Persecution Blog

Christians Speak to Mexico Violence

 

Mexico (MNN) ― A total of 64 people have been arrested in connection with the killings of 145 people whose bodies were found in mass graves in Mexico. The bodies were discovered earlier this month in San Fernando. The deaths are all tied to the Los Zetas drug cartel, considered Mexico's most violent drug cartel.

Executive Director of Spanish World Ministries Daniel Sandoval says this is just the latest in a violent trend that's taking place in Mexico where drug cartels, gang violence, kidnappings and murder are making life difficult. Spanish World Ministries broadcasts programming into Mexico.

Sandoval says not only are North American missionaries being affected by the violence, but so are Mexican ministries. "In Ciudad Juarez in the northern part of Mexico, around 100 pastors had to leave the city due to threats received from the drug cartels. A few days ago the pastor of one of the largest churches in Michoacán was kidnapped. This is something you'll never hear in the regular media."

Sandoval says this is a spiritual battle. "To me it is more than evident that Satan doesn't want the people in Mexico specifically--just as in many places around the world--to hear the hope that you can find in Jesus Christ."

More at Mission Network News

Egyptian Convert Flees Potential Dangers in Syria

Maher El-Gohary and daughter apply for asylum in France.

ISTANBUL, April 21 (CDN) — A father and daughter who fled Egypt to Syria after spending two and a half years in hiding for becoming Christians have arrived in France and yesterday applied for asylum there, human rights advocates said.

Maher Ahmad El-Mo’otahssem Bellah El-Gohary, 58, had become the target of Islamic ill will in Egypt after he tried to change the religious affiliation on his national identification card from Muslim to Christian. He and his daughter, 17-year-old Dina Mo’otahssem, arrived in Paris from Syria on March 30 after having fled to Damascus on Feb. 22 in the wake of the revolution in Egypt that deposed then-President Hosni Mubarak.

Please keep Maher and Dina in your prayers and ask the Lord to bless them as they pursue God's will. Full story at Compass Direct

Suspected Islamists Burn Down Two Homes in Ethiopia

Two thatched-grass structures belonged to evangelist who received threats.

NAIROBI, Kenya, April 21 (CDN) — A Christian near Ethiopia’s southern town of Moyale said suspected Islamic extremists on March 29 burned down his two thatched-grass homes. Evangelist Wako Hanake of the Mekane Yesus Church told Compass he had been receiving anonymous messages warning him to stop converting Muslims to Christ.

The Muslims who became Christians included several children. “Inside the house were iron sheets and timber stored in preparation for putting up a permanent house,” said Hanake, who is in his late 30s.

“I have lost everything.” The incident in Tuka, five kilometers (nearly three miles) from Moyale in southern Ethiopia’s Oromia Region, happened while Hanake was away on an evangelistic trip. A neighbor said he and others rescued Hanake’s wife and children ages 8, 6 and 2.

Full story at Compass Direct

Nigeria: Post-Election Violence

Muslims Warn that Christians May “Pay the Price” for Election Outcome

Violence erupted in many of Nigeria’s northern cities on Saturday, April 16, after a presidential election that appears to have given a sweeping victory to incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan. Goodluck, a Christian from the south and representative of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), took 57 percent of the vote. He received about 22.5 million votes compared with 12.2 million for his opponent, General Muhammadu Buhari.

Goodluck came to power a year ago when his predecessor, Muslim Umaru Yar'Adua, became ill and died. Goodluck was serving as Vice President at the time. Traditionally, leadership in the religiously and ethnically divided nation alternates between Muslim and Christian leaders in the top job; their running mates are often of the opposite religion.

As news of Goodluck’s apparent victory spread, rioters took to the streets in the cities of Kaduna, Kano and Jos, burning the homes of PDP supporters. The BBC also reported protests in the states of Gombe, Adamawa, Katsina and Sokoto.

VOM’s partner in Nigeria, Isaac Newton, wrote, “Just this morning we woke up to the fresh news of attacks on Christians in Kaduna city, mostly in Kawo, Gonin Gora and several other areas across Kaduna. Many churches, Christian houses and properties are now on fire. Many Christian families were trapped and surrounded by violent Muslims reacting to the outcome of the presidential election that is yet to be declared officially.

