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Persecution Report for 05 Nov 2002

Mission Network News reports this incident of believers being persecuted.

Nepal:

Evangelists viewed as spies.

In Nepal, Maoist violence is causing problems for evangelism. The rebels want to overthrow the constitutional monarchy in the world’s only Hindu kingdom, resulting in an eruption of violence. International Needs Network’s Nicanor Tamang says that complicates their work. "It has been very difficult for us to openly go out especially out in the villages and towns to preach to the people in other areas. Travelling has become a very hazardous thing within the country. And, that has also caused a lot of problems for us as far as evangelism is concerned." Tamang says evangelists are viewed as spies, so trust takes time to develop. He says prayer is essential. "We need to pray for the stable government in Nepal. For that, we need to pray for the king of Nepal, the royal family, the military, the police, the whole administration, and the political parties there. Once we have the stability, I believe, it will be easy for us to move from place to place sharing the Gospel."

Please go to http://www.mnnonline.org to learn more about missions news and to hear a weekday audio newscast.

The Voice Of The Martyrs reports the following persecution incidents.

India:

Christians not tolerated.

Sources for The Voice of the Martyrs report that acts of violence against Christians in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu have increased in light of recent legislation forbidding religious conversions. The legislation is similar to that which was earlier passed by the state government in the northern state of Orissa. On October 28, we received the following message from one of our sources in Tamil Nadu. We cannot identify the source for security reasons. "At the moment there is a lot going on between Hindus and Muslims in this area. There are protest rallies by Hindus. Churches are being burned, including the church of our pastor. Other Christian buildings and schools are closed. The Hindus are very radical and won’t tolerate Christians in their area. They want to convert everyone. When a Hindu converts to Christianity, he is cast out by the whole community (family, friends, neighbours). Please remember the situation here in your prayers." VOM also learned this week how four Christian families were recently beaten in the streets and the young girls raped when they refused to take part in a Hindu festival in the state of Orissa. When the police were told, they did nothing.

Bhutan:

Forty believers arrested and tortured.

Forty Christian believers were arrested on September 24 and have been tortured for their faith, according to sources from Gospel for Asia (GFA). According to the report received this week, authorities have told church members, "I will persecute the Christians and put an end to them in Bhutan." They have also told one pastor to stop evangelism or they will cut off electricity and water to his home. In the October issue of The Voice of the Martyrs Newsletter, you can read of how two Bhutanese evangelists recently faced prison and torture for their faith in Christ. To read their incredible testimony and to subscribe to the monthly newsletter, go to www.persecution.net/nlarticle1.htm.

Libya, Belarus, Uzbekistan:

Updates on previous alerts.

The Voice of the Martyrs is frequently asked for updates on stories previously carried. Unfortunately, updates are not always available. However, news has been received this week on three stories covered in recent months by the Persecution and Prayer Alert.

(a) Students arrested in Libya

VOM first reported on August 21, 2002 that fourteen students from Nasser University in Tripoli were on trial for converting to Christianity. One concern was that, even if released, they could be killed by their families for converting from Islam. Recent reports being circulated said that the students had been executed. On October 25, The Voice of the Martyrs received confirmation that they were still alive, but had been sentenced to death.

(b) Oppressive religion bill in Belarus on October 2, 2002,

The Voice of the Martyrs reported that the most repressive religion bill in Europe had passed in Belarus and only needed the president’s signature to become law. At the time it was reported that the president was to sign within days see www.persecution.net/pnparchive/arch7.htm). If signed, the new law would outlaw any unregistered religious activity. It would require prior censorship on all religious literature and ban any foreign citizens from leading a religious organization. Any publishing and education would be restricted to faiths that had at least one registered community in 1982 and now have at least ten registered communities. There would also be a ban on most religious meetings in private homes. To date, the bill has still not been signed into law by President Aleksandr Lukashenko. Many are surprised that this bill has not been signed, since it has strong support in the government and the dominant Russian Orthodox Church According to Keston, The deadline for signing is imminent and if the president does not either sign it or return it to the lower house of parliament, the law will come into legal force anyway. The churches in Belarus are not giving up. They are fasting and praying for the law to be repealed.

(c) Leaders arrested in Uzbekistan as church seeks registration

The Mir Church in the town of Nukus in the republic of Karakalpakstan in northwest Uzbekistan has faced problems with registration for two years. Previously, The Voice of the Martyrs has reported on problems it has faced with the paperwork required for registration as well as a raid on the church in May 2002. As a result of that raid, the pastor was warned to not hold meetings. According to a report from Keston News Service on October 29, the church had only one document left to obtain before it would be officially re-registered when it was raided and the church leaders were charged with "participation in the activity of illegal religious organizations." There were also accusations church leaders were luring minors into religious activities, even though all children in the church have a signed statement from the parents permitting religious education. According to Pastor Konstantin Kmit, police investigators have been interviewing only church members from traditionally Muslim backgrounds, raising speculation that they intend to charge the church leaders with proselytism, which is illegal. While the investigation is going on, the police have closed the church office.

Please check http://www.persecution.net to learn more about believers suffering for their faith and what can be done on their behalf.

Keston News Service has the following religious rights violations to report.

Russia:

Top religious affairs official promoted or fired?

Rumours that one of Russia’s top state officials dealing with religious affairs had been dismissed under the influence of the Moscow Patriarchate appeared to be partially substantiated, with the appearance of a decree signed by Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov appointing Harry Minkh as official government representative to the Federation Council, in place of Andrei Sebentsov. Speculation that a federal "ministry of religion" may be created, headed by Sebentsov, cannot be confirmed.

Russia:

Work in progress on draft amendments to 1997 law leaked.

All work in progress on amendments to Russia’s 1997 religious law has now been published on an internet site (www.state-religion.ru). But the chairman of the governmental working group currently reviewing the law, Andrei Sebentsov, has denied to Keston News Service that a comprehensive text agreed upon by his group was in existence.Keston News Service has already (in KNS 2 April 2002) highlighted the main differences from the 1997 law in the text of Articles 1-16, which was posted on the same web site earlier this year. As well as Articles 17-27, the latest text includes changes to what was published earlier. The most significant changes affect Religious Group Status,Liquidation, Monitoring, and Financial Activity.

Please see http://www.keston.org to learn more about religious rights violations in communist and post-communist lands.

ASSIST Ministries has this persecution incident to report.

Belarus:

U.S. condemns new religion legislation in

The United States has condemned Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko for signing what human rights workers call "Europe’s most restrictive" religion law, ASSIST News Service monitored Saturday, November 2. U.s. State Department Deputy Spokesman Philip T. Reeker seemed to share concern that the legislation, signed October 31, will force especially non Orthodox Christians and other groups to go underground or to leave the country, as during the Soviet era. "We join the European Union and members of many faiths in our opposition to this law, which appears intended primarily to hinder and prevent the activities of religious groups that the Lukashenko regime considers "non-traditional" faiths," Reeker said in a statement. He stressed the law "also places unacceptable restrictions" on all faiths in some measure, "as it requires permission from government authorities for religious processions and other activities, such as masses, weddings, funerals, and religious meetings." The controversial legislation bans unregistered religious activity, requires compulsory prior censorship for all religious literature, and forbids bans foreign citizens from leading religious organizations.

please check http://www.assist-ministries.org to learn more about this news organization.

   

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