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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2013
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My Devotional Journal Patrick Sookhdeo My Devotional Journal is an inspiring collection of short l testimonies, poems and prayers from Christians around the world, as well as uplifting Bible verses and pages for you to record your own thoughts and reections throughout the months. ISBN: 978-0-9825218-2-3 | No. of pages: 96 | Cover: Hardback | P&P: 2.00 | RRP: 7.99 r:
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Brothers and Sisters Loving our Persecuted Family This resource enables childrens leaders to run a lesson or event on the challenging theme of Christian persecution. It is packed with useful ideas, including a Bible lesson plan, games, music, stories and more. It explains carefully how and why our some of our Christian family are suffering, and encourages compassion, prayer and practical help. ISBN: 978-0-9853109-7-4 | No. of pages: 40 | Cover: Paperback | P & P 1.50 | RRP: 5.99 To order these books, please contact Barnabas Fund, 9-10 Priory Row, Coventry, CV1 5EX or call 02476 231923. Cheques should be made payable to Barnabas Books. Or visit barnabasfund.org/shop.
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Heroes of Our Faith Inspiration and strength for daily living Patrick Sookhdeo This outstanding devotional book contains 366 stories of brave Christians who gave up their lives for their Lord. Their stories inspire us to live wholeheartedly for Christ. Spend a year with these great heroes of faith and allow God to touch your life. ISBN: 978-0-9825218-9-2 | No. of pages: 386 pages | Cover: Hardback | P&P: 2.50 | RRP 11.99
The paper used in this publication comes from sustainable forests and can be 100% recycled
Front Cover: An Ethiopian Christian woman at prayer (Source: Steve Evans, AKA Babasteve) To guard the safety of Christians in hostile environments, names may have been changed or omitted. Thank you for your understanding. Unless otherwise stated, Scripture quotations are taken from the New International Version. Every effort has been made to trace copyright holders and obtain permission for stories and images used in this publication. Barnabas Fund apologises for any errors or omissions and will be grateful for any further information regarding copyright. Barnabas Fund 2012
A New Beginning
uke 2:21 tells us that Jesus was circumcised on the eighth day. In Jewish thought, the number eight signies a new beginning, because it was on the eighth day that God returned to work after creation. The week began again. It goes without saying that the birth of Jesus ushered in a new age. God would do a new thing in the world. A new creation would begin. A new day would dawn. In the darkness, light would come. In the despair, there would be hope. In a world devoid of meaning, reality would enter. Hatred would give way to a new kind of covenant love. At the age of 40 days, Jesus was taken to Jerusalem for the traditional purication ceremony, where He was recognised by Simeon as the Lords Christ who would bring salvation to both Jews and Gentiles (Luke 2:25-32). According to Christian tradition, old Simeon was blind, yet his words show that he had powerful spiritual sight and discernment. He even foresaw that Jesus mission would bring grief to His mother, Mary (Luke 2:35). During the past year we have seen the Arab Spring turn into a Christian winter. We have seen edgling desires for democracy give way to autocracy. Instead of secular democratic institutions and political parties developing, we have seen religiously oriented institutions shaped by a fundamentalist, absolutist ideology take power. These have brought with them mayhem and war and have caused endless suffering for Christians in Syria and other coun-
We need to remember that with the coming of Jesus a new age has begun
tries. Like Mary, many Christian women are grieving for their children. The ripple effect of these events is now being felt much further aeld. The temptation is to give way to despair. Yet we need to remember that with the coming of Jesus a new age has begun. And for this new year we need to pray that a new dawn will break in Muslim-majority countries, that Jesus the Light will dispel the darkness and, as Redeemer, rescue us from tyranny, that Gods covenant with His people will not be broken, that His love will not be denied, that He will hold His people in His arms and carry them through another year. The name given to Jesus at His circumcision, announced by the angel before His birth, means Saviour. In the Christian winter there are arising shoots of new life, for there are many who are appalled at the rise of extremism and yearn to embrace freedom. Some are nding this freedom in Jesus the Saviour and Redeemer. Now there is beginning to be repeated in the Arab world what happened in Iran a generation ago after the 1979 Islamic Revolution: life under strict Islamic rule has resulted in an unprecedented number of converts from Islam to Christ. Praise God that we are now seeing these shoots of new spiritual life, of hope coupled with love, springing up in new parts of the world, as God continues to build His Church. The desert is blossoming, with the joy of the redeemed (Isaiah 35).
