Religious Liberty Prayer List – No. 207 – Wed 19 Feb 2003

—————————– IRAQ: RELIGIOUS TENSION RISES (plus Congo Update) —————————–

The Christians of Iraq have an ancient heritage. Like Christians everywhere, they love their homeland. Some 1.5% of Iraqis are Christian, mostly Catholic or Orthodox, with small numbers of evangelicals mainly in the cities. Many Christians have emigrated since the Gulf War. Iraq is a secular Arab socialist state, not an Islamic state, and as such has had a fairly good record of religious freedom for Christians.

However, religious tension has been rising in Iraq, especially since October 2001 with the start of the ‘War on Terror’, described by many in the Muslim world as a ‘Crusader’ attack on Islam. In this context, and because Islam is the most obvious flag behind which to unite the Iraqi nation, Christians will predictably find Muslims increasingly questioning their loyalty, or venting their fears and anger on them because they share the religion of the ‘enemy’. On top of that, the frightening possibility of a war in their homeland looms equally before Iraqi Christians. They are facing very difficult times.

PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY FOR:

* God, by his Spirit, to give strength, courage and abundant grace and forbearance to Iraqi Christians, so that they will radiate the love and peace of Christ in a way that affects all those around them.

* God to protect and deliver believers who are attacked because of their faith in these days of heightened religious tension.

‘In times of trouble, may the Lord respond to your cry. May the God of Jacob keep you safe from all harm.’ Psalm 20:1

SUMMARY TO USE IN BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE: ————————————————————

RELIGIOUS TENSION RISES IN IRAQ

Iraq is a secular Arab socialist state, not an Islamic state, and as such has had a fairly good record of religious freedom for Christians. Religious tension has been rising however, primarily due to the start of the ‘War on Terror’, described by many Muslims as a ‘Crusader’ attack on Islam. In such a time of heightened religious tension, Christians predictably may be challenged or even targeted by Muslims who question their loyalty to Iraq. Yet Iraqi Christians, like Christians everywhere, love their homeland. Please pray that God will protect and deliver believers attacked because of their faith in these days of heightened religious tension.

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In RLP 205 (5 February 2003) we prayed for the horrific situation in Democratic Republic of Congo. Of great concern was the demonic nature of the violence, which includes cannibalism and unspeakable, barbaric cruelty poured out on the largely Christian population. (See http://www.evangelicalalliance.org.au/rlc/postings/205.htm)

At talks on 7 February, Makabe (also known as General Lendu), the most prominent leader amongst the notorious Mayi Mayi militia, convinced all four factions of the militia to disarm and stop fighting.

On 9-10 February, peace talks were held between Congo and Uganda. Their relations will be normalised and all Ugandan fighting troops will be withdrawn. The Ituri Pacification Committee will be set up to restore order to the northeast where the Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC) cannibalism and horror has occurred.

A Christian doctor in Congo has described the instability there. Much tribal warfare has resulted in several large mission centres being razed and evacuated between September-December 2002. He says, ‘Many church people have lost family members, homes and all their possessions in the fighting here. However, the churches are full and growing. By and large you need to get to church early to get a seat in this area. The greatest needs are for food, shelter and employment for the many displaced people.’

Please continue to pray for peace, for the binding of demonic forces, and that the MLC also will disarm. Pray that the flow of small arms into Congo will be stopped.

With this encouragement, please pray also for the critical situation in Ivory Coast, which once again appears to be on the brink of civil war.

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The WEA Religious Liberty Commission sponsors this RL Prayer List to help individuals and groups pray specifically and regularly for religious liberty issues, and in particular to uphold the Church where it is suffering persecution.

RL Prayer is moderated by Ron Clough, a commissioner of the WEA RLC and convenor of the Australian EA RLC.

Elizabeth Kendal researched and authored this message.