The Persecution & Prayer Alert The Voice of the Martyrs, Canada http://www.persecution.net Wednesday, April 9, 2003

A summary of news concerning the Persecuted Church and how you can respond.

*********************************** Contents: 1. Christian Dies in Custody (Pakistan) 2. Convert Faces Deportation to Iran (Canada) 3. 170 Protestants Beaten & Jailed (Eritrea) 4. 120 House Church Members Arrested (China) 5. Anti-Conversion Law Faces Challenges (India) 6. Churches Closed; Leaders Arrested (Laos)

*********************************** 1. Christian Dies in Custody (Pakistan)

Christians in Lahore, Pakistan were shocked and angered by the death of Rehmat Masih on April 2. Rehmat was arrested on March 18, accused of stealing 300 law books. According to his family, Rehmat was tortured at the Sanha police station and then taken to Camp Jail where his condition deteriorated. He was eventually transferred to hospital where he died.

Rehmat was employed as a custodian at the Punjab Civil Secretariat (PCS) in Lahore. When 300 law books went missing, a member of PCS Law Department accused Rehmat and another Christian, Iqbal Masih. According to Rehmat’s wife, he was illiterate and his only transportation was a bicycle, making the transportation of 300 books (which he could not even read) both impossible and ludicrous.

Following his death, the family brought Rehmat’s body to the PCS office, demanding justice. Police cordoned off the area and pushed back the protestors. Rehmat’s cousin, Boodi Masih was hit in the head with a police baton and died of his injuries.

According to Gulf News, Punjab Chief Secretary, Hafeez Akhtar Randhawa, has demanded an immediate investigation and has registered a case against Sandha Police Inspector Rana Mohammed, Deputy Secretary of Law Ghulam Mehdi and Camp Jail Superintendent Javed Latif. The PCS office is said to be quite shaken by the violence surrounding the protests and some officials are openly critical of the brutality by the police.

Pray for Rehmat’s wife and five children as they grieve this lose. Pray for Christians in Pakistan who often face violence and false accusations because of their faith.

*********************************** 2. Convert Faces Deportation to Iran (Canada)

“Nancy,” an Iranian convert to Christ, is facing deportation from Canada on April 24 after failing to convince an Immigration and Refugee Board judge that she is a Christian. This is despite clear testimony from both her and her pastor. Wanting to protect her family in Iran, Nancy has asked that her real name not be published.

In 1999 Nancy was introduced to Christ by a friend in Tehran and converted to Christianity in the summer of 2000. When her husband was questioned about her church attendance, Nancy fled to Montreal to live with her sister-in-law. While there, she attended a Pentecostal church where she was baptized. She later became an active member of the Ascension Lutheran Church in Montreal. Those who know her confirm that she has a genuine Christian faith.

The immigration judge, H ©l ¨ne Panagakos, repeatedly admitted in her ruling that she was not familiar with Protestant Christianity. This did not stop her, however, from judging Nancy’s Protestant beliefs. When Nancy was unable to name more than two Christian sacraments and did not use the term “holy communion” for the receiving of bread and wine, Panagakos rejected her claim that she had become a Christian. It is worth noting that Protestants typically do not believe in more than two sacraments and frequently do not use the terminology “sacrament” and “holy communion.” Panagakos claimed that Nancy obviously lacked knowledge of “the most basic Christian concepts.” Canadian officials have further decided that, even if she is a Christian, she does not face a significant risk of persecution in Iran.

As in much of the Muslim world, however, Iranian Muslims who convert from Islam to another religion are considered apostates. The penalty for apostasy in Iran is severe, often death. Nancy’s family in Iran is already under surveillance by the authorities. For up-to-date information on the mistreatment of Christians and other religious minorities in Iran, see the International Religious Freedom Report for 2002 submitted to the US Congress by the State Department at http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2002/13995.htm. Iran is still considered a country of particular concern by The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (see http://www.uscirf.gov/crptPages/CPC-Iran.php3).

According to the National Post, Immigration Canada has said there is little chance of the deportation order for April 24 being overturned. In an interview, Nancy said, “My life is not with the officer, it is in God’s hands. I still have hope. I have been afflicted, but I am not despairing. I have been persecuted, but I am not forgotten.”

Pray that the deportation order will be overturned. Pray that Nancy will continue to find her strength in Christ. We encourage Canadians to write to their local members of Parliament as well as the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Denis Coderre. Contact information is available through our website at http://www.persecution.net/links.htm.

