AUSTRALIAN PRAYER NETWORK NEWSLETTER

SHARIA LAW IN THE U.K. A THREAT TO WOMEN AND CHILDREN SAYS MEMBER OF HOUSE OF LORDS

SOUTH SUDAN UNDER PRESSURE AS CHRISTIANS ARE FORCED OUT

ONE IN FOUR CHILDREN IN THE U.K. BULLIED AS A RESULT OF THEIR RELIGIOUS FAITH

KUWAIT: DESTRUCTION OF CHURCHES

U.K. GOVERNMENT ENCOURAGES FAITH BASED SCHOOLS

EUROPEAN UNION COURT RULES SAME-SEX MARRIAGE NOT A HUMAN RIGHT

EGYPT’S SUPREME COUNCIL OF THE ARMED FORCES WARNS MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD

SHARIA LAW IN THE U.K. A THREAT TO WOMEN AND CHILDREN SAYS MEMBER OF HOUSE OF LORDS

A Christian Broadcasting Council (CBC) Symposium heard that British Muslim women were already suffering under Sharia law. Rape victims were being denied justice, divorcees were losing custody of their children, and women were being disinherited. Sharia could open the door to child marriage and was already permitting polygamy. The House of Lords symposium heard clear warnings that Sharia law must never be allowed to become a parallel legal system in the UK. If it did, there could be a right-wing backlash. ‘There are now more than 80, perhaps 85 Sharia courts operating in the UK,’ Baroness Cox told the Symposium. ‘Polygamy is already happening,’ she said. ‘It means Britain has two parallel legal systems, one which does not permit bigamy and the other which does.’

Sharing the platform at the CBC Symposium was Bishop Michael Nazir-Al. He also warned of the threat to rape victims if Sharia law were to be allowed in the UK. “Under Sharia Law if a woman wants to bring a charge of alleged rape she is obliged to provide four independent Muslim witnesses,’ said Lady Cox. ‘Failure to do so might result in the rape victim being accused of fornication and adultery,’ added Bishop Michael. He warned that Sharia law could be used to justify child marriage. ‘You will have child marriage, because as soon as a girl begins her periods, she is eligible to be married. How will you maintain a minimum age for marriage? ‘

Sharia is an all-encompassing law that affects every area of a Muslim’s life and a Muslim’s community,’ said Pakistan-born Bishop Michael, who has received death threats for opposing Islamic militants. ‘Some put forward family law as the acceptable face of Sharia, but that militates against justice and freedom for women and young children.’ Lady Cox said Sharia law treated women as second class citizens. ‘A woman’s evidence is counted as half the value of a man’s.’ As an example of discrimination against women she cited a widow in her 50s who wanted to remarry. ‘She was required by an Imam to first obtain permission from her only male relative – a 7-yr-old grandson living in Jordan.’

Another concern is that so-called honour attacks could be given legitimation. ‘I’ve spoken to many women who have been so badly abused in domestic violence they have been hospitalised,’ said Lady Cox. ‘But theyhave been pressured not to prosecute because it would bring shame on their community. ‘There are people on the run living in terror in our nation today. We have to do something about it.’ Baroness Cox has drafted a Private Member’s Bill that would outlaw Sharia court judgments that undermine the legal rights of women and others under British law. She intends to launch her Arbitration and Mediation Services (Equality) Bill in the next session in parliament.

‘I could not sit on the red benches and just keep silent about what was going on with the introduction of a parallel legal system. The time has come to draw a line in the sand,’ she said. And she warned that unless action was taken, support was likely to grow for far-right extremists in British politics. She said ‘There is a real risk of polarisation in this country.’While pressure is growing to introduce Sharia law in the UK, many Muslim countries had already amended Sharia law, said Bishop Michael, ‘to take account of the injustices that occur.’ But the Bishop warned that radicalisation was spreading in many parts of the Muslim world. Along with that came pressure to introduce more extreme versions of Islamic law, including death for apostasy and blasphemy, floggings and amputations.

‘If you had said to me in the mid 70s that such punishments would be meted out in Iran, and then in Pakistan I would not have believed it. Today, rights are being reversed in Iran, Pakistan and Sudan and I wonder how soon could this happen in Egypt?’ Bishop Michael feared the Arab Spring was more likely to encourage radical Islamist states, like Iran, than genuine democracy. ‘The western press has been misled about the so-called ArabSpring,’ he said. ‘It is Islamist led. Tahrir Square in Cairo reminded me of Teheran in 1979 when a broad-based coalition wanted to remove the Shah. As soon as he was ousted, the Mullahs got rid of their allies.

‘Democracy is never enough. What must happen in Egypt and other countries is the recognition of equality before the law if the Christian population is to be safeguarded. There must be a commitment to a common citizenship – one law for all.’ And he said that pressure to bring Sharia law into the UK must be resisted. ‘It would be a mistake to recognise Sharia law here because it’s very principles contradict the Judeo-Christian principles of public law in this country.’ CBC represents Christians in the media and is a seasoned campaigner for Christian broadcasting, championing legal rights and religious freedoms. CBC members have been involved since the late 1980s in submitting responses to government and broadcasting and communications regulations.

