THE BARNABAS FUND

UPDATE ON THE SUFFERING CHURCH No 43

INDONESIA

Hundreds of students in Padang, the capital of West Sumatra, held a rally on 26th November 2002 to protest against what they called “Christianisation” (i.e. Christian evangelism amongst the majority Muslim population). West Sumatra is a stronghold of Indonesian Islam and some Islamic groups in Padang have been calling for the introduction of Islamic law (Shari’ah).

For many decades of the twentieth century, Indonesia was a shining example of religious freedom in a Muslim-majority context. Both Christian mission work and Islamic mission work could take place freely.

The student protestors last November raised again the accusations made against Christian leaders in West Sumatra back in 1998.

Christians believe this case was concocted by Islamic extremists to intimidate them. It centred on a Muslim girl who visited a Christian pastor, saying she had become a Christian and asking for protection from her family who would have given her the traditional local punishment of chaining her legs, arms and neck to a post. The Christians took her in and looked after her, only to be arrested and imprisoned on charges of abduction and rape.

Pray for Christians in West Sumatra at this dangerous and volatile time. Pray that they will be protected from attack and intimidation. Pray for wisdom and guidance for church leaders.

PAKISTAN

An explosion severely damaged the Macedonian Consulate in Karachi on 5th December 2002. Inside the building the bodies of two men and a woman were found, not killed by the explosion but with their hands and feet bound and their throats slit. A warning message to “infidels” (i.e. non-Muslims) was scrawled on the wall, along with a reference to Al-Qaeda. One of the dead men was Hamid, a Pakistani Christian who worked as the security guard.

The attack may have been in retaliation for the killing of seven Pakistanis in Macedonia on 2nd March 2002. The seven were in a van that refused to stop at a police roadblock, causing Macedonian police to open fire. The van was found to be carrying seven assault rifles, grenades and ammunition.

Given that Macedonia is regarded as a Christian country, this is the eighth attack on buildings in Pakistan where Christians gather, since 11th September 2001. Previous attacks have included churches, a Christian hospital, a Christian school and a Christian charity.

Christians across Pakistan have been forced to dramatically increase their security (if they are able to afford to do so). Secure walls have been built, metal bars placed on windows and church members drilled in emergency procedures in case of an attack. One church has installed a metal detector. Many Christians are meeting for worship each Sunday with police guards standing watch outside their churches.

Pray for comfort and support for the grieving families of all those who were killed in the latest attack.

Pray for protection for Christians across Pakistan at this uncertain time.

Pray that no further attacks will occur and that Christians will again be able to meet for worship freely and without fear.

NIGERIA

We are delighted to announce the election of Dr Josiah Fearon as Anglican Archbishop of the newly formed province of Kaduna, Nigeria. This province includes eight of the twelve Nigerian states which have adopted full Shari’ ah in recent years. The new archbishop is an old friend of Barnabas Fund, and a member of our Board. In the coming years he will play a key role supporting the Church in North Nigeria as it faces one of the most challenging times in its history.

Pray for Archbishop Josiah and his family. Ask that the Lord will give him wisdom, guidance, strength, courage and vision.

FOCUS ON APOSTASY CAMPAIGN

According to traditional Islamic law Muslims who convert from Islam to another faith (apostates) should be put to death, their marriages annulled, and their children and property taken away. In some countries such as Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Iran the death sentence for apostasy is actually part of the law today and several converts have been executed.

In some Muslim-majority countries like Egypt, where technically there is no law preventing Muslims converting to another faith, many converts have still faced imprisonment, death threats, beatings and torture at the hands of the police. Some have been mysteriously killed.

Even in the most moderate of Islamic countries, where there is no law against apostasy and the state does not actively pursue converts, Muslims who convert to another faith may still face extreme persecution at the hands of their families and the local community. Converts may be fired from their jobs, thrown out of the family home, emotionally blackmailed, beaten, threatened and intimidated, all in an attempt to force them to return to Islam. In some cases converts have been murdered by members of their own family.

All around the world traditional Islamic teaching on apostasy is today having an affect on thousands of converts from Islam to Christianity and other faiths who are daily facing prejudice and danger because of the choices they have made. Very few converts find that their decision is respected by their family and community. Almost all face some degree of intimidation, pressure and danger.

Such harsh treatment stands in sharp contrast with international human rights standards such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which clearly affirms the right of any individual to “change his religion or belief”. Increasingly liberal Muslims and human rights campaigners are calling for an end to the traditional punishments for apostasy.

In response to the concerns of thousands of Christian converts from Islam, who want the world to know of the difficulties and dangers they face as a result of their decision to follow Christ, Barnabas Fund is launching a new

campaign on apostasy.

We are seeking a firm and clear signal from Islamic religious leaders that the death penalty for apostates no longer applies, and that Muslims who choose to convert to another faith are free to follow their personal convictions, without fear of death or punishment.

Please join us in standing together with converts around the world who are facing the threat of death for no other reason than what they believe. A campaign booklet is available from Barnabas Fund. Please contact us for further details.

Pray for converts around the world who are today facing persecution. Pray for protection, encouragement support and blessings.

Pray for Barnabas Fund’s apostasy campaign. Pray that it will succeed in making the plight of converts much more widely known. Pray that it will change and challenge the teaching which leads to so much suffering for converts.

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