST News Service (jeremyreynalds@gmail.com )

TRIPOLI, LIBYA -- June 9, 2015) -- As Islamic State tightens its grip on Libya, 86 Eritrean Christians have reportedly been kidnaped in the country.

A story by Carey Lodge for Christian Today reported that human rights activist Meron Estefanos said the Christians were migrants, the majority of them from city of Adi Keih, and trying to make their way to Europe.

Of the 86, a number were children and at least 12 were women. They were taken in a dawn raid on June 3 while traveling in a truck to the Libyan capital of Tripoli.

Christian Today said Estefanos, who co-founded the International Commission on Eritrean Refugees, told IBTimes UK eyewitnesses that those traveling in the vehicle were divided by their religion, and six Muslims were released by the jihadists.

"IS militants asked everyone who is Muslim or not and everybody started saying they are Muslims," she said, adding, "but you have to know the Koran, and they didn't."

Three Christians allegedly managed to escape, though it is not clear if their whereabouts are known.

Estafanos told The Times, "We are trying to get them to a safe place, but there is no safe place in Libya."

In an interview with the Libya Herald, Christian Today said Estafanos added that many migrants are now trying to avoid Libya en route to Europe because of Islamic State's growing influence.

She also said that a video released by the jihadist group in April purporting to show the beheading of 28 Ethiopian Christians had been edited. A number of Eritrean Christians were killed at the same time, she said.

It is now feared that Islamic State's latest abductees are facing the same fate.

Speaking to Radio France Internationale in April, Eritrean Catholic Priest Father Mussie Zerai said Ethiopians and Eritreans were a key target for militants in Libya because the majority of them are Christians.

"Christian people, especially from Eritrea and Ethiopia, are discriminated against in Libya because of the religion issue," he explained.

Speaking of the beheadings, Christian Today said Zerai added, "It's not the first time; it's not new - discrimination or bad treatment, all these things. But it's the first time they are targeted in this way. They are killed by ISIS, also known as IS, because they are Christian. This is the first time."

Earlier this year, Egypt began conducting air strikes in Libya following the beheading of 21 Coptic Christians in the country by Islamic State militants. However, the group has now captured several areas, mostly in the east of Libya. Its proximity to Europe is believed to be one of its major attractions to jihadists.

Photo captions: 1) Part of a video that shows Ethiopian men - wearing Guantanamo-style orange jumpsuits - being held at the neck and forced to kneel by fighters in combats with ski masks covering their faces (Photo: AFP/Getty Images). 2) The footage also shows around 12 men being shot in a desert area, believed to be in the south of the country, by militants wearing green ski masks and combats. (Photo: AFP/Getty Images). 3) Jeremy Reynalds

Source: Assist News Service