Prayer Focus Update May 2008 PRAYER FOCUS UPDATE is a monthly information bulletin with up-to-date news on the persecuted Church to help Christians pray for their suffering brothers and sisters. You can use this for prayer groups, your own information and for inclusion in church magazines. It can be sent via email, is available as printable versions on the Barnabas Fund website or can be sent through the post FREE OF CHARGE. Please contact your national Barnabas Fund office or the UK office if you would like to receive this in the post. You can select an A4 or A5 PDF version to download by clicking here <http://www.barnabasfund.org/support/pfu.php> * UZBEKISTAN - CHRISTIANS FACE INCREASING HARASSMENT FROM GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS <#UZBEKISTAN-CHRISTIANSFACE> * NEPAL - NEW GOVERNMENT PLEDGES RELIGIOUS FREEDOM FOR CHRISTIANS <#NEPAL-NEWGOVERNMENTPLEDGE> * PAKISTAN - CHRISTIAN COUPLE KIDNAPPED, BEATEN AND THREATENED BY MUSLIMS <#PAKISTAN-CHRISTIANCOUPLEK> * CHINA - 46 CHINESE CHRISTIANS ARRESTED IN GOVERNMENT'S CRACKDOWN ON HOUSE CHURCHES <#CHINA-46CHINESECHRISTIANS> * BRITAIN - AT LONG LAST: PROBLEM OF APOSTASY ACKNOWLEDGED AND DISCUSSED IN SECULAR MEDIA <#BRITAIN-ATLONGLAST:PROBLE> * IRAQ - CHURCH LEADER KILLED IN DRIVE-BY SHOOTING <#IRAQ-CHURCHLEADERKILLEDIN> * ETHIOPIA - ONE CHRISTIAN KILLED AND MANY WOUNDED IN BRUTAL ATTACK ON CHURCHES <#ETHIOPIA-ONECHRISTIANKILL> UZBEKISTAN - CHRISTIANS FACE INCREASING HARASSMENT FROM GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS Christians in Uzbekistan find themselves increasingly targeted by government officials. On 20 April twelve government officials interrupted a Sunday service in Karshi town. They filmed the service and the people in the congregation. When the service finished, they took down the names and addresses of all Christians, threatening them with imprisonment and fines. They even asked all the children for their names and addresses. One official threatened a little girl with the words: "Do you want to go to prison? If not, tell me your address." The officials then searched the building, confiscating all Christian literature, CDs and even personal Bibles. Three Christians were detained but later released. On 3 April a group of believers in Samarkand was arrested at a meeting in one of their houses. The police confiscated all books, note-books and a laptop they found in the house. The Christians were severely beaten, but eventually released apart from one, Bobur, who was detained at the police station. The police tried to find evidence to incriminate him on charges of inciting religious hatred. After having had to endure mental torture (e.g. he was not allowed to sleep), Bobur was released six days later and all criminal charges against him were dropped. The only charges against him were administrative charges for holding religious meetings without official registration, which meant that Bobur could be given up to 15 days' detention or large fine. However, at the court hearing, the judge decided on a surprisingly low fine of only 200,000 UZS (about £77). /. Pray for Uzbek Christians who are being intimidated by government officials. Pray that the Lord will give them courage and wisdom to know how to deal with the authorities. Pray that they will be a good witness to those who harass them. . Thank the Lord that Bobur was released, following the prayers of many Christians around the world, and that all criminal charges against him were dropped. Praise Him that, in the end, Bobur only incurred a minimal fine. Pray that God will renew Bobur's strength and help him to recover over the next few weeks so that he can continue in his ministry without fear./ NEPAL - NEW GOVERNMENT PLEDGES RELIGIOUS FREEDOM FOR CHRISTIANS In the Nepali election on 10 April, the Maoist political party won 116 out of 215 elected seats in Nepal's new constitutional assembly. After the election, party leaders called a meeting with all major Christian leaders of the country, assuring them that the Maoists "had no intentions of hurting Christians in any way" and that they would "guarantee freedom of religion for all". Since 1996, Christians had become increasingly embroiled in the conflict between the Maoist rebels and the Nepali government, and several Christians had suffered violence at the hand of the Maoists, some of whom considered Christians as spies. Nepal is a Hindu-majority country, with only about 3% of the population being Christian. Christians have also been targeted by Hindu extremists who want to see Nepal become a Hindu state once again. Nepal only became a secular state in 2006, which improved the legal and social freedoms for Christians. With the election of the Maoist party, Nepal's 240-year-old monarchy has been ended. Despite the reputation of the Maoist party as a rebel group with a violent and brutal history, people seem to consider them as a way to bring about the much-needed change after years of turmoil that preceded this election. Narayan Sharma, a Christian leader, says: "God has a plan and a purpose for Nepal, and the Maoists coming to power is part of that. . . I am hopeful that this will open doors for the furthering of the Gospel in this country." /. Pray for the new constitutional assembly in Nepal. Pray that the Maoists' assurance to Christians is genuine and that the Maoist party will bring about the positive change it has promised. Pray that this election result will lead to greater religious freedom in Nepal. / PAKISTAN - CHRISTIAN COUPLE KIDNAPPED, BEATEN AND THREATENED BY MUSLIMS On 2 April a Pakistani Christian called Anwar Masih and his wife Bushra were kidnapped by a group of five Muslims after they had been to see the National Director of CLAAS, an organisation that offers legal assistance to Christians. Anwar had been charged and imprisoned for one year on blasphemy charges. He was acquitted on 24 December 2004 but continues to live in fear of his life because anyone who has ever been accused of blasphemy in Pakistan is permanently at risk from Muslim extremists who believe they will be pleasing God if they kill a blasphemer. Christians are especially vulnerable. The Muslims who kidnapped the couple beat and tortured Anwar and tried to force him to renounce his Christian faith. They also beat Bushra and threatened that unless the couple converted to Islam they would rape and kill her. On 6 April, the captors forgot to