Shariah law to be tightened if Sudan splits, says president

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashi says the north of Sudan will reinforce its Islamic laws if the south secedes because of next month’s referendum, reported BBC News on Monday.

"If South Sudan secedes, we will change the constitution," Mr Bashir told a gathering of his supporters in the eastern town of Gederef on Sunday. "Shariah and Islam will be the main source for the constitution, Islam the official religion and Arabic the official language.”

Correspondents say the president’s comments are likely to alarm thousands of non-Muslim southerners living in the north as they are currently protected from some of the stronger aspects of Shariah.

Senior northern officials are just starting to acknowledge publicly that South Sudan—where most people follow traditional beliefs and Christianity—are almost certain to choose to separate in the referendum.

You can read the full report here.

Algerian Christians sentenced for setting up "illegal" place of worship

Freedom of religion in Algeria is
dwindling since legal changes in 2006,
and persecution has been intensifying
since 2008.

On December 12, four Christians were given suspended prison sentences for opening a place of worship in the eastern region of Kabylia, Algeria, without a proper license issued by authorities.

The Christians—a Protestant clergyman and three of his parishioners—were convicted on the basis of a controversial 2006 law that requires that anyone who wants to set up a place of worship, whether Muslim or non-Muslim, must obtain a permit indicating the name of the place of worship as well as that of the pastor. Some believe this law violates Algeria's constitution, and this is first time it has been enforced in the nation.

Three of the men—Abdenour Raid, Nacer Mokrani and Idir Haoudj—received two-month prison sentences. The fourth man, Pastor Mahmoud Yahou, was sentenced to three months in jail and fined the equivalent of $135 CAN for illegally sheltering a foreigner.

Although the suspended sentences mean the four Christians will not serve prison time, Yahou told Compass Direct News that he and the three other men plan to appeal the verdict because the outcome of their case could affect all Protestant churches of the country, none of which have official permission to operate.

You can read the full report here.

Pray for endurance of faith for these four believers as they face opposition. Pray that they will look to God, knowing that their lives and ministries are in His hands. Pray that the ministry of churches in Algeria will continue and that the gospel will be preached throughout the nation.

Pray for religious liberty today!

On Saturday, you read about Religious Liberty Trends in 2010 and how religious liberty is in decline globally. Please pray with us today.

Gracious Lord,

We ask you to bless your Church with a great awakening of faith.

May imminently imperilled Christians in Sudan, Somalia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq and Egypt put their faith in you alone.

May increasingly subjugated and threatened Christians throughout the Muslim world—including Indonesia (especially Papua and West Java), Malaysia, Bangladesh, Lebanon, Iran and the North Caucasus—put their faith in you alone.

May repressed and persecuted believers throughout Asia—including China, North Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, India, Maldives and Sri Lanka—put their faith in you alone.

May Western Christians experiencing the consequences of “culture change” put their faith in you alone.

May those who advocate for religious liberty, for the persecuted and for justice and righteousness put their faith in you alone.

May those who work to raise awareness and relieve suffering put their faith in you alone. For “without faith it is impossible to please” the Lord (Hebrews 11:6).

We ask this so that “all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone are the LORD” (Isaiah 37:20b).

In Christ’s name, we pray.

Amen!

The decline of religious liberty

Elizabeth Kendal, an international religious liberty analyst and advocate, recently wrote a report for the Australian Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission.

Her report is about religious liberty and its decline globally. It definitely warrants a read.

“In whom do you now trust?” (Isaiah 36:5b ESV)

Religious liberty is in decline globally. Consequently, persecution of Christians and repression of Christian humanitarianism and proclamation are on the increase globally.

In the non-West, persecution of Christians continued to escalate through 2010. The draining wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, combined with the “global financial collapse” of August 2008, have left America without the economic leverage to convince leaders of non-free states to rein in persecution.

This comes at a time when intolerant, fundamentalist Islam is in revival and intolerant, religious nationalism is emerging as a dominant political force in the world. Meanwhile, Iran is ascendant in the Middle East and exerting influence across the Muslim world. Likewise, China is ascendant in Asia and exerting influence in Africa and other places where it has established a presence. To counter domestic tensions, both Iran and China are escalating persecution against anything that could threaten “harmony,” i.e. the political status quo.
As persecution escalates, neither the US nor the EU (European Union) nor the UN nor any NGO (non-government organisation) can do anything about it. 

