The Voice of the Martyrs

Please note: Due to the holidays, there will be no Persecution & Prayer Alert on December 30. Beginning in January 2010, The Persecution & Prayer Alert will be released on Thursdays.

Christian murdered by his Muslim friends in Pakistan

Patras Masih was gunned down by three of his Muslim friends on December 3 in Karol village, Punjab Province, Pakistan after he refused to recant his Christian faith. On December 1, four of Patras's childhood Muslim friends -- Sohail Muhammad, Imran Muhammad, Amir Muhammad, and Anees Mahammad -- asked Patras to buy them alcohol, which Muslims are prohibited from buying or consuming in Pakistan. Locally brewed liquor can be acquired in the country, but it is sometimes fatally toxic; 14 people in the province have reportedly died from drinking toxic liquor in December alone. Among the victims was one of Patras's four friends, Anees, who passed away on December 3. Following his death, Sohail, Imran, and Amir visited Patras at his home and accused him of killing Anees by offering him a toxic drink. The three told him that they would spare his life only if he converted to Islam. When Patras refused to do so, he was shot multiple times in the chest. According to Patras's father, Gulzar, his Muslim friends had tried to pressure him to convert several other times, but Patras always refused. Gulzar stated, "My son bravely refused to recant Christianity and clung to Christ. He bravely embraced martyrdom." The local police have registered a murder case against the three, but they remained at large at last report. (Source: Compass Direct)

Pray for the Masih family during this difficult time. Ask God to show Himself to the family of Anees Mahammad as they grieve. Pray that Patras's Muslim friends will come to know Christ through his example of steadfast faith. You can post a prayer of solidarity for the Masih family on our Persecuted Church Prayer Wall.

To find out more about how Christians suffer in Pakistan, go to the Pakistan Country Report.

Iranian authorities attack Christmas gathering, arrest two Christians


Karaj, Iran
Photo from M@mad
Fifteen security police and undercover plain-clothes officers attacked a Christmas gathering of more than 70 newly converted Christians in the city of Karaj, Iran on December 17. Officers photographed and videotaped the believers and also confiscated Bibles, Christian books and a computer. The Christians were told they must be available during the period leading up to formal and legal interrogations and that they must appear before legal prosecutors when ordered. Two of the leaders of the group, Kambiz Saghaee and Ali Keshvar-Doost, were arrested. At last report, they remained in detention at an undisclosed location and their families had neither been able to contact them nor received confirmed information from police about their whereabouts. (Source: Farsi Christian News Network)

Pray for the release of Kambiz Saghaee and Ali Keshvar-Doost. Pray that the new converts who attended this meeting will grow stronger in their faith in Christ. Pray for safety for Iranian believers celebrating the birth of Jesus as many must gather in secret to avoid attention from authorities.

For more information on the plight of Iranian Christians, go to the Iran Country Report.

Militant Muslims destroy church building in Indonesia


Destruction of the Church of Saint Albert
Photo from AsiaNews
A mob of approximately 1,000 Muslims attacked a church building under construction in Bekasi Regency, near Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia. At midnight on December 17, the Muslims arrived at the Church of Saint Albert, some on bikes and some on foot, and stormed into the building, carrying banners and tanks of kerosene. One witness reported hearing them shout, "Destroy [the church]! Destroy it! Replace the church with mosque!" The Muslims damaged bricks, broke lights, uprooted newly planted trees and set the building on fire. No one was injured in the attack, but damage amounted to around 60 million rupees (approximately $6,700 CAD). Local Christians were planning to use the nearly completed building for a Christmas Mass service. Following the attack, a leader of the church's construction committee shared, "Even though our chapel was attacked we are not afraid. We will continue the construction of this chapel until its completion." (Sources: AsiaNews, Union of Catholic Asian News)

Pray that these believers will not be discouraged but continue to rest secure in the joy and provision of Christ. Pray for peace to reign in their hearts this Christmas. Pray that Indonesian Christians will be emboldened by the Holy Spirit to share the Truth of the Lord (Acts 1:8). You can post a prayer for Christians in Indonesia on our Persecuted Church Prayer Wall.

