CHRETIENS PERSECUTES PAR L'ISLAM

	News and Prayer for the Persecuted April 30th, 2010
ICC Home Page Church Resources ICC's Underground Pastor Page Understanding ICC ICC Donation Page
Article One
4/30/10 Central Asia (ICC) Prayer Requested from a Persecuted Central Asian Pastor- Since 2004, a central Asian pastor has been arrested four times for leading unregistered prayer meetings. In one instance, he was handcuffed and chained to an iron pipe. Last October, a complaint was filed against him for evangelizing Muslims, and he was fined the equivalent of over $1,000 US dollars. This year, his car was confiscated by local security forces while he and his family were celebrating his birthday. The pastor and his wife are currently ministering to several house churches in their region. For security purposes, the pastor has asked that his name and specific location be concealed. Full Story. Pray for the pastor's safety and the Lord's anointing as he continues to lead church meetings and minister to new believers in Christ. Pray for monetary provision for a vehicle. This pastor oversees several churches over a 200 kilometer radius, and he is unable to make these essential visits without transportation. Pray for all believers in Central Asia, that the Holy Spirit will give them perseverance and boldness in the face of persecution and opposition. For more general information, please go to ICC's website.
Article Two
4/30/10 Egypt (ICC) In Egyptian Courts, Christian Rights are Not Equal to Those of Muslims- On April 28, hundreds of Egyptian Christians in Cairo protested against the third postponement of the trial of Mohammed al-Kammuni, considered to be a blatant judicial action stating that in an Egyptian court, Christian rights are not equal to those of Muslims. The protest was assembled after continued frustration among Copts over the postponement on April 18 of the court hearing of alleged murderer Mohammed al-Kammuni, believed to be the mastermind behind the killing of six Christians on January 6th in Naga Hammadi. Full Story. Pray that the Father would grant His peace to believers in Egypt. Pray for a swift hearing, and that justice would be done in this case. For more general information, please go to ICC’s website on Egypt.
Article Three
4/30/10 Somalia (ICC) Muslim Extremists Execute a Somali Christian- On March 23, members of Al-Shabaab (an Al-Qaeda linked Islamic extremist group) executed another Somali Christian in Afgoye, Somalia. Three gunmen killed Mu'awiye Hilowle Ali in front of his house. They executed him by firing into his head and chest from a close range. He died on the spot. The Islamists had previously accused Ali and his family of spreading religious discord. His body was temporarily buried in the compound of his residential house after members of Al-Shabaab refused to allow his burial to be conducted in a public burial place, claiming that it was Muslim territory. Full Story. Pray that Ali's martyrdom would strengthen the church in Somalia. Pray for the Holy Spirit to comfort Ali's widow and children. For more general information, please go to ICC’s website.
Article Four
4/30/10 Vietnam (ICC) Vietnamese Christian Beaten to Death- An imprisoned Vietnamese Christian died on March 11, 2010, after a long period of abuse and torture. K'pa Lot was arrested on May 20th, 2007, for publicly expressing his Christian faith, and imprisoned in Phu Yen province. He was kept separate from other prisoners and relocated whenever community and international agencies visited to monitor prison conditions. Just before his death, he was released from prison into a hospital. A spokesman for the Montagnard Foundation said of his condition, "His family could not recognize him. He was swollen and had bruises all over his body and face. He could not move or eat, and could barely speak." Full Story. Pray for the Father to be with K'pa's wife and two children during this difficult time. Pray that the true state of religious freedom would be revealed in Vietnam. For more general information, please go to ICC’s website on Vietnam.
Article Five
4/29/10 Pakistan (ICC) Pakistani Muslim Allegedly Beats a Teenage Christian Employee to Death, Injures His Brother- On April 21, a Muslim employer allegedly beat two Christian siblings with an iron rod, killing one and seriously injuring the other in Sargodha, Pakistan. The Muslim owner of 'Five Star Switches' company, Shafiq-ur-Rehman Khan, allegedly killed Waqas Masih, 14, and seriously injured Zeeshan Masih, 12, after they extended their leave from work for one more day without his permission. Before beating them, Khan contemptuously called the two Christians 'choora' (a derogatory word frequently used to insult Christians in Pakistan). He also told them that because they were Christians, they were not suitable for learning to make switches; instead they should clean the streets and manure. Full Story. Pray for the Father would strengthen Zeeshan in his faith as he recovers from his wounds. Pray that the perpetrator of these attacks would be found and brought to swift justice. For more general information, please go to ICC’s website on Pakistan.
Article Six
4/27/10 Nigeria (ICC) Muslim Mob Brutally Murders Two Christian Journalists in Nigeria- On April 24, Nigerian Muslims murdered two journalists working for a church publication in Jos, Nigeria. Nathan Sheleph Dabak and Sunday Gyang Bwede were working for "The Light Bearer" Newspaper, a publication of the Church of Christ in Nigeria. According to the church's press statement, the journalists were on duty when the Muslims murdered them. The Muslims also took their cell phones and other belongings. When a friend of Dabak called his number, one of the Muslims responded, saying, "We have killed all of them; you can do your worst." ICC's representative in Nigeria was able to confirm with sources in Jos that the journalists were stopped by a Muslim mob which brutally slew them after finding out that they were Christians working for a Christian newspaper. Full Story. Pray that believers in Nigeria would find peace as they place their trust in the Father. Pray that the continuous murder of Christians in Nigeria would be put to an end. For more general information, please go to ICC’s website on Nigeria.
Article Seven
4/23/10 Iran (ICC) Three Cases of Assault Upon Iranian Christian Leaders Reported in the Past Week- International Christian Concern has observed that within the past week there has been an unusually high number of forceful arrests of Iranian church leaders, a result of heightened and aggressive government tactics used to suppress the growing Christian church. The most recent incident occurred on April 14 when undercover security officers physically assaulted and arrested Pastor Bahnam Irani. The officers introduced themselves agents of the Ministry of Information before invading Pastor Irani's house church in Karaj and taking him to an undisclosed location. After the raid, members of the church were forced to complete prepared documents revealing the activities and whereabouts of church leaders. Full Story. Pray that the father would strengthen Pastor Bahnam Irani in his faith. Pray for nineteen-year-old Daniel Shahiri who was arrested on April 11th when officials raided his home on charges of internet related activity and forming a house church. Pray for Hamid Shafiee and his, Reyhaned Aghajary, who were forcefully taken from their home on February 28th. As of now, they remain in prison and are in poor health, still awaiting charges to be brought against them. For more general information, please go to ICC’s website on Iran.
Giving Made Easier
ICC Offers the Ability to Automate Your Monthly Gift! You can sign up to be a monthly supporter of the persecuted through a monthly credit card (or bank account) transfer via our website. Your automated recurring gift will help us to plan, build and serve the persecuted with greater confidence. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to serve our persecuted brothers and sisters. You can sign up for recurring gifts or make a secure online donation by clicking here. Thank You for Caring and Praying for the Persecuted. "Relieving the suffering of the worldwide persecuted church and helping it grow in strength and breadth by providing effective assistance, advocacy and awareness with integrity toward God and our donors." 2020 Pennsylvania Ave. NW #941 Washington DC 20006-1846 Web: www.persecution.org Phone: USA 1-800-422-5441 E-mail: icc@persecution.org µµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµ