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PERSECUTION REPORT FOR JULY 29, 2003.

The Voice Of The Martyrs presents these reports of Christians being persecuted.

Indonesia:

Troubles for Christians Increasing

Since Pastor Rinaldy Damanik was sentenced to three years in prison on June 16, (see http://www.persecution.net/pnparchive/arch4.htm#1 for more details), observers have been reporting increasing violence against Christians. According to International Christian Concern (ICC), a Christian was shot to death on July 10 in broad daylight at his plantation. The same day a bomb destroyed a restaurant owned by Christians in another village and two days later a Christian police officer was shot while riding a motorcycle.

The family members of Damanik, as well as his lawyers, have been threatened since the appeal of his conviction was filed. According to Compass Direct, the names of Damanik's supporters were published in local newspapers with threats that they, too, would be arrested. Damanik has been warned that family members and friends will be kidnapped if his appeal proceeds.

Adding to tensions between Christians and Muslims in Indonesia, a law was passed on June 11 stating that any school with more than ten students of a particular faith must provide a teacher of that same faith to teach their religion and provide a place of worship. While the wording appears to be fair, the impact of the law will be felt most by private Christian schools. Few Christian students attend private Muslim schools, but up to 65% of all students in Christian schools are Muslim because of the excellent quality of education offered. These schools will now be required to build mosques and hire Islamic religious teachers. Many schools have said they will ignore the new law.

China, Jordan, India, Pakistan, Sudan:

Updates

This week, a number of updates have been received on stories we have been covering in recent months. Whenever possible, we like to provide updates to help you pray more effectively. Each of these accounts needs your continued prayer.

(a) Pastor Gong Alive but Weak (China)

For several months we have been covering the story of Pastor Gong Shengliang who has been sentenced to life in prison for his faith. In mid-June a report was received from China that Pastor Gong's health had deteriorated to the point that he was near death (see http://www.persecution.net/pnparchive/arch6.htm#1 for more information). Until this week, no further news was heard.

On July 18, The Voice of the Martyrs received a report from a reliable source. We are pleased to report that Pastor Gong is still alive and two of his relatives were able to visit him earlier this month, including one of his sisters. He appeared very fragile and pale. Throughout the visits, he did not speak a single word, either because of his health or because of intimidation from authorities. He only responded with nods of his head. The prison authorities told the relatives that he had been taken to the hospital recently, but would give no further details.

Pastor Gong's family expresses their appreciation to everyone for their prayers and help on his behalf. Please continue to pray and intercede with the Chinese government on his behalf. More information on writing letters is available in our June 11 story (see the link above).

(b) Hope Continues For Widow To Keep Her Children (Jordan)

After several court rulings, starting in 1998, a widow in Jordan was ordered in January 2003 by the Supreme Court to turn custody of her children over to her estranged brother in order that they may be raised as Muslims. She was given five days to do so or face prison (see http://www.persecution.net/pnparchive/arch7.htm#5 for more details). The Voice of the Martyrs has been following this story for several months and received an update on July 22 from Middle East Concern, outlining new hope that Siham Qandah may be able to keep her children.

Prince Hassan, brother of the late King Hussein, has taken particular interest in her case and appointed his lawyer to represent her. According to MEC, she has received assurances from the prince that he will not allow her to go to prison.

There have been complications in the appeals filed by Qandah due to family connections between the lawyer appointed by the prince and the Supreme Court judge who allowed her brother to withdraw funds from the estate. To avoid offending the prince or his lawyer, Qandah's appeal will shift from her brother's fraudulent use of the estate's money to an emphasis on his lack of concern for the children.

It is also possible that the children may start their own court case, asserting the fact that they do not want their uncle to be their legal guardian. Under Sharia law, they are now old enough to do so.

Siham is thankful to still have custody of her children, Rawan (15) and Fadi (13), despite the January court order. Continue to pray that she will be able to keep her children and that the brother will be removed as guardian.

