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Subject: Persecution Report for Tuesday 09-Sep-2003

ON HIS MAGESTY'S SERVICE -- BRUCE.

Date: Sun, 7 Sep 2003 19:08:42 -0700

From: "Bruce Atchison" <ve6xtc@telusplanet.net>

To: "Ted" <thilts@help-for-you.com>

PERSECUTION REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER 9, 2003.

The Voice Of The Martyrs presents the following incidents of Christians suffering persecution.

Belarus:

New law may place obstacles on public religious gatherings

Those of "minority faiths," including Protestant Christians, may find it more difficult to hold public events in Belarus, according to a September 1 report from Forum 18. In June, both houses of parliament approved a law governing public events and demonstrations, stating that organizations may be liquidated (made illegal) if any one event results in "substantial harm to the rights and legal interests of citizens or organisations, or the state or public interest." The law, which came into force on August 29, initially contained exemptions for religious gatherings, but these were reportedly removed by President Aleksandr Lukashenko. The actual enforcement of the law will largely depend upon local and state officials. Some are supportive of religious gatherings while others are very restrictive. Pentecostal Bishop Sergei Khomich told Forum 18 that, "In one region we were told that we could not hold baptisms in lakes and rivers because it would disturb fishermen."

Vietnam:

Pastors arrested and beaten

Sources for The Voice of the Martyrs report that ten pastors were taken from a meeting at the home of Rev. Bi V?n Ba in Ho Chi Minh City on August 18. After protests from the United Gospel Outreach Church, seven of the pastors were released. Pastor Ba and two other pastors were handcuffed to tables and tortured. They were released the following day after representatives of the United Nations Human Rights Committee flew to Ho Chi Minh City to intervene. Pastor Ba remains under house arrest, charged with resisting arrest.

Sri Lanka:

Evangelicals concerned over possible exclusion

The National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka (EASL) is asking for assistance to ensure that the government of Sri Lanka officially recognizes evangelical churches. The Christian Affairs Ministry of Sri Lanka has recently announced that it will be compiling a list of "recognized" churches, but it appears that only the Roman Catholic Church and mainline Protestant denominations will be included on the list. Evangelicals make up less than one percent of the population, numbering around 120,000. There has been consistent pressure, particularly from Buddhist groups, against the evangelicals. The EASL is concerned that, if evangelical churches are left off the official list, it may amount to being outlawed.

Indonesia:

Cleric acquitted of leading church attacks

On September 1, an Indonesian court convicted Islamic cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir of treason and immigration charges and sentenced him to four years in jail. He was, however, acquitted of more serious charges when the judges ruled that there was not sufficient evidence to convict him of leading the militant Islamic group Jemaah Islamiah (JI). This group has been responsible for several attacks on churches, including attacks in December 2000, which left nineteen people dead. Prosecutors alleged that Ba'asyir had approved the church attacks. JI, which has links to al Qaeda, has also been blamed for last year's bombing of a nightclub in Bali and a failed assassination attempt on Indonesian President, Megawati Sukarnoputri.

Please check http://www.persecution.net for more information about persecuted Christians and how to help them.

Mission Network News has the following persecution reports.

Senegal:

Sharia law may be imposed on believers.

Christians are concerned Islamic law may soon be coming to the African country of Senegal. According to the Barnabas Fund, the Islamic Committee for Family Law Reform published a plan recently called "Personal Statute Code for Muslims." Many Christians in Senegal worry that they may be witnessing the first indications of the creeping growth of Sharia Law, which has been imposed in an increasing number of countries around the world. They also believe that it could limit evangelism even more in Senegal.

China:

New head of government just means more repression for Christians

Chinese Christians hoped a new president would lessen the pressure against the Christian church, but have found the opposite to be true. Voice of the Martyrs' Todd Nettleton says believers are pressured to get churches registered. However, registered churches are basically subject to government control." Registration generally means you are part of the Three Self-Patriotic Movement, which is the official, state-approved, protestant church there in China. You have to have a government-approved leader, meet in a government-approved location, no witnessing outside of that building and the government has to approve what's going to go on in the services." VOM suggests outside Christians take action." We need to pray for these believers held that they will withstand that pressure and even that they can be a witness to those who are questioning them. Let them know that you're aware of the situation. The government there will know that Christians in American know some details about the case and that makes the Chinese government very nervous."

Please go to http://www.mnnonline.org for missions news and links to sites which deal with persecuted believers.

Christian Aid Mission has these incidents of persecution to report.

India:

Final hearing set in Staines murder

Christians are praying for justice to be done in the final court hearing set for September 8 in the case of the murder of Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two sons, Philip, 10, and Timothy, 7, on January 23, 1999.

The chief murder suspect is Dara Singh, a well-liked Indian wrestler and actor who is accused of leading a band of crazed Hindus that poured gasoline over the jeep station wagon in which Staines and his two boys were sleeping in Manoharpur village, Keonjihar district, Orissa. Eye-witness reports say they then set it ablaze and prevented the occupants from escaping while they also blocked other villagers from coming to the rescue. Dara Singh was not declared guilty by a lower court, and a 13-year-old boy was found to be the scapegoat in an earlier trial.

