The Persecution & Prayer Alert The Voice of the Martyrs, Canada http://www.persecution.net Wednesday, April 23, 2003

A summary of news concerning the Persecuted Church and how you can respond. *********************************** Contents: 1. Continued Attacks on Evangelicals (Eritrea) 2. Adventist Pastor Beaten (Serbia) 3. No Longer a Violator of Human Rights? (Sudan) 4. Regime Change Does Not Guarantee Religious Liberty (Editorial) 5. Question of the Week *********************************** 1. Continued Attacks on Evangelicals (Eritrea)

On April 9, the Persecution and Prayer Alert reported that 170 Protestant Christians had been beaten, jailed, and threatened by security forces in Eritrea. On April 21, Compass Direct reported on two more attacks within the past week.

In Kushte, a small town ten kilometres from the capital Asmara, a Bible study group was meeting in a home on April 17 when ten individuals, four reported to be Orthodox priests, pushed their way into the room and began beating them with sticks. All fifteen were admitted to hospital, one with a serious eye injury. The fifteen were members of a renewal group within the Orthodox Church.

In a separate incident on eleven members of the Mesert Christos Church in Asmara were detained in their church by security police on April 18. They were released that evening after being warned to not try meeting again.

Though freedom of religion is guaranteed in the Eritrean constitution, only four groups are recognized: Orthodox Christians, Muslims, Catholics and Evangelical Lutherans. Much of the recent persecution is against the independent Pentecostal and charismatic churches which now number around 20,000 members. For the most part, these churches have emerged from a renewal movement within the Orthodox Church which began five years ago.

Pray that those facing persecution for their faith will be able to be an effective witness to those around them, including their persecutors. Pray for those still held without charges for refusing to deny their faith.

Starting this summer, The Voice of the Martyrs will be broadcasting a radio program into Eritrea specifically to encourage persecuted Christians in this east African nation. Current plans are for half of the program to consist of dramatic readings from VOM’s best-selling book, “Jesus Freaks” in the Tigringa language. Two years ago, The Voice of the Martyrs published “Jesus Freaks” in Amharic, the main language of neighbouring Ethiopia. Said Glenn Penner, Communications Director of The Voice of the Martyrs, “Persecuted Christians in Ethiopia have found ‘Jesus Freaks’ to be an incredible source of encouragement. Sharing a common culture and similar persecution, we have been assured by believers from the area that these testimonies will have a similar impact in Eritrea. Eritreans are avid radio listeners and we are convinced that this is the proper strategy for this increasingly ‘closed’ nation. Of course, no nation is truly closed to the Spirit of God. Pray that these broadcasts will be used mightily by His Spirit.” *********************************** 2. Adventist Pastor Beaten (Serbia)

When Adventist pastor, Josip Tikvicki, heard the windows of his church being stoned around midnight on April 15, he believed an explanation was in order. This was the eighth attack on Adventist churches in Serbia within 10 ten days. When he confronted the group of three men vandalizing the church building, he was brutally attacked. When police found him unconscious in front of his church in Zrenjanin, 65 kilometres north-east of the Serbian capital Belgrade, he was taken to hospital with a concussion, several fractured ribs, a broken jaw, and other injuries.

The Adventist community is concerned about the increasing violence against them, believing it to be an “orchestrated campaign against a religious minority.” They report that there have also been attacks against Adventist churches in Belgrade, Kragujevac, Negotin, Smederevo, and Backa Palanka. According to Dr. Radisa Antic, president of the Adventist Church in southeastern Europe, some of the Serbian media reports have been distorting facts, suggesting that Adventists are to be blamed for the attacks. For the past two years in particular, the Serbian media has been critical of religious minority groups.

Pray for a quick recovery for Pastor Tikvicki. Pray for all of those facing fear and uncertainty. Pray for peace and inner strength for the believers in Serbia. *********************************** 3. No Longer a Violator of Human Rights? (Sudan)

In a move spearheaded by Libya, the present head of the United Nations Human Rights Commission, and actively supported by France, Sudan has been dropped as a “country with special problems” in the area of human rights. In a vote of 26-24 (with three abstentions), the Commission rejected Resolution L.35 on April 16 that would have extended the human rights monitoring of Sudan for another year. The Commission ruled that there has been sufficient improvement in the area of human rights by the Khartoum government to warrant this action. This comes despite a report from the UN Special Rapporteur, Gerhard Baum, on March 28 stating that there has been no significant change in Sudan’s violations of human rights in the past year. According to a press release from the Commission, some of the members felt that the resolution “did not sufficiently credit the Sudanese Government for well-intentioned efforts and progress achieved in the field of human rights.”

For several years the government of Sudan has been consistently involved in ethnic cleansing, wiping out entire villages to advance its hold on oilfields, attacking civilians, supporting militia groups involved in slavery and religious persecution, and preventing aid from reaching war-torn areas.

On March 26, US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, said the United States would fight any effort to ease pressure on the government of Sudan. Despite this, on April 21, in accordance with the Sudan Peace Act, President Bush certified to various Congressional Committees his belief that both sides of the conflict were negotiating in good faith and that negotiations should continue. The president acknowledged that there have been “sporadic military activities” that have hindered the peace negotiations. The State Department Fact Sheet also acknowledged that they had received reports of violent actions against civilians and forced displacement, most notably in the Western Upper Nile. The fact that the peace talks had continued, despite these violations, since the signing of the October 15, 2002 cessation of hostilities memorandum apparently motivated the president to issue his certification. This certification came only two days after peace talks in Kenya were suspended without settling key military security arrangements. Peace talks are scheduled to resume on May 2.