“The fear of Muslims is that they do not want a Christian leader and president in Nigeria. Even before now, it has been rumored that if the PDP wins the election, they will not accept the result and that Christians should be ready to pay the price. Please pray for our Christian brothers and sisters in Kaduna right now.”

Source: BBC news, VOM sources

Killer of Christian Brothers Gets Death Sentence in Pakistan

In an amazing turn of events in Pakistan, a Muslim man has received the death penalty for murdering two Christian brothers who were being accused of blasphemy.

Here's the full story at The Christian Post.  See excerpt below.

LAHORE, Pakistan – An anti-terrorism court in Pakistan’s Faisalabad district on Monday sentenced to death a Muslim man who had gunned down two Christian brothers accused of blasphemy on July 7 last year. The court also imposed a fine of $47,784 on the convict.

Maqsood alias Soodi was convicted of killing the Rev. Rashid Emmanuel, 32, and his 30-year-old brother, Sajid Emmanuel, and injuring police inspector Mohammad Hussain.

The convict was also sentenced to 10-year imprisonment each under Section 7-C of the Anti-Terrorism Act and 324 of the Pakistan Penal Code and a fine of $2380. Under Section 337-D, he will pay $5,950 compensation to the injured inspector and serve a 10-year term.

 

Libya's Civil War Shrinks Christian Communities

As we all know, President Obama decided to go to war with Libya, now we are seeing some of the impact this decision has made on the Christians in that area. Please say a prayer today for believers in Libya.

This CBN News report explains more.

April 20: Day of Prayer for Asia Bibi

Today, April 20, 2011 is a special day of prayer for our sister Asia Bibi and other Christians who are suffering for their faith and living under oppressive blasphemy laws in Pakistan.

The Catholic Culture website is reporting...

Christians throughout Pakistan, including the nation’s bishops, are commemorating April 20 as a day of prayer and fasting for Asia Bibi and other victims of the nation’s blasphemy law. Bibi, a Catholic mother, was accused of blasphemy against Muhammad following a dispute with a neighbor; in 2010, she was sentenced to death.

Spero News is also reporting on this very important prayer need today...

Lahore – Pakistani Christians and churches around the world have lighted candles and said prayers to save Asia Bibi, the 45-year-old mother of five, sentenced to death on blasphemy charges and now the target of Muslim fundamentalists. The initiative was launched on 13 April by the Masihi Foundation and has been picked up by bishops, priests and Pakistani lay people. Mgr Rufin Anthony told AsiaNews that “he was deeply touched by her faith”, which “shall set her free” because of her belief in “Christ the Saviour”. In the meantime, Arif Masih, the 40-year-old Christian man held for a few days on blasphemy charges, later dropped, is in a safe location in “good physical and mental conditions”.

This afternoon at 4 pm (Pakistan time), special Masses and vigil prayers and fasting were held to remember Asia Bibi and all the victims of Pakistan’s infamous blasphemy law. The Catholic woman has been on death row for almost two years, far from her husband and children, waiting for her death sentence to be carried out.

 

 

Mexico: Pastor Abducted in Church

Mexico’s rampant drug violence spilled over into the evangelical community in April when a pastor was kidnapped during Sunday morning worship. Four masked men burst into the El Shaddai Christian Center in Lázaro Cárdenas on the morning of April 10 and opened fire with automatic weapons. They then kidnapped the pastor, Josué Ramírez Santiago, in front of 500 helpless worshipers. The kidnappers are thought to be drug traffickers who are active in the Michoacán area.

The following day, the kidnappers demanded a ransom of 20 million pesos, or $1.8 million, from the pastor’s family. Even if the family could pay the enormous sum, it would not necessarily guarantee the pastor’s safety.

Arturo Farela, director of the National Fraternity of Evangelical Churches, told Compass Direct News that organized crime syndicates and drug cartels have targeted Christians because they view churches as revenue centers and because churches support programs for the rehabilitation of drug addicts and alcoholics.

