Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin | RLPB 023 | Wed 23 Sep 2009
PAKISTAN: ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALISTS TARGET CHRISTIANS
By Elizabeth Kendal
Christians in Pakistan are suffering escalating and intensifying persecution. Writing in Pakistan's 'Daily Times' (21 September), commentator Syed Mansoor Hussain said he believed recent attacks on Christian communities are part of a new strategy by Islamic fundamentalist organisations. The Taliban has lost a lot of grassroots support through its widespread killing and repression of Muslims. So now the fundamentalists are inciting their militants to launch Islamic campaigns specifically targeting Christians. This fires up Islamic zeal and keeps the radicalised followers engaged whilst not threatening or offending the general Muslim population. And as Hussain notes, while Islamic apologists 'keep repeating the mantra that Islam is a tolerant religion', too many politicians, police and lawyers are either too intimidated by, or too supportive of, the militants to bring them to justice. So the killings in Islam's name continue with impunity. (See Syed Mansoor Hussain: Looking for justice)
Hussain wrote this piece because of yet another attack against a Christian community in Pakistan's Punjab Province -- the fourth in ten weeks. On 30 June, the Christian community of Bahmani Wala Village was attacked (see RLPB 012, 8 July). Christian communities were then attacked in Korian on 26 July and in Gojra on 1 August (see RLPB 016, 5 Aug). They were all incited by Islamic clerics using false accusations of blasphemy or Qur'an desecration. The cost to the Christian communities has been immense and horrific.
Then on Friday 11 September hundreds of Muslims rioted in Jatheki village near Sialkot city in Punjab Province, responding to incitement from their local mosques. A Muslim woman discovered that her daughter, Hina Asghar, was romantically involved with their neighbour, a Christian boy named Fanish Masih (19). Enraged, she told her imam that Fanish had desecrated Hina's Qur'an. During Friday prayers, the imam called upon Muslims to punish the Christians. In the ensuing pogrom against the Christian community, many members were stripped and severely beaten. The local Protestant Calvary Church was torched and the police stood by as the senior pastor was mercilessly bashed.
Police arrested Fanish the next day. On Sunday 13 September some 600 Muslim women demonstrated in Sialkot to refute the notion that a Muslim woman could ever fall in love with a Christian man. (Note: the Qur'an does not permit Muslims to have friendships with Jews, Christians or any other unbelievers -- e.g. Sura 5:51). On 14 September Fanish was relocated to a prison in Sialkot city where the next day the prison superintendent reported that Masih had 'committed suicide'. Though Fanish Masih is alleged to have hanged himself, his broken ribs and the signs of torture all over his body led Christians to charge that he was murdered. Thousands turned out for the funeral. Clashes erupted when mourners sought to take Fanish's body home to Jatheki village, the police responding with batons, tear gas and live ammunition, wounding three. Around 100 Christians were arrested. Whilst the official autopsy results have not yet been released, the two Christian doctors who observed it have publicly stated they believe Fanish was tortured to death.
Religious freedom advocates are lobbying for the repeal of the Blasphemy Law. Whilst that would be right and just, its repeal will not save Pakistani Christians from deadly Islamic hatred. In fact, it has usually been the case that repealing Islamic laws leads to massacres as hate-filled Islamic fundamentalists will kill Christians rather than yield anything to them.
PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY THAT GOD WILL:
* draw all Pakistani Christians into his holy presence (i.e. sanctuary -- Isaiah 8:13,14a) where they will receive comfort, peace and divine strength (Isaiah 40:27-31). 'When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.' (Psalm 56:3 ESV)
* frustrate the way of the wicked (Psalm 146:9) and rescue his children from the hands of their persecutors (Psalm 31:15).
* bring a spirit of shame on Pakistan about the way their vulnerable Christian minority is being treated and many Muslims will take a moral stand against the lawlessness and violence.
* bring a spirit of enlightenment to Pakistan so that, despite widespread radicalisation, many Muslims will grasp that Islam is clearly not the 'tolerant religion' its apologists proclaim.
* inspire many disillusioned Muslims to turn to Jesus Christ; may it be as was said of the Apostle Paul, 'He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.' (Galatians 1:23 ESV)
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PAKISTANI ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALISTS TARGET CHRISTIANS
In the fourth anti-Christian pogrom in Punjab Province in 10 weeks, Muslims rioted against the Christian community in Jatheki town on 11 September. Once again it was incited by Islamic clerics using a false accusation of Qur'an desecration. However, the real reason was a Muslim woman's anger that her daughter was romantically involved with a Christian neighbour, Fanish Masih (19). After the rioting Muslims had beaten many Christians and torched the local Protestant Calvary Church, the police arrested Fanish. On 15 September it was reported that Fanish had 'committed suicide' in prison. However, Fanish's ribs were broken and there were signs of torture all over his body. The two Christian doctors who observed the official autopsy have stated they believe Fanish was tortured to death. Please pray for Pakistan's besieged Christians.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
022. Laos: persecution of 'imported religion'
Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin | RLPB 022 | Wed 16 Sep 2009
LAOS: PERSECUTION OF 'IMPORTED RELIGION'
By Elizabeth Kendal
Since around 1950 Laos has been torn between pro- and anti-Communist forces. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, ethnic minorities in both Vietnam and Laos sided with US troops in the fight against Communist forces across Indo-China. After the Communist victory, some two-thirds of Laos' Christian population fled the country. Since 1975 Laos has been ruled by the communist Lao People's Revolutionary Party. During the early 1990s Laos moved towards a
more market-based economy, necessitating greater openness and global engagement. However, by 1996 it was applying the brakes, fearing that the regime's hold on power was being threatened. Increased openness had led to a rise in social unrest, with Laotians protesting government repression and corruption. Human rights abuses soared as the authorities cracked down, reining in dissent.
