News and Prayer for the Persecuted

2/10/12 Middle East (Christian Post) Middle Eastern Christians Increasingly Targeted by Blasphemy, Apostasy Laws- Apostasy and blasphemy laws, although very subjective and open to interpretation, are often used to persecute Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East. Television director Hamadi Redissi was recently arrested and charged under these laws for airing an animated film that contains a brief scene depicting God in a manner that many Muslims find blasphemous. Redissi, a Tunisian citizen, faces up to five years in prison. In addition to Tunisia, blasphemy and apostasy laws are practiced in regions of Saudi Arabia, Iran, Egypt, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Jordan, Morocco, Turkey, Yemen, parts of Africa, and parts of South and Southeast Asia. In some countries (Saudi Arabia, Iran and Pakistan), the punishment can be as harsh as death. Full Story Pray for Hamadi Redissi’s release. Pray that apostasy and blasphemy laws are no longer widely used to advocate religious persecution.

2/14/12 Iran (Middle East Concern) Iran: Further Arrests and Church Service Closures- Another church leader in the Iranian Assemblies of God church has been arrested, raising the number to four church members currently detained. Maasis Mosesian, a husband and father of two, was arrested and detained on February 8th – no reasons have been given for his arrest. In addition to this recent arrest, two churches in Tehran have been ordered to cease holding Farsi language services on Fridays, the main day for church attendance in Iran. As most churches were ordered to stop Farsi services in 2009, these were the last two officially registered churches with Farsi services. House churches also continue to face pressure, as ten believers from Muslim background were arrested in a house raid on February 8th. Full Story Pray that believers find Farsi language services. Pray for the protection and continued establishment of the house churches. Pray for Maasis Mosesian’s safety and release.

2/16/12 Mongolia (ChinaAid) House Church in Inner Mongolia Raided; Officials Destroy Property, Detain Pastor- Ten government officials raided the Canaan House Church in Xilinhot, Inner Mongolia on January 2nd, destroying property and arresting several members. The officials stopped the service, destroyed church decorations and wall-hangings of verses, confiscated the Bibles and hymnals, and changed the lock on the front door. Pastor Wang Dawei and two other church members were arrested during the raid, though they were all released later that day. The officials are prohibiting the Canaan church from holding services until they join the Three-Self Church movement in China, a government-ruled conglomerate that governs how individuals can worship and preach. Pastor Dawei says that joining Three-Self Church is tantamount to renouncing the Christian faith, and that he and his congregation are prepared to suffer persecution before joining the movement. Full Story Pray for the safety and continued faith of the Canaan Church and other house churches. Pray for the transformation and conversion of those demanding participation in Three-Self Church. Pray that those in Three-Self Church would learn what true faith and Christianity means.

2/17/12 United Stated (Christian Post) Empty Buildings: NYC Kicks Churches Out of Schools- New York City recently banned churches from being able to rent school buildings in order to hold religious services. Sixty churches across the city have been renting spaces in school buildings to hold services on Saturdays and Sundays. Despite churches having paid to use the spaces, city officials have decided that the practice promotes an “unintended bias” in favor of Christianity. The ruling holds strong implications for the course of religious tolerance across the country. Full Story Pray that the churches will find spaces to continue their services. Pray that other cities will not follow suit and deny churches the ability to rent spaces for worship.

2/19/12 Nigeria (The Washington Post) Bomb Planted near Cars outside a Church Explodes in City near Nigeria’s Capital, Wounding 5- In a continuation of attacks throughout Nigeria, a car bomb exploded on February 19th outside the Christ Embassy Church in Suleja, wounding five members. The explosion occurred around 10 AM, just after service had begun. Thankfully, security guards at the church had noticed something suspicious earlier that day and had called members inside before the bomb went off. One member was seriously injured and taken to a local hospital; the other four sustained minor injuries. Although police continue to investigate, the blame is directed at Boko Haram, the radical Islamic group that has perpetuated recent attacks across Nigeria. Full Story Pray for the recovery of the seriously wounded church member. Pray that this wave of attacks would come to an end. Pray for the hearts of the members of Boko Haram and other radical groups.

2/21/2012 United Kingdom (Christian Post) Prayer Ban at Council Meetings to be Overturned in Britain- A forty-year-old act limiting religious practice in the United Kingdom (U.K.) has been overturned. The Local Government Act of 1972 historically held power from authorities to add prayers to council meeting agendas. Efforts have been driven by British Community Secretary Eric Pickles, who felt that the ruling undermined the founding religious principles of the U.K. In effect for four decades, the ruling has been generally unpopular among Members of Parliament and Christians and many are glad of its dissolution. In an increasingly secular atmosphere, such victories for religious freedom are causes for celebration. Full Story Pray for continued efforts that promote religious freedom across Europe. Pray that government leaders worldwide would take opportunities to pray and seek guidance as they rule over their countries.

2/22/2012 Iran (Fox News) Iran Court Convicts Christian Pastor Convert to Death- The legal team and close acquaintances of imprisoned Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani report that the 34-year-old father of two has been sentenced to death for converting to Christianity. Pastor Nadarkhani was arrested over two years ago on charges of apostasy. Advocates fear that he will be executed soon, as death sentences can be carried out at any time after the verdict in Iran. Some also fear Iran will use this opportunity to make a political statement about its willpower. In the midst of global tension around Iran’s threats to develop a nuclear weapon, Christians fear that Iran will use this opportunity to show that “they will carry out what they say they will do." The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) continues to keep Nadarkhani’s case in the international spotlight, organizing a Twitter campaign that asks supporters to tweet the number of days he has been imprisoned. The tweets have reached over 400,000 people in 157 countries. Full Story Pray for Pastor Nadarkhani’s safety and release. Pray for increased awareness of religious persecution in Iran and other countries.

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