-The Weekly
Persecution & Prayer Alert
The Voice of the Martyrs, Canada
Thursday, January 26, 2012
"If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated
you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its
own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of
the world, therefore the world hates you."
-- John 15:18-19 - ESV
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In this week's edition: reports from Uganda, Pakistan, Sudan,
Azerbaijan and North Korea
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1. Update: Ugandan girl tortured by her father for her faith walks
again
(Source: Compass Direct News)
A 15-year-old Christian girl in Uganda is slowly regaining the use
of her legs after her father, in an attempt to make her convert
back to Islam, confined her in a small room and deprived her of
adequate food and water.
Susan Ithungu was locked in a room for six months after accepting
Christ as her Saviour in 2010. She weighed just 20 kilograms when
she was finally rescued after her brother informed neighbours of
his sister's life-threatening condition. The two children lived
alone with their father who was arrested last fall when the girl
was removed from the home by police and hospitalized for more than
a month. Susan's father was quickly released, however, and remains
unapologetic for the abuse. Susan now lives in a rented house in
an undisclosed location.
"Well-wishers have been paying the house rent and buying me food
and clothing," said Susan, who added that she has forgiven her
father. A church member, Biira Dreda, left her own four children
with family to care for Susan. Susan has begun to walk with
support, but cannot squat or stand upright due to the amount of
time she spent immobilized. She hopes to return to school soon,
but remains in very fragile condition.
Please pray that Susan will continue to make progress in her
physical and emotional healing. Pray that she will regain full use
of her legs and will be strong enough to continue in her studies.
Pray that her brother and her father will see Christ's love in
Susan and that they will be brought to salvation.
Please pray for Biira; pray that her love and compassion for
Susan will be rewarded with abundant blessings.
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2. Update: Two imprisoned Christians in Pakistan released
(Sources: Asia News, Compass Direct News)
Blasphemy charges against a 74-year-old believer have been dropped
while a Christian woman who was brutally beaten by police while
pregnant has been released on bail due to lack of evidence.
The elderly believer arrested in June 2010 under Pakistan's
contentious blasphemy law, which is often used to persecute
Christians in the predominantly Muslim nation, was released after
18 months in prison. Rehmat Masih was charged shortly after he had
engaged in a dispute with a local Muslim leader, Tahir Hameed, who
wanted to lay claim to some plots of land that belonged to local
Christians. Hameed's brother was the man who accused Rehmat of
insulting Muhammad. After months of investigation, the court ruled
that statements of witnesses were filed too late and were full of
contradictions.
Thirty-year-old Salma Emmanuel and her husband, 30-year-old
Emmanuel Rasheed, were severely beaten for three days when they
refused to confess to false allegations in November 2011. Salma
was taken to a hospital in critical condition and the life of her
unborn child was also threatened. Rasheed, who was freed on bail
in November, lost his job as did his wife, who was falsely accused
of theft by the woman who employed her as a maid. The couple is
now struggling to support their three children. Salma was released
on bail in December 2011 after police failed to produce evidence
incriminating her.
Praise God that these faithful believers have been freed! Please
pray that Salma and Emmanuel will find employment and will be able
to provide for their family. Pray that the lives of these
believers will be an encouragement and will offer hope to other
Christians imprisoned in Pakistan. Please pray that other
persecuted Christians in Pakistan will endure the trials before
them by trusting in the Lord.
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3. Church leaders in Sudan may face arrest
(Source: Compass Direct News)
Sharing Christ could land pastors in prison as Sudan's Ministry of
Guidance and Religious Endowments has threatened to arrest church
leaders if they carry out evangelistic activities and fail to
provide their names and contact information.
The threats were sent by letter to church leaders of the Sudan
Presbyterian Evangelical Church (SPEC) shortly after the New Year.
It arrived just a few days after Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir,
who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for crimes
against humanity in Darfur, told cheering crowds that following
the secession of the largely non-Islamic South Sudan last July,
the country's constitution will be more deeply entrenched in
Shariah, or Islamic, law.
Christian leaders said Christianity is now regarded as a foreign
religion following the departure of 350,000 people -- most of them
Christians -- to South Sudan following the secession. Sudan's
Interim National Constitution (INC) holds up Shariah as a source
of legislation and laws, and the policies of the government favour
Islam. War in Sudan's South Kordofan state has also led leaders
there and in North Kordofan to incite hatred against Christians
with officials in both states calling for holy war against the
predominantly Christian Nuba people.
Pray that the gospel will advance throughout Sudan despite all
efforts to thwart it. Please pray that President Omar al-Bashir
will be brought to justice for his crimes and that he will repent
and bend his knee to Christ. Pray the Nuba people will be
protected by God.
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4. Update: New laws in Azerbaijan attempt to repress the gospel
(Source: Forum 18 News Service)
Believers in Azerbaijan who distribute religious material that
hasn't been through compulsory state censorship will now face
prison terms of two to five years or fines equivalent to nine
years' minimum wage salary. The punishments are included in
amendments to the Criminal and Administrative Codes, which were
prepared by the powerful Presidential Administration and signed
into law by the president on December 12, 2011.
Azerbaijan has been increasingly restricting religious freedoms
for several years. In 2009, the Religion Law was twice amended to
restrict rights and freedoms related to religion, and in December
2010, fines for religious activity under the Administrative Code
were increased by up to 20 times. More amendments in July 2011
introduced new controls on religious education as well as other
restrictions.
Please pray that President Ilham Aliev will succumb to
international pressure and stop violating the rights and freedoms
of the people he governs. Pray that believers in Azerbaijan will
continue to be bold in sharing their faith so that more will be
saved (1 Timothy 2:4).
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5. UK Christians raise voice for North Korean believers
(Source: Release International)
A funeral procession for freedom was staged by VOM's sister
mission in the UK, Release International, on January 20 outside
the North Korean Embassy in London. Release International called
on North Korea's new leader, Kim Jong-Un, to reverse the nation's
reputation as one of the worst persecutors of Christians.
To the beat of a drum, Release International's supporters
accompanied a coffin to the Embassy. Dressed for mourning, their
faces painted with running tears, they staged a prayer vigil. A
52,000-signature petition was also presented to the Embassy,
calling for religious freedom.
The coffin signified the death of freedom in North Korea under the
previous leadership. After the petition was handed in, the coffin
lid was opened and white balloons released -- a sign of hope for a
new beginning.
"With the country's new young leader, now is the time for change,"
said Release International's CEO, Andy Dipper. "Christians are
treated as political prisoners and held in prison camps, which
have been likened to concentration camps.... Because of their
faith they are detained, brutally tortured and removed from
society. Many are forced to flee the country they love to avoid
terrible persecution and oppression. Given a chance to practice
their faith freely, North Korean Christians would work to support
North Korean society and unity."
Pray that North Korean Christians will remain steadfast to God in
every circumstance they face. Pray that religious freedom will
soon be respected. Ask God to work powerfully in the life of Kim
Jong-Un. Pray that Christians around the world will be dedicated
to pray for believers in North Korea.
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