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 

Iranian pastor faces execution

Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani’s Execution Imminent

This information comes from Paul B via CSW via Lausanne Conversations more info here

Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani who has been sentenced to death for apostasy faces execution any moment. Now that the Iranian Supreme Court has upheld his death sentence, he could be hanged anytime. Please pray for him, his loved ones, Iranian Christians, their oppressors and Iranian Muslims.

The international community needs to put pressure on the Iranian government and it starts with us. Similar death sentences were commuted in Afghanistan due to the international pressure.

Apparently, “Freedom to change one’s religion is a fundamental right which Iran pledged to uphold when it signed the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.” The world should hold Iran accountable.

The workweek in Iran is Saturday to Thursday. The fact that it is the weekend in most countries doesn’t mean offices in Iran aren’t open. Please use Twitter, Facebook or whatever means is at your disposal to spread the word about Pastor Nadarkhani’s plight. His life should be spared and his freedom granted. Please pray for Pastor Youcef!

2 Corinthians 4:8-10: We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.

Iran's High Court Upholds Death Sentence for Pastor

By Amy Shank | Christian Today Reporter

The death sentence for a pastor found guilty of apostasy in Iran has been upheld by the country's Supreme Court.

Related

1 Obama Admin Urged to Defend Iranian Pastor Facing Execution

2 Iranian Pastor Has Visible Marks of Torture, Says Wife

3 Iran Arrests Evangelical Leader; Shuts Down Church

4 Iran High Court Urged to Reverse Death Sentence for Christian

5 Iran Arrests 9 Christians for Evangelism, Reports State Media

"The ruling has deeply worrying implications for all Christians in Iran, and is yet another indicator of the regime's disregard for basic human rights and freedoms," Christian Solidarity Worldwide Advocacy Director Andrew Johnston said.

Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani was arrested in October 2009 while attempting to register his evangelical house church in the city of Rasht. According to Christian Solidarity Worldwide, his arrest was connected to criticisms he made about the Muslim monopoly on the religious instruction of children in Iran.

He was initially charged with protesting but the charges were later changed to apostasy and evangelising Muslims, and he was sentenced to death last year.

CSW has received reports that the death sentence has now been upheld by the third chamber of the Supreme Court in the Shia holy city of Qom.

Pastor Nadarkhani, who belongs to the Church of Iran, has been held in Lakan prison since his sentence was passed.

His lawyer filed an appeal last December but has now confirmed that the appeal was unsuccessful, although no official notification has been issued by the courts so far.

Johnston said it was a "devastating outcome" for Pastor Nadarkhani, his family and the Church of Iran network.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with them," he said. "CSW condemns the decision to uphold this verdict in the strongest possible terms. The death sentence for the charge of apostasy is not codified in Iranian law."

Johnston said the Iranian regime often enacted death sentences without advance notice to prisoners' families, lawyers and sometimes even the prisoners themselves.

He called upon the international community to urgently put pressure on the Iranian regime to rescind the "unjust" ruling.

"Freedom to change one’s religion is a fundamental right which Iran pledged to uphold when it signed the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights," he said. "Iran must therefore be urged adhere to its commitments under international law.”

House churches have come under intense pressure in the last year, with a wave of random arrests and increasingly anti-Christian rhetoric.

In May, high profile Iranian cleric Ayatollah Mesbah Yadzi reportedly chided the authorities for failing to stem the growth of house churches despite stepping up their efforts.

He called for better discipline and supervision of those authorities tasked with suppressing the churches, and suggested that the government set up a central system to monitor and coordinate the suppression of churches.

ELAM have produced a briefing document of other Christians under arrest in Iran

Shooting in Faisalabad Pakistan

Various report are coming in about a shooting in Faisalabad Pakistan

Feelings are running understandably high. Please pray for those who are 'looked in fear' - for peace and for protection.

One friend writes:

"Two young Christian boys Sajid and Rashid framed in 295 A (Blasphemy law) murdered ruthlessly in Faisalabad today. They were in police custody and were to be presented in the court today.The area is surrounded by extremists at the moment which may result in more causality."

Another friend writes:

Today 2 of the xian men Rashid and Sajid arrested in blasphemey case some

two weeks back in Faisalabad were shot dead outside the courts which has

left the whole city in problems as the xian and the majority community is

fighting with each other in some specific areas of fsd.

There are various versions of story as to how this all started, one of the

most common is that proselytizing activities by the two deceased was the

base of it. Sadly the extrajudicial killings in cases of such nature

continues and the state is a silent observer of these atrocities towards

the minorities.

Centre for Legal Aid Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS) recommend that we take action and write to protest:

"just to bring to your attention that 2 Christians who were allegedly charged under the Blasphemyy law have been murdered this afternoon in Faisalabad whilst on their way to the court. I have been informed that Christians are very fearful and scared that this instance could escalate into another incident such as Shantinagar or Gojra.

I request you kindly take this matter seriously and raise it with Pakistani high comissioner before it becomes another situation as detrimental as Shantinagar and Gojra"

Nasir of CLAAS UK

CLAAS - 'getting justice'

Centre for Leagal Aid Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS) reports:

The 9th February is important day as at the end of a 14 day police remand Mohammad Naeem will be presented before the Magistrates court. The police are also going to submit their investigations to the Magistrate, Saleem Sheikh. We are positive and hope that Naeem will be sent to the jail and that Shazia's case will begin in the higher court. CLAAS' lawyers Nasir Anjum, Tahir Gull, Bashir and other members of the team will be present in the court.

We request that you pray that the whole process is completed calmly and peacefully, that God gives wisdom and courage to the Magistrate Saleem Sheikh so that he can walk on the path of righteousness and that the police fulfil their duties accordingly and the community of lawyerss no longer pose as a hurdle in getting justice for Shazia.

Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS) is an interdenominational organisation working for Christians who are being persecuted because of their faith in Pakistan. www.claas.org.uk

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

Pray for harmony in Malaysia

Pray for peace in Malaysia especially Kuala Lumpur at the present as tensions are rising after churches have been atatcked. This is concerning the use of the word 'Allah' for God whoch some Muslims see as an infringement of their right to the use of the name. Malaysia has been known as a place of Interfaith Harmony. Pray that such harmony will be restored.

has written on 'Can I call you Allah?'

and you can download a statement by Bishop Ng Moon Hing of Kuala Lumpur on behalf of the ~Christian Federation of Malasia from the Faith2Share website which has the news of 'Church Firebombed in Malaysia' under the MissionNews section

Let us as Christians and with our fellow Malaysians pray that despite such atrocious acts perpetrated upon the churches good sense will prevail in us. Let us not allow those who want to foment animosity among the peoples and the religious communities to triumph in their dastardly plans. May we stand together against the tide of violent people and their evil plans.

We will continue to pray for peace in Malaysia.

has also written on Rising Tension in KL as well as a link to a helpful comment about the Name of Allah

Continue to pray for peace and harmony to be restored.