lock the door of the room where Anwar and his wife were held, and the couple managed to escape. /. Praise the Lord that Anwar and Bushra were able to escape their tormentors. Praise Him also for their faithfulness, refusing to renounce Christ. Pray that God will open up a way for them to live in peace and without fear. / CHINA - 46 CHINESE CHRISTIANS ARRESTED IN GOVERNMENT'S CRACKDOWN ON HOUSE CHURCHES Forty-six Christians were arrested on Sunday, 13 April, in the Xianjiang region, China, while holding a Bible class and worshipping in a private home. Public Security Bureau (PSB) officials broke into the home, arresting all of the Christians present. All but two were released on bail after their family members paid 50 yuan (approximately £3.50) to the PSB. The Christians were asked to confess their illegal Sunday worship activities and study the government's handbook on religious policy. They were released on the condition that they return and recite the policy to the PSB within one week. The two other Christians, Mr Ding Zhichun (aged 40) and Ms Ma Wenxiu (aged 42) were detained for 15 days. Mr Ding was apparently detained because he had opened his home for the worship service. It is unclear why Ms Ma was held. It is believed that this incident is part of a nationwide crackdown on house churches which are not government-controlled and therefore considered illegal by the government. /. Pray for the members of this Chinese house church. Pray that the Lord will encourage them and help them to stand firm in their faith. . Pray that God will protect and bless the rapidly growing Church in China. Pray that the Chinese government will stop considering Christians as a threat to the country and that it will end its crackdown on house churches. / BRITAIN - AT LONG LAST: PROBLEM OF APOSTASY ACKNOWLEDGED AND DISCUSSED IN SECULAR MEDIA In recent months the British media have started to address and discuss the issue of conversion from Islam and the persecution of Muslims who choose to embrace another faith. On 22 April BBC Radio 4 aired a programme called "Could I stop being a Muslim?" This broadcast told the story of Muslims who left their faith and, as a result, had to face huge pressure and rejection from their families. It looked at the theological basis in Islam for the death penalty for apostasy and also mentioned converts who have been murdered or officially sentenced to death. A British imam, Usama Hassan, said on the programme: "I believe that the classical law of apostasy in Islam is wrong and based on a misunderstanding." It is good news that the secular media is finally taking up the issue of apostasy. Many people signed Barnabas Fund's petition and joined its letter-writing campaign to protest against the Islamic apostasy law in 2003, and it is wonderful to see that this effort is bearing fruit. /. Praise the Lord that the issue of apostasy is finally being acknowledged and discussed publicly. Pray that interest will not fade, but that this subject will continue to be debated and that there will be an overwhelming public rejection of the injustice of the Islamic law of apostasy. . Pray also that there will be a real move towards changes which will ensure freedom of conscience for all, including those who are born Muslims. / IRAQ - CHURCH LEADER KILLED IN DRIVE-BY SHOOTING An Iraqi church leader, Yousif Adil Abbodi, was assassinated in a drive-by shooting on 5 April close to his home in Baghdad. The 47-year-old church leader was shot dead by gunmen travelling in a car just after he left his home. He had received several death threats. /. Pray for Yousif's family and friends. Pray that the Lord will comfort and strengthen them. Whenever a church leader is attacked or killed in Iraq, the whole Christian community feels it as a message intended to threaten them all because of their Christian faith./ /. Continue to pray for the protection of the Christian remnant still in Iraq. Pray that God will give them courage and love for those who persecute them and seek to drive them out of their homeland./ Iraqi Christians are continuing to flee the country in fear of their lives. The European Union has now started to discuss admitting more Iraqi refugees to their countries. Some countries, such as Germany, have called for priority to be given to Christian Iraqis. Sweden, which has so far been the most welcoming European country for Iraqi refugees, including large numbers of Christians, has started to close its doors to those seeking refuge as its capacity to accommodate any more has reached its limit. /. Pray that European countries will recognise the urgency of the situation of Iraqi Christians and open their borders, granting refuge to those who have fled Iraq for fear of their lives. Pray for the effectiveness of Barnabas Fund's current petition and campaign on behalf of Iraqi Christian refugees. / ETHIOPIA - ONE CHRISTIAN KILLED AND MANY WOUNDED IN BRUTAL ATTACK ON CHURCHES On Sunday, 2 March, Islamic radicals attacked two churches in the village of Nensebo Chebi in the Oromia region of Ethiopia, injuring 17 Christians and killing one. Muslims entered the churches during Sunday worship and locked the doors behind them. They shouted "God is great" and started indiscriminately attacking men, women and children in the congregation with machetes. One 45-year-old man, Tula Mosesa, father of four children, was beheaded. Several people had hands or arms severed by the attackers' machetes. A five-year-old boy, Beke Abera, had his arm cut to the bone. Islamic extremist groups have become increasingly active in Ethiopia in recent years. Many mosques and Muslim schools are being built, even in remote villages. Radical Muslim groups from Somalia and Afghanistan are spreading anti-Christian teaching and discouraging Muslims from having any contact with Christians. /. Pray for the Christian men, women and children who have been injured in the attack. Pray that the Lord will bring physical and emotional healing. Pray especially for those who have lost limbs and might now struggle to find work and support their families. Pray that God will provide for them. . Pray for Christians in Ethiopia. Pray that they will stand firm in the face of growing islamisation of the country. Pray that God will give them the grace to continue to show love to their Muslim neighbours and those who persecute them./
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