Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin | RLPB 094 | Wed 09 Feb 2011
ETHIOPIA: PERSECUTION ESCALATES IN MUSLIM AREAS
By Elizabeth Kendal
The simplistic portrayals of Ethiopia as 'Orthodox Christian' or 'a Christian island surrounded by hostile Muslim neighbours' are misleading. These descriptions ignore the reality that Ethiopia is the legacy of a Christian empire that incorporated many diverse peoples. The Tigray-dominated north and the Amhara-dominated central highlands comprise the Christian heartland. These two Semitic tribes together comprise 45 percent of the population and most of the elite. The periphery is highly diverse and includes many animist and Muslim peoples. Unity is fragile and divisive forces are strong.
Before the Communist Revolution of 1974, Ethiopia was an Amhara-dominated kingdom. After Mengistu's Marxist regime fell in 1991, the new Tigray-led government federalised the state, controversially devolving power to nine autonomous, ethnic regions (just as Tito did in Yugoslavia and as has recently been done in Kenya). By enabling a degree of self-determination, ethnic federalism was supposed to prevent Amhara domination, end cultural conflict and diminish divergent forces. In reality (as in Yugoslavia) it has had the opposite effect: it has weakened the state while magnifying ethnic differences and interests. The largest ethnic group, the Omoro (about equal Muslim / Christian), complain of Tigrayan domination and want to secede. In September 2009 the International Crisis Group lamented that the international community was neglecting 'the increased ethnic awareness and tensions created by the regionalisation policy and their potentially explosive consequences'.
Ethiopia's Constitution (adopted in December 1994) states: 'The Constitution is the supreme law of the land. Any law, customary practice or a decision of an organ of state or a public official which contravenes this Constitution shall be of no effect' (Article 9.1). Complicating ethnic tensions is the trend of rising Islamic intolerance. According to the Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council, Saudi-funded entities are exacerbating tensions between traditional Sufis and new Wahhabis, as well as between Muslims and Christians. In recent years Christians living in Muslim-dominated areas have been subjected to escalating persecution and application of Sharia law. To maintain 'harmony' and to appease restive Muslims, the Federal Government made religious incitement and religious defamation criminal offences in 2008. While Article 27 of the Federal Constitution guarantees 'Freedom of Religion, Belief and Opinion' it also provides that religious freedom may be limited by law in the interests of public safety.
In August 2010 Tamirat Woldegorgis (early 30s and father of two), a Protestant Christian in Ethiopia's southern town of Moyale, Oromia region, was arrested after a Muslim co-worker accused him of inscribing 'Jesus is Lord' on a cloth. The accuser changed his statement several times before the local imam testified that Woldegorgis had written the offensive words on a Quran. Despite the absence of evidence, Woldegorgis was sentenced on 18 November 2010 to three years in prison for allegedly defiling a Quran. He was then transferred to Jijiga Prison in Ethiopia's Somali Region Zone Five which is governed according to Sharia. Consequently his life is greatly imperilled. Two friends who recently brought him food were fined for supporting a criminal imprisoned for defaming Islam. Authorities have reportedly offered to release Woldegorgis if he will convert to Islam (Compass Direct News, 29 November 2010).
International Christian Concern (ICC) has reported several violent attacks on Christian leaders in recent months. Of great concern is the report that harassed and persecuted Christians in the southern city of Besheno, Oromia region, have recently had notices posted on their doors warning them to convert to Islam, leave the city or face death. According to ICC, three leading Christians from an evangelical Christian community of about 30 believers have been forced to flee and two have been forcibly converted to Islam.
Intolerant, repressive, fundamentalist Islam is spreading, exerting itself and testing the limits in Ethiopia's autonomous ethnic regions. Are minority Christian groups in restive Muslim-dominated areas going to be protected according to the Federal Constitution, or will they be sacrificed on the altar of political expediency, stripped of their constitutional rights and handed over to the dictators of Islam in exchange for promises of 'harmony' and national unity?
PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY THAT GOD WILL:
* protect Tamirat Woldegorgis and deliver him safely back to his family; may the family all know the sustaining presence of the Lord, their provider.
* protect the Christians living in restive Oromia and Islamic Somali, particularly the persecuted and threatened Christians in Besheno.
* grant Christian leaders great wisdom to know how to be 'wise as serpents and innocent as doves' (Matthew 10:16 ESV).
* give the Federal Government much wisdom, strength and courage to tackle the issue of constitutional rights and the supremacy of the Federal Constitution over regional Islamic courts.
