Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin | RLPB 154 | Wed 11 Apr 2012

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MALI: CHRISTIANS FLEE IMPOSITION OF SHARIA

(plus: a Nigeria update)

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by Elizabeth Kendal

Having seized the capitals of the three main northern provinces in three

days — Kidal, on 30 March, Gao on 31 March and Timbuktu on 1 April — the

National Movement for the Liberation of the Azawad (NMLA) declared it had

achieved its military goal. (NMLA is the ethnic Tuareg rebel group that

has seized control of northern Mali.) Consequently, on Thursday 5 April

the NMLA announced a ceasefire. Whilst the NMLA has been fighting for

political ends — specifically for autonomy in their homeland — they have

been aided by Islamic jihadists who have been fighting for religious ends,

specifically an Islamic state where Sharia (Islamic) Law is enforced. No

sooner had the NMLA achieved its goal, the jihadists of Ansar Dine hoisted

the black flag of al-Qaeda and announced the imposition of Sharia. Some

100 Nigerian Boko Haram militants who assisted in the capture of Gao have

also established a presence there. Sources advise there are four distinct

flags flying in Goa: the NMLA, Boko Haram, Ansar Dine and Al-Qaeda in the

Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). However, it is the jihadists calling the shots,

not the professedly secular NMLA.

The Tuareg rebellion has left northern Mali devastated. There have been

reports of pack rapes as well as massive destruction and looting. The UN’s

office of humanitarian affairs reports: ‘Malians in the northern towns of

Gao, Kidal and Timbuktu are hiding in their homes in fear following the

weekend takeover by rebel groups, during which hospitals, health clinics,

government buildings, and most NGO and UN offices and warehouses were

looted, and in some cases destroyed, leaving the bulk of humanitarian

operations suspended.’ (IRIN, 3 April.) Head of the Malian office of

Norwegian Church Aid (NCA), Julia McDade, told IRIN: ‘Everyone [in Gao] is

in hiding, everyone’s vehicles have been stolen . . . every single office

has been ransacked.’ Caritas Mali reported that its local office in Gao

was destroyed along with the local church which served Gao’s 200-strong

Catholic community.

Reportedly, Ansar Dine has distributed leaflets containing a contact

number saying that anyone who feels threatened or endangered should call

Ansar Dine for assistance. One resident reports being on a bus of

families fleeing Gao that was ambushed by Tuareg militants who were

robbing everyone. People called the Ansar Dine ‘hotline’ and jihadists

were quickly on the scene. The passengers then watched in horror as the

jihadists slit the throat of one of the Tuareg militants to cries of

‘Allahu Akbar’.

The shocking violence and destruction, but especially the Islamist threat,

has forced virtually the entire Christian population of northern Mali to

flee for their lives. The Guardian received an unconfirmed report that the

Christian prefect of the town of Bourem had been executed along with his

whole family. More than 90 percent of Timbuktu’s approximately 300

Christians have fled according to Baptist Pastor Nock Ag Info Yattara,

whose congregation has worshipped in Timbuktu since the 1950s. He added

that not one of its 205 people is left. In Timbuktu, Ansar Dine is

controlling the city and its military base, while the NMLA is camped out

at the airport. ‘What I deplore,’ laments Ousmane Halle, the mayor of

Timbuktu, ‘is the departure of the Christian community . . . I cannot

guarantee their safety. And these are people that have lived side by side

with us for centuries.’

For more details see Religious Liberty Monitoring

http://elizabethkendal.blogspot.com

PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY THAT GOD WILL —

* guarantee the safety of his displaced and threatened people and supply

all their needs: spiritual, emotional and physical (food, medical

supplies and refuge).

* ‘frustrate’ (NIV) / ‘thwart’ (NASB) the way of the wicked (Psalm

146:9c) so that northern Mali will not become an Islamic state and

al-Qaeda sanctuary; may he intervene to restore democracy and liberty

to northern Mali so that the light of Christ might shine there openly.

* redeem the present sufferings for his own ends, turning the schemes of

the wicked ‘upside down’ (Psalm 146:9c KJV), so that falsehood might be

exposed and rejected, truth might be illuminated and lifted up and

doors long closed might be opened for gospel ministry.

‘The Lord watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the

fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.’ (Psalm 146:9

ESV)

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SUMMARY TO USE IN BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE

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Ethnic Tuareg rebels have seized control of northern Mali. Whilst the main

rebel group, the National Movement for the Liberation of the Azawad, is

professedly secular, its ally, a jihadist faction known as Ansar Dine, has

wrested control, hoisted the black flag of al-Qaeda and announced the

imposition of Sharia Law. The Tuareg rebellion has devastated northern

Mali. There have been reports of pack rapes and violence, whilst the

massive destruction and widespread looting has left the humanitarian aid

sector totally crippled. Christian charities and churches have been

destroyed. With Christians being targeted, virtually the entire Christian

population of northern Mali has been forced to flee. Please pray for the

Church in Mali.

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NIGERIA: GIVE THANKS AND KEEP PRAYING

On Easter Sunday a Boko Haram bomber attempted to get access to the 1st

Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) on Gwari Road, Kaduna. However, his

car was turned away at the barricades despite his having a military

uniform folded on the back seat. As he drove away, the massive bomb

exploded outside a hotel opposite the church. So far 39 people have died,

most of whom were Okada (motor-cycle taxi) drivers parked at the hotel.

The massive explosion damaged the ECWA Good News Church and the nearby All Nations Christian Assembly Church, blowing in the windows and destroying  fans and roofing. However, the churchgoers worshipping at Easter services inside were protected. Thank the Lord while continuing to pray that hewill protect his people (Psalm 125:2) and frustrate the schemes of the wicked (Psalm 146:9).

To see this RLPB with hyperlinks go to

http://rlprayerbulletin.blogspot.com.au

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We suggest that churches and fellowships using the above Summary might

also provide a copy of the listed prayer points to be used in their

worship by people who are leading in prayer.

For more information, updates and helpful links see Elizabeth Kendal’s

blog ‘Religious Liberty Monitoring’ <http://elizabethkendal.blogspot.com>.

Previous RLPBs may be viewed at <http://rlprayerbulletin.blogspot.com/>.