Pray for Religious Freedom in the Muslim World
A challenging message from a Muslim convert to Christ:
“People of Stockholm, people of the world, people who are concerned about
Human rights, people who are concerned about freedom. There is about 1.3 billion Muslims who do not have freedom to change religion. They do not have freedom of thought conscious and religion. They do not have the right to exist as former Muslims.
This issue was brought up by the UN reporter on freedom of religion to the
UN assembly in New York two weeks ago that freedom to change religion is basic for
religious freedom. We are here to remember the victims if Islam apostasy and blasphemy laws. We are here to see a change in their situation. We are here that they may
have freedom. We are here that they may have equal rights.
Muslim People are killed for rejecting Islam, Muslim people are imprisoned
and tortured for leaving Islam. It is not right that people get to lose their life, get imprisoned and get tortured for their belief. This contradicts with Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which gives freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and this freedom includes the right to change their belief and practice their new faith.
How can we be quiet about this? In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. Martin Luther King Jr.
Mahmoud Mohammad Taha- he was executed at the age of 76 for apostasy in Sudan.
Mahdi Debag the head of the Bible Society in Iran was arrested after the Islamic revolution in 1979 and was tortured and imprisoned for 10 years. He said I am not just willing to suffer for Christ but to also die for him. After much international pressure he was released and 6 months later he was murdered.
Fatima was murdered by her family in Saudi Arabia for converting to Christianity 3 years ago after cutting her tongue out.
Frag Fouda, journalist and free thinker, was shot and killed in front of his office in Cairo because he was accused of blasphemy in 1992.
Najeb Mafous, the Literature Nobel prize winner, was stabbed for the same
reason.
Taiser, the governor of Banjab in Pakistan, was murdered by his bodyguard for trying to
free Asia who was in prison for being accused for blasphemy.
Shabaz, the Minister of Minorities, followed the same fate for trying to protect
minorities in Pakistan. 400 Christian families cannot return to their home
since the teenager Rimasha was accused of blasphemy.
A number of pastors in Iran are serving prison sentences for their
conversion from Islam to Christianity.
Metafi in Saudi Arabia has been in prison since he was 18 and now he is 36.
He is an Ismaili accused of blasphemy.
Kashgari a journalist who tweeted that some things Mohammed did I like and some I do not like, was accused of blasphemy, and 30000 tweeted he should be killed. He apologized and this did not help. He tried to escape to New Zeland via Malaysia. He was arrested it there and extradited to Saudie Arabia. He has been in prison since then.
Around 10 countries have death sentences for apostates and blasphemers.
How can we be quiet about this? “For evil men to triumph, it is only necessary for good men to do nothing.”- Edmund Burke. How can be quiet about this injustice? How can we be quiet about this oppression?
Stand for freedom, Stand for Justice, stand for humanity. Stand against apostasy and blasphemy codes in Islam which are choking freedom worldwide.
Stand for freedom for fear; "Freedom from fear" could be said to sum up the whole philosophy of human rights. Dag Hammarskjold
Stand for freedom of speech; if the freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led like sheep to the slaughter. George Washington
Stand for justice; injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Martin Luther King
If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality. Desmond Tutu
Stand for freedom, stand for justice, stand for equality. Stand for Article 18 in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Stand for freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and freedom to change belief. Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either
alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.
To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity. Nelson Mandela
As we pray for the persecuted believers in Christ around the world this month, let’s pray for those suffering grim persecutions for coming to faith in the Muslim world and that such blasphemy and apostasy laws will be overthrown by the governments that now observe them.
Israel: Syrian infighting spills into Israel
Three mortar shells fired from Syria hit Israel on Thursday. One shell landed on a northern Israeli community, the other two exploded in open areas, in what appears to have been erroneous targeting. This is the third unusual incident involving Syria in less than a week. See: On Saturday three Syrian tanks crossed the demilitarized border in the Golan Heights. The demilitarized zone in the Golan Heights is patrolled by U.N. peacekeepers to maintain a ceasefire between the neighbours. Israeli media said the tanks were involved in the fighting with rebels. Israeli U.N. Ambassador Ron Prosor said, ‘The international community and the Security Council should address this alarming development without delay to prevent further dangerous escalation.’
Pray: for the security and stability of the region. (Ps.9:3-5)
Egypt: Christians experience lack of law and order
Egyptian Christians have requested our prayers following a series of similar incidents in several provinces across the country in which Christians have been threatened or attacked. Egyptian Christians are keen to stress that there are a range of motivations behind these incidents, and the primary call is for prayer that effective rule of law will be established and applied equitably to all citizens and institutions throughout the country. On 5th Nov a group of Salafists occupied church-owned land in the Shubra district of Cairo. In early Nov the General Manager of the Coptic Agricultural Bank was kidnapped, a ransom was demanded, but effective police action led to his release on 4th Nov with no payment made. In late Oct a Christian concert was stopped. These incidents often occur as a result of inadequate state security provision. Since January 2011 Christian communities have become increasingly vulnerable. Authorities seem unable or reluctant to protect Christians from extremist assailants.
Pray: the government will uphold the rule of law. Pray also for the new constitution currently being drafted. (Ps.7:9)
North Africa: Sudan/South Sudan border negotiations
Sudan and South Sudan continue to try to negotiate their common border with the help of the UN. The struggle remains over oil resources and pipelines where there is continual border fighting. Refugees who fled Sudan after South Sudan's independence live in dire conditions. Their situation worsens as the rains have started. More than 20,000 Sudanese refugees need to be relocated from the waterlogged and overcrowded refugee camps in South Sudan's Upper Nile. Living conditions, massive influxes of people and lack of potable water have made some camps unlivable. One refugee camp has reached its maximum capacity of 34,500 refugees. We are asked to pray for the basic needs of these refugees to be met, (water, food and sanitation). Pray for the young, old, and frail–the most vulnerable. Ask the Lord to defend the weak and the fatherless and uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.
Pray: for the negotiators to find a peaceful way forward in the face of extreme hostilities. For justice and righteousness to prevail and protection for those living in this area. (Pr. 11:6 & , Ps.82:2-3)
