Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin | RLPB 180 | Wed 10 Oct 2012
PHILIPPINES: RELIGIOUS LIBERTY IN BANGSAMORO
-- plus UPDATES on Iran and Saudi Arabia
By Elizabeth Kendal
On Sunday 7 October the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) agreed to a 'framework agreement' (text) with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). This agreement is not a 'peace deal' inasmuch as it is an agreed framework from which the two parties will work towards a comprehensive peace. The agreement will be officially signed on 15 October. As President Benigno Aquino III said, 'The work does not end here. There are still details that both sides must hammer out. Promises must be kept, institutions must be fixed, and new capacities must be built nationally and regionally in order to effectively administer the Bangsamoro.' 'Bangsamoro' is the name of the new entity that will replace the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
The Philippines Government created the ARMM in 1989 while it was engaged in a struggle with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). When the MNLF put down their weapons in 1996, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) -- hardline Islamists who had split from the MNLF to pursue an independent Islamic state -- rejected peace, rejected the ARMM and fought on. Until now, the closest the GRP and the MILF have ever been to peace was the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) of July 2008. The MOA-AD would have replaced the ARMM with a greatly expanded MILF-ruled Bangsamoro Judicial Entity. After learning that they would soon be living in an Islamic sub-state, local Christians petitioned the Supreme Court which ruled the MOA-AD unconstitutional, scuttling the deal. MILF responded with a wave of violence against Mindanao Christians that left 400 dead and some 750,000 displaced. In her quest to add 'peace-maker' to her legacy, President Arroyo and those who supported the MOA-AD had shown little concern for thousands of Christians who did not want to wake up one morning in an Islamic 'Judicial Entity' under MILF rule.
The new 'framework agreement' is different in that MILF does not make the same territorial demands. Associated Press reports: 'A new autonomous region will take shape in the south, with Moro rebels giving up their quest for independence in exchange for broad powers to govern themselves.' However, as AP adds, while 'Bangsamoro' is 'broadly based on an existing autonomous region, the rebels want it expanded'. Furthermore, the MILF will not be governing 'themselves' but everyone who lives within Bangsamoro, Christians included. According to the 'framework agreement', Sharia Courts will be strengthened and their jurisdiction expanded, although (it is assured) Sharia will be applied only to Muslims. So will Muslim citizens of Bangasmoro be free to appeal to the Supreme Court for their constitutional rights or will the Islamic Courts have jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to Islam?
In every state where two systems of law operate, Muslims routinely find their constitutional rights rendered illusory by Islamic courts that retain jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to Islam: such as whom Muslims can marry, what Muslims can drink, how Muslims must dress, with whom Muslims can mix and suchlike. Would Bangsamoro Muslims be free to leave Islam -- a right guaranteed them in the Philippine Constitution -- or would leaving Islam fall under the jurisdiction of the Sharia Court, as it does in Malaysia (which is mediating the talks)? Concerning religious freedom, the 'framework agreement' states that all citizens are guaranteed the right to 'freedom and expression of religion and belief'; the right to 'freedom of speech'; and the right to 'freedom from religious, ethnic and sectarian harassment' (emphasis mine). As harassment is not defined, this 'right' will doubtless function as the basis for laws that will stifle Christian witness.
As per the 'framework agreement' a 15-member 'Transition Commission' (TransCom) will be created to flesh out the details, propose changes to the constitution as required and then draft a law creating the new Muslim autonomous region. The process is expected to take at least two years. In the meantime the MNLF, believing it has been betrayed, is threatening to sue and is 'warning' of unrest. Along with this, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters has split from MILF vowing to continue the jihad.
[Watch Religious Liberty Monitoring for updates.]
PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY THAT GOD WILL --
* expose deceptions and deny the devil a foothold in the transition process, so that peace does not come at the expense of religious liberty and security.
* use this opportunity to make Muslims aware of the great value of liberty, a human right which frees them up to seek truth and follow their conscience -- something they will be deprived of if they are placed under Sharia Law.
