Saturday, October 30, 2010
Friday, October 29, 2010
Iranian Pastor Faces Execution on “Apostasy” Charges
Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani
Iranian Pastor Faces Execution on “Apostasy” Charges
By Success Kanayo Uchime
It is unimaginable to note the kind of agony Christians in Iran are meant to go through just because they’ve decided to express their fundamental rights of freedom of worship. This is with recent news that one Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani may be executed for the so-called apostasy charges.
In a report by the Washington D.C based International Christian Concern (ICC) (http://www.persecution.org/), it noted that the pastor received notification that he will be executed on charges of “apostasy” - conversion from Islam to Christianity – and is now awaiting the court’s final verdict.
ICC said that Pastor Nadarkhani, a church leader in Rasht, Iran, was arrested on October 13, 2009 for questioning the Islamic education practice of Christian students – including his own children – to be required to read the Quran in school.
“His execution, initially scheduled for October 24th, was postponed to an unknown date by security forces in hopes that Youcef will renounce Christ and return to Islam. Once the court’s final verdict is delivered, Pastor Youcef will have 20 days to appeal to the Supreme Court,” it stated.
The report said that Pastor Youcef’s wife, Fatemeh Passandideh, was arrested on June 8 and sentenced to life imprisonment. However, after filing an appeal, she was released following a hearing on October 11th. “Although his wife was acquitted, it is unlikely that Pastor Youcef will be granted the same relief as his Christian activity was more prominent and his charge more severe.”
In a letter to the international Christian community, Pastor Youcef took courage and consoled believers around the world: “What we are bearing today, is a difficult but not unbearable situation, because He has not tested us more than our faith can endure. We must consider these bumps and prisons as opportunities to testify to His name.”
ICC urged prayers for Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani – that he will trust and find courage in the Lord. Also that if it be God’s will, he will be released and if not, he will exemplify Christ and give God glory in his calling to suffer for the name of our Savior.
“Pray for Pastor Youcef’s wife and two children – that God will sustain them during this period of great trial. And that they may remain strong in faith, and persevere in the face of tyranny and loss. Pray for Iranian Christians – that they would not be intimidated or grow weary, but will continue to share the Gospel with courage and seek the Lord’s guidance and grace daily,” it stated.
To read Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani’s letter to the international Christian community, click here: http://presenttruthmn.com/blog/iran/letter-youcef-nadarkhani
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Chinese Three-Self Patriotic Movement Attacks Pastor
Hu Jintao, Chinese President
It’s amazing to note how the Chinese Three-Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM) church is intimidating Christians and Pastor who’re not of there fold. This can’t continue this way, bearing in mind that all citizens of China are supposed to have freedom of worship as stipulated by the United Nations Charter on people’s right.
Can you imaging a situation where one Pastor Zhan Gang of Jiaozhou Church in Shandong was attacked and beaten by thugs hired by this same TSPM along with other church members?
Lamenting on this recent development, Media Coordinator, China Aid (http://www.chinaaid.org/), Tracy Oliver said that Pastor Zhan Gang arrived at the church along with some members for the usual morning study and suddenly were attacked and beaten by the thugs from TSPM.
“The Christians were forcibly removed from the building. The attack was led by the TSPM director’s sons, namely Wang Zhanquan and Wang Zhanhua, both non-Christians.
Now, nearly 1,000 Christians led by Pastor Zhan Gang will no longer be able to conduct normal gatherings,” she said.
According to her, the director of the Bureau of Religion was directing this operation from behind the scenes and that he said he would not allow Zhan Gang to enter the church because he is not a pastor of the TSPM church.
She noted that the attackers were suspected of being plain-clothed agents adding that Pastor Zhan is also the general secretary of Chinese House Church Alliance.
“ChinaAid supports the members of Jiaozhou Church in their request for Christians all over China to closely monitor this situation, pray for them, and provide help. We request that the TSPM officials in Shandong stop their attack on house church Christians,” she also stated.
For more stories from this author click here: http://www.allvoices.com/users/success4u
How Hindu Radicals Assaulted Pregnant Christian
Pratibha Patil, Indian president
The Hindu radicals have continued their assaults on the Christian population with the recent dehumanizing treatment given to a Christian woman in Orissa, India, a thing that should be of a very serious concern to the rest of the world.