According to the Times of India, lawyers for the prosecution have handed over a 110-page document holding Dara Singh and his associates responsible for the Staines murders, while the defense, backed by right-wing Hindu advocates, presented a 34-page argument to the court.

While most Christians and the rest of the world denounced the dastardly deed and accused ringleader Dara Singh as worthy of punishment, many Hindus consider him a national hero and defender of their culture. Dara once played the lead role in "Hanuman," a film that takes its title from the name of the monkey god, the god of body builders in India. Someone said it would be easier to convict Arnold Schwarzneggar of lack of patriotism than to convict Dara Singh of the murder of Graham Staines and his sons. The court proceedings beginning September 8 will presumably sound the final official word on the matter, though no doubt the controversy will continue no matter what the verdict.

India:

Christians face continued attacks in Orissa

Orissa, the state where Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two sons were murdered in 1999, continues to provide a climate for the harassment and persecution of Christians. * The main culprit is the Orissa Freedom of Religion Act, which might better be called the Orissa Restriction of Religion Act. Though passed as far back as 1967, it began to be actively enforced about five years ago. It now "has been implemented to its full capacity causing awful restrictions in evangelism of all sorts in Orissa," according to a report received by Christian Aid from Orissa. * The Christian churches believe that the state law is in conflict with the national constitution and brought suit before the Orissa High Court, but that court dismissed the case without hearing it. Christians have now brought the matter before the Supreme Court in New Delhi and are praying that they will obtain a favourable verdict there.

Meanwhile, the former leader of a district branch of the World Hindu Council (VHP) came to Christ a few months ago. Last month he and his colleagues were mercilessly attacked and severely injured in a southern Orissa district. Police do not always respond to such matters, but in this case they did, perhaps because the victim was once a well-known Hindu leader in the area. Christians in Orissa also are requesting prayer for churches in the Gajapati District, which contains hundreds of churches among the tribal and Dalit (untouchable) population and has gone through severe persecution in the past. For more information consult back issues of Missions Insider at www.christianaid.org or write insider@christianaid.org and put MI-435 600-PERS on the subject line.

Please go to http://www.christianaid.org for missions news.

Azerbaijan:

"KGB methods" used to break up Sunday School

Local police chief Mukhtar Mukhtarov used "Soviet, KGB methods" in breaking up the Sunday school attached to Baku's Greater Grace Protestant Church on 31 August, one of the church's pastors complained. "Mukhtarov said we do not have the right to teach kids and convert Azeri children," Pastor Fuad Tariverdi told Forum 18 News Service. But Mukhtarov rejected any criticism and blamed the church. "They're acting illegally," he told Forum 18. "There was nothing bad, but this must be done with the permission of the Committee for Work with Religious Organisations." The director of the club where the Sunday school met has told church leaders that he has been threatened that if he lets them in again he will be imprisoned.

Russia:

Moscow Baptist street service broken up

After police broke up an open air Baptist evangelistic service in southern Moscow, a court ruled on 11 August that the singing and praying "disturbed public order and the peace of those relaxing nearby". One Baptist was fined 16 US dollars after police claim he swore at them, a charge denied by local Baptists. "Believers don't swear," Veniamin Khorev told Forum 18 News Service. He described the breaking up of the service as "part of the normal life of our church". As the Baptists refuse to register with the authorities they have no legal status and in practice cannot rent buildings for worship. Their evangelistic events have been disrupted across Russia this summer, with books confiscated, tents taken down, six church members detained for five days and four fined.

Slovenia:

Hindus registered, but others still wait

"We are very happy to get registration, of course," Natasa Sivic, leader of Slovenia's Hindu community, told Forum 18 News Service. Her community - one of three religious groups granted registration in August by Drago Cepar, head of the government's Office for Religious Communities - had been waiting seventeen months. Among the seven Cepar identified to Forum 18 as having lodged registration applications is the Christian Outreach Centre in Ljubljana. "My husband was told at the religious office that they couldn't accept any new communities because as Slovenia is joining the European Union all laws need to be changed," co-pastor Carol Vidic told Forum 18. "That was their excuse."

Transdniester:

Methodists live "twilight existence," leader claims

The two Methodist congregations in the separatist republic of Transdniester in eastern Moldova live a twilight existence, their leader reports. "We can't rent anywhere for services and we can't afford to buy property. We have to meet semi-legally in private flats," Dmitri Hantil told Forum 18 News Service. He said their local registration applications in 1997 and again in 2000 had stalled as they refused to pay a bribe of at least 500 US dollars sought by Pyotr Zalozhkov, the commissioner of religion and cults. Forum 18 tried to reach Zalozhkov but his phone went unanswered. The Methodists have also sought registration with the Moldovan authorities - so far in vain.