Not only is the West increasingly powerless to help the persecuted in the non-West, but due to “culture change,” the West itself is becoming increasingly hostile to Christianity. The more the West “evolves” from a Judeo-Christian to a post-Christian culture, the more it becomes just like other non-Judeo-Christian cultures: intolerant, authoritarian, repressive and hostile towards Christ.

For many decades now, the West has been forgetting God (Deuteronomy 8: 11-20) and in pride and arrogance has been pursuing independence and self-sufficiency. Across much of the West, once dominant Christian values have become minority values increasingly deemed to be in violation of human rights. As the West lurches towards “culture collapse,” Western leaders are similarly becoming increasingly desperate for “harmony” at any price. Consequently, belligerent forces are being appeased while Christians are starting to lose their jobs, their places at university, their right to free speech and witness, and even their right to serve in a humanitarian and charitable capacity.

Unless there is widespread revival—for this is a spiritual issue before it is a political one—the situation will only get worse. 

Over recent decades, persecuted Christians and their advocates have increasingly invested their hopes, trust and faith in governments and NGOs, especially in the US and the UN. Persecuted Christians and their advocates should be starting to realise that politics, the projects of men, powerful alliances and military might are all failing to bring security.

As the devil mockingly asks, “In whom do you now trust?” let us pray that the crisis serves to awaken and revive the Church. Might we like King Hezekiah remember our gracious, faithful Lord and turn to Him (Isaiah 36-37).

We are Christians; we will suffer

Written by Reese Maguire

VOMC recently received some tweets via Twitter:

@VOMC Help me understand, pls. If Jesus said we were gonna share n His suffring b/c the world would hate us too...why r we complaining?

@VOMC I thought the Bible said to count it all joy? & that He would give us power to bear up under it?

If the Bible clearly tells us that we will suffer for His name’s sake, why then, as Christians, do we sometimes complain about suffering? And, why are we surprised when we suffer?

Now, there isn’t a post long enough to explore all the reasons why Christians suffer. Nor is there one long enough to cover the many issues that contribute to suffering or the explanations of those issues. So, I’ll simplify and say the Bible tells us that we will suffer and that we should be joyful when we do.

The Apostle Peter writes:

Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. (1 Peter 4: 12-13 NKJV).

“Don’t be surprised.” We should never be surprised when we suffer for Christ’s name. Instead, we should anticipate it. In the West, however, we enjoy religious freedoms that allow us openly to represent Christ. We don’t anticipate suffering in that context.

“Be very glad.” James 1: 2-4 tells us why: “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (NKJV). In joy, Christ endured the cross. In joy, we endure trials, tribulations and suffering.

Around the world, there are more than 50 nations without the religious freedoms of the West. Many, many Christians suffer because of it. Our goal at VOM Canada is to raise awareness of the suffering that exists, not to complain about it, because we know we will suffer. We want our fellow believers to know we suffer with them. And, we want you to know about their suffering so that you can join in prayer and help provide for their needs.

So, to recap, when it comes to suffering, Christians should:

1. never be surprised, 
2. be very glad and 
3. consider it an opportunity for great joy. 

Please pray for our fellow brothers and sisters today!

House churches forcibly closed in Indonesia

VOM partners in Indonesia are reporting that seven house churches were forcibly closed down in West Java, Indonesia, due to local Muslims' objections to the buildings being used for "illegal church meetings."

On December 12, between 200 and 300 Muslim militants from hardliner groups such as the Islam Protector Front (FPI), Moslem Forum (FUI) and the Islamic Reformation Movement (Garis) gathered outside seven houses and performed sudden inspections of the buildings.

The house churches were being used by members of the Protestant Batak Christian Huria Church. The militants said the buildings could not be used for Christian worship services and told the congregation to meet elsewhere.

The police high commissioner adjutant, Hendro Pandowo, denied the news, saying the Muslim fundamentalists raided some churches. The security troops of Bandung city were following up on that report by sealing the seven house churches.

The owners of the houses were told they could remain in their homes but were forbidden from opening their homes for Christian worship services.

