Pakistan: Christians ordered to leave village
Abdul Sattar Khan, head of a Muslim village in Punjab Province ordered 250 Christian families to leave their homes after Christian residents objected too strenuously to sexual assaults by Muslims on Christian girls and women. Most of the Christian men work in the fields of Muslim land owners while the Christian women and girls are servants in the Muslim homes. The impoverished Christians live in appalling conditions. Employers use their powerful positions to routinely sexually assault the Christian women and girls. When four Christian men confronted the Muslim men on abuse charges the whole Christian community were told to go. ‘The Muslim villagers gave the expulsion order when girls and women became totally exasperated because they were sexually attacked or forced to commit adultery by Muslims on a daily basis,’ said a Christian political leader. Pray: asking God to remove the unfair oppressive spirit of abuse that the Christians have come under in this part of Pakistan. (Am.9:15) More: http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/pakistan/21375/
Nigeria: Muslim youths attack churches and house
Nigeria: Muslim youths attack churches and house Another attack against Nigerian Christians north of Joshas has taken place. Two churches and a pastor's home were destroyed. In this most recent event as many as 100 young Muslims came onto church property attacking people and burning down the buildings. This attack mostly went under the radar because no one was killed. Not all violence stems from religious causes. According to ABC News ethnic tensions prevail between the Berom group (deemed mostly Christian) and the largely-Muslim Hausa and Fulani groups. Additional access to oil revenues contributes to political tensions throughout the country. Though all attacks may not stem from religious differences they cause much strife and hurt in victims' lives. Pray: that Christians will continue to respond in a positive spirit of forgiveness and perpetrators of violence will be caught and prosecuted. (Is.59:20-21)
Eritrea : Vigil held for persecuted believers
Seventy demonstrators from The British Orthodox Church, CSW, Church in Chains Ireland, Human Rights Concern Eritrea, Release International and Open Doors protested against the persecution of minority believers in Eritrea. (See Prayer Alert 2310). The vigil was marking the eighth year of closing minority churches in Eritrea and the harassment of Christians from other denominations. The Metropolitan of Glastonbury, the Anglican Bishop of Woolwich, and Dr Berhane Asmelash of Release Eritrea presented a petition to the Eritrean Ambassador appealing ‘for swift and positive action to ensure the release of prisoners of conscience and grant full religious freedom as guaranteed under Eritrea’s Constitution’. This event happens yearly in London but to date has not ended the persecutions. Pray: the Kingdom of God to come to Eritrea and spread like wildfire through the hidden and established church. ( Mt.6:10) More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/vigil.held.for.eritreas.persecuted.believers/26060.html
America: Planned 'mega mosque' at Ground Zero
A protest drew thousands to Ground Zero last Sunday opposing the construction of a 15-story Islamic facility described as ‘A centre of learning, art and culture guided by Islamic values in their truest form.’ Opponents of the project say building an Islamic centres so close to Ground Zero would be offensive to victims of the 9/11 attack. A New York community board voted 29-1 in favour of plans to build the centre. The only way to stop the project would be giving the 152 year old building on the site Landmark Preservation Status, which the protestors are attempting to do. The Centre is a collaboration between the American Society for Muslim Advancement and the Cordoba Initiative – both founded by Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, who preaches in a mosque twelve blocks from Ground Zero. He was born in Kuwait and educated in England. Pray: for the Holy Spirit to guide the hearts and minds of those considering the Landmark Preservation Status for the building and to bathe the area in the truth of Jesus Christ. (Col.1:9b & 13)