In October 1998, the US Government passed its International Freedom from Religious Persecution (IFRP) Act that tied religious freedom to foreign policy. At that time, religious persecution in Laos was severe and torture routine. However, as a desperately poor country without wealthy powerful friends, Laos could not ignore the US IFRP Act. So the regime began tentatively reforming its religious policy to avoid sanctions and secure trade agreements. By 2005 the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) was able to drop Laos from its Watch List. However, the situation has swung back again. Laos now has strong ties to other developing but totalitarian states including the ascendant, economic powerhouse, China. Furthermore the financial situation in America has greatly diluted its leverage, which was the power behind the IFRP Act. Over the past year, persecution has escalated so much that in May 2009 the USCIRF returned Laos to its Watch List.(See Annual Report of the USCIRF May 2009: LAOS.)
USCIRF reports that over 500 Christians around the country were pressured to renounce their faith in July 2008 alone. Christians are threatened with eviction from their villages, confiscation of livestock, denial of government identity cards, denial of education and the withholding of food from prisoners. Ethnic minority Protestants are being specifically targeted. The Communist regime abhors Protestant Christianity as an 'American import' that threatens the communist political system. Government suspicion and hostility is only heightened because it is being embraced with such joy and dedicated commitment by the ethnic minorities who have long struggled against communist repression.
The Boukham Church has endured sustained persecution over the past year. Human Rights Watch for Lao Religious Freedom (HRWLRF) reports that on 3 September 2009 Lao officials arrested church elder Thao Oun, taking him from his home in Lainsai village at gunpoint. He was then detained, interrogated and terrorised for over five hours. HRWLRF writes: 'Thao Oon was charged with bringing destruction to the Lao nation and government due to his embracing of the Christian faith.' The police chief demanded that Thao Oun denounce Christianity or face eviction from his village. He also threatened Thao Oun that if word of his arrest and interrogation got out to the international community he would be put to death, adding that he wished for the death of all believers in Boukham Church. HRWLRF has gone public with the report believing that shining a global spotlight on Thao Oun's case is actually the only way now to guarantee his safety. Furthermore, the authorities are pressuring the church by denying schooling to ten of its children and denying believing families access to water, medical care and the protection of the law. Then on 5 September, the authorities arrested Thao Aom, 'a new believer of 10 months'. After three hours of police 'interrogation' Thao Aom was still refusing to renounce his faith and so was evicted from his village. On Sunday 6 September, authorities surrounded the Boukham Church and stopped believers entering for worship. (See HRWLRF Advocacy Alert No. 04/2009. 9 September 2009.)
PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY THAT GOD WILL:
* stir up and then bless international prayer and advocacy for Thao Oun and the Boukham Church; may police illegal abuse of authority be reined in, and may the church be encouraged, strengthened and built up as a result of God's merciful intervention.
* stir up a sense of injustice and indignation within the Lao Buddhist majority (who are spared persecution for pragmatic reasons); may voices for peace, liberty and justice arise from the most surprising places. (This would create far more pressure than anything external!)
* bless the persecuted and imprisoned Laotian believers with everything they need at this time, in particular water, health and security; may the ever-present Holy Spirit comfort and sustain them as they wait upon the Lord for justice.
[Elijah said to the woman:] For thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the LORD sends rain upon the earth.' [. . .] The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the LORD that he spoke by Elijah. (1 Kings 17:14-16 ESV)
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SUMMARY TO USE IN BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE
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PERSECUTION OF 'IMPORTED RELIGION' IN LAOS
Laos' Communist authorities abhor Protestant Christianity as an 'American import' that threatens the communist political system. Government suspicion and hostility is only heightened because it is being embraced with such joy and dedicated commitment by the ethnic minorities who have long struggled against communist repression. Human Rights Watch for Laos Religious Freedom is reporting severe persecution against Boukham Church. Elder Thao Oun was arrested at gunpoint on 3 September and has been threatened with death. The authorities are pressuring the believers to renounce their faith by denying them schooling for children and access to water, medical care and police protection. They also arrested a new believer named Thao Aom, and evicted him from his village when he refused to renounce Christ after three hours of 'interrogation'. Please pray for the Church and people of Laos.
