{"id":44732,"date":"2022-11-29T14:00:42","date_gmt":"2022-11-29T05:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/?p=44732"},"modified":"2022-11-29T13:33:13","modified_gmt":"2022-11-29T04:33:13","slug":"vomk-report-231","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/2022\/11\/29\/vomk-report-231\/","title":{"rendered":"CHRISTIAN RADIO BROADCAST TO MALDIVES PENETRATES \u201cCANOPY OF FEAR\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”44722″ img_size=”full”][vc_custom_heading text=”Announcing that the project had achieved all goals set for it in the eight months since first signing on the air, Voice of the Martyrs Korea today announced that it has renewed its annual broadcast signal lease and will continue its daily Christian shortwave radio broadcast into the Maldives Islands in 2023.” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:1.2em|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” el_class=”headline”][vc_column_text]\u201cShould the Lord permit, it is our intention to continue to broadcast the gospel message into the Maldives until Christ returns,\u201d<\/span> says Voice of the Marty<\/span>r<\/span>s Korea Representative Dr<\/span>.<\/span> Hyun Sook Foley, whose organization also operates 5 daily radio broadcasts into North Korea and 2 into China<\/span>, aimed at supporting local Christians in those countries.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Representative Foley notes that while North Korea and China are <\/span>better <\/span>known for their extensive restrictions on Christian activity, the <\/span>Maldives consistently rank<\/span>s<\/span> near the top in independent rankings of Christian persecution by religious watchdog agencies and governmental bodies.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Neither mission work nor Christian literature has ever been allowed in the Maldives<\/span>,\u201d says Representative Foley.<\/span> She notes that t<\/span>he Maldives\u2019 constitution requires all citizens to be Muslim. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>Conversion from Islam means that<\/span> someone can be stripped of their citizenship and punished under <\/span>Sharia<\/span> law<\/span>,\u201d she says<\/span>. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>Even foreign workers who<\/span> are Christians are closely watched, which makes church life extremely difficult and practically nonexistent. Churches are outlawed, and openly carrying the Bible is illegal. The country is so tightly<\/span> controlled by Islamic law that there is not even a Bible fully translated into the native language of most<\/span> citizens of the Maldives.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Originally, Maldivians were Buddhists, but in the twelfth century Islam was proclaimed the national religion<\/span>. Today,<\/span> more than <\/span>97% of <\/span>the 300,000 citizens of the <\/span>Maldiv<\/span>es report affiliation with<\/span> Sunni <\/span>Islam<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Representative Foley say <\/span>a host <\/span>of laws <\/span>are <\/span>designed to ensure that only Islamic principles are taught within the country.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201cIn order to deliver a sermon or a religious talk, one must obtain a license from the Ministry of Islamic Affairs (MIA),\u201d says Representative Foley. \u201cOnly a Sunni Muslim with a degree in religious studies from a government recognized university may apply for a license.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”44729″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]She notes that c<\/span>riticism of Islam is against the law, with punishments up to a year in jail.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>The definition of <\/span>\u2018<\/span>criticism<\/span> of Islam<\/span>\u2019<\/span> is very broad, with even the distribution of materials promoting another religion considered as criticism of Islam, even if the literature <\/span>makes no mention of <\/span>Islam at all<\/span>,\u201d she says.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]According to Representative Foley, separate laws prohibit the <\/span>distribution of Christian literature<\/span>. Violations<\/span> may result in a prison sentence of 2 to 5 years.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]O<\/span>n July 6th, 2021<\/span>, Maldivian authorities announced that <\/span>an investigation <\/span>had determined that <\/span>Christian literature in the Dhivehi language<\/span>, the native language of the islands,<\/span> was being mailed to both individuals and companies in the Maldives. <\/span>S<\/span>ome of the literature is believed to have been confiscated, but the government was unable to verify the origin of the literature and closed the investigation.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Other unconfirmed reports indicate that <\/span>the Maldives <\/span>may station <\/span>government agents <\/span>in nearby countries like Sri Lanka to monitor or <\/span>stop Christian <\/span>outreach to the Maldives from originating there.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]According to Representative Foley, <\/span>Maldivian Christians must keep their faith secret. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>If they are discovered, they <\/span>may <\/span>lose their citizenship<\/span>,\u201d she says<\/span>. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>Even owning a Bible can result<\/span> in imprisonment.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Most Christians in the Maldives are expatriates, and most prefer not to organize meetings out of fear<\/span> of repercussions. <\/span>Representative Foley says that w<\/span>hile the law does <\/span>permit <\/span>\u201cnon-Muslim\u201d foreigner<\/span>s to <\/span>liv<\/span>e<\/span> in the Maldives, they are forbidden from expressing their religious beliefs in public.<\/span> Sharing the gospel with Muslims is illegal and can result in deportation.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]According to <\/span>Representative Foley<\/span>, <\/span>these factors <\/span>combine to create a <\/span>\u201c<\/span>canopy of fear<\/span>\u201d<\/span> when doing any kind of Christian activity in or near the Maldives.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Many <\/span>Christian <\/span>groups that<\/span> normally work in <\/span>\u2018<\/span>closed countries<\/span>\u2019<\/span> have not been able to do any kind of work in the Maldives<\/span>,\u201d says Representative Foley<\/span>. <\/span>\u201cThat\u2019s why radio broadcasting is so important: It <\/span>replaces the \u2018canopy of fear\u2019 with a \u2018gospel canopy\u2019\u2014daily presentation of the gospel in ways that local Christians as well as mission agencies can rely on and build upon in their evangelism and discipleship efforts.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

