Today’s Headlines:

PAKISTANI CLERICS DEMAND DEATH FOR CHRISTIAN ACCUSED OF ‘BLASPHEMY’

U.S. ACCEPTS 4 IRANIAN CHRISTIAN CONVERTS FOR RESETTLEMENT

HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP CALLS FOR RELEASE OF CHRISTIAN PRISONER IN CUBA

MUSLIMS, CHRISTIANS FOSTER PEACE EFFORTS IN THE PHILIPPINES

Today’s Top Stories:

PAKISTANI CLERICS DEMAND DEATH FOR CHRISTIAN ACCUSED OF ‘BLASPHEMY’

During Friday prayers last week in Pakistan’s Punjab province, Muslim clerics flanked by government officials demanded the public execution of a Christian accused of blasphemy. An Islamist group leader has since called for a nationwide protest Friday, Dec. 9, urging the execution of Yousaf Masih, a Christian accused of burning pages from the Koran three weeks ago. The accusations triggered Muslim violence in the Punjabi town of Sangla Hill that destroyed four churches. Eyewitnesses have said they saw a Muslim who owed Masih a large amount of money throw a burning match into the room where there was a copy of the Koran. Hill police have arrested and tortured four of Masih’s six brothers, prompting the alleged blasphemer to give himself up in exchange for their release. The clerics and officials also called for the immediate release of 88 Muslims arrested for attacking and destroying four churches and other Christian property in Sangla Hill on Saturday, Nov. 12, the day after Masih’s alleged desecration of the Koran. (Compass)

Florida-based New Tribes Mission (NTM) is appealing its ordered expulsion from Venezuelan tribal areas to that nation’s Supreme Court. NTM’s Nita Zelenak is asking people to pray that Venezuela’s high court will take the case and suspend the order — or at least let the missionaries continue their Bible translation and evangelism while the case is considered. Venezuelan President Hugo Ch ¡vez announced the expulsion nearly two months ago, accusing NTM missionaries of spying for the CIA, a charge they vigorously deny. Zelenak said that missionaries are rushing to complete as much work as possible in the few weeks left before their mandatory departure in mid-February. “Pray that God would touch the right people in power in Venezuela to reverse this decision, that there would be freedom of religion, and that we’d be able to continue working in Venezuela, helping the indigenous people.” (Agape Press/Associated Press/Mission Network News)

U.S. ACCEPTS 4 IRANIAN CHRISTIAN CONVERTS FOR RESETTLEMENT

The U.S. has approved emergency resettlement for a family of four Iranian Christians left stranded in Turkey since an October deportation order. Widow Zivar Khademian, together with her daughter Fatemeh Moini, 19, and sons Hossein and Kazem Moini, both in their early 30s, had fled to Turkey in January 2003. After arriving in Turkey, the family was twice refused United Nations refugee status even though they were former Muslims who had converted to Christianity. Under Iran’s strict Islamic laws, anyone who abandons the Muslim faith faces the death penalty. (Compass)

HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP CALLS FOR RELEASE OF CHRISTIAN PRISONER IN CUBA

Christian Solidarity Worldwide is calling on the international community to renew efforts for the release of Christian human rights activist Dr. Oscar El ­as Biscet on the third anniversary of his imprisonment in Cuba. Biscet was detained on Dec. 6, 2002, for organizing informal discussion meetings for the Friends of Human Rights groups that he was trying to establish. He was later sentenced to 25 years in prison along with scores of other human rights and democracy activists in a major crackdown on dissidents in March 2003. Reports were received in November that Biscet’s health continues to worsen as the authorities at the Combinado del Este Prison, where he is being held, place harsher restrictions on him. Biscet is a physician and father of two children. (Christian Solidarity Worldwide)

MUSLIMS, CHRISTIANS FOSTER PEACE EFFORTS IN THE PHILIPPINES

Muslims and Christians belonging to various groups advocating harmony recently observed “Mindanao Peace Week” urging all to help peace in the Mindanao region of the Philippines. Pastors, Catholic priests, Islamic imams, Arabic teachers, government employees, military and police officials, students, local officials, indigenous people and housewives trooped to the streets and open fields in observance of the peace week that started on Tuesday, Nov 29.

For the last 40 years there has been constant strife between Christians and Muslims in the country. As a result, church leaders from various denominations have been making concerted efforts to foster and maintain peace in the region. There are about 9 million Muslims in the Philippines which has the highest proportion of Christians of any country in Asia.

General Santos Mayor Pedro Acharon Jr. started the celebration with a parade in the city and a program during which speakers underscored the need for peace as the “mother of requirements” in bringing development to Mindanao. In his welcome address, Acharon exhorted his people to continue their vigilance to help keep peace in the region.

The city has been facing security threats from a number of groups. Bombings have also rocked the city. Meanwhile, governmental officials are also doing their best to ascertain peace measures in the region. (Religion Today/Assist News Service)