Ask God to use this ordeal to strengthen the members of this church. Pray that they will demonstrate Christ's love to those who oppose them and that their faith will be a light which helps lead others to the Lord. Pray that Indonesian Christians suffering for Christ will keep their eyes on Jesus, persevere in their faith and not grow weary or lose heart (Hebrews 10:32-39; 12:1-3).

Take a look at this video on the dangers of being an evangelist in Indonesia (length 4:30).



For more videos about the suffering of Christians around the world, visit Persecution.TV.

He came once; He will come again!

A reproduction of Lorenzo Lotto's oil-on-wood
painting of "Christi Geburt" or "Birth of Jesus."

Written by Greg Musselman

Two of the greatest and most important events in human history center on the person of Jesus Christ. Without His birth 2,000 years ago and then His death and resurrection, His return would not be possible.

We know that Jesus’ birth occurred under the radar. With no fanfare, the coming of the King was about as low key as it gets. Only a few shepherds knew of His birth. When they went to find Him, they discovered a baby lying in a manger and wrapped in swaddling cloths. Those are humble beginnings for the Son of God!

His return, however, will be unlike His humble beginning; it will be spectacular and amazing!

Now, there are many schools of thought about the return of Christ. Clergy and theologians have debated them for centuries. Many have predicted Jesus’ return—even just 20 years after His death and resurrection—though scripture tells us not to do so. What the Bible does tell us is that Jesus will someday return to earth. For now, we live in between His first and second comings.

Two millennia ago, the Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Thessalonica, addressing false reports that said Jesus had come and gone (2 Thessalonians 2: 1-2). No, Jesus had not come back, and, no, he has not left His followers behind. Paul explained what events would happen before Jesus’ return so that His followers need not live in a state of perpetual uncertainty (verses 3-4).

What strikes me about this passage is the expectancy of the coming of the Lord these Christians had. There was a great expectation of His return, and the persecution Jesus’ followers underwent at the time fueled it.

Ultimately, these believers did not want to miss Christ’s return.

This Christmas, as we look back at the wonderful gift God has given us, let us also look forward to His promised return. When He does come back to earth, He will answer the cry of the martyrs. Revelation 6:10 reads, “And they cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth’" (NKJV)?

Until then the truth of His spectacular return that gave hope to the first-century Christians also gives our brothers and sisters around the world hope and comfort, as they suffer for the one born two centuries ago!

Iraq's War on Christianity

Tim Rutten with the Los Angeles Times recently wrote “Iraq’s War on Christians,” and it’s a bit of an expose on the lack of response by the West to help those being persecuted in the East.

Here is an excerpt:

Putting aside America's particular culpability in Iraq, the West as a community of nations has long turned a blind eye to the intolerance of the Middle East's Muslim states—an intolerance that has intensified with the spread of Salafism, Islam's brand of militant fundamentalism. Our ally Saudi Arabia is the great financial and ideological backer of this hatred. In fact, when it comes to religion, the kingdom and North Korea are the most criminally intolerant countries in the world.

Additionally, Mr. Rutten discusses how churches established in Christ’s name are being pushed to the brink of oblivion in the very region where their faith was born.

Another excerpt:

Paradoxically, the one country in the Middle East whose Christian population has grown in recent years is Israel, where more than 150,000 Christians enjoy religious freedom. That lends a particular pathos to the way in which the current persecution of Christians mirrors that which destroyed most of the region's ancient Jewish communities following Israel's establishment in 1948. Iraq, for example, was home to one of the Mideast's largest and most vibrant Jewish populations, one that predated Christianity by many centuries. It was in the great Jewish academies along the Euphrates that the more authoritative of the two Talmuds was argued out and compiled after the Second Temple's destruction. All that was swept away in a wave of hatred, as were all but vestiges of the equally ancient Jewish communities in Morocco, Egypt, Yemen, Syria and, more recently, Iran.

As one of the recent Christian refugees from Baghdad told the New York Times this week, "It's exactly what happened to the Jews."

I recommend taking a few minutes to read the full op-ed.

Azerbaijan officials want stiffer penalties for religious-activity infractions

Harsher punishment for religous
activity a "question of national
security" in Azerbaijan?

Eighteen months ago, Azerbaijan increased penalties for religious activity under the Criminal and Administrative Codes. Government officials and now ready to make the penalties stiffer.