For more information on trials facing believers in Indonesia, go to the Indonesia Country Report.

A call to action and prayer for Christians in Orissa, India

The Voice of the Martyrs in Canada is a member of the Religious Liberty Partnership (RLP), a collaborative effort of Christian organizations in over a dozen countries to raise awareness of religious liberty issues around the world. Two years after an outbreak of mob violence against Christians in Kandhamal district, Orissa state, India (click here to read more), the RLP remains deeply concerned for believers there and is requesting united prayer for justice, reconciliation and peace in the area.

The RLP urges you to remember our suffering brothers and sisters in Orissa by praying specifically for them this Christmas season. In particular, we encourage you to use the following prayer from Mgr. Raphael Cheenath, the Catholic Archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar in Orissa, in your churches on Christmas Day:

"Gracious Father, Lord of all the earth, we praise you for the gift of Jesus Christ, sent into the world to break down the dividing walls of hostility. Have mercy upon those in Orissa who are suffering. Give them the peace and the justice that they crave, and cause the walls of bitterness and hatred in Orissa to be torn down. Comfort those who have been bereaved, counsel those who have been traumatised, provide for those who have lost everything. Give them the grace to forgive and confidence in your gracious favour. Do not let us forget them, our brothers and sisters in Christ, as we celebrate the coming of the Prince of Peace and look forward to his coming again in glory."

For the full RLP report, "Orissa: A call to action and a call to prayer," please click here.

To find out more about the persecution of Christians in India, go to the India Country Report.

Update: More bomb attacks on churches in Mosul, Iraq

Two separate bombs struck churches in Mosul, Iraq on the morning of December 23. At approximately 11:00 a.m., a bomb was detonated near the Syrian Orthodox church of St. Thomas. Elsewhere in the city, three people were killed -- one Christian and two Muslims -- when a bomb hidden in a cart of vegetables exploded outside the Chaldean church of St. George. These attacks are the latest in a series of bombings in the city in recent months, including incidents on November 26 (click here for more details) and December 15 (click here for more information on that incident). The recent bombings, just two days before Christmas, have intensified fears among Mosul's Christian community, yet many Iraqi believers remain unshaken in their commitment to serving Christ. "The message of peace and hope announced by angels remains our best wishes for Christmas for the entire country," said Louis Sako, the archbishop of Kirkuk. "We want to work together to build peace and hope in the hearts of all men and women of Iraq." (Sources: AsiaNews, AFP)

Pray for those who have lost loved ones in these attacks. Pray for healing for those injured. Pray that the presence and peace of Jesus will sustain Iraqi believers and compel them to share God's Truth with their Muslim neighbours.

For more information on the suffering of Iraqi Christians, click here.

Update: Religious communities in Azerbaijan and Tajikistan face registration deadline

Many religious communities in Azerbaijan and Tajikistan have not yet re-registered with authorities, as required by restrictive religion laws that were passed in both countries earlier this year (for more information, click here and here). If religious communities fail to register by January 1, 2010, they will be considered illegal.

As of December 16, only about 100 of the 534 religious communities in Azerbaijan that previously had registration statuses have re-registered. Amendments to the Religion Law will require communities to provide an increased range of information when applying for registration and to obtain approval to build or rebuild worship places. Additional amendments include a ban on the sale of religious literature in unapproved locations and on religious activity outside registered addresses.

In Tajikistan, fewer than half of the religious communities in the country have been re-registered. The highly restrictive Religion Law imposes state censorship on all religious literature, bans state officials from being among the founders of a religious community, requires state approval to invite foreigners for religious visits or to travel abroad for religious events, and restricts children's religious activity and education. (Source: Forum18)

Pray that authorities in Azerbaijan and Tajikistan will respect freedom of religion. Pray that Christians in former Soviet republics will echo Peter's sentiment and be determined to obey God regardless of what man says (Acts 5:29).

To find out more about the hardships Christians face in Azerbaijan and Tajikistan, go to the Azerbaijan Country Report and the Tajikistan Country Report.

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