Christian Martyrs by Gustave Dore

Christian Martyrs by Gustave Dore

Friday, March 30, 2012

Update on Youcef Nadarkhani

From PrisonerAlert.com:



Update on Youcef Nadarkhani

An Iranian envoy has denied an execution order was issued for Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, but revealed a list of charges against the evangelical Christian that allegedly make him guilty of "offending Islam." The envoy said Nadarkhani was inviting juveniles into his home, without their parent's permission, to preach Christianity. He also claimed Nadarkhani converted his basement into a church without the government's permission. He also said that in preaching Christianity, Nadarkhani was offending Islam, a serious charge that shows the true reason why his case is so concerning to the government.

More Info...
Youcef Nadarkhani




Hello Friends.

Since our last communication with you, the PrisonerAlert for Youcef Nadarkhani has been viewed over 31100 times, and over 6200 letters of encouragement have been sent. What a blessing this must have been to Youcef Nadarkhani -- and what a message it will have sent to the officials, that this person is cared for internationally.

Now imagine what could happen if we could double, triple or increase by ten or one hundred-fold the number of people, around the World, that are praying and writing on behalf of those imprisoned and persecuted for their faith.

You can help. Please forward this email to those you know have a heart for God's people and encourage them to sign-up too. It's the work of friends telling friends that will bring the greatest response to those who need it most. As the email does its work, you can revisit the chart below to see the effect that you have had.

Thank you in advance for partnering with us on behalf of those who suffer for the Lord.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Vietnam jails pastor of banned Mennonite church

From the AP:


Mar 26, 10:54 PM EDT

Vietnam jails pastor of banned Mennonite church




HANOI, Vietnam (AP) -- A court in central Vietnam sentenced the pastor of an outlawed Mennonite church to 11 years in prison for sowing division between the communist government and its citizens, state-controlled media reported Tuesday.
Nguyen Cong Chinh, 43, was convicted of undermining the government policy of unity at the one-day trial Monday in the central highland province of Gia Lai, the People's Army newspaper said.
Chinh was convicted of authoring and disseminating documents with distorted information that slandered authorities, it said. The paper said he was also convicted of collaborating with "reactionary groups" and inciting ethnic minorities to commit wrongdoing.
Court officials were not available for comment Tuesday.
John Sifton of Human Rights Watch said in a statement that the case is "another stain on Vietnam's religious repression record."
Vietnam's communist government has tight control over society and all churches must get government approval to operate.
"The conviction of Pastor Chinh is yet another demonstration showing how much the government of Vietnam cares about freedom of religion: not at all," said Sifton, the rights group's Asia advocacy director. But he added that Chinh's prosecution "is not going to stop independent religious groups in Vietnam from exercising their beliefs."
© 2012 The Associated Press.

Three killed, 52 injured as grieving Copts bid farewell to Pope Shenouda III

Three killed, 52 injured as grieving Copts bid farewell to Pope Shenouda III

Monday, March 26, 2012

Vietnam bars Vatican delegation research late cardinal's beatification cause

From CatholicCulture.org:


Vietnam bars Vatican delegation research late cardinal's beatification causeRSSFacebookMarch 26, 2012

The Vietnamese government has refused to grant entry visas to members of a Vatican delegation investigating the cause for beatification of Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan.
Vietnamese Catholics, distressed by the government’s move, believe that the decision to refuse visas for the 3 Vatican officials gathering testimony about Cardinal Van Thuan demonstrates the sensitivity of the late cardinal’s case.
Cardinal Van Thuan was arrested in 1975, shortly after his appointment as coadjutor archbishop of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon); he spent 13 years in jail before being released and brought to the Vatican as president The Vietnamese prelate, who serving 13 years in prison camps in his native land, was president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace from 1998 until his death in 2002.

Chinese officials detain bishop, compel him to attend ‘learning classes’

From CatholicCulture.org:


Chinese officials detain bishop, compel him to attend ‘learning classes’RSSFacebookMarch 26, 2012

Chinese government officials have detained a bishop and his chancellor and are compelling them to attend “learning classes.” The Holy See recognizes the ministry of Coadjutor Bishop Peter Shao Zhumin, 49, of Wenzhou, a city of three million in eastern China; the Communist government does not.
Officials were quoted as saying that the bishop and his chancellor, Father Paul Jiang Sunian, would be compelled to attend the classes until they are “intelligent enough in their learning.”
In January, Bishop John Wang Ruowang of Tianshui was also detained and forced to attend “learning classes.”
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Essa Nagri Christian girls forced into prostitution!

From British Pakistani Christian Association:


Posted: 25 Mar 2012 09:38 PM PDT





Report from "The News" 16th January 2012.


“I saw two of my daughters being raped in front of me,” an old lady from Essa Nagri told The News. “It is considered that Chooras have no integrity.” She says that around midnight, men from other areas start gathering in their neighbourhood. “They are usually drunk. They choose which home they will plunder.”

She adds that one night they stormed into her home and raped two of her girls, while she “was locked in another room hearing their cries for help”. “I am a widow without any financial prospects, but I did go to the MPA representing us. What good is he if he can’t do anything to protect us?” The fear to report these cases is such that at first, no one even admits that an incident of rape or torture has taken place.

Forcible conversions

Within the past three months, nine women have been abducted and forcibly converted to Islam. MPA Javed adds that the purpose is not to gain good deeds, but to sell them. A majority of the Christian girls converted are married, he says.

According to reports he received from different areas of the city, the abducted women are later sold to feudal lords in Sindh and Punjab. Citing a recent example, Javed says that in Essa Nagri, a 23-year-old married girl was forcibly remarried to a 60-year-old Muslim man, who was notorious for selling girls.

Javed said that the man was known to be pious, but had a side business of selling Christian girls. He says many people apart from him knew the truth. The only information that the family received was by a phone call through which they were informed by somebody that their girl is in Punjab.

He points out that there is a judgment by the Lahore High Court which clearly states that a “married Christian woman cannot be remarried to a Muslim even if converted,” but these cases do not even go to the police to be challenged in the high courts.

Brothel beside a church

Ayub Goth, near the Meteorological Department, is another area known for ethnic and religious discord. The Christians living in the area complain that a brothel was recently established right beside a Catholic church in the area.

In the evening women from outside are brought by “some people.” Residents say that these people have enough political clout to ensure that no one dares raise a finger.

Chaudhry, a former councillor of the area, says that the residents have grown tired of squabbling for space and now offer their prayers in a school right behind the church.

Munawar Baig, a resident of the area, says that if the same thing occurred in a Muslim dominated area, it would have been “treated differently”.

“We are not going anywhere,” says Abraham Masih, an 80-year-old resident of Ayub Goth. “We were born here and we’ll die here. I cannot preach with a gun, I can only pray for such people.”

“I have read the Bible as well as the Holy Quran and know for a fact that the religion does not use force on any one. It is not meant to make lives miserable for other people. If only those who cry about knowing the religion would understand that,” adds Javed.

Friday, March 23, 2012

Gunmen storm Baghdad church and kill guards

From Christians Under Attack:


21 March 2012

Gunmen storm Baghdad church and kill guards

66080473-series-blasts.jpg(AKnews) - Four unidentified gunmen stormed a church in the Mansour district, western Baghdad,

today killing three security guards, said a security source.

The church's fourth guard was able to escape the assault.

The gunmen fled after the attack.

Al-Qaeda announced previously its responsibility for storming the Sayyida al-Najat church on October 31 last year and detaining a number of hostages in the incident. Ten of civilians were killed in the attack.

By Raman Brosk
09:20 Posted in Permalink

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