LAOS: PERSECUTION OF 'IMPORTED RELIGION'
By Elizabeth Kendal
Since around 1950 Laos has been torn between pro- and anti-Communist forces. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, ethnic minorities in both Vietnam and Laos sided with US troops in the fight against Communist forces across Indo-China. After the Communist victory, some two-thirds of Laos' Christian population fled the country. Since 1975 Laos has been ruled by the communist Lao People's Revolutionary Party. During the early 1990s Laos moved towards a
more market-based economy, necessitating greater openness and global engagement. However, by 1996 it was applying the brakes, fearing that the regime's hold on power was being threatened. Increased openness had led to a rise in social unrest, with Laotians protesting government repression and corruption. Human rights abuses soared as the authorities cracked down, reining in dissent.
In October 1998, the US Government passed its International Freedom from Religious Persecution (IFRP) Act that tied religious freedom to foreign policy. At that time, religious persecution in Laos was severe and torture routine. However, as a desperately poor country without wealthy powerful friends, Laos could not ignore the US IFRP Act. So the regime began tentatively reforming its religious policy to avoid sanctions and secure trade agreements. By 2005 the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) was able to drop Laos from its Watch List. However, the situation has swung back again. Laos now has strong ties to other developing but totalitarian states including the ascendant, economic powerhouse, China. Furthermore the financial situation in America has greatly diluted its leverage, which was the power behind the IFRP Act. Over the past year, persecution has escalated so much that in May 2009 the USCIRF returned Laos to its Watch List.(See Annual Report of the USCIRF May 2009: LAOS.)
USCIRF reports that over 500 Christians around the country were pressured to renounce their faith in July 2008 alone. Christians are threatened with eviction from their villages, confiscation of livestock, denial of government identity cards, denial of education and the withholding of food from prisoners. Ethnic minority Protestants are being specifically targeted. The Communist regime abhors Protestant Christianity as an 'American import' that threatens the communist political system. Government suspicion and hostility is only heightened because it is being embraced with such joy and dedicated commitment by the ethnic minorities who have long struggled against communist repression.
The Boukham Church has endured sustained persecution over the past year. Human Rights Watch for Lao Religious Freedom (HRWLRF) reports that on 3 September 2009 Lao officials arrested church elder Thao Oun, taking him from his home in Lainsai village at gunpoint. He was then detained, interrogated and terrorised for over five hours. HRWLRF writes: 'Thao Oon was charged with bringing destruction to the Lao nation and government due to his embracing of the Christian faith.' The police chief demanded that Thao Oun denounce Christianity or face eviction from his village. He also threatened Thao Oun that if word of his arrest and interrogation got out to the international community he would be put to death, adding that he wished for the death of all believers in Boukham Church. HRWLRF has gone public with the report believing that shining a global spotlight on Thao Oun's case is actually the only way now to guarantee his safety. Furthermore, the authorities are pressuring the church by denying schooling to ten of its children and denying believing families access to water, medical care and the protection of the law. Then on 5 September, the authorities arrested Thao Aom, 'a new believer of 10 months'. After three hours of police 'interrogation' Thao Aom was still refusing to renounce his faith and so was evicted from his village. On Sunday 6 September, authorities surrounded the Boukham Church and stopped believers entering for worship. (See HRWLRF Advocacy Alert No. 04/2009. 9 September 2009.)
PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY THAT GOD WILL:
* stir up and then bless international prayer and advocacy for Thao Oun and the Boukham Church; may police illegal abuse of authority be reined in, and may the church be encouraged, strengthened and built up as a result of God's merciful intervention.
* stir up a sense of injustice and indignation within the Lao Buddhist majority (who are spared persecution for pragmatic reasons); may voices for peace, liberty and justice arise from the most surprising places. (This would create far more pressure than anything external!)
* bless the persecuted and imprisoned Laotian believers with everything they need at this time, in particular water, health and security; may the ever-present Holy Spirit comfort and sustain them as they wait upon the Lord for justice.
[Elijah said to the woman:] For thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the LORD sends rain upon the earth.' [. . .] The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the LORD that he spoke by Elijah. (1 Kings 17:14-16 ESV)
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SUMMARY TO USE IN BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE
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PERSECUTION OF 'IMPORTED RELIGION' IN LAOS
Laos' Communist authorities abhor Protestant Christianity as an 'American import' that threatens the communist political system. Government suspicion and hostility is only heightened because it is being embraced with such joy and dedicated commitment by the ethnic minorities who have long struggled against communist repression. Human Rights Watch for Laos Religious Freedom is reporting severe persecution against Boukham Church. Elder Thao Oun was arrested at gunpoint on 3 September and has been threatened with death. The authorities are pressuring the believers to renounce their faith by denying them schooling for children and access to water, medical care and police protection. They also arrested a new believer named Thao Aom, and evicted him from his village when he refused to renounce Christ after three hours of 'interrogation'. Please pray for the Church and people of Laos.
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