Pakistan 2: Christians beaten and implicated in ‘fake’ police case
On Easter Sunday Christian families on their way to church were attacked by a gang of ‘radical local Muslim youths’ who hurled insults at them for being Christian and celebrating Easter. The men’s comments became ‘perverted’ towards the girls and women. A few Christian youths asked the men to stop mocking, then fighting broke out resulting in some Christians being critically injured and rushed to hospital. Ironically the Muslim men lodged a case with the police against ten of the Christian men and despite some of them being hospitalized with serious injuries they were arrested, charged, and jailed. Bail was granted on April 22nd. Well placed local sources requesting anonymity said, ‘rich, powerful and politically dominant radical Muslim men of the Faqira clan were hurling death threats and threats of dire consequences on the impoverished Christian families and the Christians were ‘still living under the shade of death of horror.’
Pray: for the Christian families to be strengthened emotionally and spiritually under the pain of unjust suffering. (1Pe.3:14)
Pakistan 1: Christians illegally arrested
Police detained three Christians on false charges of alcohol possession in Sialkot last week at the request of their Muslim employer. The men objected to their boss demanding they work on Sundays. The factory owner seemed to object to the crosses the Christians wore since they began work for him last year. He used to look at the cross with strange looks. Since February no one has been allowed to wear a cross at work. In March he began demanding that only the Christian employees come to work on Sundays. When two workers objected Factory owner Rana Ejaz promptly accused them of selling alcohol, which is forbidden to Muslims in Pakistan and illegal to sell without a permit. They were arrested, severely beaten and asked to give a false statement that they sold alcohol. The factory owner reportedly said, ‘I did all this on the advice of the SHO, Zulfiqar, so that I could terminate the Christian workers.’
Pray: that God would strengthen Pakistan’s Christians as they continue to demonstrate reason for the hope that they have in Jesus. (2Pe.1:2)
More: http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/pakistan/19189/
Iraq: Al Qaeda attacks
Monday was the deadliest day of the year in Iraq. Almost 100 Iraqis were killed in a series of attacks.The violence started with drive-by shootings and bombings at security check points in Baghdad. Then two car bombs exploded and while people gathered to help the victims, a suicide bomber attacked the crowd outside a textile factory. One witness said, ‘Terrified people were running in different directions. I saw dead people, people burned and crying, wounded people on the ground that was covered with pools of blood. Dozens of wounded people asking for help were lying on the ground.’ The government is accusing Al Qaeda and the violence fuels growing fear over the country's political uncertainty. It's been two months since elections there and still no new government in sight. Meanwhile, the U.S. will pull out half of its troops over the next four months.
Pray: for God to remove all indecision and enable his choice of government and leadership to be established. (Ex.18:21)
More: http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2010/May/Almost-100-Iraqis-Killed-in-Deadliest-Day-of-the-Year/
Mental trauma 'not rife among UK troops'
Alcohol misuse is a problem among UK troops who have been in Afghanistan and Iraq, but serious mental disorders are not as common as feared, a study says. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) rates are low despite many deployments in foreign combat zones, a study in The Lancet based on 10,000 personnel found. They are significantly lower than those reported among US troops, it adds. The King's College research, funded by the MoD, said more emphasis should be placed on drinking problems than PTSD. Now the new Government is formed, the members of the Cabinet and their staffs will be selected. Please pray for the new Secretary of State for Defence, the new Ministers of State for the Armed Forces and Strategic Defence Acquisition Reform, together with the Under Secretaries of State. Pray too for good relationships between the Armed Forces’ Chiefs of Staff and the new government.
Pray: for all those who are suffering from PTSD or alcoholic problems following their deployment in combat zones. (1Tim. 2:2)
More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8677941.stm
