Egyptian Christians Scared About Muslim Brotherhood Takeover of Parliament

Egyptian Christians who were scared over the eventual takeover of the Parliament by the Muslim Brotherhood welcomed the recent decision by the Supreme Court to dissolve the Islamist-controlled parliament due to election irregularities.

Open Doors United Kingdom (UK) (http://www.opendoorsuk.org) a Christian advocacy group stated this in a release adding that Christians welcome ruling to dissolve parliament but still face uncertain future.

Speaking on this recent development, Mr. Athanasious Williams, a Christian human rights lawyer in Egypt stated: "But now they feel that there might be a better chance for a secular government."

He said that about a third of the seats were reserved for ‘independents', but there was confusion because some seats were contested on a proportional representation basis and others using the ‘first past the post' system. “The Supreme Court ruled that the elections were invalid and the lower house of parliament will now be dissolved.”

According to him,along with the decision to strike the parliament, the court also ruled to allow Ahmed Shafiq, the final prime minister of former President Hosni Mubarak's regime, to continue running for president. 

Williams stated: “In this weekend's (16-17 June) presidential elections, Shafiq, despite his connection to the old regime, is seen by many Christians as a preferable option to the Muslim Brotherhood candidate, Mohammed Mursi.”

He noted that local leaders have warned that the court ruling does not guarantee that the Islamists won't regain power through a rerun of the election, but it does give voters another chance to elect a government more sympathetic to Christians and other ethnic minorities.

Nahla, a young Christian who runs empowerment programs for Coptic women in rural areas, explained how many Christians are responding to the dichotomy facing them. "How can we stop ministry when the hunger for the Lord is increasing these days like never before? 

He continued: “Our biggest challenge is to continue to love, forgive and pray for the people who hate us, so we can be a real blessing to our community and our country. The Bible says love never fails, and we want to keep reflecting the shining love of Jesus to all our neighbors."

Release International Calls for Prayer for Nigeria Terrorist Victims

The United Kingdom (U.K) Christian Charity organization Release International (www.releaseinternational.org) has called for a fresh prayer for  victims of ongoing attacks against churches and Christian communities in Nigeria. 

 Nigerian Christian women in deep mourning
after a terrorist attack on Christians

Quoting Stefanos Foundation, Release in a report said many Christians have been left deeply traumatized by the violence adding that it asks for prayers for members of the following churches, which have been bombed by militants: The Living Faith Church, Bauchi; Christ Chosen Church, Jos: Christ The King Church, Zaria, and Shalom Church, Kaduna. 

According to the report, extremists detonated bombs during worship services and that militants raided nine townships in Gashish District of Barkin Ladi. They left many Christians homeless, hungry and deeply traumatized.

"Release works with Stefanos Foundation to provide trauma counseling to victims. Our partner is also supporting the Berom ethnic Christian communities of Plateau State, who have been attacked," it stated.

In an updated report, it said the Pakistani Christian, Khurram Masih, who is accused of burning pages of the Koran to make tea, is due back in court on August 4. The complainant failed to turn up in court to give evidence at the previous hearing on July 26. 

"The judge summonsed the police officer dealing with the case to reprimand him. Pray for wisdom for the judge and protection for Khurram and his family," Release also stated.

17 Eritrean Christians Detained in Prison Camp

Seventeen evangelical Christians have been imprisoned in a remote military training camp at Aderset, Western Eritrea. 

This report is contained in a release by Open Doors (www.opendoorsuk.org) a United Kingdom (UK) Registered Charity adding that the young Christians were arrested on  August 5 as they were gathered at one of their homes in Keren, northwest of Asmara. 

It noted that the seven women and ten men, most of whom are enrolled for military service at Mitire, were then marched to the police station 45 minutes away, whilst being ridiculed by onlookers. They were later relocated to the military camp in Aderset. 

“The camp is notorious for its harsh conditions. Prisoners are often kept in dungeons and forced to do hard labor. The remoteness of the camp also makes it extremely hard for friends and family to visit in order to provide extra food or medicine. It is understood that one of the women arrested is physically unwell,” the report stated. 

It noted that Church leaders estimated that there are around 1,500 believers in prisons in Eritrea because of their faith and that life has been particularly difficult for Christians since the Eritrean government outlawed all religious activities outside of the Orthodox, Catholic, Lutheran and Islamic faiths in 2002. 

Eritrean Christians according to the report, completed 40 days of prayer for their nation on July 2, 2012 and that  one Eritrean who took part said: "The prayer campaign has taught me and several brothers and sisters with whom I talked to, to continue depending on God with unceasing and persistent prayer until God establishes justice for the Eritrean Church."

It would be noted however that Eritrean believers have called on the wider Christian community to pray with them and particularly for the 17 young people recently imprisoned.

Hindu Nationalists Kill Indian Christian

It has been reported that Indian Hindu nationalist attacked a prayer meeting in Tamil Nadu and killed one Christian and injured others.