Regional Manager of Africa and South Asia, International Christian Concern (ICC) (http://www.persecution.org/) Jonathan Racho in a statement said that Hindu radicals severely beat a pregnant Christian woman, Sonadei while she was attending the funeral of her infant daughter.
He noted that the radicals, who refuse to allow Christians to be buried in the village, attacked several other Christians at the funeral with machetes and sticks.
“At the time of this reporting, Sonadei, the assaulted pregnant woman, was bleeding heavily. She has not received any medical attention because there is no hospital in Bendaguda, the village where the attack occurred,” he said.
According to him, one Pastor Vijay KumarVijay Kumar, who was also attacked at the funeral, told how victims are panicked and hiding in a house with the decomposed body of the baby, fearful of what might happen to them next adding that he earnestly requested prayer.
“Our hearts are broken to hear the plight of Sonadei and the other assaulted Christians. It’s very sad that she has to suffer this assault on the day when she was mourning the death of her baby girl, Racho also stated.
He said that this outrageous and inhumane act by Hindu radicals must not go unpunished and that they’re urging Indian police to immediately move to the area, protect the Christians and arrest the perpetrators.
He further stated: “Please pray that Sonadei and her unborn child will survive and get the medical attention they need. Also pray for the rest of the Christians who are now in hiding. Please call the Indian embassy in your country and politely ask the Indian officials with these numbers (Indian Embassies USA: (202) 939-7000, UK: 020 7836 8484 or 020 7632 3123, Canada: (613) 744-3751) to send police to the village of Bendaguda and protect the Christians.”
For more stories from this author click here: http://www.allvoices.com/users/success4u
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Eritrean Govt. Unlawfully Detains 11 Christian for Their Faith
Issayas Afewerki, Eritrean President
Eritrean Govt. Unlawfully Detains Eleven Christians for Their Faith
By Success Kanayo Uchime
It’s very disheartening to note the kind of inhuman treatments Christians undergo in Eritrea just because they’ve decided to practice their faith. The attention of the international community should be drawn to this immediately.
Commenting on this latest development of the arrest of eleven Christians in that country, the Regional Manager of Africa and South Asia, International Christian Concern (ICC) (http://www.persecution.org/) Jonathan Racho, a Washington, D.C. based Christian advocacy group said that on October 20, Eritrean government officials arrested the Christians and took them to unknown locations.
He noted that the Eritrean security officials rounded off the Christians from the cities of Mendefera, Dekemharre and Dibarwa following an order given by Mustafa Nurhussein, the governor of the Southern Zone (province) of Eritrea. The governor ordered a crackdown on Christians living in his province.
“The security officials also confiscated TVs, video players and other electronic equipment that belonged to the Christians,” he stated.
Racho observed that most of the detained belong to the Full Gospel Church, an evangelical church that was among those that were banned by Eritrean officials in 2002 adding that Eritrea only recognizes four religious groups: Islam, the Eritrean Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church and the Lutheran Evangelical Church of Eritrea.
He further stated: “Even members of the recognized Christian groups have not escaped persecution. In May 2007, Eritrean officials deposed Abune Antonios, patriarch of the Eritrean Orthodox Church and put him under house arrest. The patriarch and several other members of the church still remain in custody.”
He said that the communist government officials of Eritrea have detained more than three thousand Christians, keeping them under inhumane conditions. The Christians are imprisoned in metal shipping containers, military barracks and underground dungeons and that many Christians have died inside the prisons due to torture and harsh prison conditions.
“We are saddened to hear about the detention of the 11 Christians. Eritrean officials have continued to mistreat Christians in the country for choosing to practice their faith. We ask Eritrea to immediately release the 11 Christians and the more than 3000 others who are illegally detained. Where is the outcry from the international community for the plight of Christians in Eritrea?” Racho queried.
For more stories from this author click here: http://www.allvoices.com/users/success4u
Monday, October 25, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
Badjao in Dumaguete City Sad Over Police Frequent Arrests
The Badjao people with some KMO-INTER missionaries in Dumaguete city
Picture by KMO-INTER (http://www.kmointer.webs.com/)
The Badjao people, they need your support!
Picture by KMO-INTER (http://www.kmointer.webs.com/)
These Badjao kids needs your help!
