Religious Liberty Prayer List – No. 131 – Tue 28 Aug 2001

WELCOME to the 48 intercessors who have joined the list this month.

IN EACH OF THE FOLLOWING SITUATIONS, PLEASE PRAY FOR:

* the physical, emotional and spiritual strength of persecuted believers and their families: for health, comfort, hope and for their faith to remain strong.

‘And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.’ Philippians 4:19 (NIV)

* the testimonies of persecuted believers, those in prison, in hospital or in hostile societies, to be effective and God glorifying.

‘So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and steady, always enthusiastic about the Lord’s work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is useless.’ 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NLT)

* those who persecute believers, that they might be challenged by the faith, love and grace they see in the believers they persecute; may they be convicted of their sin and drawn to repentance.

DURING AUGUST WE HAVE PRAYED CONCERNING –

INDIA: where large numbers of ‘untouchables’ (dalits, low castes) are leaving Hinduism for other faiths. Many are turning to Christ, prompting the Hindu nationalist Indian government to consider introducing oppressive measures to restrict freedom of religion.

charged with violating the provisions of the Orissa Freedom of Religion Act, by embracing Christianity without the permission of local authorities (RLP 126). These 19 new believers have since been forced to re-convert to Hinduism. They all suffered extreme social ostracism and were made to undergo the cleansing ceremony known as ‘shuddhikaran’, pay homage to the village deity and visit the shrine of Puri to fulfil all rituals necessary in returning to the Hindu religion.

In addition to this, attacks on Christians continue unabated. On 7 August, 4 Hindu militants shot a nun in the face at point blank range in Madhya Pradesh. She is in a critical condition. At an RSS function on 18 August, Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee publicly criticised the activities of Christian missionaries in India. Indian Christians fear this will encourage and condone further violent hate crimes against them.

AFGHANISTAN: where 8 expatriates and 16 Afghanis are imprisoned for ‘trying to convert Afghan Muslims to Christianity’. If convicted in the Sharia Courts, the nationals will face the death penalty whilst the foreigners’ punishment may range from expulsion to death.

the expatriate relief workers imprisoned in Kabul, Afghanistan. Since then, diplomats from Australia, Germany and America also have seen them, after their earlier efforts to gain consular access had been frustrated by the Taliban authorities. Believing it has uncovered a larger ‘Western conspiracy’ to convert Afghan Muslims to Christianity, the Taliban has significantly broadened its investigations. Abdul Rehman Ottaq, the Taliban’s consulate department director said, ‘This is an issue of deep concern to the Muslims of Afghanistan and the Muslim ummah (leadership) of the world.’ The Taliban supreme leader, Mullah Mohammed Omar, has called on the Muslim world to support his government’s stance, saying it is defending Islamic values and Afghan sovereignty.

SAUDI ARABIA: where the interrogation of an ‘underground’ house church leader and confiscation of his materials has led to the Saudi Religious Police getting names of other church leaders.

Saudi Arabia. Prabhu Isaac, an Indian national, was arrested (18 July) and, now in Sharafiah Prison, is being denied consular access. The next Christian leader arrested was Eskinder Menghis, an Eritrean (25 July). Since then, at least six other Christians have been arrested: Tinsaie Gizachew, an Eritrean, and Afobunor Okey Buliamin, a Nigerian, on 19 August and Baharu Mengistu, an Ethiopian, the following day. Three other Eritrean believers, known for now just as Gabayu, Kebrom and Mesfin, were also arrested on 19 August. It is of great concern that Afobunor, the Nigerian, holds a passport saying he is a Muslim, and so liable to be charged with the capital offence of apostasy.

PAKISTAN: where long-serving blasphemy prisoner Ayub Masih has had one appeal against his death sentence rejected.

confinement in a four-by-six foot cell (2-by-1.3 metres) with no light, no toilet and no fan to cool him from the oppressive heat. His final appeal was filed on 22 August in the Supreme Court, which convenes again on 1 September. If his case fails and President Musharraf does not grant clemency, then Ayub will be publicly hanged for blaspheming Mohammed. The only evidence against Ayub is the testimony of one Muslim youth whose family had a land dispute with the Christians in the village. The case has been heavily influenced by Islamic fundamentalists.

Parvez Masih is another Pakistani Christian imprisoned on a blasphemy charge. For 15 years, he had run a very popular and successful school. Mohammad Ibrahim, the principal of a new and struggling nearby Muslim school, filed the complaint, possibly with ulterior motives.

If you wish to engage in advocacy for Ayub Masih, see http://www.evangelicalalliance.org.au/missions/rlc/advocacy.htm and click on Pakistan for details.

To view WEF RLPs posted in 2001, visit http://www.evangelicalalliance.org.au/missions/rlc/postings.htm

—————————————————- Please pass this along to others with attribution to World Evangelical Fellowship (WEF) Religious Liberty Prayer List <> —————————————————-

The WEF 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 WEF RLC and convenor of the Australian EA RLC. Elizabeth Kendal researched and compiled this message.

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