The Persecution & Prayer Alert

The Persecution & Prayer Alert

The Voice of the Martyrs, Canada

http://www.persecution.net

Thursday, June 24, 2010

A weekly news and prayer digest on the Persecuted Church.

Check out http://www.vomcblog.com
for news stories, commentary, and ways to help support the persecuted
Church.

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In this week’s edition: reports from Pakistan

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1. Christian boy forced into bonded labour in Pakistan

An 11-year-old Pakistani Christian boy who was abducted by a wealthy
Muslim in Dhonikay village, Wazirabad 18 months ago has been growing
increasingly weak and ill from being forced to work to pay off his
family’s debt. The family of Danish Masih owed Ashraf Cheema 142,000
rupees (approximately $1730 CAD) but fled to Islamabad when Ashraf
refused to pay their monthly wages or deduct their earnings from the
debt. Ashraf also extorted land from the family and stole Danish’s
mother’s dowry, yet refused to reduce their debt. Ashraf was
eventually able to locate the family and kidnapped Danish, who has
since been forced to work, often in iron chains, from 4 a.m. to 11
p.m. without any breaks. He is only given half a loaf of bread to eat
each day. Ashraf has frequently pressured Danish to convert to Islam,
promising to free him from his chains, provide him with better meals,
and possibly cancel his family’s debt if he converts.

On June 10, a bailiff was sent to Ashraf’s farm to secure the return
of Danish. However, since Ashraf is wealthy and influential, he was
informed of the raid in advance and hid the child. Ashraf has since
threatened the family, saying, “After this raid by the bailiff, you
will neither be able to get back your son, nor will you be granted a
cancellation for your debt.” (Source: Compass Direct)

Pray that Danish will be returned to his family very soon. Ask God to
shield and strengthen him at this time. Pray that the Christian
community in Pakistan will support and uplift this family. Pray that
Ashraf will come to know the Lord. You can post a prayer for Danish
and his family by visiting our Persecuted Church Prayer Wall at

http://www.persecution.net/prayerwall

.

For more information on the plight of Pakistani Christians, please
visit http://www.persecution.net/pakistan.htm
.

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2. Elderly Pakistani Christian imprisoned

Rehmat Masih (73) was jailed and imprisoned on accusations of
blasphemy for allegedly insulting the Prophet Muhammad in Jhandewali
village, Punjab province, Pakistan on June 20. “It is a false
allegation based on events months before. The case has its background
in land disputes,” a local Christian leader, Father Asi, has said.
Rehmat and his accuser had supported opposite sides in the local
elections three months ago, which may have contributed to the
tensions. Muslims have also threatened to accuse other Christian
villagers of blasphemy. Pakistani Church leaders have long called for
the repeal of blasphemy laws which authorize the death penalty for
insults to the Prophet Muhammad and life imprisonment for acts against
the Qur’an. (Source: Union of Catholic Asian News)

Pray that Rehmat will be released. Ask that he will be sustained and
emboldened by the grace of Christ as he suffers. Pray that the
blasphemy law will be abolished in Pakistan. Ask the Lord to enable
these believers to stand firm in their faith amid severe pressure.

For more on the persecution of Pakistani Christians, go to

http://www.persecution.net/pakistan.htm

.

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3. Christian girl kidnapped, raped in Pakistan

A 14-year-old Pakistani Christian girl from Mohalla Raja Sultan,
Rawalpindi has been returned home after she was kidnapped and raped by
five Muslim men. The girl, whose name has been withheld, had
previously been threatened with death unless her father allowed Guddu,
a Muslim man, to marry her. The Muslims told her father, Lazarus, that
they had “attended an Islamic religious convention, and the speaker
said if you marry a non-Muslim or rape a non-Muslim girl, you will get
70 virgins in heaven.” When Lazarus and his wife returned home from
work on May 29, their daughter was nowhere to be found. They later
learned that five Muslim men, including Guddu, were seen following
their daughter earlier that morning. The Muslims took the girl to a
house near Islamabad where they drugged and raped her. On June 6, the
police raided the home where she was being held; however, all the
suspects were able to escape. At last report, the girl remained very
frightened and was not speaking to anyone. (Source: Compass Direct)

Pray for God’s comfort, peace and healing for this Christian girl.
Pray for her parents and two sisters as they stand with her at this
time. Pray that during these difficult days they will remain steadfast
in the faith (1 Peter 5:8-10). Pray that the perpetrators will turn to
Christ and seek forgiveness.

Go to http://www.persecution.net/pakistan.htm
to learn more about suffering believers in Pakistan.

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The Persecution & Prayer Alert is a ministry of The Voice of the
Martyrs, Canada. (Mailing address: P.O. Box 608, Streetsville,
Ontario, L5M 2C1)

Tel. (905) 670.9721. Website: http://www.persecution.net

Contacts: Adele Konyndyk & Erin Vandenberg