(c) Conversion Law Withstands Court Challenge in Gujarat (India)

On March 26, the state of Gujarat passed legislation outlawing religious conversion. Court challenges were filed against the new law by religious minority groups. On June 31, the Gujarat High Court dismissed the two writs, one from the All India Christian Council and the other from a Buddhist organization.

(d) Blasphemy Trial Begins (Pakistan)

On July 17, court proceedings began against Pervez Masih, a schoolmaster of a Christian school charged under Pakistan's controversial blasphemy law. Pervez has been in prison since April 1, 2001 when the schoolmaster of a neighbouring Muslim school filed blasphemy charges against him, saying that two students had heard Masih blaspheme Mohammed. A fact-finding report in 2001 concluded that the charges were based on "professional biases and rivalry, including religious hatred" and were without any factual basis. According to Compass Direct, Pervez's family has hired a Muslim lawyer to represent him before the High Court.

(e) Peace Process Update (Sudan)

Many have been carefully following the peace talks between the government of Sudan and the rebel army because of the significant impact on Christians in southern Sudan. On July 22, the Religious Liberty Conference of the World Evangelical Alliance released an update on the peace process. We have posted the report on line. It can be read at http://www.persecution.net/sudanupdate.htm.

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

Mission Network News provides these persecution incidents.

Indonesia:

Terrorists caught plotting violence

Police caught a group of would-be bombers planning church bombings.Words of Hope's Lee DeYoung says their staff moved their studios from a church that had been bombed three times. As for the arsons and other threats,"Most of them have wound up totally destroying church buildings, and yet, these churches continue to meet outdoors, since it's a warm climate; that's not impossible to consider. So, they end up having open-air services next to the rubble of their building." DeYoung adds,"From what our reports indicate, the church is growing, the number of believers, in Indonesia, despite these attacks, which are very one-sided. There have been a few stories of mosques being burned, but I think the proportions, from what I've heard, are probably a hundred churches for every one mosque."

Please check http://www.mnnonline.org for missions information and a weekday audio broadcast.

Christian Aid Mission has these stories of believers suffering for Christ.

India:

Christians fear anti-conversion law for Kerala State

Christians are worried that the south Indian state of Kerala may be in danger of joining five other Indian states in passing an anti-conversion law.

Jaya Lalitha, the chief minister of neighbouring state Tamil Nadu, is a woman fierce in her promotion of Hinduism. After facilitating the passing of an anti-conversion law in Tamil Nadu she threatened to visit Kerala to press for a similar law there.

Even though she has not yet made the trip, Christians are still worried that such a law could be passed, since similar laws have been passed in five states: Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, and most recently Tamil Nadu.

Ram Madhav, an RSS (National Volunteer Society from the Hindi-a strongly Hindu nationalistic movement) spokesman, said in June that the laws were necessary because the activities of missionaries have led to tensions threatening "peace and harmony." At the same time he said the conversion activities of the VHP (World Hindu Council) and other Hindu bodies did not create a problem because these were just calling people to a Hindu "homecoming."

Under the anti-conversion laws, it is illegal to offer inducements or force anyone to convert. The fact that there is no record of forced conversions to Christianity and that the only forced conversions (or "reversions") are by Hindus making Christian converts "revert" back to Hinduism does not affect these Hindu zealots. Their intent seems to be to stop the spread of Christianity and further the influence of Hinduism.

Already these laws have emboldened radical Hindus in their persecution of Christians. In Karnataka state, just to the north of Kerala, opponents to the gospel recently sent a warning to all pastors and preachers in the area, saying that no one should conduct Christian prayer meetings anywhere in public or "serious action" would be taken. An Indian newspaper sparked hostility when it falsely reported last December that 1500 Hindus had been forcibly converted to Christianity. In Andhra Pradesh, to the northeast of Kerala, a newly-purchased children's home was debilitated when a Hindu neighbour dug through its driveway, claiming the drive was on his land. In Kerala state itself, an American missionary was beaten in the street with clubs and irons and then deported when he was released from the hospital.

