5 EGYPTIAN CHRISTIAN FAMILIES LOSE HOMES IN CONTESTED MURDER CASE

U.S. FINES CHURCH $34,000 FOR ‘BANNED TOURIST ACTIVITIES’ IN CUBA

ATTACK ON PAKISTANI CHRISTIANS LINKED TO FIGHTING IN LEBANON

HINDU MOB IN INDIA INTERRRUPTS 2 PASTORS PRAYING IN PRIVATE HOME

Today’s Top Stories:

5 EGYPTIAN CHRISTIAN FAMILIES LOSE HOMES IN CONTESTED MURDER CASE

The families of five Egyptian Christians have lost their homes after authorities persuaded them to sign over their homes in exchange for the release of the five men who were suspected of murder. The men have been held since Dec. 11, 2005, after the death of a Muslim the previous day and the ensuing riots. Medical examination later revealed that the men did not murder the Muslim with whom they had a brief altercation, but that he died of a stroke. Believing the Christians had murdered the man, the loudspeakers at a nearby mosque incited a mob that ransacked seven Christian homes and a chicken farm. The men’s families were told that by signing over their homes, the men’s “debt” to the Muslim man’s family would be paid, securing their release. Instead, after the homes were taken, the men’s lawyers said, “They told us that the civil case had been settled, but that the criminal case still needed to take place. The insult of what happened to the Christians in this city was so bad that people just wanted to die.” (Compass Direct)

U.S. FINES CHURCH $34,000 FOR ‘BANNED TOURIST ACTIVITIES’ IN CUBA

U.S. Treasury officials have fined the Alliance of Baptists $34,000 for engaging in banned tourist activities while in Cuba. A Treasury letter to the Alliance claims church members did not engage in a full-time schedule of religious activities as required, but also visited Cuban craft markets and a beach resort. The alliance’s executive director, Rev. Stan Hastey, insists that the activities were either part of or incidental to the group’s religious mission. He believes the Bush administration may have singled out the Alliance of Baptists because of their opposition to the U.S. economic embargo of Cuba. The group plans to appeal the fine which would constitute about 10 percent of its annual operating budget. (WorldWide Religious News/Associated Press)

Two weeks after Chinese officials demolished a large house church in Zhejiang province Saturday, July 29, five of the 50 Christians who were arrested were issued formal charges. The five are accused of “interfering with duty of police officers” and remain in custody. According to other Christians who have already been released, cruel torture methods were used with at least three of the five suffering from broken ribs. The female detainees were also forced to strip in public. As of Tuesday, Aug. 8, among the 50 Christians arrested during the church demolition, more than 20 have been released, five have been charged and will likely face lawsuits, and more than 20 are still imprisoned without formal charges. Area Christians say current persecution has surpassed levels during the Cultural Revolution and is the most serious in the local church’s 140-year history. Local sources believe the provincial government is planning the demolition of two additional churches. (China Aid Association)

ATTACK ON PAKISTANI CHRISTIANS LINKED TO FIGHTING IN LEBANON

Despite the fact that Christians have inhabited the Pakistani village of Theki for the last 18 years, a neighboring Muslim village lashes out at the Christians each time they perceive Muslims are being attacked anywhere in the world. In the latest incident at about 11:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 7, a mob from the Muslim community attacked Theki while all but three of the men were working in the fields. The mob broke the walls of the church and began to beat women and children. One of the three males who attempted to protect the women and children was attacked with a hatchet and remains in the hospital. On Saturday, Aug. 12, during a community meeting involving many of the men, the attacks escalated to include the use of firearms and hand grenades, setting the church and some houses on fire and further terrorizing the women and children. (International Christian Concern/Evangelical News)

HINDU MOB IN INDIA INTERRRUPTS 2 PASTORS PRAYING IN PRIVATE HOME

A group of 45 to 50 Hindu extremists with the group Dharma Raksha Sena mobbed a Christian pastor who was praying for another pastor on the evening of Monday, Aug. 14, in central India’s Madhya Pradesh state. Assembly of God Pastor Vinod Karsal, 50, was praying in the home of a fellow pastor, Shaun Kushwaha, who was slated to have surgery when a large mob began shouting anti-Christian chants, finally breaking into the house. The pastors successfully hid the Bible they had been using, but a Hindu extremist planted gospel tracts in the glove compartment of Karsal’s scooter. Police held Karsal until 11:30 p.m. on charges of “forcible conversion” until a mob chanting outside dispersed. In response to the incident, John Dayal, general secretary of the All India Christian Council, said, “The escalation of incidents against Christians in Madhya Pradesh is quickly reaching the threshold of patience.” (Compass Direct)