Forum 18 News Service is reporting that parliamentary deputies are considering harsher penalties in proposed amendments to the Code of Administrative Offences. Minimum fines for individuals violating the Religion Law—such as holding unregistered religious worship—could be increased 15-fold.

"This is connected with religious communities which have failed to gain re-registration but still function," said Rabiyat Aslanova, chair of parliament's Human Rights Committee, on December 9. "It's so that they realise the responsibility for their actions. People are not fined just for praying to God. This is a question of national security."

The proposed amendments were approved on December 8, at a joint meeting of the Milli Mejlis (parliament) Legal Policy and State Building Committee and the Human Rights Committee. The amendments are ready to go to a plenary session, which is scheduled for late December.

The proposed increases in penalties have aroused concern among human rights defenders and religious communities, which are regularly penalised under the Code of Administrative Offences for religious activity such as for holding unregistered worship or other religious meetings, or sharing their faith.

You can read the full report here.

Pastor Quang released!

We reported yesterday that Vietnamese authorities demolished Pastor Quang's Mennonite Bible School in Ho Chi Minh City's district 2. Additionally, Pastor Quang was beaten and taken into custody.

Sources confirm that Pastor Quang has been released and reunited with his family. Praise God!

Stay tuned to upcoming issues of The Voice of the Martyrs newsletter for a special report on Pastor Quang and his work in Vietnam.

What we’re reading

In Son of Hamas, Yousef
finds Jesus and freedom.

Written by Floyd Brobbel

Son of Hamas by Mosab Hassan Yousef

The principal at my son’s school had the grade 11 class read Son of Hamas by Mosab Hassan Yousef. He challenged parents to read the book as well, so I picked up a copy.

Yousef is the eldest son of Sheikh Hassan Yousef, a founding member of Hamas. Hamas is the largest and most influential Palestinian-Islamist militant movement and is considered a terrorist organization by many governments. For years, young Yousef assisted his father in his political activities while being groomed to assume his legacy. Everything changed when Yousef decided to follow Christ.

This book will have a profound influence on anyone searching for a true and lasting peace, as Yousef himself concludes, “The message of Jesus—love your enemies—is what finally set me free.”  

Given a copy of the Bible, Yousef was touched by this revelation after reading the Sermon on the Mount. He found Jesus’ words incredible, and each verse seemed to touch a wound in his life.

“I had money, power and position in my former life” Yousef writes, “but what I really wanted was freedom.  And that meant, among other things, leaving behind hate, prejudice and a desire for revenge.”

The power of God’s love revealed through his Word is astounding. It can breathe into the darkest, hardest and most hopeless life to bring about a change. It brought freedom to Yousef who found that the real prison he was in was one of his own making. It can also bring change to the Middle East.

“Truth and forgiveness are the only solution for the Middle East,” writes Yousef. “The challenge, especially between Israelis and Palestinians, is not to find the solution. The challenge is to be courageous enough to embrace it.”

There is much brokenness in the lives of people all over the world. Many wounded people cling to hate and seek revenge. But, if Jesus is the only real hope for peace in the Middle East, doesn’t it make sense that He is the only solution for peace in our lives?

Yousef’s transformation came as a result of embracing Jesus and His words and finding healing from a life of bitterness and hate. We must pray that there will be more in the Middle East who will also find the courage to embrace the Word.

Sudan's referendum vote approaches; pray

Pray for Sudan as its
referendum vote approaches.

In 21 days, voters in southern Sudan will decide whether to secede from the North. Now more than ever, our fellow Sudanese brothers and sisters need our prayers.

Take a look at a report posted today by Mission Network News.

Anticipation and tension mount as Sudan's referendum approaches

Sudan (MNN) ― Anticipation is building as election officials in Sudan are ramping up for a key vote that could determine the peace of a nation.

In just 21 days, as part of a 2005 peace deal, voters in southern Sudan will decide whether to secede from the North. "Polling places are being established inside Sudan; absentee ballots are being distributed. There's a crescendo of activity pointing toward January 9."

Lee DeYoung with Words of Hope says everyone is aware of the weight of this decision. Already, believers in neighboring countries are organizing in solidarity. "There are large prayer meeting gatherings where the focus of the prayer meeting is to intercede on behalf of the people of South Sudan. Many prayers are arising especially in neighboring countries, including Kenya and Uganda."

