RLPB 251. North Korea: dozens detained, 33 to be executed

Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin | RLPB 251 | Wed 12 March 2014

NORTH KOREA: DOZENS DETAINED, 33 TO BE EXECUTED
By Elizabeth Kendal

On 27 February South Korean Baptist missionary Kim Jung-wook (50) fronted a North Korean press conference in Pyongyang to 'confess' to his crimes and plead for mercy. For seven years, Kim Jung-wook had been providing food, clothing and sanctuary to North Korean refugees and job-seekers in the Chinese border city of Dandong. Kim was arrested in North Korea on 8 October 2013, a day after crossing into the state, although a source in China told South Korea's Chosun Ilbo that Kim was kidnapped by North Korean agents in Dandong. In the press conference, Kim confessed to conducting 'anti-State' crimes with funding and assistance from South Korea's intelligence agency. When arrested, Kim reportedly had Christian literature and DVDs that allegedly he was going to use to set up 500 underground churches to spy on and overthrow the regime (link include photos).

When Hong Kong-based Australian missionary, John Short (75), was arrested in North Korea in mid-February, he confessed to his 'crimes', apologised and was expelled. As an Australian, Short was of little value to the regime in Pyongyang. The situation is more serious for Korean-American missionary Kenneth Bae. Arrested in late 2012 while leading a tour, Bae gave a similar press conference confession in April 2013 before being sentenced to 15 years' hard labour. In August 2013 Bae was transferred to a hospital due to his deteriorating health. However, on 20 January the regime returned Bae to the labour camp to protest American B-52 bomber flight drills around the Korean Peninsula. As an American, Bae is a pawn of great value.

There is no word yet as to what punishment Kim Jung-wook will face. According to Radio Free Asia, 'dozens' of people have been detained, accused of assisting Kim. Border guards who let Kim slip through security, North Korean believers, new converts and the families of the accused are amongst those banished to labour camps upon Kim's 'confession'. Now South Korean news agencies report that 33 of the accused have been sentenced to death, charged with conspiring with Kim to overthrow the regime. It is reported they will be executed in a secret cell at the State Security Department. Doubtless these 33 are predominantly Christians, probably significant Christians who may or may not ever have been in contact with Kim but whose ministry is deemed an existential threat to the regime. This will be a terrible and traumatising blow to North Korea's remnant Church. 

As noted in RLPB 248 (18 Feb 2014), the regime's main concern is managing the state monopoly on information in the face of severe challenges posed by new communication technologies, while endeavouring to raise living standards so as to ward off revolt. In response to pressure, the regime is ramping up repression, spreading darkness and stoking fear (as has been done before). Security on roads has reportedly doubled, making it more difficult for North Koreans to travel around the country. Furthermore, North Korean security agents now have new signal detectors, enabling them to intercept mobile phone signals in real time. Now people using cellphones smuggled in from China can be arrested within minutes. The recent wave of arrests will ensure that people stop using their cellphones.

PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY THAT GOD WILL --

* 'lift up his hand' to 'break the arm [instrument] of the wicked' and 'call his wickedness to account'. Pray Psalm 10 for North Korea.

* spare the lives of the 33 who are to be executed. However, if that is not to be, then sustain and comfort them so that instead of being overwhelmed with fear, they will know 'the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding' (Philippians 4:7 ESV) as God himself encompasses them. 'And he will become a sanctuary [Hebrew: miqdas, the place where God dwells] . . .' (from Isaiah 8:11-14a ESV). [For more on this subject see: The Promised Presence, by Elizabeth Kendal]

* comfort and encourage the North Korean remnant Church; may they know 'the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding' (Philippians 4:7 ESV). 'When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory."' (See 1 Corinthians 15:50-58 ESV.)

* take this evil event of the executions and use it for his glory to effect the exact opposite of the regime's intent. May the news of these executions spread through all the country, establishing not terror, but the link between Christianity and freedom. May interest in the transforming gospel of Jesus Christ and in God's power and grace spring up all across the nation. 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.' (John 12:24 ESV)

'Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.' (Psalm 24:7 & 9 ESV)


SUMMARY FOR BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE
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DOZENS DETAINED IN NORTH KOREA, 33 TO BE EXECUTED

On 27 February captured South Korean Baptist missionary Kim Jung-wook (50) fronted a North Korean press conference in Pyongyang to 'confess' to 'anti-State' crimes and plead for mercy. Dozens of people accused of assisting Kim were immediately arrested and banished with their families to labour camps. It now emerges that 33 of the accused have been sentenced to death and will be executed in a secret cell at the State Security Department. This will be a horrific and traumatising blow to North Korea's remnant Church. Furthermore, security agents now have new signal detectors that enable them to intercept mobile phone signals in real time and arrest mobile phone users within minutes, further isolating the State. Please pray that God will intervene in North Korea and pray for the remnant Church.

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Elizabeth Kendal is the author of
Turn Back the Battle: Isaiah speaks to Christians today
(Deror Books, Dec 2012)

RLPB 250. Raqqa, Syria: Christians in the lions' den

Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin | RLPB 250 | Wed 05 Mar 2014

RAQQA, SYRIA: CHRISTIANS IN THE LIONS' DEN
By Elizabeth Kendal

Raqqa is a province in northern Syria, east of Aleppo. Its capital, Al Raqqa City is situated on the Euphrates River and is home to some 300,000 Syrians of whom around 3000 are Christian. In March 2013 Al Raqqa fell to rebel forces. During the latter part of 2013, tensions escalated in northern Syria between the Al-Nusra Front (loyal to Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri) and the Islamic State of Iraq and al Sham/Syria (ISIS; loyal to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi). In January this year the ISIS ousted the Al-Nusra Front from Al Raqqa to take full control of the city. In February al-Nusra ordered ISIS out of Aleppo. Rather than fight, the ISIS opted to retreat from Aleppo and consolidate in Raqqa, which is, as one ISIS jihadist boasts,'a larger area than the state of Kuwait'.