Please pray for Ethiopia, a state of immense geo-strategic value in the Horn of Africa.
~~~~
SUMMARY TO USE IN BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE
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PERSECUTION ESCALATES IN MUSLIM AREAS OF ETHIOPIA
The Ethiopian Government federalised the state in 1996, devolving power to nine autonomous, ethnic regions. Rather than appeasing and pacifying Ethiopia's diverse peoples, this ethnic federalism has only undermined nationhood while magnifying ethnicity and differences. Divisive forces are now stronger than ever. Furthermore Ethiopia's traditional Sufi Muslims are being radicalised by Saudi (Wahhabi) entities, inflaming religious tensions. Protestant believer Tamirat Woldegorgis (30s) is in an Islamic prison, having been falsely accused of defacing a Quran. Also Christians in the southern town of Besheno are being told they must convert to Islam, leave or die. Persecution and application of Sharia law are increasing. Yet the central Government appears loath to intervene lest self-determination, 'harmony' and 'national unity' be undermined. Please pray for the Church in Ethiopia.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Thursday, February 3, 2011
093. Dreams of revolution grip Arab world: Christians vulnerable
Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin | RLPB 093 | Wed 03 Feb 2011
Christians more vulnerable than ever as . . .
DREAMS OF REVOLUTION GRIP ARAB WORLD
By Elizabeth Kendal
When hundreds of international Sunni jihadists infiltrated and seized the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on 20 November 1979, they attracted little interest. The eyes of the world were fixed on Iran where, on 4 November 1979, Shi'ite fundamentalists had seized the American Embassy, taking 66 American citizens hostage. Whilst the Iranian Revolution and the siege in Mecca were totally unrelated, both had the same goal: the removal of a brutally repressive and corrupt, US-allied regime.
In Iran, the revolutionaries were successful primarily because their demands were political -- liberty, human rights, improved living standards and more -- and because the US administration of President Carter chose to support them. It took 12 months of protests and strikes (from January 1978 to January 1979) to force the Shah into exile. The Islamists merely rode the wave and then filled the vacuum. It soon became clear to many Iranians that their revolution would not bring them their hoped for liberty, prosperity and dignity.
In Saudi Arabia, the revolutionaries failed because they seized the Grand Mosque instead of the Royal Palace, opening the way for the Saudi regime to denounce them on religious grounds. Furthermore, because their overtly religious demands included the demand to end alliances with 'infidels', Saudi Arabia's Western backers rushed to the aid of the House of al Saud, rightly perceiving their oil supply was endangered. The Saudi regime only survived by a hair's breadth, and only through the involvement of French special forces.
Whilst the siege in Mecca was reported as a 'domestic incident', it most certainly was not. Not only were the jihadists an international force, the incident sent shockwaves through the Sunni Muslim world. A massive, violent, Islamic and anti-US uprising erupted in Pakistan and two Americans were killed as the US Embassy was besieged and torched. This in turn inspired protests against US Embassies and consuls in Turkey, Bangladesh, India, Kuwait, Philippines and Libya. Though the rioters were Sunnis, they praised the Iranian Shi'ite revolutionaries for defeating 'American imperialism' which they said supported tyranny.
The House of al Saud subsequently brokered a deal with the kingdom's Islamic clerics. The regime would support the religious establishment as it advanced Islamic fundamentalist ideology and global jihad (holy war). In return the religious establishment would support the House of al Saud. Fortunately for the House of al Saud, the Soviets -- perceiving US weakness -- invaded Afghanistan in December 1979, giving the Saudi regime a jihad it could support far from home, and subsequently jihads in Bosnia, Kashmir, Kosovo, North Caucasus and Somalia. So while the Sunni revolutionaries failed to achieve their goals, Sunni fundamentalism reaped huge rewards. Meanwhile, the emerging Arab middle class grew increasingly angry and disillusioned because secularism was being maintained by tyranny rather than by reason.
Sunni Islamists have doubtless learned from this history that there is an art to revolution. In Egypt today the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) is lying low and attending to the protesters' needs for food, water and medical assistance, just as Hezballah has done in Lebanon and Hamas has done in the Palestinian Territories. The Islamists know they need an acceptable facade and in a strategic master-stroke, the MB is lining up behind Nobel Peace laureate Mohamed ElBaradei. ElBaradei doesn't mind, for he does not regard the MB (the mother of Hamas) as in any way extremist.