The tensions could erupt if either side refuses to accept the outcome of the vote. Prayer is the best preparation for peace. "If the outcome is for separating, [pray] that the government of the north will accept the will of the South Sudanese people, and that the arrangements that ensue will take place in a peaceful atmosphere."

If violence blows up, it could be more than one deadly month. "The January 9 referendum, if it is in favor of separation, would be implemented six months later, in July."

At stake is a loss of power and the South's oil resources. Observers say there are already reports of coercion and threats because, as DeYoung says, "From all signs, it does seem as if most of the people, by a large margin of South Sudan, intend to vote in favor of becoming their own country."

Church leaders are calling upon Christians everywhere to pray for a peaceful referendum. The radio broadcasts are tailoring their content toward this message, too. "Words of Hope programs continue to point toward the referendum. The Words of Hope programs in Dinka, Nuer and Bari are focusing increasingly on themes of peace and reconciliation drawn from Scripture."

The Gospel message is echoed in the evangelistic work of the local church bodies. "These, we hope, will be complementing the work of many churches so that the tendency and the history for tribal conflict might give way."

A historic moment is three weeks away, sure to be one of the biggest news events of 2011. Keep praying for peace. Ask God to give believers wisdom as they navigate the days ahead in a time of change.

Vietnamese officials demolish Bible school

Members of the Civil Defence and Night Watchman
oversee over the demolition.

Our sister mission VOM Australia has learned that a force of 500 Vietnamese police officers, task-force soldiers and fire brigadiers used bulldozers to demolish Pastor Quang’s Mennonite Bible School in District 2 HCMC this morning.

Pastor Quang was one of many whose homes and businesses stood in the way of commercial development by the Vietnamese government.

Pastor Quang was detained. Sources say he was severely beaten. Twenty students were also arrested and interrogated.

Please pray for Pastor Quang’s safety and health, as well as the safety and well-being of his family. Pray for his immediate release. Pray the Bible School students would stand courageous and continue to proclaim Jesus Christ is Lord.

Stay tuned to upcoming issues of The Voice of the Martyrs newsletter for updates.

Christians in Karachi under fire

Pray for our Christian
family in Pakistan.

ASSIST News Service (ANS) is reporting local Pakistani Christians and the family of a Christian youth are receiving death threats, following the elopement and marriage of a young Christian man who converted to Islam and his young Muslim bride.

Recently in Baldia Town (located in the western part of Karachi) and Saeedabad (also in Karachi), the homes of local Christians were attacked, women were abused and household items vandalized by Muslim fanatics under the guise of “searching for a Christian youth.”

Sources say they attacked because a 20-year-old Christian man recanted his Christianity and converted to Islam to elope with an 18-year-old Muslim girl in Baldia on November 20.

Elvis Steven, a Christian lawyer and minority rights advocate, said that, although the Christian youth had contracted a court marriage and had become a Muslim, the people of the Hazara tribe “harboured a grudge against the local Christian family in particular and against all Christians of Baldia town generally.”

The father of the converted young man said that instead of protecting the Christians from Muslim fanatics, Saeedabad Police Officers launched a case against the young man and his family for allegedly abducting the young woman.

Steven said local police are “reluctant to provide security to Christians.” He also said that the Saeedabad Police and Rangers Police came forward to take security measures against Muslim radical groups only after police informers told them that radical Islamist militants were planning a massive armed attack against local Christians.

Many Christians in the area have fled from their homes to save their lives.

You can read the full report here.

Please pray for strength and courage for our brothers and sisters in Pakistan. Pray that God will make a way for them where there seems to be no way. Pray the young Pakistani man will be drawn back to Christ and that his young bride will have her heart drawn to Christ also.

Status of Christians in Hamadan Prison remains unknown

Image from FCNN video news report
on YouTube

Back in September, VOMC reported that nine Iranian Christians were arrested in Hamadan on charges of evangelistic activities. Three months later, charges against four of the individuals are still undecided.

Having heard from Mohabat News reporters and the Iranian Christian News Agency (ICNA), ASSIST News Service is reporting that Armenian-Iranian Christian Vahik Abrahamian and his wife, Sonia Keshish Avanessian, and Farsi-speaking Arash Kermanjany and Arezou Teimouri remain in jail.