This indication is contained a report by the Release International (www.releaseinternational.org) a United Kingdom (UK) based Christian Charity organization adding that Edwin Raj died after Hindu nationalists launched an apparently well-planned attack on a private home in Sathankodu, Kanyakumari district recently.

Quoting All India Christian Council (AICC), one of its partners in India, it noted that while a small group of extremists disrupted the prayer meeting initially, they were soon joined by other assailants armed with stones and iron rods. 

“They asked Edwin if he was a Christian and, when he said 'yes', they beat him brutally. He died of his injuries on the way to hospital. His father was injured when he tried to intervene to protect Edwin.

The report said that the extremists had told the police they intended to attack the Christians – and police had done nothing to prevent it adding that its partners have already visited the village to help obtain justice for the Christians.

“Please pray for God's peace to fill Edwin's family and friends, as they come to terms with his death. Ask God to heal and restore everyone affected by this attack – and pray that their faith will be strengthened by the ordeal,” the report also stated.

ICC Calls for Petition on Detained Pakistani Christian Girl

Jeff King President ICC

A Christian group, International Christian Concern (ICC) (www.persecution.org) has called for a petition for the immediate release of the Pakistani Christian girl, Rimsha Misrak, 14 held behind bars since August 16, for her Christian faith.

In a release, the group’s President, Jeff King said that Misrak was torn away from her family allegedly burning pages with bits of the Quran written on them and placed behind bars  adding that  next day an angry mob gathered near her home in Islamabad, Pakistan, demanding that little Rimsha be burned alive.

“Rimsha is a Christian, and today she is sitting in a Pakistani jail awaiting trial on the charge of blasphemy. The charge carries a potential death sentence, and even though it's unlikely she will be sentenced to death, her life is still in danger,” he stated.

He pointed out that in July a man accused of blasphemy in Pakistan was drugged from his prison cell by an angry Muslim mob and beaten to death before his body was set on fire.

According to King, Rimsha's family has gone into protective custody and hundreds of other Christian families from her community in Islamabad have fled for their lives. All too often in Pakistan charges of blasphemy are used to settle personal scores or target Christians who have somehow offended their Islamic neighbors.

He recounted that one Christian women and mother of five, Asia Bibi, is currently sitting on death row in Pakistan after being convicted on trumped up charges of blasphemy. “Rimsha needs your help. Join ICC today in calling for the Pakistani government to immediately release and ensure the safety of young Rimsha.”

He called on concerned individuals to sign their petition to add their voice and help free this innocent girl from her unlawful imprisonment.  To be involved, follow the instructions here: http://www.persecution.org/pdf/RimshaPetition.pdf  and have your signatures back to us by September 10.” 

How Mexican Arm-gang Murdered American Missionary-Couple

 BY SUCCESS KANAYO UCHIME

A Mexican arm-gang has murdered an American missionary-couple, John Casias, 76, and wife Wanda Casias, 67, who had served for 28 years as Baptist missionaries in Mexico.


The ugly incidence happened on 31 January at their home near Monterrey in El Cercado, Santiago, about 600 miles north of Mexico City.

This fact is contained in a report by Open Doors United Kingdom (UK) (www.opendoorsuk.org) adding that they were strangled with electrical cords when intruders broke into their house and stole a safe, televisions and ministry vehicles, along with other items.


Quoting Compass Direct News (CDN), the report said that the killers left Wanda Casias dead inside the house, and the body of her husband was reportedly found in a storage room of a small building elsewhere on the property.
“Affiliated with the Global Independent Baptist Fellowship, the couple came originally from Lewisville, Texas. Their ministry in Mexico included founding churches, running daily Vacation Bible Schools and organising youth camps,” it stated.

It continued: “They are survived by ten children, who have reportedly said they hope to continue their parents' ministry.”

According to Open Doors, this area has suffered heavily from attacks by drug cartels in recent weeks, including the murder of the mayor of El Cercado, leading to the tentative conclusion that the crime was committed by people serving narcotics traffickers.

It observed that Drug traffickers in Mexico oppose the message of Christ because it distracts from their business, and Christians have been among the targets of the criminals.

Christians in Mexico were of the view that if the motive for the attack on the Casias' was robbery only, their assailants would not have needed to kill the missionary couple adding that Churches are seen as a direct threat to organised crime because they teach that drug-related issues are not compatible with the gospel and tend to ask for the allegiance of their members.

The report stated: “This opposes the totalitarian outlook of these mafia groups, who demand absolute loyalty to their business empires.”

In a related development, the report said that another Christian falsely charged with participating in an armed confrontation in the Acteal community in Mexico over 10 years ago was released from Amate prison on February 1.

It noted that he was acquitted of all charges following a Supreme Court of Justice review of his case. Six other prisoners will also be released on the basis of this resolution. “A total of 44 men have been released from Amate prison in the last two years on the basis that they were convicted on false charges.”