* sustain, preserve, protect, bless and build his Church in the Southern Philippines. 'The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.' (Lamentations 3:25 ESV)
SUMMARY FOR BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE
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PHILIPPINES: RELIGIOUS LIBERTY IN BANGSAMORO
On Sunday 7 October the Government of the Republic of the Philippines signed a 'framework agreement' with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). A 15-member Transition Commission will be established to flesh out the details. It will work towards a comprehensive peace deal and the creation of an Islamic sub-state, to be known as Bangsamoro. It is essentially in the area already known as the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Sharia Courts will be strengthened and their jurisdiction expanded, seriously curtailing the human rights and religious freedom of both Muslims and Christians. The transition is expected to take several years. Unrest is highly probable. Pray that religious freedom is not traded for a tenuous peace with committed Islamists. Please pray for the Church in Southern Philippines.
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URGENT UPDATES
* IRAN: INJUSTICE AND REPRESSION PREVAIL
Iranian authorities have released Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani but they did not release his heroic Muslim lawyer. Rather, on 29 September, Mohammed Ali Dadkhah was transferred to Ward 350 of Tehran's notorious Evin Prison to commence a nine-year sentence. Dadkhah is charged with 'aiding and abetting' the enemy, spreading propaganda and threatening national security. (Dadkhah provided pro bono legal representation to persecuted religious minorities.) Dadkhah advocated for Nadarkhani. Now we must advocate for him, with prayer to the highest authority.
* SAUDI ARABIA: APOSTASY TRIAL ON 14 OCTOBER
Maryam (28), a Saudi convert to Christianity, remains in hiding in Sweden. Her Christian boss, Lebanese expatriate Henna Sarkees (50), along with his Saudi 'accomplice', will face court in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday 14 October. Sarkees is charged with abusing his position of authority to coerce Maryam into converting to Christianity. His Saudi 'accomplice' is charged with facilitating her flight out of the country. Pray for Henna Sarkees and his Saudi associate. Pray also for Maryam. Pray for awakening in Saudi Arabia. (Ephesians 3:20,21)
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With persecution escalating and intensifying globally, please consider participating in International Day of Prayer (IDOP) for the persecuted church in the week 4-11 November. 'For we wrestle not against flesh and blood . . .' (Ephesians 6:12). See Critical Prayer Requests (CPR).
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
RLPB 179. INDIA: unrelenting persecution
Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin | RLPB 179 | Wed 03 Oct 2012
INDIA: UNRELENTING PERSECUTION
plus updates on Kenya, Egypt and Pakistan
By Elizabeth Kendal
Persecution of the Church in India is unrelenting, primarily due to the Hindu nationalists' incitement of racial and religious hatred; the impunity afforded to violent persecutors; and the authorities' lack of political will. The following incidents were recorded by the Evangelical Fellowship of India. They are typical -- and the tip of the iceberg.
On 24 September, 12 Hindu extremists disrupted a prayer meeting in Kandhamal, Orissa, verbally abusing the believers and chasing them out into the forest. When junior pastor Mantu Nayak tripped and fell, the Hindus beat him mercilessly, leaving him with head injuries and fractures in both arms. On 11 September police in Kashganj, Uttar Pradesh, accused Christians of 'forcible conversions'. The next day, a mob of armed Hindus arrived and threatened the believers, demanding they 'return' to Hinduism. Reacting against news of an impending Christian inter-caste marriage, the Hindus drove the bride-to-be and her family out of the area. On 7 September Pastor John Pargy was distributing gospel tracts quietly when he was accused of insulting Hinduism. He was then assaulted and arrested. On 4 September Pastor Anand Nirala was arrested in Jangir Champa, Chhattisgarh, after Hindus accused him of 'forced' conversions, insulting Hindu deities and disturbing social harmony. On 1 September Hindu extremists in Balod, Chhattisgarh, stoned a church and beat the pastor and believers. The next day, a 600-strong mob returned and terrorised the believers, eventually driving them from their homes. On 26 August a large mob of Hindu extremists burst into a prayer meeting in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, and violently attacked the believers, leaving two Christians seriously injured. Accusing the believers of 'forced conversions', the Hindus rampaged through the village. One local Christian, Edwin Raj, was beaten to death.
On 29 August the Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI) had a minor and partial victory when the High Court of Himachal Pradesh struck out one section of the Himachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act (HPFR Act), a law that regulates conversions. The judge struck out section 4, which mandated that anyone intending to change their religion must inform the district administration 30 days before conversion takes place -- essentially to obtain permission -- or else face a fine. Whilst the judge ruled that section 4 violated a person's right to privacy, he did not agree with the EFI that the HPFR Act, which criminalises religious 'force', 'fraud' and 'inducement', violated the constitutional right to religious freedom. ['Force', 'fraud' and 'inducement' are defined in a way that effectively criminalises virtually all Christian witness. In India, 'freedom of religion' is essentially understood as freedom from religious 'interference'.]
