WELCOME to the intercessors who have joined the list recently.

You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our
behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.
(2 Corinthians 1:11 ESV)

JANUARY 2011 UPDATE — During January we prayed for . . .

VICTIMS OF TERROR, after dozens of Christians were killed and well over
100 wounded in terror attacks targeting Christian districts and
churches in Northern Nigeria, Iraq and Egypt over the Christmas – New
Year period.

* UPDATE: Sectarian violence continues to plague Jos, NIGERIA. Armed
Muslim gangs have attacked Farin Lamba in Riyom Local Government Area
and Fan in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, five times in the last
two weeks. The death toll stands at 34. According to reports, some of
the attackers have been dressed in military fatigues, including body
armour. Meanwhile in Mosul, NORTHERN IRAQ, gunmen burst into the
surgery of the prominent cardiologist Dr Nuyia Youssif Nuyia on 15
January and shot him at point blank range. Dr Nuyia, a devout Chaldean
Catholic and father of four, survives with serious injuries. Violence
also continues to plague EGYPT. On 11 January a policeman shouted
‘Allahu Akbar’ before shooting six identifiable Coptic Christians
travelling together on a train between Assiut and Cairo. In a move to
reduce Coptic fears, the government has sentenced to death the
perpetrator of the Nag Hammadi church massacre. Still, one Egyptian
Christian described the environment like being in a room full of gas
waiting for someone to light a match.

* PRAISE GOD: On 25 January Al Arabiya reported that Egyptian security
forces had arrested 19 would-be suicide bombers who were ready to
launch attacks on places of worship nationwide. Police also seized
weapons and documents belonging to al-Qaeda, including plans and maps
for places of worship in southern Egypt and Alexandria. Please thank
the Lord and pray that he will continue to frustrate the ways of the
wicked (Psalm 146:9).

IRAN, where at least 70 Christians, mostly converts from Islam, have been
arrested in a government crackdown on apostasy and Protestant
fellowships.

* UPDATE: The Ministry of Islamic Guidance arrested Pastor Vahik
Abrahamian and his wife Sonia Keshish-Avanesian (both in their 40s) and
Arash Kermanjani and his wife Arezo Teymouri (both new Christians in
their early 30s) on 4 September 2010. Having been warned that any
public statement would elicit severe consequences, their families
initially kept quiet. However, since these couples have now suffered
four months of imprisonment with ‘intense physical abuse and
psychological pressure’, their families have decided to go public with
an appeal for prayer. Please honour this courageous act of faith by
praying for Iran’s imprisoned Christians and for God to demonstrate his
supremacy over the regime of President Ahmadinejad and Ayatollah Ali
Khamenei.

CENTRAL ASIA, where harassment and persecution is escalating as
authoritarian regimes repress anything that could threaten the status
quo.

JANUARY 2011 ROUND-UP — also this month . . .

* AFGHANISTAN: FORTHCOMING APOSTASY TRIAL

The trial of Said Musa, an Afghan Christian charged with apostasy
(rejecting Islam), is expected to commence next week if the case against
him can be finalised by then. According to Article 3 of Afghanistan’s 2004
constitution (approved and lauded by the Islam-appeasing West), Sharia
(Islamic) law is the supreme guide. According to Sharia, apostasy is
punishable by death. Please be in prayer for Said Musa, for his testimony,
and for all who will hear it. (Matthew 10:19,20)

* ERITREA: OVER 100 CHRISTIANS ARRESTED SINCE NEW YEAR’S EVE

International Christian Concern reports that Eritrean security officials
have recently arrested more than 100 Christians. On New Year’s Eve the
entire 41- member congregation of Philadelphia Church in Asmara was taken
into custody for questioning, with some reportedly being beaten. On 9
January, 35 worshippers were arrested as they prayed together. The regime
of President Isaias Afewerki is one of the most violently abusive in the
world. More than 3000, mostly Protestant Christians of all ages, are
imprisoned for their faith in Eritrea. Conditions are inhumane and torture
is routine.