Contents
4
Compassion in Action Empowering Christian women in Pakistan and South Sudan Spotlight Sisters in Christ suffering for His sake Windows on Islam Why are Christian women converting to Islam?
10 4 8
PULLOUT
Campaigns Proclaim Freedom goes to Europe Newsdesk Christian children: arrested, forcibly converted, killed Advocacy Helping displaced Christians far from home
16 11 12 16
BARNABAS AID JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2013 3
Testimony A Christian woman in Pakistan longs to speak out for justice In Touch Great response to the Day of Prayer
17 18
COMPASSION IN ACTION
how barnabas
17,127 running costs for 2012 and guard for girls rescue home (US$27,350; 21,388) 6,178 for roong ve churches (US$9,826; 7,729) 31,379 for training in farming (US$49,908; 39,255)
T Three of the Christian girls th Christia i Chris ia s ian a from e m from the home
Hunted by several men last summer, four girls were able to reach the safety of Cana Rescue Home, a haven for Christian girls escaping abuse, without being caught. The pursuing men were intent on dragging the girls back to their parents, who were planning on forcing the girls to practise their traditional African religions, for example by making them undergo a female circumcision rite and marry bridegrooms who were not of the girls choice. The four are now living with 72 other girls at the home, in a safe and loving environment where they are encouraged to study hard at school and helped to grow in their Christian faith. Barnabas has been supporting the homes running costs for many years and has also funded the building of the living quarters and dormitory. Recently we also sent a grant for the salary of a security guard for one year in order to prevent family members from breaking in to kidnap the girls.
Returned B undians can Returned Burundians can now d worshi in their own church worship in their own church i ch
A ourishing congregation in Burundi is delighted nally to have a roofed church. After years of gathering under the strong sun, [we] praise the Lord Jesus Christ for helping us, their pastor said. The members, eager to have their own building, had collected stones for the foundation and erected the walls with bricks they made themselves. But they were too poor to buy nails and iron sheets for the roof. Barnabas stepped in by funding the roong materials for a total of ve churches in the area. Many members are very needy. They have only recently resettled in the area after having lived in exile in neighbouring countries for many years to escape a long and violent conict that ended in 2008. Still, the congregation is continually expanding; at present 37 new members are preparing for baptism, three of whom are converts from Islam.
I was happy to be able to help a community in a practical way, said Vester, now a trainer of an innovative farming method in Zimbabwe. People in rural areas cannot afford fertilizer and so the teaching on compost-making was so helpful to them. I would like to thank God for the opportunity I have received to learn from [the ministry] and now be teaching here. Vester was one of eleven trainers whose salaries Barnabas Fund provided for one year after they were coached in teaching. They taught 860 farmers in north, central and east Zimbabwe how to get signicantly higher crop yield by changing their farming routines. Besides teaching farming, the trainers aim to disciple people by strengthening them in their Christian faith and showing them that true transformation in their community can take place only when they start loving and serving each other the way Jesus did.
is helping
9,548 for leadership training (US$15,186; 11,944) 2,611 for primary schools (US$4,153; 3,266)
COMPASSION IN ACTION
Strengthened and encouraged. This is how many Christians feel when they receive support from Barnabas Fund. Thank you for helping to make this possible. Below and on the following pages are just a few examples of the many ways we have recently assisted persecuted and pressurised Christians. Please pray as you read.
R Rani and her family have a new and he amily av nd e home home With their new uniforms t thei heir w uniform h i n for orms o
Ma Many church leaders said a an hurch eader aid u ch ders de d that what they earn was that what they learnt was a ha a e a inspirational and relevant to nspiration irational n re e eleva t to their circumstances e rcumsta c stance
A church attack in India last summer brought home what the leaders had just learnt at a Barnabas-funded leadership training. At a three-day workshop in June 2012 the ministers from that church, together with dozens of other leaders in their area, had received Biblical teaching about standing rm in the midst of persecution. After the attack the ministers of that church were able to be strong in their faith despite the violence and injustice they had just experienced. And their congregation realises now that the Lord can protect and save them from opposition. A total of 334 church and ministry leaders throughout Orissa and West Bengal received leadership training last summer with help Barnabas Fund, and another group will soon receive similar training.