As the threat of political action looms over Kerala, indigenous believers are praying for God's intervening hand. To learn how you can strengthen the roles of native missionaries in India, write insider@christianaid.org and put MI-429 600-PERS on the subject line.

Please see http://www.christianaid.org for many uplifting missions reports.

Forum 18 presents these examples of religious rights violations.

Azerbaijan:

"We're not criminals," fined Baptists insist

Police and local officials raided a Baptist Sunday service on 13 July in a private flat in Gyanja, interrupting the sermon and declaring the service "illegal". They confiscated all the religious literature they could find before singling out the two ethnic Azeris - Zaur Ismailov and Magomet Musayev - to be fined. "They're not criminals, so they have told the authorities they will not pay," Pastor Pavel Byakov, who leads a church in Sumgait, told Forum 18 News Service. "They didn't have registration so their service was illegal," Firdovsi Karimov, head of the local department of the State Committee for Work with Religious Organisations, told Forum 18.

Macedonia:

Serbian bishop sentenced to solitary confinement

Serbian Orthodox Bishop Jovan was arrested in Macedonia, on Sunday, for attempting to perform a baptism in a Macedonian Orthodox Church and was sentenced to five days solitary confinement in prison. The Macedonian government has claimed to Forum 18 News Service that it "has no links with this arrest, it is an issue of public peace and order". Serbian prime minister Zoran Zivkovic has stated that the Serbian and Montenegrin ministers of Foreign and of Religious affairs will protest to the Macedonian authorities about both this sentence and the ban on Serbian Orthodox priests entering Macedonia in their vestments.

Russia:

Last of 31 court cases for Komi Baptists?

For the past six years the local administration of Komi in north-east European Russia has banned completion of both Russia's largest Baptist Church and a nearby centre for the physically disabled. Forum 18 News Service has discovered that the Baptist's problems started after a visit by Russian Orthodox Patriarch Aleksi II. The latest obstacle placed by authorities in the way of completion of the church is a sales tax demand for three million roubles (approximately 100,000 US dollars, 730,000 Norwegian Kroner or 88,000 Euros) - even though the church has never been sold. Although local authorities are also preventing completion of the centre for the physically disabled, which the Baptists have now decided to give to the local authority, the local religious affairs adviser had high praise for the Baptists' charitable work.

Russia:

Komi breakaway Orthodox fight to retain church building

An Orthodox monastery and parishioners have been harassed by local state authorities since they broke from the local Moscow Patriarchate diocese of Syktyvkar and Vorkuta to join the US-based Russian Orthodox Church Abroad. Forum 18 News Service has seen a video of the local Moscow Patriarchate bishop trying with a police escort to go to the monastery, and of the bishop accusing the breakaway clergy of theft and of being "American fascists". Both the patriarchal diocese and local state authorities then launched failed law suits against the monastery, aimed at seizing a wooden church built after the breakaway took place.

Russia:

State interrogations of Komi breakaway Orthodox

State interrogations of members of the breakaway Orthodox community at Komi and those associated with them are claimed to have continued, Forum 18 News Service has learnt, including attempts to intimidate teenage school children, as well as municipal employees, who attend services at the monastery. This has taken place even after an apparently conclusive court ruling in the monastery's favour.

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

ASSIST Ministries has the following stories to report.

Lebanon:

Canadian Christian ministry head arrested for the "crime" of visiting Israel

Bruce Balfour, a British Colombia native, who heads up Cedars of Lebanon, a Christian humanitarian ministry that was planning to help replenish the mighty Cedars of Lebanon in the mountains of northern Lebanon, was arrested at Beirut Airport in the evening of July 10 for the "crime" of visiting Israel.

This news has only become known after Balfour finally managed to get a message out of his cell to the Canadian Ambassador in Lebanon. In the message, monitored by ANS, he wrote, "After 11 days of hell in Lebanese prisons, I am finally allowed to make contact with you. I have tried more than 100 times to make contact but nothing worked."

