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Mission Network News

Mission Network News reports these incidents of believers being persecuted.

Colombia:

FARC bombs a Church.

Guerrillas bombed a church Sunday, killing over a hundred people who were taking refuge there. The latest action comes as no surprise for those involved in evangelistic activity in Colombia. Over recent months, the aggression has been mounting against believers. Evangelical Free Church Mission’s Latin America director, Tim McIntosh. "Sometimes the churches are actually preaching against the FARC, and saying that these people are not representing God, not representing a biblical approach. So, the FARC has taken them on as enemies and seeing them as ones that are stirring up unrest against them." McIntosh says missionaries are undeterred, but prayer is a staple in this work: "There are certain areas that they just can’t be in. The areas that they are in, there is a high probability that the FARC knows that they’re there. They would be vulnerable they’re not protected in any way by government forces. So, we need to pray for protection for them."

Laos:

Christians suffer from oppression.

Christian Aid Mission reports many believers continue to be arrested and jailed on charges involving their faith. Yet persistence has led to an open door for one ministry. One evangelist, who has been jailed repeatedly, recently baptized 20 believers. The church he began in his home was officially recognized by local Lao officials. He also donated his house to the church to be used as a meeting hall, making it the first church meeting place in that province.

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

Voice Of The Martyrs

The Voice Of The Martyrs reports these persecution incidents.

Indonesia:

Arrest of Jihad Leader Stirs Violence.

The Voice of the Martyrs welcomed news of the arrest of Laskar Jihad leader, Jofar Umar Thalib by Indonesian authorities on Saturday May 4. Thalib was detained in connection with the violence on April 28 near Ambon when at least 14 Christians were brutally murdered, including a six-month old baby and four-year old child. A church and at least 30 homes were also destroyed by Laskar Jihad militants in Soya. Two days earlier, Thalib had publicly called for a resumption of attacks on Indonesia’s Christians at a speech outside the Al-Fatah Mosque in Ambon. The arrest has not quelled the violence, however. Daily reports of bombings and other acts of violence have been flooding out of Indonesia in apparent retaliation for the arrest. Observers are fearful that all vestiges of the peace treaty signed in February are gone. Speaking of the Thalib’s arrest, the Voice of the Martyrs’ Communications Officer, Glenn Penner, said, "It’s about time. We sincerely hope that the Indonesian authorities will follow through in prosecuting those responsible for the violence that has resulted in the death of so many in recent years. Laskar Jihad is the face of Islamist-motivated terror in Indonesia.

Nigeria:

Sharia Law Being Pushed in Southeastern Nigerian State.

A Muslim group in Nigeria’s southeastern state of Oyo has said it was adopting the Islamic legal code of Sharia after the state government ignored their demands to implement the legal system. It would be used for civil matters where those involved agree to be bound by Sharia. Ishaq Sanni, who heads the National Council of Muslim Youths, said, "The state government has continued to deny us our rights to practice our religion, and the need to obey the laws of Allah informed this decision." This move follows the adoption of Sharia law in several predominantly Muslim states in northern Nigeria. While this code will not have legal standing before the courts and is intended to be voluntary, concerns have been raised that this may bring tension between the Christians and Muslims of Oyo State, who have existed peacefully together for many years.

Iran/Canada:

Muslim Convert Rejected by Canada.

On May 2, Compass Direct reported that the Canadian embassy in Ankara, Turkey has turned down an Iranian Christian family who were seeking asylum in Canada. Mahmoud and Atefeh Erfani, along with their three daughters fled Iran in 1999 after facing increasing hostility and harassment from authorities. They have been in central Turkey since, seeking refugee status. Erfani and his wife converted to Christianity from Islam 21 years ago and are facing the threat of execution for apostasy if they are returned to Iran. According to Compass, after a one hour hearing with Erfani, the Canadian Embassy issued a letter stating that he did not meet the definition of a refugee. The letter gave no specific reason for the refusal, but church sources in Canada believe Mrs. Erfani’s health problems were most likely the determining factor. She is in a wheelchair with multiple sclerosis. According to the Canadian church that had pledged full sponsorship for the family, the case with the Canadian government has been closed and there is no further appeal. After being refused UNHCR refugee status in February, the Turkish Interior Ministry issued a deportation order. This order was delayed while the Canadian embassy considered their case. They now face imminent deportation." I have nothing in my hands now," Erfani said." I am afraid that we could be sent back to Iran," he admitted.

Turkey:

Increasing Pressure Against Christians.

Several accounts have come out of Turkey in the past week raising concerns about the state of religious freedom in Turkey. On May 7, Compass Direct reported that a Protestant pastor, Ahmet Guvener, will be going to trial in Turkey’s southeastern city of Diyarbakir in late May, accused by the state prosecutor of making illegal changes in the architectural plan of his nearly completed church building. However, those involved in the construction insist that appropriate building permits were obtained and any changes were approved. A Turkish official has admitted that the issue of the building arose in connection with concerns about Protestant missionary activity in Turkey. If found guilty, Guvener could be facing up to five years in jail. Turkish World Outreach has also reported on several other incidences of harassment against Christians. The government authorities have closed a Christian school, claiming that they had not obtained the appropriate permits and have deported 6 teachers and another worker from the school. There have also been several reports of police harassment against various churches, a bomb threat against a church and threats of violence against members of various churches. While Turkey is predominantly Muslim, the government is officially secular and guarantees freedom of religion.