Source: Intercessors Network

SOUTH SUDAN UNDER PRESSURE AS CHRISTIANS ARE FORCED OUT

Hundreds of thousands of people originating from the mainly Christian, mainly African, South Sudan are effectively being forced out of (North) Sudan, having been stripped of their citizenship. The believers are being forced to leave the strongly Islamic and Arab northern country or to be treated as foreigners under a regime that is extremely hostile to non-Muslims and non-Arabs. Barnabas Fund says that an estimated 500,000-700,000 people, who are mainly Christians of Southern origin, are affected by the ultimatum. Many of them fled north during the long civil war and have been there for decades. Few have ties with the South. A senior Church leader said: “We are very concerned. Moving is not easy, people have children in school. They have homes. It is almost impossible.”

Barnabas Fund said that after the South voted to secede in January 2011, Sudan removed citizenship rights from all those of Southern origin. The Khartoum government considers that people in the North whose parents, grandparents or great-grandparents were born in South Sudan, and those who belong to any Southern ethnic group, are nationals of that country. BarnabasFund said: “There are fears that Christians who remain in Sudan may face increased persecution or even forced repatriation. An influx of hundreds of thousands of people to South Sudan is likely to trigger a humanitarian crisis.” Barnabas Fund has supported Christians in what are now the separate countries of Sudan and South Sudan for many years, and is on hand to help meet their needs in this latest crisis.

The situation comes as the nascent state of South Sudan is struggling to cope with escalating needs and problems. A major food shortage is pending, as drought has ruined crops. The UN World Food Program (WFP) says that nearly five million people in South Sudan could suffer from food in security in 2012, with an estimated one million in severe need. Barnabas Fund went on to explain the country’s resources are also strained by the arrival of refugees from South Kordofan and Blue Nile in the border region between Sudan and South Sudan. Around 185,000 people have fled to South Sudan and Ethiopia to escape the ongoing aerial bombardment of civilians by the Sudan Armed Forces. Many more, over 400,000, are internally displaced. The region has been under attack since mid-2011.

The Nuba Mountains area, which is around 30 per cent Christian, has been one of the worst hit. “This is the latest genocidal campaign by the Sudanese government, which wants a purely Arab and Islamic state. Dr PatrickSookhdeo, International Director of Barnabas Fund, said: “Despite the end of the long civil war and independence of South Sudan, Christians in both nations continue to suffer grievously. “South Sudan is taking the strain as hundreds of thousands of people flee from President Omar al-Bashir’s ongoing brutal campaign to Islamize and Arabize Sudan completely. Our brothers and sisters need our help and prayers as they are forced to leave their homes and rebuild their lives elsewhere.”

Please Pray:

* for all those who are facing the upheaval of leaving Sudan. Pray that the Lord will give them wisdom about what to do and provide for all their practical needs.

* that the Sudan Armed Forces will stop bombing South Kordofan and Blue Nile, and allow the people there to live in peace.

* that the Lord will prosper South Sudan, and that it will have sufficient food and resources to meet the needs of all its citizens and refugees.

Source: ASSIST News Service

ONE IN FOUR CHILDREN IN THE U.K. BULLIED AS A RESULT OF THEIR RELIGIOUS FAITH

A bullying prevention organization based in London, has published a report indicating that one in four young persons in the UK from across all religious faiths are being bullied because of their beliefs. The report said, “There is little or no support, few outlets and limited provision provided for young people to talk about their faith. Almost half of young people do not talk about religious or faith issues at all. “The report wenton to say, “Religion, faith or perceived faith background arguably mediates peer relationships and interactions. 1 in 5 young people report friendships with people largely from the same religious background, arguably indicating a level of segregation and religious intolerance.”

Beat bullying initiatives include government-funded Interfaith bullying prevention programs developed to help curtail the behaviour of young person’s using religious faith as a cause for bullying their peers. The report went on to say that the initiatives have been proven to reduce incidences of faith based bullying by 45% in participating schools. In fact,84% of young people who participated in the programs, and who were targets of bullies, report that they are no longer being bullied. The findings from the survey clearly indicate the lack of support and direction young people have to openly discuss and understand faith based issues with their peers.This lack of cohesion is cultivating at best a lack of understanding and at worst a lack of tolerance of other faiths.”

By providing outlets for young people to discuss the issues that matter to them, there can be an effective reduction in anti-social and violent behaviours between young people. As a result, the Government must encourage and resource faith community organizations who are working with local,regional and central Government to promote social cohesion, tolerance and commonality. “The Government must also undertake a comprehensive piece of research to map the extent and depth of faith based bullying between young people, and publish explicit guidelines sitting outside what has been written on race. These must then be disseminated to all schools in England and Wales if there is to be a significant change in behaviour amongst young people.