Mohabat and ICNA reported that security authorities, in collaboration with the media, said the group’s purpose was to destroy the Islamic Republic of Iran. The story reportedly called them, “Zionist Christians.”

On the evening of September 4, security forces entered Vahik’s home and arrested him. Two other Christian converts were there as guests at the same time. Security officers searched the house and collected some personal belongings. Later they took the individuals to an undisclosed location.

Mohabat and ICNA sources said Vahik and Arash are incarcerated in Section 4 of the Hamadan Public Prison, and Sonia and Arezou are in the women’s section of the same facility.

Additionally, Mohabat and ICNA said judicial authorities have yet to say why these believers are still imprisoned without being formally charged.

You can read the full report here.

Please pray for the release of these believers. Pray that God will equip them to share the truth for which they suffer, even in prison. Pray that increased persecution in Iran will result in increased boldness among Christians (Acts 4:29-31).

Pastor sentenced to 3 years in Bhutan prison

Proselytism and incitement to
convert are illegal in Bhutan.

ASSIST News Service is reporting that the Bhutan High Court sentenced Gospel for Asia-supported missionary Ugyen Tashi to three years in prison for “attempting to promote civil unrest” for showing a film about Jesus.

In late May, Tashi walked for two days, carrying a generator and a projector, into interior villages of Bhutan to give people a chance to learn about Jesus. When one of the village chiefs learned of the movie’s content, he informed the chief of his district, who then called the police to arrest Tashi.

After multiple postponements and cancellations, Tashi was taken to court two months after his arrest.

GFA leaders initially met with local officials to appeal for Tashi’s release on bail, but the officials refused their petition, because they considered Tashi’s case very serious and a possible violation of Bhutan’s constitution, which states, “No person shall be compelled to belong to another faith by means of coercion or inducement.”
Tashi was asked to write a statement for the court, but his first statement was considered insufficient. He rewrote his statement nine times, paying $2.50 each time.

On August 17, the court presented all of Tashi’s statements in the presence of the officials and asked Tashi to screen the controversial film on the life of Jesus before the court the following day. Although it was reported that the court officials wanted to watch all the films Tashi had shown before a final verdict was pronounced, not one was shown.

Bhutan’s High Court declared Ugyen guilty and gave him three years in prison.

You can read the full report here.

Please pray for Pastor Tashi while he is in prison. Pray for his health, and that he will be able to effectively minister while he’s behind bars. Pray also for the other believers living in Bhutan. Pray for their protection, strength to endure persecution and discernment on how to share the Good News with those around them.

China launches crackdown on house churches

There are more than 50 million Chinese Christians in
unregistered church networks.

Chinese authorities last week launched a crackdown directed at Christians who belong to China’s huge network of unregistered house churches, says ASSIST News Service.

A ChinaAid news release says the powerful Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party launched "Operation Deterrence" on December 1, and it is expected to continue through March 2011.

The foot soldiers of China's security apparatus— CCP Central Committee for Comprehensive Management of Social Order—have been told to collect information about house churches throughout the country and turn these reports in to their superiors. A "blacklist" of church leaders and influential believers has also reportedly been drawn up.

ChinaAid had described "Operation Deterrence" as a broader crackdown on human rights defenders and activists during which 20 rights defenders were to be arrested and sentenced. The action was timed to coincide with yesterday’s award ceremony for the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize.

However, the latest information, obtained by ChinaAid from more than one reliable source, makes it clear that the target of the crackdown is more narrowly focused and may be directed solely at China's network of house churches and their members.

You can read the full report here.

Afghan authorities block lawyer from visiting jailed Christian

Said Musa
(Photo courtesy
Release International)

Last week, we told you about Said Musa, an Afghanistan Christian who was arrested in May after video footage, showing Afghan Christians being baptised and participating in prayer gatherings, was televised nationally. The broadcast triggered protests throughout the country along with calls to execute Christians.

Said (alternatively spelled Sayed Mossa) is a father of six and an amputee with a prosthetic leg. Since his arrest, he has been tortured, abused and threatened with death. He has been unable to find an Afghan lawyer willing to represent him, and his family has been unable to access his file that includes the charges against him.

His trial, which was to take place on November 21, was postponed.