Today a smug Iran and a nervous Saudi Arabia both note that the present Middle East unrest is targeting America's allies. Hezballah has displaced Saad Harari in Lebanon and Abbas is virtually besieged in Ramallah. In Tunisia the regime of Ben Ali has collapsed. Riots persist against the secular, US-allied regimes in Egypt, Yemen and in Jordan. In Jordan, the Islamic Action Front, the political arm of the Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood, is now in dialogue with the regime of King Abdullah II. Western hopes that 'transition' will lead to something better (as was once predicted for Iran) or that an Islamic leadership will be moderate (as was also predicted for Iran) are likely to be dashed, for the 'Arab Street' has been thoroughly Islamised and radicalised. While the US faces losing all its geo-strategic gains in the Middle East, Israel may once again face existential threat as Egypt would need only to reverse its policy on Gaza and open the Rafah Crossing -- for humanitarian reasons of course!
Lost amidst the noise and chaos are the region's Christian minorities. Already viewed as 'infidels' and allies of the enemy (i.e. America and Israel), the Church is now more vulnerable than ever. As US influence diminishes in the Middle East, so too does the protection of the Christian minorities. Furthermore, militant Muslims may well decide to exploit the chaos to do some under-the-radar removal of Christians. For instance, on Sunday 30 January eleven Coptic Christians were massacred inside their homes in Sharona, Al Minya Province. Christians cannot hope in the US and the UN -- our hope must rest in the one who is eternally supreme and always sufficient: Yahweh Sabaoth (lit. the Lord of Hosts; the commander of heaven's forces).
PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY FOR GOD TO:
* draw the region's Christians into dependent prayer and then answer their prayers, protecting them, providing all their needs, and making his presence known.
[God] has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' So we can confidently say, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?' (Hebrews 13:5b-6 ESV)
* awaken Arabs across the Middle East to the fact that Islam -- because it is repressive rather than liberating, and legalistic rather than transformative -- can never be the solution for those yearning for freedom and dignity. Pray for an Arab Awakening! (Ephesians 3:20,21)
~~~~
SUMMARY TO USE IN BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE
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CHRISTIANS VULNERABLE AS CHAOS GRIPS EGYPT
For decades now the West has supported corrupt, repressive Arab dictatorships as a means of preventing religious, Sunni Islamic fundamentalist revolutions that would threaten oil supplies. However, because secularism has been maintained by tyranny rather than by reason, the emerging Arab middle class has grown disillusioned and angry. Meanwhile there has been effectively a revival of Islamic fundamentalism, sponsored primarily by Saudi petro-dollars. Today the 'Arab Street' is in revolt against its dictators. Unfortunately it is probable that Islamists will quietly ride the wave and fill the vacuum. Christians are more vulnerable now than ever. On 30 January militant Muslims exploited the chaos to slaughter eleven Coptic Christians in al Minya Province. Please pray for the Church in the Arab world.
Christians more vulnerable than ever as . . .
DREAMS OF REVOLUTION GRIP ARAB WORLD
By Elizabeth Kendal
When hundreds of international Sunni jihadists infiltrated and seized the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on 20 November 1979, they attracted little interest. The eyes of the world were fixed on Iran where, on 4 November 1979, Shi'ite fundamentalists had seized the American Embassy, taking 66 American citizens hostage. Whilst the Iranian Revolution and the siege in Mecca were totally unrelated, both had the same goal: the removal of a brutally repressive and corrupt, US-allied regime.
In Iran, the revolutionaries were successful primarily because their demands were political -- liberty, human rights, improved living standards and more -- and because the US administration of President Carter chose to support them. It took 12 months of protests and strikes (from January 1978 to January 1979) to force the Shah into exile. The Islamists merely rode the wave and then filled the vacuum. It soon became clear to many Iranians that their revolution would not bring them their hoped for liberty, prosperity and dignity.
In Saudi Arabia, the revolutionaries failed because they seized the Grand Mosque instead of the Royal Palace, opening the way for the Saudi regime to denounce them on religious grounds. Furthermore, because their overtly religious demands included the demand to end alliances with 'infidels', Saudi Arabia's Western backers rushed to the aid of the House of al Saud, rightly perceiving their oil supply was endangered. The Saudi regime only survived by a hair's breadth, and only through the involvement of French special forces.