Two Barnabas-funded primary schools in Bangladesh are exceptional for several reasons. Both have clean water and latrines for the children to use, luxuries that are usually absent from Bangladeshi rural schools. The school buildings are also attractive and well-built, and are used as shelters during the regularly recurring cyclones, tornadoes and oods. But what makes the schools truly remarkable is that they are Christian in a country with a very large Muslim majority. All thirteen staff members are Christians, and they teach the children about the life of Jesus. Barnabas Fund recently sent them another grant to provide for the schools running for six months. All 222 school children, most of whom are Christian, were also very happy to receive new uniforms, books and pens.
Rani is a very brave and skilful lady, writes a Christian ministry contact in Pakistan. Thanks to Barnabas Fund Ranis family now have a new home. She and her husband converted from Hinduism to Christianity some time ago. But disaster struck three years ago when her husband had a severe accident that incapacitated him and prevented him from providing for the family. And then a year later their home was destroyed by oods that submerged a fth of Pakistan. Undeterred, Rani ran a handicraft business, making and selling purses and key chains, while they stayed at her sisters. This brought in enough to cover the family expenses. She also started teaching her skills to other women. In total ten families who had converted from Hinduism to Christianity and were made homeless by the oods received new homes from Barnabas Fund.
COMPASSION IN ACTION
bringing hope,
EMPOWERING CHRISTIAN WOMEN
South Sudan: in business to ght poverty
Receiving a loan with support from Barnabas was a great blessing to Kila. It enabled her to start a small business through which she can now provide for her children. The snacks and bread that she sells on the market are popular with customers, because Kila makes sure that they are fresh and clean. She has already paid back most of the loan and hopes soon to take out a larger one to expand her business and earn more money for her family. The Christian micronance ministry that gave Kila a loan has set up a successful scheme to help hardworking Christian women in Juba get out of poverty. Last year, thanks to support from Barnabas Fund, 197 Christian women received microloans for starting up or expanding small businesses. One of the reasons why the loan scheme is fruitful currently 89% of the women are repaying their loans is because of the meetings the ministry regularly organises for all participants. There the women are inspired and galvanised by each others experiences.
A recent grant from Barnabas enabled the ministry to open two more sewing schools, increasing the total number of income-generating centres run by the ministry to ten. They also organised twelve doctors visits, during which the women received free medical consultations and prescriptions, and arranged seminars where they encouraged women to bring positive change in their own communities just as women in the Bible did. 14,176 for womens ministry (US$22,639; 17,699)
transforming lives
COMPASSION IN ACTION
period of respite and recuperation. This is what a safe house, constructed with support from Barnabas Fund, is bringing to suffering believers in Kyrgyzstan. Christians can stay at the church-run shelter for several weeks or months while they regain strength after experiencing persecution from their Muslim relatives, community or from authorities.
care. Without the support network of her Muslim relatives, care and shelter from her new brothers and sisters in Christ was invaluable to her. The contact with fellow Christians was also a great encouragement. Now fully recovered, she has returned to her village, where she has resumed leading the home group. Undaunted by intimidation For Shashanbek the safe house provided a temporary place of refuge. The young church leader, a convert from Islam, had to ee his home town early last year when Islamists from a local mosque ordered him to repent and go to the mosque. They also threatened to beat him if he did not do as they said. Shashanbek prayed about the harassment. On his return to his town after staying at the safe house, he continued to share the Gospel. And yet
his relationship with his persecutors improved. Shashanbeks conclusion is that the Lord has made this [happen]. Barnabas Fund helped the church meet the costs of the land purchase and construction of the safe house. The congregation had decided to build a refuge when the need increased so much that individual members could no longer house the suffering Christians themselves.
