Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin | RLPB 073 | Wed 15 Sep 2010
BEKASI, INDONESIA: THREAT LEVEL RISES
The threat level facing Christians in Bekasi Regency, West Java, has been rising continuously since 27 June when Bekasi's Islamic leaders publicly denounced 'Christianisation' of Bekasi (98 percent Muslim) and urged Bekasi Muslims to prepare for jihad.
For more details see Religious Liberty Monitoring:
in particular
http://elizabethkendal.blogspot.com/2010/07/bekasi-west-java-indonesiadhimmitude.html
http://elizabethkendal.blogspot.com/2010/06/indonesia-fitna-and-apostaphobia-in.html
For some 15 years the authorities have refused Bekasi's 1500-strong Batak Christian Protestant Church permission to build a worship centre. Recently the church was told they are not even allowed to worship together in their homes as this would violate new local by-laws. Commencing Sunday 31 July, a core group of members started meeting for prayer and worship in the open air on the church's own land. Each Sunday the small group sings hymns, prays and hears the word while Muslim fundamentalists hurl insults and abuse, shoes and other objects across a police barricade. On Sunday 8 August, some 300 Islamic militants pushed through the police lines and beat the Christians as they attempted to flee. Several believers required hospitalisation. (See RLPB 068, 11 August.) The following Sunday, 15 August, some 1200 representatives of religious minorities rallied in Jakarta to protest government inaction in the face of escalating Islamic intolerance and violence. (See RLPB 070, August Update.) Amongst the churches, Bekasi's Batak Christian Protestant Church has come to embody the struggle and so has received the most media attention. However, it is actually only one of numerous churches being repressed and persecuted in West Java.
On Sunday 12 September, as Pastor Sihombing -- an elder in Bekasi's Batak Christian Protestant Church -- walked toward the church's land, he was ambushed by Islamic militants. When the Reverend Luspida Simanjuntak rushed to his aid, she was clubbed on her face, head and back. Both pastors have been hospitalised, with Sihombing in a critical condition in intensive care suffering multiple stab wounds to the abdomen. It was reported on Monday that the attackers had been identified and that Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) had denounced the violence and was appealing for justice. By Wednesday, nine suspects had been arrested with others evading police. Police have told reporters that, despite all suspicions to the contrary, they do not believe the motive was religious, or that the attack was necessarily premeditated, or that any of the attackers belonged to any 'mass organisation'. Meanwhile President SBY told reporters that the stabbing occurred because the Christians had chosen an inappropriate place to worship, adding that he sees the problem as a difficult one.
President SBY's political alliances leave him dependent on the support of Islamic parties in the parliament. Consequently he will doubtless want the Islamists appeased, which would only further elevate the threat level for Christians. The case must be watched, for right across the Muslim world there are two trends: 'reconciliation', with Christians pushed to accept responsibility and drop all charges in exchange for 'peace'; or whitewashing and scapegoating, by denying religious motivation and finding some low-risk individuals to blame or punish for the crime. Through these means Sharia may be upheld, Islamisation may be advanced and dhimmitude (subjugation of non-Muslims) may be established, all behind a facade of fake civility. These are critical days for Indonesia.
PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY THAT GOD WILL:
* move President Yudhoyono to make a bold stand in support of justice and Indonesia's constitutional pluralism and religious liberty.
'The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.' (Proverbs 21:1 NIV.)
* use the evil and hatred inherent in this violence to shock many Muslims, awakening them to the inflexible religious totalitarianism of Islam; may God's intervention ensure that this persecution produces the opposite of what was intended. (See Isaiah 35:5-7.)
* bring peace, comfort, healing and strength to Pastors Sihombing and Simanjuntak, to their ethnic-Batak congregation in Bekasi and to all West Java's repressed and persecuted churches.
~~~~
SUMMARY TO USE IN BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE
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THREAT LEVEL RISING IN BEKASI, INDONESIA
The threat level facing Christians in Bekasi Regency, West Java, has been rising continuously since 27 June when Bekasi's Islamic leaders publicly denounced 'Christianisation' of Bekasi (98 percent Muslim) and urged Bekasi Muslims to prepare for jihad. Christians have since been threatened with death and physically attacked during worship. President Yudhoyono's dependence on Islamic parties in parliament keeps him from intervening. Last Sunday 12 September Pastor Sihombing was ambushed by militants as he walked to the vacant land his church owns and meets on for worship. As Reverend Luspida Simanjuntak rushed to his aid, she was clubbed on the face, head and back. Both were hospitalised, with Pastor Sihombing in a critical condition having suffered multiple stab wounds to the abdomen. Please pray for the Church in Indonesia.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
072. Turkmenistan: mounting repression
Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin | RLPB 072 | Wed 08 Sep 2010
TURKMENISTAN: MOUNTING REPRESSION
In1985 USSR president Mikhail Gorbachev appointed a colourless Soviet apparatchik Saparmurat Niyazov to head the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic. When Turkmenistan became independent in 1991, Niyazov -- who automatically became president -- transformed into an eccentric and reclusive megalomaniac. Under Niyazov, Turkmenistan became one of the world's most repressive and Stalinist states. The all-pervasive cult of Niyazov -- rivalled only by North Korea's cult of Kim -- led to jokes about 'Wierdistan'. But life under Niyazov was anything but a joke. Suffocating religious repression, backed up with violent systematic persecution, was the norm.