Whilst the siege in Mecca was reported as a 'domestic incident', it most certainly was not. Not only were the jihadists an international force, the incident sent shockwaves through the Sunni Muslim world. A massive, violent, Islamic and anti-US uprising erupted in Pakistan and two Americans were killed as the US Embassy was besieged and torched. This in turn inspired protests against US Embassies and consuls in Turkey, Bangladesh, India, Kuwait, Philippines and Libya. Though the rioters were Sunnis, they praised the Iranian Shi'ite revolutionaries for defeating 'American imperialism' which they said supported tyranny.
The House of al Saud subsequently brokered a deal with the kingdom's Islamic clerics. The regime would support the religious establishment as it advanced Islamic fundamentalist ideology and global jihad (holy war). In return the religious establishment would support the House of al Saud. Fortunately for the House of al Saud, the Soviets -- perceiving US weakness -- invaded Afghanistan in December 1979, giving the Saudi regime a jihad it could support far from home, and subsequently jihads in Bosnia, Kashmir, Kosovo, North Caucasus and Somalia. So while the Sunni revolutionaries failed to achieve their goals, Sunni fundamentalism reaped huge rewards. Meanwhile, the emerging Arab middle class grew increasingly angry and disillusioned because secularism was being maintained by tyranny rather than by reason.
Sunni Islamists have doubtless learned from this history that there is an art to revolution. In Egypt today the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) is lying low and attending to the protesters' needs for food, water and medical assistance, just as Hezballah has done in Lebanon and Hamas has done in the Palestinian Territories. The Islamists know they need an acceptable facade and in a strategic master-stroke, the MB is lining up behind Nobel Peace laureate Mohamed ElBaradei. ElBaradei doesn't mind, for he does not regard the MB (the mother of Hamas) as in any way extremist.
Today a smug Iran and a nervous Saudi Arabia both note that the present Middle East unrest is targeting America's allies. Hezballah has displaced Saad Harari in Lebanon and Abbas is virtually besieged in Ramallah. In Tunisia the regime of Ben Ali has collapsed. Riots persist against the secular, US-allied regimes in Egypt, Yemen and in Jordan. In Jordan, the Islamic Action Front, the political arm of the Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood, is now in dialogue with the regime of King Abdullah II. Western hopes that 'transition' will lead to something better (as was once predicted for Iran) or that an Islamic leadership will be moderate (as was also predicted for Iran) are likely to be dashed, for the 'Arab Street' has been thoroughly Islamised and radicalised. While the US faces losing all its geo-strategic gains in the Middle East, Israel may once again face existential threat as Egypt would need only to reverse its policy on Gaza and open the Rafah Crossing -- for humanitarian reasons of course!
Lost amidst the noise and chaos are the region's Christian minorities. Already viewed as 'infidels' and allies of the enemy (i.e. America and Israel), the Church is now more vulnerable than ever. As US influence diminishes in the Middle East, so too does the protection of the Christian minorities. Furthermore, militant Muslims may well decide to exploit the chaos to do some under-the-radar removal of Christians. For instance, on Sunday 30 January eleven Coptic Christians were massacred inside their homes in Sharona, Al Minya Province. Christians cannot hope in the US and the UN -- our hope must rest in the one who is eternally supreme and always sufficient: Yahweh Sabaoth (lit. the Lord of Hosts; the commander of heaven's forces).
PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY FOR GOD TO:
* draw the region's Christians into dependent prayer and then answer their prayers, protecting them, providing all their needs, and making his presence known.
[God] has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' So we can confidently say, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?' (Hebrews 13:5b-6 ESV)
* awaken Arabs across the Middle East to the fact that Islam -- because it is repressive rather than liberating, and legalistic rather than transformative -- can never be the solution for those yearning for freedom and dignity. Pray for an Arab Awakening! (Ephesians 3:20,21)
~~~~
SUMMARY TO USE IN BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE
----------------------------------------------------------------------
CHRISTIANS VULNERABLE AS CHAOS GRIPS EGYPT
For decades now the West has supported corrupt, repressive Arab dictatorships as a means of preventing religious, Sunni Islamic fundamentalist revolutions that would threaten oil supplies. However, because secularism has been maintained by tyranny rather than by reason, the emerging Arab middle class has grown disillusioned and angry. Meanwhile there has been effectively a revival of Islamic fundamentalism, sponsored primarily by Saudi petro-dollars. Today the 'Arab Street' is in revolt against its dictators. Unfortunately it is probable that Islamists will quietly ride the wave and fill the vacuum. Christians are more vulnerable now than ever. On 30 January militant Muslims exploited the chaos to slaughter eleven Coptic Christians in al Minya Province. Please pray for the Church in the Arab world.
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