Care from her new Family Amangul was reinvigorated by her stay at the safe house. She had previously been red from her job as a teacher after she converted from Islam to Christianity. All her Muslim friends and relatives also broke off contact with her. But despite this she stayed strong in her faith and even started leading a home group in her village. When her health deteriorated, Amangul had to travel many miles to receive specialist medical
SPOTLIGHT
omen are honoured in Gods family, but tragically the experience of many Christian women around the world does not reect this. Our sisters in Christ who live in places of persecution and pressure may experience a double problem of ill-treatment, in which they suffer for both their faith and their gender. For example, under Islamic sharia law a womans testimony has half the legal worth of that of a man, and the testimony of a Christian is worth only half that of a Muslim. So a Christian woman is seen as worth only a quarter as much as a Muslim man. There is a similar sliding scale for compensation due for injuries, with Christian women getting much less than Muslim men for the same injury.
This Christian woman is one of the female his Chris pr prisoners Barnabas supports in Sudan, er u who are often locked up for having ing infringed aspects of sharia law such as a c restrictions on dress
Nadia Nairas life in Pakistan was torn a apart wh she was abducted and forcibly when married to a Muslim man when she was o M just 15
SPOTLIGHT
In recent years two high-prole examples of the persecution of Christian women have shocked the world. Both Rimsha Masih, a 14-year-old Christian girl with Downs syndrome, and Aasia Bibi, a Christian mother, stand falsely accused of blasphemy in Pakistan; Aasia has been
sentenced to death, and Rimsha still faces trial despite evidence that she was framed. Their lives have been torn apart: even if they were to be acquitted, they and their families might never be safe, as those falsely accused of blasphemy are often murdered after their release.
But an extremely vulnerable legal status is only one aspect of the persecution that Christian women can face. They suffer many forms of violence and injustice from non-Christian sources. This article looks at some of the most common kinds of persecution that they endure.
Sexual abuse
The use of kidnapping, rape and sexual violence against women as a weapon in campaigns against Christian communities is a particularly abominable practice. In Burma (Myanmar), women are especially at risk in the governments military campaign against mainly Christian ethnic minorities, who are targeted for both their ethnicity and their faith. The Burmese military has been using sexual violence as a weapon of war in its recent offensive in the territory of the Kachin, who are 90% Christian. Sixty cases of rape were reported between June 2011 and February 2012. It is very difcult for victims of rape to bring their abusers to justice: a representative from a womens group in Thailand, where many Burmese Christians have sought refuge, said that the Burmese soldiers appear to have a free rein to rape and kill ethnic women with impunity. In Nigeria, the Islamist group Boko Haram threatened in March 2012 to strike fear into the hearts of Christians of the power of Islam by kidnapping their women. Often, as here, the abuse of women is not an end in itself but a means of driving out Christian communities. Christian women are similarly at risk in Eritrea, which is ranked among the worlds worst persecutors of Christians. Hundreds of Christians ee the country each month. Women seeking to escape harassment and the threat of imprisonment in their homeland face severe dangers as refugees. They have to put themselves in the hands of people-smugglers, and many are taken hostage for ransom by Muslim Bedouin nomads in the Sinai Desert as they seek to make their way, via Egypt, to safety in Israel. There they are often subject to sexual assault and severe beatings. Christian women may be forced by crushing poverty to work as domestic workers in the homes of people who are hostile to them, putting them at risk of sexual and other violence. For example, It is not only domestic workers who are in danger at work. Zubaida Bibi, a Pakistani Christian mother of four children, was brutally killed by a Muslim colleague in October 2011. After Zubaida resisted the mans attempts to rape her at the factory where they worked, he pulled out a dagger and slit her throat. Zubaidas grieving husband said I want justice My wife was an innocent and noble lady. She was working for our children. In a particularly brutal attack, a grandmother from the predominantly Christian Kachin ethnic group in Burma was gangraped and tortured by Burmese soldiers in May 2012. The 48-yearold woman was hiding in a church building when troops invaded her village. The soldiers who found her there beat her with rie butts, stabbed her with knives, stripped her and gang-raped her over a period of three days. After the soldiers left, she was found semi-conscious by some villagers and taken to hospital. She has been reunited with her family, but the horric ordeal has left her deeply traumatised and mentally disturbed.