Picture by KMO-INTER (http://www.kmointer.webs.com/)
Badjao in Dumaguete City Sad Over Police Frequent Arrests
By Success Kanayo Uchime
http://www.kmointer.webs.com/
Things are not really going well with lots of the Badjao tribal people settling in Dumaguete City as the Philippines National Police (PNP) will always swoop on them as an owl will always swoop down to grab a mouse.
This is always the occurring case with these neglected and marginalized Badjao people who’re always spotted at the Boulevard area and other parts of the city doing what they know best – either selling pearls or begging for arms.
A cross section of them who were interviewed felt hurt by this incessant harassments by the PNP and other government agencies and are quick to plead to them to give peace a chance by allowing them to move freely in a country they’ve a “common wealth.”
Speaking on this development, the Chief Operations and Plans, Dumaguete City Police Station, Mr.Eduardo Sojor Oira said that the case is not always like that adding that the police only act based on the order of the Department of Social Welfare Development (DSWD).
He said that the City Government through the DSWD put in place a taskforce to monitor the activities of the Badjao people stressing that the police is just a member of that taskforce.
“If the DSWD request for our assistance concerning the Badjao immediately we provide them that. When DSWD operate they ask for our help and the Badjao are always under the custody of the DSDW not the police. They’ve not committed any criminal offence, therefore police has no basis to arrest them,” he stated.
Mr. Oira noted that on no account have they requested the Badjao people to move out of Dumaguete City as the police have no problem with them adding that the police only carry out its legitimate function by giving its assistance to the taskforce that was setup by the City Government.
One of the Badjao, who described himself as Malah Kunog felt bitter about the whole scenario and pleaded on the City Government and the police to assist his people by providing them with a resettlement center and also empowering them economically.
He believed that since his people are great fishermen, the Government can do well by providing them tools like boats and other fishing tools that will enable them engage themselves in a meaningful venture.
The Badjao or Bajau, which means man of the seas, are constantly having a sense of rejection and at present are known as the most marginalized ethnic group and also one of the poorest tribes in the Philippines or rather the poorest of the poor.
They’re a Muslim tribe that is always avoided by almost every Filipino they come across and this has put them in a disadvantaged position to engage in any meaningful venture that will enable them to be self-supporting financially.
The Badjao are often regarded as social outcasts and never-do-wells, whose stock in trade is always and nothing but begging for arms a scenario that’s not always accepted by their fellow Filipinos. In fact the discrimination is so intense that an average Filipino always finds it difficult to patronize the Badjao who hawk pearls, fish or other goods. They’re only left at the mercy of few foreigners who don’t know that they’re “Badjao.”
The plight of the Badjao tribal people was taken to the former Mayor of Dumaguete City, Hon. Augustine Perdices by a group of missionaries working under the Kingdom Missions Outreach International Inc. (KMO-INTER), the only known organization in Dumaguete City helping to rehabilitate the Badjao people, and the Mayor then said that his office is particularly worried over some of them who beg and thereby liter the streets with garbage. The Mayor showed serious concern for them and wished that well-meaning organizations would come up to assist them.
According to him, the government would be ready to work with any such organizations that’ll have an articulate program for them in terms of livelihood projects and others. And his statement collaborates well with that of his successor, Hon. Manuel ‘Chiquiting’ Sagarbarria who also showed willingness to partner with any group ready to work among the Badjao tribal people in Dumaguete City.
Welcoming in his office delegates from KMO-INTER recently who came to pay him a courtesy visit, Hon. Sagarbarria said his Government is ready to deal ones and for all with this social problem of street begging by the Badjao and others and as such mandated the DSWD, to liaise with his office on the progress being made by KMO-INTER in reaching out to the Badjao.
The case of the Badjao in Dumaguete City is similar to that of the Badjao elsewhere in the whole of the Philippines as investigations show that even in Manila their case is even made worst as they kept running away from the Pasay police, officers of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) there.
These government agencies give reason for there action from the October 1999 presidential memorandum which instituted the Rescue-Care Program or better known as “Sagip-Kalinga Program. This program amongst other things empowers the police, MMDA and DSWD to arrest and rescue street dwellers, which include the street children, the mentally-ill drug addicts and all others that pose as a social menace in metro Manila.