Compass Direct News is reporting today that, two weeks ago, a Christian lawyer traveled to Kabul on behalf of Christian legal rights organization Advocates International to represent Said. Authorities denied the lawyer access to Said and to his indictment file.

“If a man is not entitled to define his own beliefs, and to change those ideas, under the existing constitutional order of Afghanistan, then how is this government more moral than the Taliban’s?” the lawyer said in an email to Compass Direct News.

Said finally appeared before a judge on November 27 and without prior notice. Rejecting the case file as deficient, the judge sent it to the attorney general’s office for corrections, according to the lawyer. The lawyer said he has deduced that the file was missing a formal indictment and other “incriminating” evidence.

Afghan law says that Said is entitled to see a copy of the indictment and review the evidence against him, but authorities have denied him both rights. If the prosecutor does not present the court with an indictment within 15 days of arrest, the lawyer said, an accused person has the right to be released.

You can read the full report here.

Please continue to pray for Said Musa’s release from prison and for his safety and well-being. Pray that he will remain courageous and willing to share the love of Christ with those around him.

Christians fear civilian casualties in Burma

Burmese Christian minorities suffer
greatly at the hands of the military.

Civilians in two ethnic minority states with large Christian populations fear their lives will be in danger as skirmishes between rebels and a Burmese junta bent on instilling Buddhist nationalism threaten to escalate into war.

“It is likely that the military junta will carry out a military offensive against ethnic armed groups now that the elections are over,” Nang Mya Naddy, ethnic program coordinator of the Democratic Voice of Burma radio program, told Compass Direct News.

Christians fear that full-scale civil war in Burma (also known as Myanmar) could result in either ethnic cleansing or total subjugation of minorities. Persecution of Christians in Burma is part of a wider campaign against ethnic minority tribes to create a uniform society in which the only accepted religion is Buddhism.

Pray for intervention that will bring justice. Pray also for repentance of those who use their power in wicked ways. Burma is a deeply fractured nation on a political, ecclesiological and especially ethnic level. Pray for seemingly impossible ethnic harmony, effective federalism and peace. There are many causes of division among Burmese Christians—ethnic, political, passivism/military activism and doctrinal. Pray for spiritual unity.

You can read the full report here.

Stand in solidarity with missing Chinese Christian

Gao was last seen with his
family in January 2009.
(Photo ChinaAid)

For nearly two years, Gao Zhisheng, a Christian human rights lawyer in China has been detained by authorities, his whereabouts often unknown. He was initially seized from his home in Shaanxi province on February 4, 2009, and held incommunicado by security officials for 13 months. In early April 2010, news surfaced that he had been released. Shortly thereafter he was again reported missing.

In an October radio interview, Gao’s wife, Geng He, expressed her and her family’s eagerness to find him: “My family only wants to get some news of him. When I talked with his sister, she said: ‘He is a member of the family. No matter what he does, such as eating the daily meals, sleeping or even taking a walk outside, anything would make us miss him. Where on earth has he gone?’ The entire family of mine is puzzled and we have been looking for him ever since.”

You can get involved in a worldwide advocacy effort on Gao's behalf. In recognition of Human Rights Day on December 10, ChinaAid is coordinating a campaign with the aim of delivering 150,000 signed petitions to Chinese embassies around the world.

Please consider joining with your friends and family members in writing letters and delivering them to the Chinese embassy in Ottawa.

H.E. Zhang Junsai
Ambassador
Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Canada
515 St. Patrick St.
Ottawa, ON K1N 5H3
Tel: 613-789-3509
Fax: 613-789-1414

Your sample letter might look like this:

To the Honourable Ambassador from China,

I am aware that Chinese authorities have detained Christian attorney Gao Zhisheng since February 4, 2009. He was at the home of relatives in Shaanxi province when more than a dozen Public Security Bureau officers took him away. He resurfaced in April of this year and then disappeared again.

Since 2005, Gao has been repeatedly kidnapped, arrested, imprisoned and tortured for his work defending those persecuted for their faith. He and his family have been monitored by authorities for more than two years.

I am praying for the leaders of China and request that you communicate with relevant Chinese leaders and release Gao Zhisheng immediately, as arbitrary detention is in violation of Chinese law.

Thank you for your kind attention to this matter.

Your name

Need some additional letter-writing guidance? Download VOM’s letter-writing guide here.