The Weekly Persecution & Prayer Alert

[-Pastor-Dale-Morgan-]

The Weekly Persecution & Prayer Alert

The Voice of the Martyrs, Canada

Thursday, December 8, 2011

"Pain and suffering are not good; disobedience to Jesus is even worse."
-- Dr. Kiflu, Eritrean prisoner
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In this week's edition: reports from Uzbekistan, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka
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1. Illegal prosecutions and punishments in Uzbekistan
(Source: Forum 18 News Service)

Sergei Kozin has been fined 80 times the minimum monthly wage after a police raid on a group of Baptists in Sergeli District near Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in July. The case was brought forward even though it was beyond the legal time limit to bring charges. Baptists stated that the case was fabricated, with the alleged witness not producing the required identity documents. The judge in the case had noted the lack of evidence and legal documents produced by police.

In another case, after being summoned to a police station for questioning on October 16, two schoolgirls stopped coming to a church. The police threatened them that "they will be in police records and thrown out of school."

The next month, five officials raided a home in Fergana without a search warrant on November 19. When the wife of the occupant refused the officials entry, they pushed her out of the way and confiscated about 100 Christian books, DVDs and a computer.

Please pray for Christians in Uzbekistan who are continually targeted by authorities. Pray the Lord will give believers wisdom when dealing with those who oppose their Christian activities. Pray the Church will continue to grow in spite of restrictions.

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2. Bomb attack targets Christians in Nepal
(Source: Compass Direct News)

Two years after an explosion shook one of the biggest Catholic churches in Nepal and killed three people, the underground group that orchestrated the attack claimed responsibility for another bomb blast in November

A crude bomb went off on November 22 in front of a leading Christian charitable organization's office in the capital city, sowing fresh fear and insecurity among Christians. Thankfully, there were no casualties. At the site, police found leaflets signed by someone calling himself a senior member of the Nepal Defence Army, a militant armed group that has terrorized Christians and Muslims, demanding that they leave Nepal. The leaflets asserted that the majority population in Nepal was Hindu and that therefore it should be a Hindu state. The leaflets also accused the charitable organization of converting Hindus to Christianity.

On the same day in the north-eastern district of Sindhupalchowk, local residents of the predominantly Buddhist village of Danchhe assaulted two brothers for leading worship services at their home, leaving one unconscious.

Ask God to grant courage and boldness of faith to Christians in Nepal. Pray that believers in Nepal will exemplify the love of God through consistent love and prayer for those who persecute them (Matthew 5:43-48). Pray for lasting peace in Nepal.

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3. Death threats for evangelist challenging injustice in Pakistan
(Source: Release International)

A Pakistani Christian has received death threats after condemning the murder of a Christian government minister who was killed for opposing the blasphemy laws.

Evangelist Arif Ferguson, 36, and his entire family have had to go into hiding following death threats from militants. Arif was first warned after sharing the Gospel among Muslims. More serious death threats followed after he made a statement to a local newspaper condemning the assassination in March of Minorities Minister Shahbaz Bhatti, who had spoken up against the blasphemy law . Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for killing Shahbaz Bhatti, and the same group is now threatening Arif.

Arif, a laboratory technician, fled to Karachi after being tipped off that the militants were trying to track him down. But even there he received death threats, forcing the family of nine to go into hiding again. Arif and his sisters have lost their jobs as a result. Arif shared, "I trust in Jesus. If I die, it will be for Christ."

Please pray for Arif and his family -- for their protection, support and encouragement. Pray the Lord will provide for them. Pray their faithful testimony will be an encouragement to other believers.

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4. Hardliners make new push for anti-conversion laws in Sri Lanka
(Source: Release International)

Buddhist nationalists in Sri Lanka have caused concern among Protestant Christians by renewing their calls for anti-conversion laws. The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) party, which has been pushing for legislation banning "forced conversion" since 2004, renewed its campaign in a press statement this month. It called on the government to re-introduce to Parliament the JHU'S Prohibition of Religious Conversions Bill.

Sources inside Sri Lanka say Christians are also concerned about a loosely worded circular from the Ministry of Religious Affairs issued in September which stipulates that building or maintaining places of worship must be sanctioned by prior approval of the Ministry. According to sources, evangelical churches in particular are facing increased pressure from the state, with "indiscriminate closure and threats." Their applications to register formally are routinely rejected, and there is evidence that planning permission is even being denied for non-church buildings if the applicant is a Christian individual or organization.

Pray that the JHU's bid to introduce anti-conversion laws in Sri Lanka will fail. Pray that officials will end discriminatory policies which limit the activities of some Christians. Ask God to bless and protect evangelical Christians and pray for all those working for religious freedom in Sri Lanka.

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