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ARCHIVE
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April 30, 2008
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Jordanian Christian on Trial for Converting to Christianity
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A Jordanian Christian, Mohammad Abbad (40) is on trial for apostasy for converting from Islam to Christianity in 1993, according to an April 24 report from Middle East Concern. Abbad fled the country late last month after Muslim militants attacked him, his son and another Muslim convert to Christianity who had sought sanctuary in his home on March 23. This attack prompted Abbad's father to bring charges of apostasy against him while he was being treated for his injuries. Abbad spent one night in the hospital handcuffed to his bed. His father also filed for custody of his two young children. In a court hearing on March 27, Abbad refused to deny his faith and return to Islam and fled the country the following day with his Jordanian Christian wife. Abbad's March 29 hearing was postponed due to his absence but the judge began a procedure to have his marriage annulled.
After hiding in different Arab countries for almost two weeks, the couple settled in a European country where they have applied for asylum. At last report, the attempt to dissolve their marriage was still underway, pending on the judge's request for Abbad's father to produce a marriage certificate.
Pray for wisdom, guidance and strength for Abbad and his wife. Pray that his children will see the faith of their father and desire to follow in his footsteps in standing firm in Christ (Deut. 11:18-20).
For more information on the persecution of Christians in Jordan, click here.
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"Anti-Conversion" Law Implemented in Gujarat, India
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 An anti-conversion law passed in 2003 in the Indian state of Gujarat came into effect on April 1, increasing Christians' concerns that it will open the door to false accusations by Hindu militants. The law is supposed to curb religious conversions made by "force," "fraud" or "allurement." However, Christians and human rights groups believe that the law actually obstructs all conversions, as Hindu nationalists invoke it to harass Christian workers with arrests and imprisonments, which are often accompanied with violence against the accused. The law dictates that any person who intends to convert must notify the government or will be declared an offender and prosecuted under criminal laws. It also stipulates that those convicted of "forcible conversion" could be jailed for up to three years.
Anti-conversion laws are now enforced in five states -- Gujarat, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Himachal Pradesh -- and have been passed but are yet to be implemented in Arunachal Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Ask God to strengthen Christian workers in Gujarat as they face more opposition in serving the Lord. Pray that the faithfulness of Indian Christians will be a light that draws many to the love of Christ (Matthew 5:14-16).
For more information on the persecution facing Christians in India, click here.
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Sri Lankan Priest Killed in a Claymore Mine Attack
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Father M.X. Karunaratnam, the Chairman of the North East Secretariat on Human Rights in Sri Lanka, was killed in a claymore mine attack in the region of Vanni, near the Kushanthai Jesus Church, at approximately 12:30 p.m. on April 20, according to an April 29 report from the National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka. Father Karunaratnam frequently spoke on behalf of human rights of the civilian population in the northeast of the country, and also provided counseling to those affected by the civil war and the Tsunami.
Pray that those who mourn for Father Karunaratnam will find strength, comfort and peace in Christ. Ask God to raise up other servants of the Gospel to continue His work in Sri Lanka (Matthew 9:38).
For more information on the difficulties facing Christians in Sri Lanka, click here.
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Churches Facing Administrative Charges in Kazakhstan
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 Officials have brought administrative charges against two churches in Kazakhstan in recent weeks, according to an April 23 report from Forum 18.
On April 21, the city of Atyrau's Prosecutor's Office brought charges against the Salem Church for holding "illegal" meetings under Article 374 part 1 of the Administrative Code, which punishes unregistered church activity. The charges are a response to a group of Russian-speaking church members meeting regularly in a private home instead of the church's registered address. The church's leader, however, stated that the Administrative Code allows such groups to meet in a member's private home, so long as important religious ceremonies - such as baptisms and weddings - are not conducted.
Also in Atyrau, local authorities have asked the New Life Church to re-register since their old registration did not indicate a legal address. Since the church does not currently have a building, re-registering will be difficult as Kazakhstan's amended Religion Law demands that a church indicates a legal address. Church members fear that they will be subject to penalty because authorities will now consider their church activity "illegal."
Pray for wisdom for these churches and their leaders as they face pressure and opposition from authorities (James 1:5). Pray that the Word of God will continue to spread throughout Kazakhstan.
For more information on the persecution facing Christians in Kazakhstan, click here.
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Human Rights Tribunal Ruling Raises Tough Questions in Canada
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 In a ruling released last week, The Ontario Human Rights Commission declared that Christian Horizons, an evangelical Christian organization, was wrong to make its employees sign a morality pledge as a condition of employment. The ruling stems from a complaint brought by Connie Heintz (39), who willingly signed Christian Horizons' "lifestyle and morality" employee code when she joined the organization. In 2000, however, she made it known to the organization that she was a lesbian, leading to her loss of employment with Christian Horizons.
Contrary to what many are claiming, the Human Rights Tribunal ruled against Christian Horizons not on the grounds that the agency receives virtually all of its funding from the Ontario government but because Christian Horizons' primary mission is to serve the public need for group homes for people with developmental difficulties. As such, the tribunal ruled that there was no need for the staff to sign a morality code that is explicitly Christian.
Pray for the leadership of Christian Horizons as they consider appealing this ruling. Pray for other Christian organizations who continue to set morality standards for their staff in light of their Christian faith.
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Pastor Released in Indonesia
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 Pastor Abraham Bentar, who was imprisoned in March 2006 on charges of attempting to convert Muslims to Christianity (click here for more details), was released on parole on April 27, according to VOMC contacts in Indonesia. Bentar had served two-thirds of his four and a half year sentence. Praise the Lord for his release.
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 Take time to read the most recent weblog commentaries by VOMC CEO, Glenn Penner:
- In "'Religious Freedom in the World' Finally Available (Sort of)" Glenn reviews an important new book edited by Paul Marshall that surveys religious freedom around the world.
- In "How should Christians respond to China's hosting of the Summer Olympic Games?" he addresses a concern that many Christians have regarding the upcoming Olympics in Beijing.
- In "Islamists in Our Midst" Glenn comments on an alarming news report about a 23-year-old man from Toronto who openly supports the Taliban and calls Osama bin Laden a hero.
- (In "Videos Reveal an Orwellian Society" he shares some chilling video footage of North Korea taken by undercover news reporters.
- In "Who Determines What 'Objectionable' Literature Is?" Glenn responds to an email inquiry about a Singaporean couple arrested for distributing Christian literature and how we should pray for them.
To make comments on these and previous VOMC weblogs, go to persecutedchurch.blogspot.com.
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