Farela said more than 100 pastors have been kidnapped and 15 murdered in recent years. “Furthermore,” he said, “some 100 Mexican or foreign pastors who lived in Ciudad Juarez have had to abandon the city because of the threats and demands for money. And of course many pastors and their families have been victims of extortion, threats, kidnapping and homicide.” Compass Direct was unable to verify the number of kidnapped and murdered pastors.

Source: Compass Direct News

Detained Pakistani Christian Released – But Two Others Held

Christian falsely accused of ‘blasphemy’ taken into custody, released – and detained again.

LAHORE, Pakistan, April 18 (CDN) — A Christian illegally detained in Faisalabad on false blasphemy charges was freed last night, while two other Christians in Gujranwala arrested on similar charges on Friday (April 15) were also released – until pressure from irate mullahs led police to detain them anew, sources said.

Masih and his family have relocated to a safe area, but just 10 days after he was falsely accused of desecrating the Quran in Faisalabad district of Punjab Province on April 5, in Gujranwala Mushtaq Gill and his son Farrukh Mushtaq were taken into “protective custody” on charges that the younger man had desecrated Islam’s holy book and blasphemed the religion’s prophet, Muhammad. A police official told Compass the charges were false.

Gill, an administrative employee of the Christian Technical Training Centre (CTTC) in Gujranwala in his late 60s, was resting when a Muslim mob gathered outside his home in Aziz Colony, Jinnah Road, Gujranwala, and began shouting slogans against the family. They accused his son, a business graduate working in the National Bank of Pakistan as a welfare officer and father of a little girl, of desecrating the Quran and blaspheming Muhammad.

More at Compass Direct

New Ambassador for Religious Freedom Begins Term Without Fanfare

 USA (MNN) ― The position of the nation's top diplomat for religious freedom had remained vacant since President Barak Obama's inauguration in January 2009. Lindsay Vessey, advocacy coordinator for Open Doors USA, says last Thursday, "Dr. Suzan Johnson Cook, who'd been nominated and failed to get a confirmation in the last session of Congress, was just confirmed as the Ambassador-at-Large for international religious freedom."

It was the second go-around for Johnson Cook. President Barak Obama first sent a nomination to the Senate in June 2010, but South Carolina's Jim DeMint (R) put a hold on the nomination, effectively stopping the process.

"President Obama and Secretary Clinton have both made some positive statements on religious freedom, but in terms of their actual policy and actually taking action, we've seen very limited engagement," says Vessey.

The Obama administration tried again in February. This time, the nomination was backed by faith leaders and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and the hearings were taken a little more seriously. Still, the confirmation took place without much fanfare. "It's something that we've been keeping track of with our supporters and constantly asking for prayer. The confirmation happens just last week, and I didn't even hear a word about it, didn't see any media on it."

Johnson Cook's job is to keep track of religious freedom at the State Department and the impact of foreign policy. She'll also be in charge of writing the annual International Religious Freedom Report. "Other duties that she would have would be basically diplomacy, reaching out to different countries where we have concerns about the state of religious freedom and trying to engage those countries and work with them to improve the state of religious freedom," says Vessey.

Vessey says the position could get tricky as Johnson Cook makes her way through foreign policy issues. "She would speak out on specific cases or legislation. Let's say someone is put in prison, and we would like to apply some quiet diplomacy, some pressure, to get that person released."

There are some concerns, but there's hope that Johnson-Cook is a fast learner. "A lot of organizations and individuals have pointed out that she seems to have not a whole lot of experience or expertise in this field, but she does seem to have a great interest," Vessey remarks.

Vessey is sympathetic to the strain this job will create. She says believers can get behind her as she begins to speak for those who have no voice. "Definitely pray for wisdom for her. This is a huge job covering religious freedom for the entire world. My hope is that she will be able to navigate the bureaucracy of the State Department, that she will be able to earn the respect of colleagues in the U.S. government, as well as the foreign governments that she's going to have to work with."

An online American Baptist Church biography indicates Johnson Cook has been a teacher, pastor, motivational speaker, and political adviser for three decades.

She was the first Black woman to be a senior pastor in the 200-year history of American Baptist Churches of the USA (elected in 1983). 

Most recently, Johnson Cook served as the founding pastor of Bronx Christian Fellowship Baptist Church in New York--a plant of at Mariners' Temple, where she had been serving.

Courtesy of Mission Network News