He went on to say, "When I arrived at the Beirut Airport on Thursday, July 10th, at about 9:30 PM on British Airways flight 6703, I was arrested because a computer entry said that I have been in Israel at one time, which is true. But please tell me where the crime in this is. My freedom has been taken away and I have been treated horribly. This is against all international law and moral code of every civilized country in the world.

"I need to get out of here now. Every hour multiplies the possibility of me being moved to another location and disappearing forever."

In a second message, Balfour said that he was in Rumy Prison. "I am on the top floor with South Lebanon prisoners," he said. He also asked for help from people around the world. "I desperately need your help," he said. "I pray that you will not forsake me!"

ANS has now learned from a source close to Balfour that the Canadian government is demanding from the Lebanese government an explanation as to why they were not informed earlier of his arrest.

Since receiving his urgent message, a Canadian diplomat has visited Balfour in prison. A source said, "He appears to be in good condition; he lost some weight and he is presently fasting. There is no time limit for his release as he is not formally charged and the Canadian government is pursuing this matter at this time.

"Bruce has requested some items such as clothes, hygienic products and food items. All the items requested came to a total of $250.00 American. The Embassy in Lebanon is requesting the funds through Ottawa, so they can purchase these items and deliver them to Bruce on their next visit."

Bruce John Balfour was born in Westminster, BC, Canada, on July 6, 1951. He had previously worked in Lebanon with a group called Lebanon Aid which provided humanitarian relief during the civil war in the country.

Updates on his situation are due to be posted on his web site at <A HREF="http://www.cedarsoflebanon.ca." > www.cedarsoflebanon.ca.</A>

U.S.A.:

Field preacher found guilty for refusing to stop preaching the gospel

Street preacher Michael Marcavage has been arrested and fined for the second time for preaching on South Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Field preacher Michael Marcavage of the Philadelphia-based REPENT AMERICA was found guilty Friday, July 18, of OBSTRUCTING HIGHWAYS AND OTHER PUBLIC PASSAGEWAYS and sentenced to 42 hours of community service and fined $100 plus court costs totalling $242 by Judge Wendy Pew.

On May 29, Marcavage was preaching the Gospel along with several other Christians while standing on the public sidewalk in front of the Condom Kingdom, a store on South Street in Philadelphia. He was approached by Sergeant Warren Edwards and told that he was not permitted to be there. Marcavage provided the officer with a copy of a previous court case in which he was found not guilty. Officer Edwards agreed to review the case and return within the half hour.

When Edwards returned Marcavage was speaking with another officer. Edwards interrupted and told Marcavage that he cannot stand on the sidewalk and continue to preach because of the people gathering to hear. Marcavage respectfully refused to leave and was then subsequently arrested and charged under the Pennsylvania Crimes Code Sub Section 5507 OBSTRUCTING HIGHWAYS AND OTHER PUBLIC PASSAGEWAYS.

Remarkably, the Pennsylvania law clearly states under the same Sub Section, "No person shall be deemed guilty of an offense under this subsection solely because of a gathering of persons to hear him speak or otherwise communicate, or solely because of being a member of such a gathering."

This is the second time that Marcavage has been arrested on South Street for preaching. On Halloween night, October 2002, Marcavage was violently arrested and jailed for eleven hours after being charged with Disorderly Conduct for refusing to stop preaching using amplification. Marcavage was acquitted in the Common Pleas Court of Philadelphia on February 25, 2003 of this charge. Judge Joyce S. Kean ended the hearing by stating, "That's it. No more argument. The Court agrees. Judgment granted."

"Like the previous case this one will be appealed in victory," Marcavage said. "We must be free to preach the word of God without police interference and harassment, especially when people are gathering to hear. Romans 10:14-15 declares, 'How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?'" Check www.RepentAmerica.com for more info.

Please go to http:www.assistnews.net for many edifying missions reports.

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email: ve6xtc@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca