Pray for Christians during Iranian New Year

 As their country celebrates the Iranian New Year, Iranian Christians have requested our continued prayers for those affected by the recent wave of arrests of Christians in Iran, and for longer-term detainees.

 

They rejoice that some have been released on bail. These include Davoud (arrested in Ahvaz on 23rd December and released on 8th March) and Sharifeh, Masoud and Nima (arrested in Shiraz on 8th February and released on 14th March). In addition, they give thanks that Giti, a 78-year old detained in Isfahan for three days in February, this week received back all of the property confiscated when she was arrested. This included her passport, pension book, computer, mobile phone and Bibles and other religious materials.

However, at least 27 believers are understood to remain detained across Iran, because of their Christian faith or activities.

Following a series of raids in February and early March, five believers remain detained in Shiraz, three in Kermanshah and at least seven in Isfahan. Among those detained for more than a year are Yousef (arrested in October 2009), Noorallah and Farshid (both arrested in December 2010). Several who have been released on bail await court hearings. Alireza, a believer released on bail in 2010 but convicted in November 2011 of 'actions against national security,' was re-arrested on 14th March while attempting to flee from Iran.

Christians supporting these believers request our prayers that:
a.  Each of those detained for their faith will know the presence and peace of Jesus
b.  Those detained will be released soon and restored to their families
c.  Others facing court hearings will be acquitted, or the charges against them dropped, and that bail payments will be returned
d.  Believers across Iran will know the Lord's wisdom and protection in meeting together, and will be enabled to live without fear
e.  All officials involved will love mercy, act justly, learn about Jesus and choose to follow Him.

Open sources used: FCNN, Mohabat News, Present Truth Ministries
Information supplied by Middle East Concern 

St Peter's Karachi - symbol of resistence

Pakistan's latest church is its largest

St. Peter's in Karachi has become a symbol of resilience over state discrimination and extremist violence.

The small Christian community in the Pakistani city of Karachi thought big when constructing its latest church — a domed, three-story building that towers over the sprawling slum it serves. St. Peter's is now the country’s largest and for many of the 5,000 worshippers who attend services there, the church has become a symbol of resilience over state discrimination and extremist violence. Imtiaz Tyab of Al Jazera reports.

The campaign for justice continues

CLAAS Centre for Legal Aid and Settlement

The campaign for justice continues

2009 was without a doubt the worst year of persecution against Christians in Pakistan in the last decade. More often than not, the attacks, arrests, detentions and murder of no less than 130 Christians can be traced back to the blasphemy laws. Although other religious minorities have suffered their fair share of false blasphemy claims, the wave of “blasphemy hysteria” in the last year has been levelled at Christians more than any other minority community.

Under the blasphemy laws, a charge can be brought against another person with the testimony of just one person and the suspect is immediately detained in jail where he can remain for months or years before the case is finally brought to trial. Anyone found guilty of desecrating the Koran faces execution or a lengthy sentence in a prison, where conditions are poor.

As such, the blasphemy laws are an easy tool in the hands of Muslim extremists who, unlike the Christians, have little to fear in the way of legal repercussions. More often than not, they get off scot free for the atrocities they commit against Christians.

What is so alarming is not merely that the blasphemy laws are being misused to settle personal scores and suppress Christians. It is also the fact that they are fomenting hatred and divisions between the majority Muslim population and the Christian minority. By singling out and protecting only one religion i.e. Islam, these laws serve only to elevate Islam to the status of a “superior” religion. It is little surprise, therefore, that Muslim extremists see the blasphemy laws as a green light from the state to discriminate against fellow Pakistanis who do not share the same religion. The result is hatred towards people of minority faiths and unhesitating acts of violence to suppress them.

This underlying hatred could be seen clearly in several incidents last year. In April, four Christians were injured and one died in an attack on a Christian colony in Karachi. In July, an attack on the village of Bahmani Wala resulted in 100 houses being burnt to the ground, looted and vandalised, and the assault of women and girls. Then in August, eight Christians were shot or burnt alive in Gojra in Punjab when the Christian community was attacked by a mob of 3,000 Christians over alleged blasphemy – the bloodiest act of violence against Christians in Pakistan to date. In the same month, a factory owner in Lahore was murdered by his employees simply for removing an outdated Islamic calendar from the wall. A few days later, Fanish Masih was detained by police on charges of blasphemy and found dead in his cell the following day. The injuries on his body were reportedly consistent with torture.

The recent attacks against minorities are sadly not a sporadic outburst of anger directed at the closest target. They demonstrate a deeper divide among Pakistanis that is only being aided by the blasphemy laws in that they provide the easy justification for violence against minorities as well as the means to punish the victims instead of the perpetrators. The laws deal a triple blow by failing to include any measures to protect those accused of blasphemy. They are often deprived of the right to a fair trial. Judges, lawyers and defence witnesses are routinely threatened with death by clerics and Muslim extremists, who fill up the court during the trial. Such accusations not only put the alleged suspect in great danger but also their entire family.

CLAAS has campaigned virulently for the blasphemy laws to be repealed, last year handing in a petition signed by more than 9,000 people to the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva. Although the government has banned extremist groups like the Sipah-i-sahaba and Lashkar-i-Jhvangi, it is clear that this has not been sufficient to stop attacks on religious minorities. The blasphemy laws themselves must be addressed to discourage acts of violence against Christians, be they large scale attacks on communities or lone extremists with a personal grudge.

Nasir Saeed

Director-CLAAS UK

see also Praise in the midst of Pain in Christianity Today

Continue to pray for the persecuted ones