Al-Raqqa is the only provincial capital under rebel control. There, ISIS is enforcing Sharia Law and dhimmitude just as in the Middle Ages. Everyone must adhere to strict Islamic codes. Women must wear the niqab (a full black covering, with just a slit for eyes) and men and women must not mingle. Separate bakeries have been set up for males and females. 'Al-Khansa' and 'Um Riyan' brigades comprised of young female Islamists have been established to search women. Horrifically, young girls are being forcibly wed to ISIS fighters in marriages which are mostly temporary and routinely violent. One young girl recently suicided just to escape the perpetual sexual violence.

SEE: The Guardian, 19 Feb 2014
Smuggled video testimony documents harsh rule of Syrian Islamist group
Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant has imposed strict interpretation of sharia law since taking control in Raqqa

 In late February ISIS took 20 Christian leaders captive and gave them three options: convert to Islam, submit to Islam as dhimmis, or 'face the sword'. Faced with this choice, the Christian leaders signed an agreement committing the Christian community to  dhimmitude, a state of humiliation and subjugation under Islam. According to the agreement, while the Christians of Al Raqqa may remain Christian, they must always demonstrate respect for Islam and Muslims. Furthermore, they must abstain from all public expressions of Christianity and from renovating their churches and monasteries.

collecting jizya in Al-Raqqa (photo FNA)

 The Christians must also pay the 'jizya' (protection money) as mandated by the Qur'an (Sura 9:29). Wealthy Christians must pay four golden dinars (currently worth about $US730), those of average wealth must pay two and the poor must pay one. Jizya will be collected from each adult Christian twice annually.

While they abide by the agreement, the Christians will be permitted to live as 'protected' dhimmis, that is as subjugated, second-class citizens. However, the agreement reads, '. . . if they disobey any of the conditions, they are no longer protected and ISIS can treat them in a hostile and warlike fashion.'

ISIS militants have ripped crosses and bells from churches and replaced them with black flags of Islam. ISIS has seized and occupied the Armenian Church (pictured) for use as a base.

enlarge

In reality, the State of Syria (as it has been known) no longer exists. In June 2013 the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) won a highly strategic, pivotal victory when it liberated Al-Qusayr. Since then the SAA has been advancing and consolidating its hold over the Damascus to Aleppo north-west corridor and the coastal Alawite heartland of Latakia. However, the SAA cannot defend all of Syria. So the Kurd-dominated north-east province of Al-Hasekah, home to many Assyrian Christians and contiguous with Nineveh Province, northern Iraq, has been abandoned to the Kurds, who have been fighting the al-Nusra Front there. Meanwhile, the vast, sparsely populated rural Sunni east, contiguous with Anbar Province, Iraq, has been abandoned altogether and this is where ISIS is establishing its base. ISIS controls large tracts of territory east of Aleppo and along the Euphrates River through Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor in Syria, all the way to Fallujah in restive Anbar Province, Iraq. (ISIS controls Fallujah with local support and is fighting the Iraqi Army there.)

On Friday 28 February ISIS live-Tweeted the public amputation of a man's hand in Maskanah, on the eastern edge of Aleppo Province, between the provincial capitals of Aleppo and Al-Raqqa. Lashings, beatings and public executions are also being reported in Al-Raqqa. This is a reign of megalomania, blood-lust and sheer terror.

So who will fight for the Christians of Upper Mesopotamia? Not Iran, not Saudi Arabia, not Turkey, not the SAA and not the West (so it seems). Who will save them? Who will help them? Who will care for them? Who will raise their voices for them?

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. (Psalm 121:1-2 ESV)

PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY THAT GOD WILL --

* restrain the jihadis so they do not harm the Lord's faithful ones.

'The king declared to Daniel, "O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?"  Then Daniel said to the king, "O king, live forever! My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not harmed me . . . "' (from Daniel 6)

* intervene in Syria's abandoned, rebel-controlled regions: to facilitate the escape of those who must flee; to provide security and supplies for those who must stay; to comfort, encourage and strengthen his loved ones and to confound and shatter his enemies.

* facilitate radical change for the sake of his Church, for the benefit of all peoples, and so everyone might tremble before our amazing God.

'. . . people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.' (The decree of King Darius in Daniel 6.)

SUMMARY FOR BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE
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CHRISTIANS SUBJUGATED IN RAQQA, SYRIA

Since January 2014 the terror group ISIS has ruled the northern city of Al Raqqa. Sharia is enforced and the whole community lives in terror of ISIS's extreme violence. Recently 20 Christian leaders were taken captive and given three options: convert to Islam, submit to Islam as dhimmis (humiliated and subjugated under Islam) or 'face the sword'. The Christian leaders signed an agreement committing the Christian community to submission. Just as in the Middle Ages, Christians must now pay protection money (jizya) as mandated by the Qur'an (Sura 9:29). They must demonstrate respect for Islam and Muslims and abstain from all public expressions of Christianity and from renovating churches and monasteries. If they breach the agreement, ISIS will resume war against them. Please pray for Syria and its Christians.

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Elizabeth Kendal is the author of
Turn Back the Battle: Isaiah speaks to Christians today
(Deror Books, Dec 2012)