Canada:

Court forced to Rule in favour of Gay Prom Date.

Ontario Superior Court Justice Robert MacKinnon has had to rule in favour of Marc Hall, a 17-year old student at Monsignor John Pereyma Catholic High School in Oshawa, Ontario, He was granted an injunction to force the Durham Catholic District School Board to allow him to attend a school prom on May 10 with his 21 year-old male partner. The school board was refusing Hall permission to do so, on the basis that the teaching of the Catholic Church on homosexuality is very clear and well understood by Catholics and many others. The school board believes that freedom of religion in Canada allows publicly funded Catholic hospitals and social welfare agencies to refuse to engage in procedures or activities that are inconsistent with the teachings of the Catholic church, and that to force them to do so, would be an expression of religious intolerance. Peter Lauwers, the school board’s lawyer, reminded the court that the school board has the right under the Canadian Constitution to run its schools in accordance with Catholic teachings and if Hall doesn’t like it he can go to a public school. Justice MacKinnon ruled in favour of Hall because barring him and his lover from the prom violated his human rights under the Canadian Charter Of Rights And Freedoms.

Please go to http://www.persecution.net to learn more about these stories plus what concerned Christians can do on behalf of the persecuted believers.

Keston News Service

Keston News Service has these stories to report.

Belarus:

Vandals were behind church arson, Catholics believe.

A Catholic priest in the Belarusian capital Minsk has told Keston News Service that an arson attack that destroyed a Catholic chapel in a village on the edge of Minsk was most likely caused by vandals. "I don’t believe the authorities were involved," Father Vladislav Zavalnyuk told Keston by telephone on 7 May, "and evidence points to drug addicts or Satanists. It is unlikely they will ever be found." He pointed out that an Orthodox church was burnt down at the beginning of the year in Korolev Stan near Minsk and police have still not been able to identify any suspects.

Belarus:

Years on, Adventist church fires remain unexplained.

A series of arson attacks on three Adventist churches in Belarus in 2000 and 2001 remain unexplained, Keston News Service has learnt. Moisei Ostrovsky, Belarus’ Adventist leader, told Keston on 7 May from the Belarusian capital Minsk that in the case of an attack on the church in Tolochin, the Adventists strongly suspect the local authorities of involvement, although the deputy mayor Mikhail Zavadsky has vigorously rejected any such allegation. Zavadsky added that a man is in custody suspected of burning down the church. Arson attacks on places of worship in Belarus have resumed of late, with Orthodox churches and a Catholic chapel being destroyed this year and synagogues desecrated with graffiti.

Please check http://www.keston.org for more details on these, and other, stories of persecution in communist and post-communist lands.

ASSIST Ministries

ASSIST Ministries has published the following story.

Cuba:

Blind human rights worker jailed.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide is deeply concerned about the continuing imprisonment of Juan Carlos Gonzalez Leiva, a blind Christian human rights activist who has been beaten and imprisoned in Cuba and is now being denied vital medical attention in an attempt to force him to renounce his human rights work. Juan Carlos Gonzalez Leiva, a blind human rights activist who was arrested and imprisoned on March 4, is demanding proper medical attention. According to a letter smuggled out of the State Security Prison in Holguin Province where Gonzalez is being held, the 27-year-old man fears for his life. According to Gonzalez, he has been heavily pressured to renounce and dissolve the Cuban Foundation for Human Rights, the organization that he heads. As a part of this pressure the authorities are withholding vital medical treatment that he and his wife fear may cost him his life. In the letter Gonzalez says that he will never renounce the fight for human rights nor will he cave in under the pressure and take his own life. "If something happens to me, never believe that I took any action against my own life. I love it too much for that. If anything happens to me, they [the Cuban Security Forces] will be the only ones responsible," said Gonzalez. CSW said that on March 4 Gonzalez was severely beaten by government security agents and suffered a blow to the head, which required four stitches. Gonzalez and a number of other human rights activists had gathered at a local hospital in an attempt to draw attention to the plight of a journalist who had been admitted there after being attacked by Cuban police. The group entered the hospital where they proceeded to pray for the hospitalized reporter and shouted slogans like "Up with human rights." When the hospital staff asked them to refrain from shouting they complied—sitting silently in the hospital hall. "An hour later the group was surrounded by the rapid response unit of the local security forces, who beat them before taking them into custody.

Juan Carlos carried out a 31-day hunger strike to protest his arrest. The government has charged him with public disorder and contempt, crimes that carry a possible prison sentence of one to three years," said CSW in a press release. According to Gonzalez’s wife, Maritza, he has lost a great deal of weight due to his hunger strike. In addition she is worried that he is being psychologically tortured, as after her last visit she found him mentally disoriented. The Cuban government confiscated his cane and Braille Bible and is refusing to give him medical treatment. Maritza said she could see that his knees were red and raw from praying. CSW met with Gonzalez, who is also a lawyer and has been active in the Cuban democracy movement and the Varela Project, three weeks before his arrest. At the time Gonzalez spoke of his hope for the future of human rights and democracy in Cuba. According to his letter his faith in Christ continues to be strong as he states, "I thank God, who is my Helper and my Captain because He maintains my faith, my principles and my clarity of mind. I would rather be insane or dead before abandoning my fight as a defender of human rights."

Please check http://www.assist-ministries.org for further details plus many interesting inspirational articles.

   

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