Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. Hebrews 13:3 (ESV)
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Think on These Things
Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. Hebrews 13:3 (ESV)
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Christian Persecution
Church Pastor's Niece, 10, Gunned Down Leaving Sunday School Class, Dozens Injured as Attacks Against Egypt's Christians Continue
August 7, 2013|11:49 pm
An horrific attack has taken place against Egypt's Christian Coptic community, after several unidentified individuals indiscriminately opened fire in front of the Evangelical church in Ain Shams, a suburb of Cairo, killing Jessi Paulis Issa, 10, and injuring dozens of Copts.
Muslim Brotherhood Not Respecting Rights of Christians in Egypt, Judiciary Led by Ideology Not Law, Says Egyptian Leader
June 27, 2013|12:16 pm
George Isaac, a leading member of Egypt's National Salvation Front, has rebuked the lack of action taken against those involved in attacks that target Coptic Christians and their churches.
Isaac blamed the existence of Islamic elements in Egypt's judiciary, adding that they issue their rules according to their ideology not the law. He criticized authorities for not appointing Christian Copts to any leading positions while blaming the vision adopted by the Muslim Brotherhood towards Copts as people who do not have rights.
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Four Egyptians Killed in Outbreak of Sectarian Violence
Tuesday, August 6th, 2013
In one of the most explosive outbreaks of sectarian violence since the June 30 protest in Egypt, four Christian men were killed and others were hospitalized. These life threatening injuries, from being stabbed and beaten, occurred after a mob of Muslims stormed their homes. In addition to the dead and wounded, more than 27 Christians’ homes were looted and destroyed by the mob. Despite repeated calls from local residents and religious leaders, the security forces did little to intervene on behalf of the Christians in the village of Nagaa Hassan in Al-Dabaiya, near Luxor Egypt.
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Persecution in Syria
Published: 16:00 GMT Daylight Time - Wednesday 10 July 2013
Christian teenager in Syria raped by 15 Islamist rebels and killed
Country/Region: Middle East and North Africa, Syria
A Christian teenager in Syria was seized by Islamist rebels, forcibly married and raped by 15 different men before being killed.
The tragic sufferings of Mariam (15) from al-Qusair have only just come to light but happened during the rebel occupation of the town, which was recaptured by the Syrian army at the beginning of June.
Mariam was seized by militants linked to the al-Nusra Front (AKA Jabhat al-Nusra), which has become one of the leading rebel groups fighting against President Bashar al-Assad. Her family managed to escape the town.
One of the Islamists “married” and raped the 15-year-old before repudiating her. The following day, she was forced to marry another militant who also raped her and then repudiated her. Mariam was repeatedly subjected to this terrifying ordeal by different men for 15 days, leaving her psychologically disturbed.
The militants eventually killed the Christian teenager.
The rebels in Syria have been encouraged to rape non-Sunni women as part of their campaign. Earlier this year, Salafi sheikh Yasir al-Ajlawni issued a fatwa saying it was “legitimate” for Muslim fighters who are trying to put in place an Islamist government to “capture and have sex with” Alawites, the sect to which President Assad belongs, and other non-Sunni, non-Muslim women.
It followed a similar edict by Saudi cleric Muhammad al-Arifi in which he told jihadi fighters that they had the right to have sexual intercourse with captured Syrian women.
Thousands of Christians were forced to flee al-Qusair during its takeover by the rebels last year. They started to return after government troops recaptured the town, finding a scene of almost total devastation.
Church leaders have been gathering accounts from Christian families such as Mariam’s about their sufferings at rebel hands.
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| Christian women are extremely vulnerable in Syria |
Mariam was seized by militants linked to the al-Nusra Front (AKA Jabhat al-Nusra), which has become one of the leading rebel groups fighting against President Bashar al-Assad. Her family managed to escape the town.
One of the Islamists “married” and raped the 15-year-old before repudiating her. The following day, she was forced to marry another militant who also raped her and then repudiated her. Mariam was repeatedly subjected to this terrifying ordeal by different men for 15 days, leaving her psychologically disturbed.
The militants eventually killed the Christian teenager.
The rebels in Syria have been encouraged to rape non-Sunni women as part of their campaign. Earlier this year, Salafi sheikh Yasir al-Ajlawni issued a fatwa saying it was “legitimate” for Muslim fighters who are trying to put in place an Islamist government to “capture and have sex with” Alawites, the sect to which President Assad belongs, and other non-Sunni, non-Muslim women.
It followed a similar edict by Saudi cleric Muhammad al-Arifi in which he told jihadi fighters that they had the right to have sexual intercourse with captured Syrian women.
Thousands of Christians were forced to flee al-Qusair during its takeover by the rebels last year. They started to return after government troops recaptured the town, finding a scene of almost total devastation.
Church leaders have been gathering accounts from Christian families such as Mariam’s about their sufferings at rebel hands.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
The Test of a Person's Character
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.
Abraham Lincoln
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.
It
teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live
self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,
while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,
who
gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for
himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.
Titus 2: 11-15 (NIV)
Dwell upon these things in your heart and mind before our Lord God and pray that He will guide you in all your decisions and actions. Finally, pray for the strength to do His will for His glory and the true love of self and others. JNP
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
The Unlevel Playing Ground of Religious Freedom
A board member of Coptic Solidarity is dismissing President Barack Obama's statement of support for Egypt's minority Christians as just "empty words."
At Monday's presidential debate, Obama said his administration has put "significant pressure" on Egypt's newly elected Islamic government to "take responsibility for protecting religious minorities."
But Coptic Solidarity's Halim Meawad says: "We consider those empty words. We haven't seen any action from the Obama administration. They are not exercising any pressure for the benefit or the advantage of the Coptic minorities."
Instead, he says the Obama administration actually appears to be drawing closer to an Egyptian government dominated by the Muslim Brotherhood and more radical Islamists. Meawad says, "Action is much louder than just words," and Coptic Christians are unaware of any U.S. pressure on their behalf.
At Monday's presidential debate, Obama said his administration has put "significant pressure" on Egypt's newly elected Islamic government to "take responsibility for protecting religious minorities."
But Coptic Solidarity's Halim Meawad says: "We consider those empty words. We haven't seen any action from the Obama administration. They are not exercising any pressure for the benefit or the advantage of the Coptic minorities."
Instead, he says the Obama administration actually appears to be drawing closer to an Egyptian government dominated by the Muslim Brotherhood and more radical Islamists. Meawad says, "Action is much louder than just words," and Coptic Christians are unaware of any U.S. pressure on their behalf.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Immediate Prayers Needed
Pray and Act Now for Iranian Pastor Facing the Death PenaltyPastor Youcef Nadarkhani Could Be Executed Any Day Now
We are asking for your urgent prayer and action for Youcef Nadarkhani, an Iranian pastor who may be executed any day now if he continues to refuse to recant his faith in court.
Youcef is the pastor of a house church in Rasht, Iran, and was arrested in October 2009 for opposing the education practice that forces non-Muslim students to read the Quran in school. Youcef had argued that the Iranian constitution permits children to be raised in their parents' faith; however, for defying Iranian authorities, Youcef was charged with apostasy.
International Christian Concern at www.persecution.org
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