3 INDONESIAN CHURCHES FACE POSSIBLE CLOSURE, PRIEST KILLED

EGYPTIAN CHRISTIAN’S CRITICISM OF ISLAM MAY HAVE PROMPTED STABBINGS

CHRISTIAN WOMAN, 3 FAMILY MEMBERS IN PAKISTAN ABDUCTED, BEATEN

COLOMBIAN GUERRILLAS REFUSE TO RETURN REMAINS OF MURDERED PRIEST

ERITREAN OFFICIALS ARREST STAFF MEMBER OF MISSION ORGANIZATION

Today’s News Stories:

3 INDONESIAN CHURCHES FACE POSSIBLE CLOSURE, PRIEST KILLED Along with the challenges facing Indonesians since the Dec. 26 tsunami, local Christians continue to face persecution in this predominantly Muslim nation. Three new churches were threatened with closure when the head of the North Grogol community accused the churches of disturbing the community and meeting illegally in business buildings. The three churches, Abraham Camp Church (GKA), Bellezza Indonesia Bethel Church (GBI) and GKRI Karmel, confirmed that the meeting halls could be used for business or other purposes, including religious gatherings. The pastor of the GKA church, K.A.M. Jusufroni, said church members will continue to meet, pointing to a legal certificate from the Religion Department authorizing them to meet. “Nothing can stop Christians from worshiping God,” he said. In a separate incident, a priest in Purworejo in Central Java, Thomas Harsidiyono, 50, was found dead in a church retreat compound on Friday, Jan. 14, with massive head wounds. Despite the string of attacks against Christians in various areas of Indonesia, the provincial police chief said that the attack was “probably” robbery. However, local sources say that police frequently downplay incidents of violence against Christians. (Voice of the Martyrs)

EGYPTIAN CHRISTIAN’S CRITICISM OF ISLAM MAY HAVE PROMPTED STABBINGS An Egyptian Christian father, Hossam Armanious, along with his wife and two daughters were found knifed to death in their home in Jersey City, N.J., Friday, Jan. 14. Police are investigating several theories, but religious tensions have been suggested as a potential motive. Armanious had been threatened during an Internet chat-room session following his critical comments on Islam. While police are suggesting a robbery as the possible motive, the style of killing has made friends and relatives see a link with Islamic teaching on killing unbelievers. Armanious and his family moved to the U.S. in late 1990s to escape the growing anti-Christian violence in Upper Egypt. As a devout Christian, Armanious was outspoken about his faith and continued to publicize the persecution of Christians in Egypt that had caused them to flee. He was known to have frequent vigorous debates on religion, including criticizing Islam in Internet chat rooms. Two months ago he received a threat that if he didn’t stop these comments, he would be killed. (Barnabas Fund)

CHRISTIAN WOMAN, 3 FAMILY MEMBERS IN PAKISTAN ABDUCTED, BEATEN On Monday, Jan. 10, 58-year-old Christian domestic worker Hanifan Bibi, together with three of her two family members, were abducted and tortured for two days, then taken to the police as Bibi was accused of stealing from her employer. From all indications, however, her “crime” was her faith in Christ. Bibi had worked for 22 years as a domestic servant to help support her family. A press release from the Center for Legal Aid Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS) stated that her Muslim employer, Saeedan Batni, and two other men broke into her home and abducted her along with her husband, son and nephew. After taking them to an unknown location, they stripped Bibi, hung her upside-down and beat her with a hot iron pipe. They also beat and kicked her husband, Kala, and son, Pervaiz. After holding the four for two days without food and water, they were taken to the police station where Bibi was accused of stealing from her employer. CLAAS is pressuring the Pakistani authorities to take this incident seriously. Similar incidents have often gone unreported because the majority of Christian women are “poor and illiterate” and afraid to get into trouble by reporting their employers. (Voice of the Martyrs)

COLOMBIAN GUERRILLAS REFUSE TO RETURN REMAINS OF MURDERED PRIEST Guerrillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) remain firm in their refusal to hand over the body of a Roman Catholic priest whom they abducted, shot and buried last month. Father Francisco Montoya, 33, was kidnapped Wednesday, Dec. 8, while traveling from Quibd ³, Choc ³, to the village of N ³vita, about 400 miles northeast of Bogota. “He had entered the area without their authorization,” said Manuel Garc ­a, vicar general of the Quibd ³ diocese. “They accused him of being an army informant.” Marxist guerrillas and right-wing paramilitaries control large swaths of territory in the embattled Choc ³ department (state), terrorizing local residents and trafficking in narcotics. Guerrilla spokesmen said they buried Montoya on the mountain where he was murdered, but refused to allow his remains to be exhumed, citing security concerns. “The church can enter, but only with their [FARC] authorization,” Garc ­a said. “It’s a very painful situation.” (Compass)

ERITREAN OFFICIALS ARREST STAFF MEMBER OF MISSION ORGANIZATION A member of the national staff of the Strategic World Impact (SWI) mission office in the northeastern African country of Eritrea was arrested on Monday, Jan. 17. SWI President Kevin Turner said no reason was given for his arrest. Turner added that the same staff member had been arrested a few weeks ago. “While in police custody, the staff member witnessed the shooting deaths of seven other people and the kicking death of one other,” Turner said. Eritrean authorities have arrested an estimated 200 Christians since the beginning of this year. (Assist News Service) Web: http://www.hcjb.org http://www.beyondthecall.org * * * * * * * * * * * * *

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