World News
IRAQ: Rioters Burn Christian BusinessesSource: Compass Direct News, 06 December 2011. Attacks in previously safe northern Kurdish Iraq against Christian Assyrians erupted in December for the first time. Following a mullah’s sermon a group of young men attacked and burned several Christian and secular shops and businesses including: hotels, liquor stores, a massage parlor and a beauty salon. The rampage threatens the vulnerable Christian population that remained in the region after the huge 2003 exodus. Later in the week a mob tried to attack th Christian quarters of Zakho but were stopped by authorities.
EGYPT: Mob Attacks ChristiansSource: Release International, 31 January 2012.
A 3000-strong mob attacked and burned Christian homes and shops near Alexandria in late-January after rumours of a Christian man having ‘intimate’ photos of a Muslim woman on his phone. A meeting was initially organised between Christian and Muslim leaders to resolve the concerns but by 3pm a mob had got out of control. Neighbours were critical of the slow response by authorities and many Christians left the area after the violence. Christians in Kobry-el-Sharbat were told to stay at home the same week and not open their shops and businesses. SUDAN: Two Priests KidnappedSource: Compass Direct News, 25 January 2012.
Two Catholic priests have been kidnapped by Islamic militia in southern Sudan loyal to the Islamic regime in northern Sudan, after crashing a truck through St Josephine’s Bakhita Catholic Church compound 260km from Khartoum. The militia broke the rectory door down and took Rev. Sylvester Mogga and Rev. Joseph Makwey. They are being ransomed for 500,000 Sudanese pounds according to their bishop Daniel Adwok.
NIGERIA: Seven KilledSource: Compass Direct News, 24 January 2012.
Pray for the churches of Nigeria, and her enemies the Islamic radical militia, that their hearts will be turned and they would encounter Christ.
NIGERIA: Revival counters ViolenceSource: Persecution.com, January 2012.
The ongoing and widespread spiritual genocide against Christians in Nigeria by radicalised Islamists is only strengthening Christian faith and has sparked a revival at the Deeper Life Bible Church in Gombe. Many people are re-dedicating their lives to Jesus in the face of aggressive persecution, injury and death. At a meeting of 500 attendees and 50 pastors people fell on their knees, wept, sang, read the Bible and encouraged one another. Many readings were based on Isaiah 61:1-4: “The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor… rebuild(ing) the ancient ruins and restor(ing) the places long devastated…” |
IRAN: Yusef Nadarkhani UpdateSource: Persecution.com, 19 December 2011.
The latest information about pastor Yusef Nadarkhani’s case is that the head of the judiciary Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani ordered the district judge presiding over Yusef’s case to delay his written verdict for one year. Present Truth Ministries believes this is an attempt to dissipate international interest in the hope Christians and Western governments will forget about his case. Continue to pray and write on behalf of Yusef Nadarkhani so Iranian authorities are modified regarding his treatment and ultimate freedom, by international pressure. NIGERIA: UpdateSource: NZHerald, 10 January 2012.
We have posted previously about the late-2011 Muslim ‘religious cleansing’ of Christians in Africa’s most populous state, Nigeria, involving murders and villages being burned. On Christmas day 2011 several churches were bombed and there were many deaths. This has resulted in Nigeria’s president Goodluck Jonathan declaring an indefinite State of Emergency in four provinces of Nigeria as well as closing the border in affected areas. This gives authorities the right to make arrests without proof and conduct searches without warrants, in an attempt to stop the terrorism of the northern-based Muslim sects. It is hoped the Nigerian authorities will bring this violence under control and Christians, the targeted victims in this campaign, will be supported by the wider populace. Pray for Nigeria and President Goodluck Jonathan, that Muslim extremism will be stemmed and Nigeria will look to strengthen its Christian heritage and culture as a result of these attacks. |
Christian killed by Burmese military
Source: Compass Direct News, 09 January 2012.
There have been encouraging signs of reform in Myanmar including the visit of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in late 2011. However, during Christmas Government troops killed a 47-year-old Christian man and destroyed a church property in Kachin state. Maran Zau Ja was shot dead without provocation by the Burmese Army’s Light Infantry Battalion No. 321 on Christmas Day. He was a farmer returning from his sugar cane field with a friend when troops sprayed them with bullets. His friend survived the attack. They were perhaps mistaken as KIA Independence fighters seeking autonomy in the Christian-majority state. Burma’s prime minister U Nu has declared Buddhism Burma’s state religion.
Pray for growing reform and tolerance in Burma, and for the reduction in the military dictatorship as this nation reopens itself to global relationships. Pray for the safety of Christians throughout Burma, especially in Kachin province and against paranoia in the army and police forces.
Toll of Indonesian Violence in 2011
Source: Compass Direct News, 04 January 2012.
Photo: be-headed Indonesians.
Anti-Christian violence throughout Indonesia in 2011 was up over the previous year according to reports gathered by the Indonesian Protestant Church Union, largely because of a campaign by Islamists wanting to close churches:
2011 276 acts of violence
2010 198
A Jakata-based moderate Muslim group (the Wahid Institute) supporting peace and tolerance says it expected things to get worse.
Pray for peace in Indonesia in 2012.
Kurdish province less safe
Source: Persecution.com, 16 December 2011.
Factional unrest over who is in control of Iraq and independence movements have intensified, especially in the northern Kurdish region of Iraq, following the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq. Attacks on Christian-owned businesses in the north are concerning Christians because the area was formerly considered safe. In mid–December Mullah Mala Ismail Osman Sindi complained of moral corruption in the northern town of Zakho. A Muslim man stood up afterward and called out the names of Christian-owned businesses in the area which encouraged a group of young men to attack those businesses (approximately 30) most of-which were owned by Christians. The men also tried to attack the Christian neighborhood in Zakho but they were stopped by authorities. A VOM team in the region was quickly evacuated.
Pray for Zakho and against violence instigated in Mosques and anti-Christian sermons by Mullahs. Pray for moderate elements to hold power in Iraq and to achieve peace now that restraining and reconstruction Western influences have withdrawn.
CHINA: Shouwang Church
Source: ChinaAid, 04 January 2012.
The Shouwang Church and home group movement in China, denied access to venues for worship throughout 2011, concluded its 39th week of outdoor services (and protest) at Christmas 2011. The church governing committee decided to start 2012 with an indoor service on 1 January in a rented venue. All three venues rented by the church were denied after government interference. The Christians therefore decided to hold a 40th week of outdoor worship services in Zhongguancun Square. 50 believers were arrested and taken to local police stations, but most were subsequently released.
Pray for the Shouwang Christians and that this long-running stand-off will result in a compromise allowing Chinese people freedom of worship in China from 2012.
CHINA: Missing Prisoner Found
Source: ChinaAid, 01 January 2012.
Human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng disappeared 20 months ago. We are pleased to announce he has been located in a remote Chinese prison. His brother Gao Zhiyi received written notification early January that he is in Shaya Prison in remote far western China. The prison notification was dated 19 Dec. 2011, the first word in 20 months of his whereabouts.
Gao disappeared April 2010 following several police-forced disappearances. He was convicted of subversion in 2006 and just days before his five-year probation was due to end, was arrested and sent to prison for three-years for ‘violating’
Pray for Gao Zhisheng and his wife Geng He that this prolonged harassment by the Chinese government will end. Give thanks to God that he is alive and word has come.