Source: Intercessors Network

KUWAIT: DESTRUCTION OF CHURCHES

On February 17, 2012, Member of Parliament Osama Al-Monawer stated that he would be presenting “a draft law to remove all churches from Kuwait because Kuwait is an Islamic country where churches are not permitted to be built.” Responses from inside and outside Kuwait have been mixed. One source quoted in Al-Jardah suggested that Monawer was speaking only of a moratorium on new churches. Another said “the demolition of churches is totally unacceptable as it is against the Kuwait Constitution.” The Deputy Chairman of Kuwait Graduates Society, Dr. Bader Al-Dehani pointed out that “according to Article 6 of the Constitution, Kuwait is a democratic state and some Kuwaitis are Christians who have the right to practice their chosen religious beliefs.”

Some believe Monawer’s threat comes in response to a report in January 2012 that a member of the Kuwait royal family had become a follower of Jesus.When a Kuwaiti delegation mentioned the proposed law to the Grand Mufti (the highest authority in Sunni Islam) in Saudi Arabia, he declared that since Kuwait is part of the Arabian Peninsula, “it is necessary to destroy all churches in it.” He based this on the hadith (saying of Muhammad) on his deathbed: “There are not to be two religions in the [Arabian] Peninsula.”The Grand Mufti then called for the destruction of “all the churches in the region.”

PLEASE PRAY FOR:

* greater religious freedom in Kuwait. Pray for efforts by the Parliament to enforce Shari’a law to fail. Pray for the constitution to be adhered to and for Christians to be allowed to practice their faith. Pray for this attempt to destroy churches to end in failure. Pray that there will not be a domino effect in the Middle East. Pray for the Lord to open Kuwaiti eyes, unstop their deaf ears, and soften their hearts to the Gospel.

* every member of the royal family to have an encounter with Jesus Christ, accepting Him into their hearts as Saviour and Lord of their lives. Pray for the Lord to strengthen and encourage Christians in Kuwait. Pray for unity in the Body of Christ in this nation.

* the Lord to build His Church in Kuwait and for the gates of hell not to prevail against it. Pray for Him to add to the church daily with Kuwaitis as well as expatriates (non-Kuwaitis living in Kuwait). Pray for the Gospel to be proclaimed freely throughout this nation. Ask the Lord for a great harvest of souls in Kuwait.

Source: Windows International Network

U.K. GOVERNMENT ENCOURAGES FAITH BASED SCHOOLS

A wave of new faith-based schools could lead to the building of new churches in the United Kingdom for the first time in more than half a century. Churches are planned for new towns and expanding housing developments, set to burgeon as planning laws are relaxed, according to Britain’s Daily Express newspaper. The newspaper reports the Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Rev John Pritchard,confirmed that areas around his own diocese will be part of the expansion plans. After the publication of a new report, The Church School of The Future, Church of England schools are set to enjoy a renaissance as hundreds are converted into Academies, the newspaper said.

Rt Rev Pritchard, who is chairman of the Church’s board of education, said: “It is around new communities that we see one area of new expansion in terms of building new schools. Around my diocese in Oxford, there are a vast number of new houses. “We will be bidding to have new schools there as the basis of new churches, serving the community. Elsewhere, our main move will be to convert many of our schools to Academy status.” The newspaper says the new churches being built runs contrary to falling congregation numbers. The move is seen as a return to a function of dioceses before universal free education, where church schools provided a crucial public service. With Church and school so interlinked, behaviour and discipline were never an issue.

Source: Assist News

EUROPEAN UNION COURT RULES SAME-SEX MARRIAGE NOT A HUMAN RIGHT

The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that the prohibition of adoption to non-married couples is not discriminatory, because it applies to both heterosexual and homosexual couples equally. It also ruled that homosexual “marriage” is not a right under the European Convention on Human Rights.The decision confirms the French law, which does not award the status of “marriage” to homosexual couples, and does not permit non-married couples to adopt children. The Court also ruled that that there is no “indirect discrimination founded…on the impossibility of marriage,” because article 12 of the European Convention on Human Rights “does not impose on the governments of the state parties the obligation to open marriage to a homosexual couple.”

The Court added that governments “enjoy a certain leeway in determining the exact nature” of legal recognitions of homosexual unions. The ruling continues the mixed record of the Court on social issues. It has previously ruled that abortion is not a “human right,” and has accepted Italy’s practice of displaying crucifixes in public buildings. However, it has also ruled that suicide is a “human right,” and has attempted to force homosexual inheritance rights on Poland and homosexual parades on Moscow. It has also ruled that Ireland’s constitution permits abortion, an idea rejected by the Irish government.

Source: LifeSite News

EGYPT’S SUPREME COUNCIL OF THE ARMED FORCES WARNS MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD

The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) ruling Egypt, has issued a harsh rebuke of the Muslim Brotherhood in reaction to its divisive rhetoric, urging the Islamists to “be aware of history’s lessons, to avoid past mistakes we do not want to see repeated, and to look to the future with the spirit of cooperation.” The Brotherhood has grown bolder recently in questioning the SCAF’s decisions and even its commitment to Egypt, leading to speculation that it believes it will dominate Egypt in the near future without any interference from the military. The SCAF statement was seen by some as a warning, making allusions to past incidents when the Brotherhood was crushed by the military in Egypt, as well as in other countries in the region.

Source: International Christian Embassy Jerusalem

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