Turkmenistan:

Baptists to be fined for each service

In the wake of the latest raid on a Baptist Sunday service in Balkanabad on 24 August, police have banned church members from meeting for services and threatened that if they do so they will be fined for each meeting. In July and August, all its members had already been fined 48 US dollars each." The Baptists refuse to be registered, citing the fact that they are forbidden from having contact with the secular authorities," Balkanabad's procurator Berdy Shirjanov told Forum 18 News Service. "The law is the law. We have to fine the Baptists."

Please see http://www.forum18.org to read about religious rights violations in communist and post- communist lands.

ASSIST News Service reports these persecution stories.

Zimbabwe:

Muslim call for secularization of education system withdrawn

A Muslim group which issued demands to the government of Zimbabwe to scale down the Christian emphasis in schools, with the threat of legal action, has backed down, according to a report from Barnabas Fund.

In a letter received by the Education Ministry on August 5, the Islamic Convent of the Strict Observance (ICSO) complained that Zimbabwe's school calendar only made provision for Christian holidays and that prayers during assembly to the "Christian God" and Christian religious instruction prejudiced a Muslim's right to freedom of religious expression.

The letter gave the government 60 days to rectify the situation or else face a Supreme Court challenge. However on August 13 the ICSO withdrew their demands, acknowledging that they had not canvassed the prevailing opinion of Muslims in Zimbabwe.

The argument of the ICSO appeals to liberal ideals in its calls for the secularization of schools, but the group also advocates the strict observance of Islamic religious teachings and is undoubtedly keen to promote its own Islamic agenda in Zimbabwe's schools.

Over 70 percent of Zimbabwe's population identify themselves as Christians and the Muslim community only represents 1 percent. The Education Minister responded to the letter saying, "We accept the existence of the minority and their rights and we are not against their religion. But it will be foolhardy for them to expect us to transform a whole school curriculum to cater for two Muslim pupils, at a typical school in Harare."

The demands of the ICSO come at a time when Colonel Gaddafi of Libya has been strongly asserting his influence in Zimbabwe.

It is known that much of the support for Muslim groups in other African countries (such as Senegal and Nigeria) comes from Libya; furthermore The Times (August 9) quotes a diplomatic source as saying that "Colonel Gaddafi has always had this dream of being the leader of Africa".

His influence in Zimbabwe is particularly strong at present because President Mugabe owes so much for unpaid supplies of oil. A large proportion of the land that Mugabe ruthlessly seized from white farmers is thought to be part of a deal to pay for these debts.

Lebanon:

Bruce Balfour found innocent of spying for Israel

Bruce Balfour, the 52-year-old Canadian Christian charged with spying for Israel, has been found innocent by a Lebanese military court.

The military court unanimously ruled on Monday, September 1, that he was not guilty of the spying charge of collaborating with Israel, which carried a 15 year prison term if he had been found guilty.

Balfour had also been accused of inciting sectarian sentiments and was convicted of the lesser charge, but the tribunal said that the time he had already spent in prison since his July 10th arrest at Beirut Airport, was sufficient punishment.

He was released on Tuesday, September 2 and then deported immediately.

During a court appearance last week, Balfour, who had been in Lebanon as the field director of Cedars of Lebanon, a project to help replenish the Biblical cedar trees of the country, said that he was not a spy and that he served God and Jesus.

Ibrahim Hariri, Balfour's lawyer, had argued his client had visited Israel on a religious mission.

Grant Livingston, another Canadian citizen who stood trial in absentia on the same charge of collaborating with the enemy -- Israel -- was also found innocent.

Turkey:

Computer hackers attack unique Christian website

Just because a website is being used for God's glory, that doesn't guarantee it is safe from "hacker attackers." In fact, the opposite may be true.

Recently the site of a Turkish believer was hacked by an anti-Christian group, according to a report on the website for Inter-National Needs Network (http://www.inter-national needs.com/) whose motto is "Helping Christians Serve God In Their Own Countries." Steps have now been taken to assure that this does not continue to happen.

"This unique evangelistic activity is bearing fruit," the I-NNN website reports. "Four new people who are interested in Christianity agreed to meet with 'Brother A,' and many Christian books were given. Two of them later came to services at the church. This week another person will join them. Several more are taking lessons via the internet, and relationships are slowly growing.

"An advertising campaign through the web site was just completed, offering to send Christian books to some 6 million e-Mail addresses. There have been complaints and attacks as a result of this strategy. But there have also been thankful messages from people who have received the book which we have sent. They ask if we can send any other books," the website states.

It adds, "Last month we have sent 103 scriptures, Jesus CD films, and calendars. We are also working on cartoon films for children using Bible stories. We would appreciate your prayers for this Project. As a result, we have received 23 e-mails and 10 phone calls from people asking about Christianity. Praise the Lord!"

Please check http://www.assistnews.net for Christian- oriented news stories.

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email: ve6xtc@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca