22 Families Executed in Afghanistan
Last night I began getting phone calls and text messages about this. The text message was:
From: (Number Omitted) Msg: Please pray for 22 Christian misionary (sic) families that will be executed today in Afghanistan. Please spread to others fast.
I am a skeptic and I have not been able to find any verifiable evidence that suggests that this text message is true. The “families” part seems very suspect to me as well as the specificity of the “22.” The sensational nature of the whole thing also makes me wonder.
Anybody know anything?
I just got this message too and I can’t find anything at all on the internet. I agree with you – the ’22′ and ‘families’ part is a bit suspicious. It must be a hoax.
what is so "22" and "families"?
i just got the same text messege i guess it is a hoax becuase here it is a year later well almost 2 years later today is Dec. 1, 2010. and the crazy thing is i got it multiple times from other people from my church…
July 22, 2007 The Taliban had taken & threatened to kill 23 South Korean hostages unless an equal number of their own fighters are released. Only 2 were killed the rest were released…
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/22/world/asia/22cn…
http://eugenecho.wordpress.com/2007/08/30/prayer-…
it seems like is not true, all i can find with nuber “22″ is from 2007 or before
you can also check this website out
http://davymull.blogspot.com/2009/02/22-christian-missionary-families.html
I tried to call the number on the message and it did in fact get picked up by a voicemail service. No real news yet…
Justin Long posts, via his twitter account: “Friends at Compass Direct tell me the report of the kidnapping/executing of 22 Christian missionary families in Afgh. is a hoax”
Thanks for the update. I thought so.
Have called several sources nothing is confirmed at this time. Have yet to see mainstream media pick up on this.
I think they meant 22 Christian Missionaries. They must have added the families part however there is a couple of relatives in the group. I think they are refering to this story
http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/story.html?id=17f8b931-cac4-468e-b13a-e2fb4b1af308
They are South Korean Christian Missionaries. There is some confusion as to how many exactly but it is around 22.
They need prayer.
I don’t think so… that report is from 2007. That set of missionaries was released, with one dying, I believe.
Ahhh yes I see the date on it said 18th Feb 09 but that does sound like the story from a few years back. I should have realised. silly me.
My parents also received word of the text message, a family friend having received it. They live in the UK.
I thought it was a hoax, but a quick web search brought this up:
http://www.handsoffcain.info/archivio_news/200602.php?iddocumento=8308845&mover=0
Two years ago on the 28th February 2006, 22 terrorists were sentanced to death in Bangladesh. My guess is that someone is either planning a high profile revenge attack and trying to get advance publicity, or just trying to spread fear and panic. I hope it’s the latter.
From the article:
“A court in Bangladesh sentenced 21 people to death in connection with a wave of coordinated bombings on August 17, 2005. The 21 were convicted of setting off six bombs across western Jhenidah district. The blasts were among 500 nationwide. No one died in Jhenidah, but three people were killed elsewhere…. As well as those who died, about 100 people were injured. … In another case, a court in north-eastern Sylhet sentenced a man to death for a bomb attack which wounded a judge. The man was accused by officials of being a JMB activist. Earlier in the month, the JMB’s top leaders, Shaykh Abdur Rahman and Siddiqul Islam, alias Bangla Bhai, were sentenced in absentia to 40 years in prison for a bomb attack which killed two judges last November.”
Thank God, I’ve just found a hole in my theory. The text said it was today*, but was sent out on the 27th (for both the UK and Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
*and didn’t say what date ‘today’ was – hoaxes can’t put actual dates in or they won’t get passed on; it’s always today, next week, this year etc.
Hmmm, my last comment didn’t make much sense (it’s late
I meant to say; the text was sent on the 27th, and said it would happen that day. The anniversary of the death sentances being handed out in Bangladesh is the 28th. Thus the two are unlikely to be connected.
Will still keep half an eye on the news until the 29th though, just in case.
On the other hand…
This article reports the execution of a chap responsible for murdering three missionaries in Yemen. He was executed on the 27th February 2006. Perhaps the hoax is inspired by both these events. I’m still presuming it’s a hoax thobut.
http://www.handsoffcain.info/archivio_news/200602.php?iddocumento=8308537
I see that all my comments are stacked up awaiting moderation. I wonder if my confused ramblings will get past the moderator?
I recieved same text and thought it didn’t sound right so I didn’t want to forward it until checking it out. {t’s best to pray for things that are really happening, don’t you agree? (Glad I found your site, though!)
i got the same test can some one tell me what is hap.i want to know if is true ,what is the condition ot this mens ?can some one tell me what is that please
You might look at the news story about 22 missionaries who were captured in July, 2007 in Afghanistan… They were Korean, and two were executed. Some stories never die.
Interestingly, I looked this up on the internet and google’s 1st choice was the website: http://www.hdki.hr/ruzicka/news/22_missionary_families_in_afghanistan.html As soon as I hit this I got attacked by a “virus warning” and automatic scan that started on my computer even tho i hit “cancel” and wasa redirected to an internet security site-becareful-could be a hack attack.
Internet information cannot be taken as absolute true news except you are sure of the source. I advice christians to be carefull. Although we know that christians are been persecuted but it is imposible for the christian community not to know and publish this information. Beware of those that spread false rumor!. But keep praying for the christians to love the Lord God even unto death.
Me neither, i have not been able to verify any of this,but if such a disasterous thing should occur then afghanistan will be totally destroyed
I’ve had messages like this before. I don’t pass them on because of there suspect nature. But it’s hard not to pray; just in case. So I feel it’s a good reminder to pray for persicuted believers everyhere. After all hundreds of thousands on Christians are killed every year for their faith.
whether it’s a hoax or not isnt it best we pray….u kno, just in case.