When Niyazov died suddenly on 21 December 2006, many Christians hoped that a new era had dawned. Initially the signs were positive, and relief mingled enthusiastically with hope. (Rigged) elections were held in February 2007. There was constitutional reform. The 'elected' president, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov (formerly Niyazov's dentist), was talking to the West. There was a new openness. However, as time has passed it has become increasingly evident that the only difference between Niyazov and Berdimuhamedov is that Berdimuhamedov is a smarter politician. He immediately moved to erect facades and create illusions so as to attract investment and avoid sanctions. However, as new (post August 2008) geo-strategic realities kick in, he realises he no longer needs to play these games.
As Turkmenistan's President for life, Berdimuhamedov violates the constitution with impunity. According to Annasoltan, the 'neweurasia' chief blogger for Turkmenistan, the cult of Niyazov is being replaced with the cult of Berdimuhamedov. While the famous rotating gold statue of Niyazov was recently dismantled, a larger and more expensive new monument devoted to Berdimuhamedov will soon be erected in another part of the capital. Niyazov's portraits are being replaced with portraits of Berdimuhamedov, who presents himself as the divine saviour of all Turkmen. World leaders, he maintains, are insanely jealous. Accordingly, everything 'foreign' and non-traditional is treated as seditious. Despite being gas-rich, the country is wracked with poverty. Yet Berdimuhamedov invests in grandiose building projects designed to create the illusion of success and prosperity. (Currently planned is a $2 billion Olympic Village in Ashgabat -- not that the Olympics are coming to Ashgabat any time soon.) Criticism is treason. All religion that is 'foreign', non-traditional and not centred on Berdimuhamedov is repressed and persecuted, most commonly through the imprisonment of religious leaders on false criminal charges. There can be no justice for, in violation of the constitution, Berdimuhamedov has personally appointed the judiciary to do his bidding.
Forum 18 reports that on 22 July Turkmen police raided a church-run summer youth camp in Sekiz-Yab, taking 47 Christians into custody on the pretext of investigating a local murder. Once inside Geoketpe police station the pretext evaporated, Bibles were confiscated and the believers were interrogated about who converted them and who funds their activities. They were photographed and fingerprinted while copies were made of their passports. After being detained overnight, the group left feeling greatly intimidated. Also in July, members of a Baptist church in Dashoguz (or Dashhowuz) were pressured to sign statements that they would no longer attend the church. Elsewhere, two Protestant Christians were sacked from their employment because of their faith. On 27 August Protestant pastor Ilmurad Nurliev was arrested and charged with swindling more than US$2.4 million from three church members who were coerced into making false statements against him. Large-scale swindling attracts a sentence of up to five years' imprisonment. Another church member, Kristina Petrova, has been ordered to testify against Pastor Nurliev or else her husband (who is not a church member) will lose his job, leaving them destitute.
PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY THAT GOD WILL:
* provide Pastor Nurliev with words in court and in detention that will bring glory to God; may he know peace through trusting God, and may God bring justice and glory into the situation.
'You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.' (Isaiah 26:3 ESV)
* draw close all those Christians who have been threatened, intimidated and afflicted by the regime; may they grow in faith and sanctification as they find sanctuary in God's presence.
* use these situations, where injustice and cruelty are juxtaposed with innocence and grace, to awaken many Turkmen (89 percent Muslim) to the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.
* intervene and deal with President Berdimuhamedov and his repressive regime, that religious liberty might become a reality in long-suffering Turkmenistan.
~~~~
SUMMARY TO USE IN BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE
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MOUNTING REPRESSION IN TURKMENISTAN
President Berdimuhamedov ('elected' in February 07), is no different from the totalitarian megalomaniac he replaced, the Soviet-appointed Saparmurat Niyazov. His initial openness and reforms appear to have been a ploy to attract investment and avoid sanctions. With the new geo-strategic realities (post August 2008), he no longer needs to play this game. Slowly the cult of Berdimuhamedov is replacing the cult of Niyazov and everything 'foreign' and non-traditional is treated as seditious. Human rights abuses, including religious repression backed up with violent systematic persecution, are on the rise. Non-compliant, 'foreign' and non-traditional religious fellowships are being targeted for harassment, intimidation and persecution. Protestant pastor, Ilmurad Nurliev, has been falsely accused of 'large-scale swindling', a crime that incurs up to five years' jail. Please pray.