*********************************** 3. 170 Protestants Beaten & Jailed (Eritrea)

Compass Direct has reported on a crackdown on Protestant Christians in Eritrea during February and March. A total of 170 Protestant Christians have been jailed, beaten and threatened with death by Eritrean security forces.

According to a report received on April 9, in five separate incidents, police barged into worship services and a wedding ceremony to jail men, women and children for practicing what government officials called “a new religion.”

Although no formal charges have been filed, those jailed were held in cramped, suffocating cells for up to two weeks for refusing to return to the historically dominant Orthodox Church faith. One group endured 15 days in metal containers designed as severe punishment cells. Another congregation witnessed its pastor being tortured and humiliated in the jail yard. When relatives posted bail for their release, they were forced to sign a statement acknowledging that if a bailed prisoner was caught meeting in public or private with more than three others, he would be liable for execution.

Seventy-four soldiers remain in a military prison near the southern port city of Assab. They were arrested in February 2002 for refusing to recant their personal religious beliefs and return to the Orthodox Church.

Pray for a strength and peace from the Holy Spirit for those suffering for their religious convictions in Eritrea. Pray that those in prison will soon be released.

*********************************** 4. 120 House Church Members Arrested (China)

On April 8, Asia Harvest reported that 120 house church members were arrested on April 4 by police, many of them leaders of the Local Church, one of several Chinese church groups that comes from the root of Watchman Nee teaching. Twenty members were later released, but 100 remain in custody.

The Local Church is considered an “evil cult” by the Chinese government and those arrested often face severe beating and torture. A significant part of the Local Church fell into error in the late 70’s and 80’s, following the false teachings of Li Changshou. However, reports from China suggest that, at present, at least 60% of the Local Church remain solid, Bible-believing Christians.

Pray for those arrested, that they will be kept safe and will be released soon. Pray for Christians throughout China who face the constant threat of harassment and prison.

*********************************** 5. Anti-Conversion Law Faces Challenges (India)

The controversial anti-conversion law passed on March 26 in the state of Gujarat has not yet been officially declared law and may yet face revisions, according to news reports received this week by The Voice of the Martyrs.

According to an article in the Times of India on April 4, the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) has directed the Gujarat government to delete a clause requiring permission from a District Magistrate before any conversion. According to the NCM Chairman, Tarlochan Singh, none of the other states where similar legislation has been passed has a similar requirement. He added, “This clause is in violation of fundamental rights of a citizen ensured in [sic] country’s Constitution.”

If the contested clause remains, the Times of India also reports that the state government may incorporate a clause into the Bill that will allow Hindus to convert to Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism, and vice-versa, without seeking any permission.

Though passed by the state assembly, as of last report, the bill had still not been signed into law by Gujarat Governor S. S. Bhandari. There is speculation on the cause, but the governor is under strong pressure, particularly from Christian groups in India.

Meanwhile, a petition by the All India Christian Council against the bill was rejected by the Gujarat High Court since the bill was not yet law. The Chief Justice of the High Court J. N. Bhatt ruled that it can be challenged only after the governor signs the bill into law.

Pray that this bill will not be signed into law. Pray that similar laws in Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Tamil Nadu will be overturned and that there will be freedom of faith and conscience throughout India.

*********************************** 6. Churches Closed; Leaders Arrested (Laos)

Two Lao Christian leaders, Mr. Ton, 58, and Mr. Serun, 45, were arrested on April 3, according to a report received today from Christian Aid. Authorities came to the Nong-ing church on March 30 to stop a worship service. The leaders persuaded the police to allow them to continue the service. Authorities returned, however, on April 3, arrested the men and destroyed the building.

It is thought that the church may have been targeted because it was visited by a high-ranking US official earlier this year. Another church in Kdngkok, which was also visited, has been seized and converted to a government office. Other churches in Laos have also been closed recently.

Pray for those Christians who no longer have a place to worship. Pray for the release of Ton and Serun.

*********************************** The Persecution & Prayer Alert is a ministry of The Voice of the Martyrs, Canada. (Mailing address: P.O. Box 117, Port Credit, Mississauga, Ontario L5G 4L5) Tel. (905) 670.9721. Fax: (905) 670.7642 Website: http://www.persecution.net

*********************************** Contact Person: Glenn Penner, Communications Director.

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