Pray that the truth of what is happening in Sudan will be clearly shown, despite these setbacks. Pray that there truly will begin to be improvements in the way the Sudanese government treats its citizens, particularly in the war-torn areas of southern Sudan. Pray for church leaders as they seek to minister to those who are suffering great deprivation. The April edition of The Voice of the Martyrs Newsletter reports on a recent VOM mission to Sudan. See http://www.persecution.net/nlarticle1.htm. *********************************** 4. Regime Change Does Not Guarantee Religious Liberty Editorial by Glenn Penner (Communications Director)

Over the last week, I have been reading a number of articles on the effects of the regime changes in Afghanistan and Iraq as it impacts religious liberty, especially for Christians. Before I proceed any further, let me make it clear that, in principle, I personally support the overthrow of the Taliban and the Baathist government of Saddam Hussein. Both regimes were brutal in their suppression of basic human rights and the world (to say nothing of their countries) is a safer place with them out of power.

But we would be mistaken to think that simple regime change will automatically result in better conditions for Christian minorities in these states. In Afghanistan, for example, the Afghan Minister of Justice, Asharaf Rasooli stated categorically to CBN journalist, George Thomas last year, “No Muslim is allowed to convert to another religion. But if a person wants to convert to Islam, there is no problem with that.” Mullah Fazul Shinwari, Afghanistan’s Supreme Court Chief Justice, has warned that those found guilty in his courtroom of sharing the Gospel, could face the death penalty. While there have been no reports of actual public executions of converts to Christianity to date, VOM sources indicate that there have been converts killed in remote areas of the country. Yes, there is greater freedom in Afghanistan today than there was a couple of years ago, but the verdict is still out whether Afghanistan will be able to do what no other Islamic state has been capable of; allowing freedom of religion, including the right to convert from the majority religion. Frankly, I am doubtful.

My pessimism extends to the new Iraq emerging from the ruins of Saddam Hussein’s former regime. Shiite Muslims are rightfully rejoicing over their newfound religious freedom, having been suppressed by Hussein during his rule. Speaking to a group of business reporters earlier this week, President Bush enthused, “I love the stories about people saying, ‘Isn’t it wonderful to be able to express our religion, the Shia religion, on a pilgrimage this weekend.’ It made my day to read that.” Unfortunately, this newfound freedom has been accompanied by calls for the establishment of an Islamic state by a number of Iraqi Shiites. This would most certainly bode ill for religious minorities like Christians. One need only look across the border to Shiite-dominated Iran to see how Bahais, Christians and other religious minorities fare under such a regime. Freedom House’s Paul Marshall in an article in the National Review early last month stated quite correctly, “Unless the U.S. realizes the danger extreme sharia law would pose to Iraq, America could preside over a process of radical Islamization like that currently threatening Afghanistan’s reconstruction. Instead of aiding Muslims who want genuine religious freedom and equality, we will help build reactionary regimes that, as recent experience shows, are likely to become our enemies” (http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/comment-marshall030703.asp).

It is incumbent on those of us who live in liberal democracies to insist to our political leaders that, in their desire to help rebuild Iraq and Afghanistan, they not ignore the dangers that come with allowing these new regimes to integrate sharia law into their new constitutions. We have already imposed our will upon these countries by changing their regimes (either actively through military intervention, or passively by welcoming the overthrow of these regimes even if not actively involved). The time is past for our leaders to say that we must allow Iraqis free reign to now decide for themselves what kind of government to set up. If our governments allow sharia law to be constitutionally enshrined in Iraq and Afghanistan, we will likely be right back to where we started from in only a few years. In fact, in the case of Iraq, the Christian population (and other religious minorities) may very well be worse off than they were with Saddam as their leader. We face a unique opportunity in Iraq and Afghanistan today; the opportunity to assist in building societies that genuinely permit religious freedom. If we are going to help Iraq and Afghanistan to build more civil societies, we must recognize that sharia law is part of the original problem; it cannot be made part of the solution. *********************************** 5. Question of the Week

In light of concerns like those raised in Glenn’s editorial, our question this week is: Do you believe that the United States should allow Iraq and Afghanistan to be completely free to determine their own form of government, even if that means an Islamic nation ruled by Sharia law?

To participate in our poll and discussion, go to http://www.persecution.net and click on “Discussion Forum.” If you have not registered on our forum in the past, click on “Register” and select a username and password. *********************************** 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.

Important Notice: The Persecution & Prayer Alert is an open email news service sent only to those who have specifically requested it from us. We do not send it unsolicited and ask that subscribers show the same discretion in forwarding it to others. If you would like to encourage someone to read or receive this weekly publication, please use our online form at http://www.persecution.net/pnpforward.htm and help spread the message of the Persecuted Church around the world.

os.yahoo.com/rlgmediaau”>http://au.photos.yahoo.com/rlgmediaau http://community.webshots.com/user/ramon_williams ——————————————————————- Telling others, what others are doing for the Lord.

— Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).