* LAOS: THREE CHURCH LEADERS ARRESTED

On 4 January Lao officials arrested 11 Christians (including children) at
gunpoint, accusing them of holding a ‘secret meeting’, a political crime.
Compass Direct reports that eight have been released but three church
leaders – – Pastor Wanna, Chanlai and Kan — remain behind bars in
Khammouan Provincial Prison. The 11 believers had gathered with permission
from village authorities to celebrate Christmas together over a meal at
Pastor Wanna’s home. Prison conditions are inhumane and torture is
routine.

* LEBANON: HEZBALLAH’S ‘CREEPING COUP’ COMPLETE

Hezballah established its military supremacy in May 2008 when it laid
siege to Beirut in a violent blitzkrieg. After Prime Minister Saad
Hariri’s Sunni- dominated, US and Saudi-backed ‘March 14 Forces’ narrowly
won the elections in June 2009, they appeased Hezballah by forming a
National Unity government and awarding Hezballah key cabinet portfolios.
When PM Hariri refused to disavow the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL)
investigating the February 2005 assassination of PM Rafik Hariri (his
father), Hezballah and its allies walked out of the government on 12
January 2011, forcing its collapse. On 18 January, as the STL handed over
its indictment (believed to implicate Hezballah), black- clad Hezballah
militants fanned out across several Beirut neighbourhoods in a show of
force. On 25 January the parliament voted to install the Hezballah- backed
candidate, Najib Mikati, as Prime Minister. Hezballah’s ‘creeping coup’ is
complete. As noted by Michel Aoun, a Christian leader and key ally of
Hezballah, ‘The country is moving from one stage to another, from one
approach to another.’ (For background see:
http://elizabethkendal.blogspot.com/2010/09/hezballahs-christian-allies-
covenant.html ) Hariri supporters have rioted in the streets of Beirut and
Lebanon is on the brink of internal warfare. Pray for the Church in
Lebanon, particularly that Christians will seek security in Christ who is
faithful and supreme, and not in the shade of treacherous powers that
stand condemned.

* SOMALIA: CHRISTIAN MOTHER OF FOUR MARTYRED

Early on 6 January al Shabaab Islamic militants arrested Asha Mberwa (36),
a Christian mother of four children aged 4-12, outside her home in
Warbhigly village on the outskirts of Mogadishu. At 5:15 pm on 7 January,
they executed her for apostasy (rejection of Islam), publically cutting
her throat in front of village witnesses. Her husband, who was not at home
at the time, has fled to an unknown location, while a ‘good Samaritan’ in
Mogadishu is caring for their distraught and traumatised children. Please
pray for Somalia’s besieged and imperilled Christian community, and that
God will demonstrate his supremacy over al-Shabaab.

* TUNISIA: POLITICAL LIBERTY OPENS THE DOOR FOR POLITICAL ISLAM

Just like all secular Arab dictators, Tunisia’s President Zine al-Abidine
Ben Ali respected religious freedom and enforced secularism while brutally
repressing all political opposition, especially fundamentalist political
Islam. In 1989, when the Islamist party al-Nahada became the second
largest political party in Tunisia with 17 percent of the vote, Ben Ali
banned the group, jailed its followers and sent its leader, Sheikh Rashid
Ghannouchi, into exile.

Whilst Islamists have in no way driven the recent popular uprising, they
will certainly benefit from its effects. Salah Jourchi, a Tunisian expert
on Islamic movements, comments, ‘The Islamist movement was the most
oppressed of all the opposition movements under Ben Ali. Its followers are
also much greater in number than those of the secular opposition.’ Sheikh
Rashid Ghannouchi will return soon to Tunisia from London. According to
the Arab daily, Asharq Alawsat, many other exiled Tunisian Islamists are
likewise preparing to return. Furthermore, dozens of convicted Islamists
have reportedly ‘escaped’ from Tunisian prisons since the overthrow of
President Ben Ali. A battle for Tunisia may be about to begin. Pray for
the Church in Tunisia, that religious liberty will survive and that free
Tunisians will resist the dictators of Islam.

—————–

We usually provide a summary to use in news-sheets unable to
run the whole of an RLPB. As a summary is not practicable with
this monthly update posting we suggest one or more of the above
items be used instead.

—————–

For more information, updates and helpful links see Elizabeth Kendal’s
blog ‘Religious Liberty Monitoring’ .