(Source: World Evangelical Alliance)
Several Christians were recently attacked and killed in Xiengkhouang Province, Laos, underscoring the intense repression and abuse facing followers of Christ in the nation. On April 15, troops from the Lao People's Army caught a group of Christians belonging to the Hmong community, an ethnic minority. All of the believers' Bibles were confiscated. The troops shot and killed four of the women after repeatedly raping two of them. Their husbands and children were beaten, tied up and forced to witness the gruesome killings. At last report, the whereabouts of the surviving believers were unknown.
The absence of free press and lack of information infrastructure in Laos, a Communist state, often prevents news from reaching the outside world -- including that of religious freedom. This incident and other recent reports, however, indicate a disturbing increase of repression facing Christians in the country.
Around last Christmas, authorities in Khammouan Province reportedly unlawfully detained 11 church leaders. Seven Christian families were also reportedly expelled by officials in Katin village, Salvan Province, earlier this year.
Protestant Christianity and the Hmong Christian community, in particular, are seen by sections of the Lao society and the authorities as an American or imperialist "import" into the country and a threat to the Communist rule. As a result, believers are routinely expelled, forced to relocate, pressured to renounce their faith and arrested. Religious organizations and institutions have been allowed to function in Laos, but only as long as they remain under government surveillance and control.
Pray for comfort for all those mourning the loss of the four Christian women. Pray other believers will soon be returned home safely. Pray for the peace and strength of Christ to reign in the hearts and minds of Laotian Christians under pressure for their faith. Pray that the Laotian government will recognize the need for true freedom for all their citizens.
For a detailed report on the state of religious freedom in Laos, click here. You can learn more about the trials facing followers of Christ in Laos at the
Laos Country Report.
Three imprisoned Iranians released!
(Source: Middle East Concern)
Photo: Pastor Vahik Abrahamian remains imprisoned.
Three Iranian believers were set free on April 30, after 239 days in prison. A fourth, Pastor Vahik Abrahamian, who was arrested at the same time, remains in custody. On April 28, Arash Kermanjani, his wife Arezou Teimouri and Sonia Keshish-Avanesian were brought before a judge. Their lawyers were asked to present their cases. Unexpectedly, they were set free. It is unclear whether the charges against them have been dropped or whether they will face further hearings. Sonia is uncertain why her husband was not freed at the same time, and she is extremely worried about him.
The two couples were detained on September 4, 2010, in Hamadan. They have been accused of various offenses, including propagating Christianity, opposing the Islamic Republic of Iran and having contact with exiled opposition figures. Several others detained at the same time are understood to have been released within several weeks.
Praise the Lord for the release of Arash, Arezou and Sonia! Please pray for Pastor Vahik. Pray he will know the peace and presence of Jesus and be an effective pastor to those around him. Pray those released will know the healing touch and close presence of Jesus. Pray all charges against them will be dropped. Pray, too, that all involved officials will act justly, learn about Jesus and choose to follow him. You can post a prayer for Pastor Vahik on our Persecuted Church Prayer Wall.
For more information about persecuted Christians in Iran, visit the
Iran Country Report.
Muslims beat evangelist to death, assault pregnant wife in Ethiopia
(Source: International Christian Concern, ASSIST News Service)
On April 21, four Muslims beat an evangelist to death and assaulted his pregnant wife in Worabe, Ethiopia. Evangelist Abraham Abera died on the spot, but his wife, who sustained a severe head injury and was left unconscious on the street, was found and taken to a hospital in Butajira, where she regained consciousness April 22. Birtukan's unborn baby fortunately survived the attack. Birtukan said she knew two of the attackers. She said as the Muslims were beating her and her husband, they said, "You are growing in number in our area. You are spreading your message . We will destroy you." The attackers remain at large. A Christian leader in the area said the men may not be arrested because the local officials are also Muslims. The area is 97 percent Muslim.
Pray Birtukan will be healed and fully restored to good health. Pray the Lord ministers to her in her grief. Pray her child will grow to understand and love the faith of his/her parents. Pray for the safety of Christians in Muslim-majority regions of Ethiopia, that the Lord would strengthen them to lovingly and boldly proclaim the gospel (Ephesians 6:18-20).
Find out more about the persecuted Church in Ethiopia by visiting the
Ethiopia Country Report.
Rioting Muslims damage church, properties in Pakistan
(Source: Compass Direct News)
On April 29, Mushtaq Gill and his son Farrukh Mushtaq were released from detainment in Gujranwala after a handwriting expert hired by police determined that the son had not written a threatening note accompanying burned pages of a Qur'an. The two Christians were relocated along with family members to an undisclosed location. As news of their release spread on April 30 along with the rumour that another Qur'an had been desecrated, Muslim residents and members of extremist groups rioted and hurled rocks at the Christians' homes, an elementary school and the Aziz Colony Presbyterian Church building. The protestors clashed with police who arrived to provide security to the besieged Christians. At least 18 people were injured. There were no reports of injured Christians. Around 150 protestors were arrested, with two cases registered against them for attacking Christian property and "creating a law and order situation." The attacks caused a large number of Christian families to leave the area.
Gill and Mushtaq were taken into protective custody on April 15 for safety purposes. The purported evidence against Mushtaq were some burnt pages of the Qur'an and a handwritten note, allegedly in his handwriting, claiming that he had desecrated Islam's scripture and used derogatory language against Muhammad. A Muslim youth allegedly found the pages and note outside the Gills' residence.
Praise God for Gill and Mushtaq's release and for the efforts of those in authority to bring about peace! Pray for the protection of Gill, Mushtaq and all other Christians in the area. Pray they will exemplify the love of God through consistent love and prayer for those who persecute them (Matthew 5:43-48).
To learn more about the obstacles that befall Christians in Pakistan, visit the
Pakistan Country Report.
Algerian Christians arrested for proselytizing and blasphemy
(Source: International Christian Concern)
Two Algerian Christian men are scheduled to appear in court on charges of proselytizing and blasphemy. Sofiane and Krimo were arrested in Oran on April 14 after sharing their Christian faith with their neighbours. Sofiane was released a day after their arrest, while Krimo was imprisoned for three days. After the arrest, Algerian police searched Krimo's home for Bibles and other Christian material. Krimo was known to hold weekly prayer services at his home, which local Christians suspect were being closely monitored by the police. A court hearing, initially scheduled for April 27, was postponed to a later date.
Algerian Christians are fearful that a law introduced in 2006 -- requiring religious services to obtain a government permit to worship -- will be applied, which may result in a five-year imprisonment and a fine of 100,000 Algerian dinars ($1,337 CAD). Church leadership has expressed frustration over the government's negligence to lay out a set procedure to register a church or to approve a permit quickly.
Please pray for a favourable outcome for Sofiane and Krimo at the next court hearing. Pray the Lord will use this case and their testimony to encourage the faith of other believers in Algeria. Pray those in authority will recognize the lack of religious freedoms in the country and make changes accordingly.
To read more about trials facing Algerian Christians, go to the
Algeria Country Report.