TURKMENISTAN: MOUNTING REPRESSION
In1985 USSR president Mikhail Gorbachev appointed a colourless Soviet apparatchik Saparmurat Niyazov to head the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic. When Turkmenistan became independent in 1991, Niyazov -- who automatically became president -- transformed into an eccentric and reclusive megalomaniac. Under Niyazov, Turkmenistan became one of the world's most repressive and Stalinist states. The all-pervasive cult of Niyazov -- rivalled only by North Korea's cult of Kim -- led to jokes about 'Wierdistan'. But life under Niyazov was anything but a joke. Suffocating religious repression, backed up with violent systematic persecution, was the norm.
When Niyazov died suddenly on 21 December 2006, many Christians hoped that a new era had dawned. Initially the signs were positive, and relief mingled enthusiastically with hope. (Rigged) elections were held in February 2007. There was constitutional reform. The 'elected' president, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov (formerly Niyazov's dentist), was talking to the West. There was a new openness. However, as time has passed it has become increasingly evident that the only difference between Niyazov and Berdimuhamedov is that Berdimuhamedov is a smarter politician. He immediately moved to erect facades and create illusions so as to attract investment and avoid sanctions. However, as new (post August 2008) geo-strategic realities kick in, he realises he no longer needs to play these games.
As Turkmenistan's President for life, Berdimuhamedov violates the constitution with impunity. According to Annasoltan, the 'neweurasia' chief blogger for Turkmenistan, the cult of Niyazov is being replaced with the cult of Berdimuhamedov. While the famous rotating gold statue of Niyazov was recently dismantled, a larger and more expensive new monument devoted to Berdimuhamedov will soon be erected in another part of the capital. Niyazov's portraits are being replaced with portraits of Berdimuhamedov, who presents himself as the divine saviour of all Turkmen. World leaders, he maintains, are insanely jealous. Accordingly, everything 'foreign' and non-traditional is treated as seditious. Despite being gas-rich, the country is wracked with poverty. Yet Berdimuhamedov invests in grandiose building projects designed to create the illusion of success and prosperity. (Currently planned is a $2 billion Olympic Village in Ashgabat -- not that the Olympics are coming to Ashgabat any time soon.) Criticism is treason. All religion that is 'foreign', non-traditional and not centred on Berdimuhamedov is repressed and persecuted, most commonly through the imprisonment of religious leaders on false criminal charges. There can be no justice for, in violation of the constitution, Berdimuhamedov has personally appointed the judiciary to do his bidding.
Forum 18 reports that on 22 July Turkmen police raided a church-run summer youth camp in Sekiz-Yab, taking 47 Christians into custody on the pretext of investigating a local murder. Once inside Geoketpe police station the pretext evaporated, Bibles were confiscated and the believers were interrogated about who converted them and who funds their activities. They were photographed and fingerprinted while copies were made of their passports. After being detained overnight, the group left feeling greatly intimidated. Also in July, members of a Baptist church in Dashoguz (or Dashhowuz) were pressured to sign statements that they would no longer attend the church. Elsewhere, two Protestant Christians were sacked from their employment because of their faith. On 27 August Protestant pastor Ilmurad Nurliev was arrested and charged with swindling more than US$2.4 million from three church members who were coerced into making false statements against him. Large-scale swindling attracts a sentence of up to five years' imprisonment. Another church member, Kristina Petrova, has been ordered to testify against Pastor Nurliev or else her husband (who is not a church member) will lose his job, leaving them destitute.
PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY THAT GOD WILL:
* provide Pastor Nurliev with words in court and in detention that will bring glory to God; may he know peace through trusting God, and may God bring justice and glory into the situation.
'You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.' (Isaiah 26:3 ESV)
* draw close all those Christians who have been threatened, intimidated and afflicted by the regime; may they grow in faith and sanctification as they find sanctuary in God's presence.
* use these situations, where injustice and cruelty are juxtaposed with innocence and grace, to awaken many Turkmen (89 percent Muslim) to the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.
* intervene and deal with President Berdimuhamedov and his repressive regime, that religious liberty might become a reality in long-suffering Turkmenistan.
~~~~
SUMMARY TO USE IN BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE
----------------------------------------------------------------------
MOUNTING REPRESSION IN TURKMENISTAN
President Berdimuhamedov ('elected' in February 07), is no different from the totalitarian megalomaniac he replaced, the Soviet-appointed Saparmurat Niyazov. His initial openness and reforms appear to have been a ploy to attract investment and avoid sanctions. With the new geo-strategic realities (post August 2008), he no longer needs to play this game. Slowly the cult of Berdimuhamedov is replacing the cult of Niyazov and everything 'foreign' and non-traditional is treated as seditious. Human rights abuses, including religious repression backed up with violent systematic persecution, are on the rise. Non-compliant, 'foreign' and non-traditional religious fellowships are being targeted for harassment, intimidation and persecution. Protestant pastor, Ilmurad Nurliev, has been falsely accused of 'large-scale swindling', a crime that incurs up to five years' jail. Please pray.
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