Didn’t have opportunity to check this out yesterday when i recieved text. Went on the premis it was better to pray than not at the time. Disappointed that someone would start something like this not based on fact.
Ditto for me (refering to #20 Ken’s experience and suspicion of computer hackers) when I proceeded from google search to that adress my screen came up with strange virus messages that looked legitimate but I was prompted to download a program immediately. NO WAY! Possibly an organized attack.
its a hoax and if you search it on the internet and open up the story, you get a computer virus. just happened to me.
Mark, there is no 29th of February this year!
Hi, several of our support group recd same sms and while trying to get an update via the internet, my computer was hit with a virus warning and automatic scan. Definitely a hoax and someone is wasting all our time! Lets pray that the hearts of such people may be changed instead!
This story is NOT true, it is a VIRUS, please spread the word! I personally know the missionary families in Afghanistan & have been in contact with them today, they are all fine. Surf safely!
Same thing happened to me, google the story virus thing…glad its not true…
This certainly looks like the news of 22 South Korean aid workers over a year ago… we work in Afghanistan and you would think we would receive the news
(via someone other than concerned home bodies)… a warning against just mindlessly forwarding prayer requests…
Although the e-mail is a hoax, some of the websites turning up in web searches are downloading malicious software to unsuspecting users. The Hoax Busters site has a warning message displayed:
http://hoaxbusters.org/
It concerns me that this hoax has been sent out just as the US are re-examining their approach to Afghanistan. We have to be careful as there are political influences that want to manipulate the Christian population. Pray that these decisions will be made with wisdom & the best interests of Afghanistan in mind, and that they will not be influenced through fear and deception.
Hi ,
This messages are circulating also in Egypt also there is not any reference on the internet and Today is March 1 2009
I beleive it is not true
I too received this bogus sms and searched for news , but unable to get any information either through media or websites
whether hoax or not it’s good we prayed anyway. GOD’S protection’s on all who really trust in Him.
if its real there is no problem for me to pray for them
i think itz just a hoax msg
kiran -india
I just got this also as an offline message and I believe it’s one of those untrue stories.
Wether true or a hoax I am sure the devil managed to kill 22 people somewhere in the world today. Christians should be in spiritual battle against the forces of darkness destroying Gods people. Courage and endurance to all my brothers and sisters in Christ>
I got this message too, cant find anything, I pray its a hoax, shame to all who would conjure up such sick news, nontheless lets continue to pray Gods protection over all our missionaries across the globe.
Dear Br. & Sister in Christ,
I did received the same message a moment ago today, and mesage was claims execution suppose to be today (no date given). I felt something is fishy because there was not high profile report in any International news. Anyway we shall still continue to pray to our Lord Sacred Heart of Jesus, around the World that we shall no hatred but forgiveness on the 6th day of our Lent (02 March 2009). Amen. Br. Augustine Yap
Hi all….yip, I also got this message, THREE TIMES, on Sat 28 Feb 09, Sun 1 March 09 and again today, 2 March 09. Amazing tho how far and wide this message has spread, I’m in South Africa. And also amazing tho, is that even tho it is a hoax..we still prayed. Yes, God knows, and we will continue to pray, cos there people REALLY being martyred, as we speak.
God bless you all…..
In Jesus
Dear Friends,
Lets not loose hope, due to these “could – be” mischief mongers, let us prevail in Prayer without ceasing.
The devil will try to wear out prayer warriors all over the world, by such cunning devices so we will not take some other “TRUE & CREDIBLE PRAYER ALERTS” requests seriously and that devious crafty warped devilish mind with impunity slaughter faithful Missionaries who dare to reach where few would dare to look, even on the very edge of Hell, and get back those who are destined to perish.
Please send this message across the net to all true Christians who care to Pray.
When i read these messages above i was really very glad, we christian brothers and sisters are really concerned about our other christian brothers and sisters who are in trouble who are facing persecution. Let this unity which the lord Jesus Christ has sown in our heart remain forever and let us all keep on praying for those are been persucted or being tortured for the sake of our Lord.
If 22 christian missionaries be executed today at Afghanistan please give a feedback. we are prayer for a miracle just in case…… or is this a texting scam?
Fortunately, it’s a scam.
I just received this text today! I looked on line and there is an online article that talks about 23 Koreans being held in 2007, with the first being executed and the remainder threatened to be executed. It has the date of the article (July 2007) but at the top of the website it has the weather details for today (4 March 2009). I suspect that someone has seen this and not realised it is an old article, given the current date on the weather.
Good to pray anyway
waaawww… I also got this message, 3 March 09. I’m in indonesia. It must be a hoax.
Jesus bless us
I am in Jakarta, Indonesia just rcvd thye msg text today (04th march) from my friend…as I read above comments…to many “today” at this msg,
….true ot not true…hoping this will not happened at anywhere…at anytime…
Thank the Lord that this was a hoax sms, maybe one of the phone companies was trying to make some extra profit knowing that Christians would very quickly pass on the sms to have other believers praying for their brthers and sisters also. (Just a theory) Grace and peace in abundance to you all.
i also received this text today mar.5..it threatens me really that’s why i check it right away in the internet and yet there’s no clear info. on this.. hopefully this is not true.. GOD will always protect HIS people in every way ordinary man cant predict..if someone scattered this message for fun, well, this is not a good joke..be enlightened.
Yep.. got one from a friend today who must have believed it and sent it to me also. other website says it’s a hoax. Here’s a link to check. http://www.scamtypes.com/more-on-the-22-afghanistan-executions-hoax.html
It’s always good to pray everyday for our Christian Missionaries all over the world everyday, remembering that the battle belongs to our Lord and he has already one victory over death through His son Jesus Christ.
Just hoax SMS ?
Thanks God..