According to the High Court, freedom of religion must be subject to the interests of public law and order. A such, though Christians are said to have full rights, in practice conversions and Christian witness must be restricted if they lead to Hindu rioting. This is exactly the same backward thinking involved in Islamic blasphemy legislation. Confident they will be appeased, religious dictators incite violence, blame the victim and extract concessions. Though governments might find appeasement expedient in the short term, in the long term it is disastrous as it legitimises intolerance, justifies violence and fuels persecution.
PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY --
* for God to grace India with awakening, so that Indians will see they are being fed lies and deprived of religious freedom by religious dictators out to perpetuate their own caste privilege. '. . . let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.' (Amos 5:24 ESV)
* for God to grace the Indian government with discernment, conviction and courage to deal with Hindu nationalist propaganda before it devours the nation.
* that the Church will continue to grow in spite of repression and violent persecution, as God adds to her number daily those who are being saved.
* that the LORD of hosts will be a protective shield and strong, safe fortress to every Indian believer, particularly those pastors and evangelists who risk life and liberty to share the Gospel and serve the people in the name of Jesus.
SUMMARY FOR BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE
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INDIA: UNRELENTING PERSECUTION
Persecution of the Church in India is unrelenting, primarily due to the Hindu nationalists' incitement of racial and religious hatred, the impunity afforded violent persecutors and the authorities' lack of political will. 'Religious Freedom' laws define 'force', 'fraud' and 'coercion' in ways that criminalise virtually all Christian witness. Such laws are a gift to the Hindu nationalists who incite violence, blame the victims and are appeased with impunity and restrictions on egalitarian Christianity that the high-caste Hindus recognise as a threat to their own caste privilege. The government is reluctant and even afraid to tackle Hindu propaganda. Consequently it advances, fuelling religious hostility and creating an incendiary environment. The situation is extremely dangerous. Please pray for the Church in India.
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URGENT UPDATES
KENYA: TERROR THREAT. On 14 September police in Nairobi uncovered a large cache of weapons, foiling a massive terror plot due to be launched against churches. Tragically, on 30 September a Sunday School class was bombed, killing one child and wounding nine.
EGYPT: EXPULSIONS. Christians have been ethnically cleansed out of the Sinai. What started as jihadists' terror was completed by the government of Mohamed Morsi.
PAKISTAN: BLASPHEMY CASE. The three Muslims who gave sworn testimony against the imam Khalid Chishti have withdrawn their statements, claiming to have been coerced. They had testified that he had tampered with evidence so that the illiterate Christian, Rimsha Masih (14), might be accused of blasphemy and all Christians subsequently driven from the slum (see RLPB 173).
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With persecution escalating and intensifying globally, please consider participating in the International Day of Prayer (IDOP) for the persecuted church between 4 -11 November. 'For we wrestle not against flesh and blood . . .' (Ephesians 6:12). See: Critical Prayer Requests (CPR).
INDIA: UNRELENTING PERSECUTION
plus updates on Kenya, Egypt and Pakistan
By Elizabeth Kendal
Persecution of the Church in India is unrelenting, primarily due to the Hindu nationalists' incitement of racial and religious hatred; the impunity afforded to violent persecutors; and the authorities' lack of political will. The following incidents were recorded by the Evangelical Fellowship of India. They are typical -- and the tip of the iceberg.
On 24 September, 12 Hindu extremists disrupted a prayer meeting in Kandhamal, Orissa, verbally abusing the believers and chasing them out into the forest. When junior pastor Mantu Nayak tripped and fell, the Hindus beat him mercilessly, leaving him with head injuries and fractures in both arms. On 11 September police in Kashganj, Uttar Pradesh, accused Christians of 'forcible conversions'. The next day, a mob of armed Hindus arrived and threatened the believers, demanding they 'return' to Hinduism. Reacting against news of an impending Christian inter-caste marriage, the Hindus drove the bride-to-be and her family out of the area. On 7 September Pastor John Pargy was distributing gospel tracts quietly when he was accused of insulting Hinduism. He was then assaulted and arrested. On 4 September Pastor Anand Nirala was arrested in Jangir Champa, Chhattisgarh, after Hindus accused him of 'forced' conversions, insulting Hindu deities and disturbing social harmony. On 1 September Hindu extremists in Balod, Chhattisgarh, stoned a church and beat the pastor and believers. The next day, a 600-strong mob returned and terrorised the believers, eventually driving them from their homes. On 26 August a large mob of Hindu extremists burst into a prayer meeting in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, and violently attacked the believers, leaving two Christians seriously injured. Accusing the believers of 'forced conversions', the Hindus rampaged through the village. One local Christian, Edwin Raj, was beaten to death.