But according to Representative Foley, <\/span>the <\/span>\u201ccanopy of fear\u201d nearly smothered her organization\u2019s efforts to launch <\/span>the<\/span> daily radio broadcast<\/span> earlier this year<\/span>. \u201c<\/span>O<\/span>ne of our possible <\/span>partner<\/span>s for the project<\/span> was unable to secure <\/span>radio <\/span>airtime due to the relationship of the Maldivian <\/span>government with their own <\/span>government. And several potential announcers were ultimately too scared to have their voices heard over the radio<\/span>, even though we planned to alter the voices digitally to make detection difficult<\/span>.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”44725″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”Voice of the Martyrs Korea CEO Pastor Eric Foley records a daily radio broadcast to the Maldives.” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230f0f0f|line_height:1.45em” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Nevertheless, she says, Voice of the Martyrs Korea <\/span>decided to press ahead on its own<\/span>, and it launched its daily shortwave radio broadcast to the Maldives April 1, 2022.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Representative Foley says that while the use of shortwave radio for the broadcast may sound old fashioned, it is actually a cutting-edge effort. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>Recently the Maldivian government has increased its efforts to block Christian content on the internet<\/span> and on medium-wave radio<\/span>,<\/span>\u201d she says. Blocking shortwave is much harder. \u201c<\/span>A shortwave radio signal can also effectively reach the full<\/span> 90,000 square kilometers<\/span> and <\/span>1<\/span>,<\/span>000+ islands of the <\/span>Maldivian <\/span>archipelago<\/span>, and it is much more difficult <\/span>for the government to<\/span> block on a regular basis.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Representative Foley notes that as<\/span> much as 25% of the <\/span>Maldivian <\/span>population has regularly listened to<\/span> popular <\/span>shortwave <\/span>broadcasts in recent years<\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]For the security of listeners, Voice of the Martyrs Korea<\/span> does not release information regarding <\/span>local listenership. But according to Representative Foley, the program has not <\/span>experienced any jamming by the Maldivian government<\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>We have received many reception reports from all around the world – India, Philippines, Morocco, Japan, China, Germany, Australia, Austria, and the United States – confirming that our broadcast is being received<\/span>,\u201d she says<\/span>.<\/span> \u201c<\/span>O<\/span>ur engineers remain at full alert and are daily monitoring our Maldivian broadcast<\/span> in order to counteract any jamming efforts that may arise in the future<\/span>.<\/span>\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Representative Foley says that the Voice of the Martyrs Korea<\/span>\u2019s<\/span> daily broadcast<\/span>s<\/span> utiliz<\/span>e<\/span> a combination of Dhivehi language content and English language content. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>We use several books of the Bible that have been translated and recorded in Dhivehi<\/span>,<\/span> as well as other Christian content that has been recorded in Dhivehi. We supplement this with English language content that we record in our radio studio<\/span>. English is<\/span> used in <\/span>the Maldivian school system and is gaining popularity across the islands.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Representative Foley raises two prayer requests as the daily radio broadcast to the Maldives begins its second year. \u201cFirst, please p<\/span>ray for a <\/span>continued <\/span>strong and clear signal for the VOMK broadcast to the Maldives. <\/span>Second, s<\/span>ince it is too dangerous for Maldivian Christians to gather for worship in small groups, <\/span>please <\/span>pray that our broadcast can encourage Christians who feel alone.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Those interested in donating to support Voice of the Martyrs\u2019 daily radio broadcast to the Maldives can do so at <\/span>www.vomkorea.com\/en\/donation<\/span><\/span><\/a> or via electronic transfer to:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\uad6d\ubbfc\uc740\ud589<\/span> (KB Bank) 463501-01-243303<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\uc608\uae08\uc8fc<\/span> (Account Holder): (<\/span>\uc0ac<\/span>)<\/span>\uc21c\uad50\uc790\uc758\uc18c\ub9ac<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Please include the word \u201cMaldives\u201d with the donation.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][\/vc_section]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"[vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”44722″ img_size=”full”][vc_custom_heading text=”Announcing that the project had achieved all goals set for it in the eight months since first signing on the air, Voice of the Martyrs Korea today …","protected":false},"author":659,"featured_media":44723,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[857,235,869,140],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-44732","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-russian-special","category-special-column","category-china-special","category-vomk-report"],"translation":{"provider":"WPGlobus","version":"3.0.2","language":"en","enabled_languages":["ko","en","zh","ru"],"languages":{"ko":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"en":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"zh":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"ru":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44732","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/659"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44732"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44732\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44757,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44732\/revisions\/44757"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44723"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44732"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44732"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44732"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}