Further to that they are also carrying out these constant arrests of these groups of people based on the Presidential Decree 1563 or the Anti-Mendicancy Law which also empowers them to do so.
The Manila police authorities claimed that the Badjao, along with other street dwellers, are collected and brought to a rehabilitation center in Malibay, Pasay, where they’re taken care of by the city’s social workers and other Sagip-Kalinga personnel.
This project it’s believed encourages them to return to their hometown and start a new life. And what they do with them is to try and talk them into realizing the dangers inherent in city life and are also given some stipends that’ll take care of their feeding and transport back home.
But the question is this, what are their counterparts in Dumaguete City doing in order to elevate the suffering of these neglected Badjao people in the city? The case is the opposite in Dumaguete City where they’re being arrested and taken out of the city without any meaningful program on ground to rehabilitate them. And what we usually see is a vicious circle where the Badjao after a while will return back to the city to continue begging on the streets, thereby making a mockery of the whole exercise.
The Government should put in place articulate programs on ground that’ll facilitate their immediate rehabilitation, like a resettlement center, where they’ll be taught livelihood programs that’ll liberate them economically. And even when the government can’t do this alone due to logistics involved, they should encourage other non-governmental agencies like KMO-INTER that are at present making desperate moves to help the Badjao people come out of this life of penury they’ve come to leave with.
As some of them interviewed said that if they can be empowered with fishing boats (baker) and many other economic empowerment projects, they’ll ultimately leave the streets and become productive, thereby contributing to the economic growth and development of the Philippines.
The irony of it all is that these Badjao consistently claim that they’re not lazy contrary to the insinuation of other Filipinos and, they strongly believe that if given a level playing ground, they’ll excel more than any other average Filipino. And one could see this in most of them, as they’re determined to come out of this poverty stricken life. They eagerly and consciously want to be liberated from their present precarious situation and this you see in their long distance trekking everyday in an effort to sell their pearls.
And it needs to be submitted and reiterated also that the earlier the government, both the city, regional and federal governments come to the rescue of these disadvantaged and often time stigmatized group of people the better the society will be for it. We can’t be talking of health, education, and food for all, when there is no adequate plan for the poorest of the poor in the Philippines – the Badjao.
As legitimate citizens of this country, it’s their fundamental rights to enjoy free and compulsory education, adequate healthcare program and what’s more a meaningful and deserving livelihood. The Badjao tribal people should be treated as fellow human beings not outcasts in their own country.
If you wish to send your support to this our Badjao project, please click here: http://kmointer.webs.com/giveyourdonation.htm
Monday, October 11, 2010
Pakistani Politicians Instigate Attacks on Christians
Asif Ali ZARDARI, Pakistani President
There are indications that powerful politicians in Pakistan are the brains behind the incessant mob attacks targeted on the Christian minorities in the country.
Mission Network News (MNN) (http://www.mnnonline.org/) report said that though it has not yet been fully substantiated, but that speculations going round the country show a great involvement of politicians in those attacks.
MNN report noted that a mob of angry Muslims went on a rampage on September 23 in the Gujarat district, Punjab province, Pakistan adding that their target are dozens of Christians.
“Voice of the Martyrs Canada confirms a mob of 40 militants fired shots at homes and individuals in the streets and beat some Christians severely, leaving them for dead,” it added.
It continued: “According to a report from Compass Direct News, ten families were targeted for the attacks. There are rumors that three powerful politicians instigated the mob, but that has yet to be substantiated.”
It observed that reports claim that the mob hinted at an attack similar to the Islamist assault on Gojra in 2009, when an Islamic mob acting on a false rumor of blaspheming the Quran, and whipped into frenzy by local imams attacked the Christian colony there on August 1, 2009.
The attack it noted resulted in the burning of at least seven Christians to death and injuring of 19 others, looting more than 100 houses, and setting fire to 50 of them.
It said that there were more death threats which were given credence after the assault on Tariq Gill, a man exonerated of charges of blaspheming the Qur'an in September 2009. Tariq's parents were also attacked and humiliated. Several critically-injured Christians are recovering in the hospital.
“Pray that authorities will act justly and with integrity in this case. Pray that Christians in Pakistan will take comfort in the promise of the Lord that those who suffer with Christ will also be glorified with Him,” it further said.
For more stories from this author click here: http://www.allvoices.com/users/success4u
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