Iran: Another Christian is accused of evangelistic activities.
Farsi Christian News Network (FCNN) reports that on March 7, 2010 a new Christian convert by the name of Saeed, was stopped by two unmarked cars, belonging to the ministry of information. After searching his car and personal identification he was taken to the local jail. Upon his release Saeed was told that none of his personal identification documents would be returned to him and he was barred from leaving the city of Tanriz. Saeed has been accused of starting a home-based fellowship, teaching Christian doctrines, attempting to baptize new converts, and other related Christian activities. Remember also the two Christian women by the names of Maryam Rostampour and Marzieh Amirizadeh, who were arrested and detained for nine months at the Tehran Evin Prison. According to reports thier trial started on Tuesday April 13.
Pray: for Iranian Christians as they face pressure from the authorities over their faith. (1Pet.1:6-7)
Pakistan: False charges filed against 47 Christians
Police here filed false charges of alcohol possession against 47 Christians, including women and children, on March 28 in an attempt to intimidate them into paying a bribe, Christian leaders said. Police ransacked the home of Shaukat Masih on Palm Sunday, manhandled his wife Parveen Bibi, and threatened to charge them and 45 Christians from other areas with alcohol possession if they did not pay a bribe, said attorney Albert Patras. The Christians refused. ‘Police are not interested in their arrest, instead they were trying to extort some money from the destitute Christians,’ Patras said. ‘Police thought that Christians, being a soft target, would readily be bribed to save their families. Non-Muslims with a permit are allowed to possess and drink alcohol in Pakistan, while alcohol is forbidden to Muslims. Shaukat Masih has a government permit to keep and drink alcohol,’ Patras said, thus making the possession charge baseless.
Pray: for our brothers and sisters in Christ who face persecution on a daily basis that God would strengthen them. (2Th.3:2-3)
More: http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/pakistan/17273/
Nigeria: Borno State debates law 'to stop Islamic extremism'
Politicians in Borno State in north-eastern Nigeria are debating a bill aimed at curbing religious extremism. The Islamic Preaching Bill would outlaw preaching likely to cause a breach of the peace as well as requiring most clerics to obtain a preaching licence. The legislation was proposed after an Islamic sect was blamed for sectarian violence in northern Nigeria last year in which hundreds of people died. Under the new bill, there would be stiff penalties for clerics found guilty of insulting or inciting contempt of any religious belief which causes a breach of the peace. The bill is an attempt to prevent a recurrence of the violence which spread across Nigeria's northern states in July 2009 when supporters of an Islamic sect called Boko Haram - known locally as the ‘Taliban’ - attacked police and government offices.
Pray: that this bill will have the desired effect to prevent the recurrence of violence. (Ps.7:9)
Congo: Church and government to discuss human rights
Human rights in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will be the topic of a workshop bringing together high-level representatives of government, churches and international organisations in the country's capital, Kinshasa, 13-17 April, reports CISA. Speakers at the workshop include the UN’s special rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Margaret Sekaggya, and the DRC justice minister Luzolo Bambi. Others are ministers in charge of planning, economy and gender issues, the national president of the Church of Christ in Congo the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC), vice-president Methodist Bishop David Yemba, as well as other prominent representatives of state, church and civil society. The organizers were the World Council of Churches (WCC) with the co-operation of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), participants come from the different provinces of DRC as well as neighbouring Angola, Rwanda and Burundi.
Pray: that this meeting of minds will result in a powerful pressure group for human rights in central Africa. (Rom.15:5)