On 29 August the Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI) had a minor and partial victory when the High Court of Himachal Pradesh struck out one section of the Himachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act (HPFR Act), a law that regulates conversions. The judge struck out section 4, which mandated that anyone intending to change their religion must inform the district administration 30 days before conversion takes place -- essentially to obtain permission -- or else face a fine. Whilst the judge ruled that section 4 violated a person's right to privacy, he did not agree with the EFI that the HPFR Act, which criminalises religious 'force', 'fraud' and 'inducement', violated the constitutional right to religious freedom. ['Force', 'fraud' and 'inducement' are defined in a way that effectively criminalises virtually all Christian witness. In India, 'freedom of religion' is essentially understood as freedom from religious 'interference'.]
According to the High Court, freedom of religion must be subject to the interests of public law and order. A such, though Christians are said to have full rights, in practice conversions and Christian witness must be restricted if they lead to Hindu rioting. This is exactly the same backward thinking involved in Islamic blasphemy legislation. Confident they will be appeased, religious dictators incite violence, blame the victim and extract concessions. Though governments might find appeasement expedient in the short term, in the long term it is disastrous as it legitimises intolerance, justifies violence and fuels persecution.
PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY --
* for God to grace India with awakening, so that Indians will see they are being fed lies and deprived of religious freedom by religious dictators out to perpetuate their own caste privilege. '. . . let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.' (Amos 5:24 ESV)
* for God to grace the Indian government with discernment, conviction and courage to deal with Hindu nationalist propaganda before it devours the nation.
* that the Church will continue to grow in spite of repression and violent persecution, as God adds to her number daily those who are being saved.
* that the LORD of hosts will be a protective shield and strong, safe fortress to every Indian believer, particularly those pastors and evangelists who risk life and liberty to share the Gospel and serve the people in the name of Jesus.
SUMMARY FOR BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE
---------------------------------------------------------------------
INDIA: UNRELENTING PERSECUTION
Persecution of the Church in India is unrelenting, primarily due to the Hindu nationalists' incitement of racial and religious hatred, the impunity afforded violent persecutors and the authorities' lack of political will. 'Religious Freedom' laws define 'force', 'fraud' and 'coercion' in ways that criminalise virtually all Christian witness. Such laws are a gift to the Hindu nationalists who incite violence, blame the victims and are appeased with impunity and restrictions on egalitarian Christianity that the high-caste Hindus recognise as a threat to their own caste privilege. The government is reluctant and even afraid to tackle Hindu propaganda. Consequently it advances, fuelling religious hostility and creating an incendiary environment. The situation is extremely dangerous. Please pray for the Church in India.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
URGENT UPDATES
KENYA: TERROR THREAT. On 14 September police in Nairobi uncovered a large cache of weapons, foiling a massive terror plot due to be launched against churches. Tragically, on 30 September a Sunday School class was bombed, killing one child and wounding nine.
EGYPT: EXPULSIONS. Christians have been ethnically cleansed out of the Sinai. What started as jihadists' terror was completed by the government of Mohamed Morsi.
PAKISTAN: BLASPHEMY CASE. The three Muslims who gave sworn testimony against the imam Khalid Chishti have withdrawn their statements, claiming to have been coerced. They had testified that he had tampered with evidence so that the illiterate Christian, Rimsha Masih (14), might be accused of blasphemy and all Christians subsequently driven from the slum (see RLPB 173).
---------------------------------------------------------------------
With persecution escalating and intensifying globally, please consider participating in the International Day of Prayer (IDOP) for the persecuted church between 4 -11 November. 'For we wrestle not against flesh and blood . . .' (Ephesians 6:12). See: Critical Prayer Requests (CPR).
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