The Persecution & Prayer Alert

The Persecution & Prayer Alert

The Voice of the Martyrs, Canada

http://www.persecution.net

Thursday, February 17, 2011

“Once we serve God surely we must go the way of the cross,

so I will not quarrel against the Lord for what has happened.”

– Pastor Quang, Vietnam

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In this week’s edition: reports from Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan and
Uzbekistan

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1. Seven Iranian Christians released

(Source: VOM-USA)

Seven Iranian Christians who were arrested on December 26, along with
31 other believers, were recently released from prison on bail. On
January 26, two men and a woman were released in Isfahan. Three days
later, four women were released from Tehran’s notoriously brutal Evin
prison. The release of one of the women, Sara Akhaven, involved her
family giving up their trade license in exchange for her bail. If
authorities decide Sara has broken bail, however, the family’s
livelihood will be gone. Sadly, the trade license was not valuable
enough to secure bail for Sara’s sister, Leila, who remains in prison.
Some of the original 31 Christians who were arrested have reportedly
been released.

The recently released believers reported that they spent over a month
in solitary confinement and endured hours of interrogation and
torture. It is likely that those who remain detained continue to face
the same brutal treatment. Among those who remain in prison is a
couple with two children. Although their mother, Maryam, has been able
to phone her children from prison, they have not heard from their
father, Rasool, in over a month. All of the other prisoners have
reportedly been able to call their families, so there is great concern
for Rasool’s condition.

Thank the Lord for the release of these believers. Pray that they will
remain faithful in witnessing about Christ. Pray all imprisoned
Christians in Iran will be released. Pray they will be emboldened and
equipped by God’s grace as they suffer. Pray for Iranian Christians
who face extreme pressure and opposition under the government’s new
policy of “religious cleansing.”

To learn more about the suffering of Iranian Christians, go to

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

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2. Pakistani Christian killed by Muslim employer

(Source: Agenzia Fides)

A young Christian man was recently killed by his Muslim employer in
Gujranwala district, Punjab province, Pakistan. On February 5, Imran
Masih, 24, stayed home from his job as a driver for two local Muslims
because he was ill. When Imran returned to work the next day, his
employer verbally confronted him, attacked him and killed him. Imran’s
body was brought to his father, Lal Masih, the next day, with the
employer claiming that he committed suicide. Lal, who is also employed
by the same estate, said that his son’s body was covered in blood and
bore clear signs of torture. Local people also reported that they had
heard the employer insult and attack Imran the night of his death. Lal
went to the police station to file a report about the unjust treatment
of his son’s death. However, the assistant sub-inspector refused to
accept it, allegedly due to the influence of the Muslim employer in
the area.

Only after activists from the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance made a
public protest in Gujranwala did the police officially record formal
murder charges and damages against the employer and his accomplices.

Pray for the family members and friends mourning the loss of Imran.
Pray that, as sufferings overflow, their comfort in Christ will abound
(2 Corinthians 1:5). Pray the truth in Imran’s death will come to
light. Ask God to change the hearts and minds of the Muslim
responsible for this brutal murder, leading to repentance.

To learn more about the persecution of Christians in Pakistan, visit

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

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3. Update: Christian Convert from Islam facing execution in
Afghanistan

(Source: World Evangelical Alliance – Religious Liberty Commission)

Said Musa, who was imprisoned for converting from Islam to
Christianity, is reportedly facing execution. A 15-year employee of
the International Committee of the Red Cross in Kabul, Afghanistan,
Said, 45, was arrested on May 31, 2010, after a television station in
Kabul broadcast images that allegedly showed Western Christians
baptizing Afghans. Since his arrest, he has remained in Kabul
Detention Center, where he has reportedly suffered sexual assault and
torture and been denied access to a lawyer.

In the second week of February, an Afghan judge reportedly informed
Said that he would be hanged within days if he did not renounce his
faith in Christ and reconvert to Islam. Godfrey Yogarajah, the
Executive Director of The Religious Liberty Commission of the World
Evangelical Alliance, recently called attention to the illegal and
unjust treatment of Said. “The arrest of Said in the first place and
the subsequent demands for death for apostasy violate at least three
provisions of the Constitution of Afghanistan,” he said. Said’s trial
is reportedly the first for apostasy that has reached near execution
since the Taliban’s fall.

Pray for God’s enduring comfort and peace for Said in prison. Pray
that, even in chains, he will exalt and praise his Lord — a God of
compassion, justice and truth. Pray for his release. Pray also for
Said’s wife and six children, who fled to Pakistan after his arrest,
that they, too, will continue to find strength in Christ.

To find out more about the opposition facing followers of Christ in
Afghanistan, go to http://www.persecution.net/afghanistan.htm
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4. Uzbek Christians facing prosecution after police raid

(Source: Forum 18 News)

Authorities who raided a Christian meeting in Syrdarya Region, central
Uzbekistan, in January, are reportedly preparing to prosecute several
of the Christians present. On January 6, 12 police officials broke
into the home of Pastor Andrey Shevchenko, where approximately 25
members of an unregistered local Baptist church were gathered to
celebrate the baptism of Christ. The officials confiscated DVDs, CDs
and Christian books. They also forced some of the believers to write
statements. Pastor Andrey showed the police documents proving that the
material had been purchased from the officially registered Bible
Society of Uzbekistan. However, police told him that the literature
would be sent to the State Religious Affairs Committee in the capital
Tashkent for “expert analysis.” In early February, police reported
that they are planning to prosecute Pastor Andrey and other local
Christians under the code of Administrative Offences for “violation of
the law on religious organisations” and “illegal storage, production,
import or distribution of religious materials.”

Pray for strength of faith for these Christians as they face
opposition. Pray they will not face charges or fines. Pray they will
bear witness to the love and grace of Christ, even to their
persecutors. Pray Uzbek authorities will treat all of their citizens
with true justice.

You can find out more about the trials facing the Church in Uzbekistan
at http://www.persecution.net/uzbekistan.htm
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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

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