Boko Haram threatened to strike fear into the hearts of Christians of the power of Islam by kidnapping their women
Pakistani Christian women may have no choice but to work in a Muslim household. Here they are in an isolated and vulnerable position, and some may even have to take their children to work with them. Christian women may also be seen as having loose morals, as some people associate them with the women they see in lms and other media from the Christian West. This may be used as a justication for attacking them.
SPOTLIGHT
converted and married of her own free will. A recent UN report found that in the contexts where such forced marriages occur, law enforcement agencies systematically fail to provide effective protection for women and girls. Women converts from Islam to Christianity are also at severe risk of violence, even from their own family. While Christians of both genders from Islamic backgrounds are targeted, women are even more vulnerable because the family honour is seen as more dependent upon them. When they
leave Islam, any measure may be taken against them to remove the shame brought on the family
In November 2011, a Pakistani Christian woman escaped from a ten-year ordeal in which she was abducted, married to her abductor and held captive. Nadia Naira was 15 years old when she was taken at gunpoint and forcibly converted to Islam, again at gunpoint, two days later. Her husband threatened to kill her and her family if she went to the police, and although her family immediately reported the incident, the authorities refused to arrest him. Nadias husband continued to be violent to her and became a drug addict. During her captivity, she gave birth to ve of his children before she was eventually able to escape.
Our sisters in Christ suffer greatly owing to these and other forms of persecution. Please pray that persecuted Christian women will be protected from abuse and strengthened in their faith, and that they will know the Lords peace despite the pressure they face.
Barnabas supports the e Chr tian gi ls in Barnabas suppo ts these Christian girls in a nab b ppo these Ch h girls Kenya, who were a r s Kenya, who were at risk of harm from the ya, ya re e harm from h m tea hings A rican ad onal re g teachings of African traditional religions achin rican These Pakistani Christian women received he e Paki ani Chris a e ista i omen ece om ome ece ve m eceive c training in sewing and so they can earn a rain rainin ning ewin and wi he he can rn ey living in safe conditions ivin iving in safe co ditions e on
Turn to page 6 to see how Barnabas works with projects that support Christian women.
very year in Britain approximately 10,000 people Islam. This is happening particularly in sub-Saharan Africa convert to Islam. (These gures come from recent and certain parts of South-East Asia. research done by the University of South Wales.) Many of the British converts are young people. Some Many of these converts are women. Amongst them are of them have parents who are regular church members, who ever increasing numbers of Christian women, who are have brought them up in a strong Christian tradition, who marrying Muslim men and converting to Islam at the same love them and pray constantly for them. The parents come time. Considerable numbers also convert to Islam in the from a range of denominations; many are Catholics,some conviction that it is the right pathway to God. Such conver- are members of the Brethren, some are Anglican, some sions are happening across the church and society at large. are Baptist and some are from other evangelical traditions. In other parts of the world there are also many Chris- Their sons and daughters have been brought up in the Christian women and girls marrying Muslims and converting to tian faith, and many have accepted Christ into their lives.
WINDOWS ON ISLAM
The main reason that women convert to Islam is that they fall in love with a Muslim man and marry him
It is not unusual for Muslim men to target Western girls for the sole purpose of obtaining a visa. Some Muslim men really want to live in the West, and they know that by marrying a Western girl they can realise their dream. They sometimes seek out Western women who are on holiday in order to form relationships with them. Many women Why women convert to Islam meet their Muslim husbands while on holiday in places The main reason that women across the world convert to such as Tunisia, Turkey, Morocco and Egypt. Their guard Islam is that they fall in love with a Muslim man and marry may be down, and they are looking for a good time, love him. Some convert to Islam at the time of marriage; some and companionship. They fall in love and cannot bear to convert at a later date; a few never convert but experience be separated, so they marry in a very short period of time. great difculties if they want to follow Christ or bring their But there are many women who marry Muslim husbands children up as Christians. who then leave them shortly after getting a permanent visa to stay in the West. Falling in love with a Muslim man Many reports from Africa speak of deliberately orThis can often happen in universities and colleges, especial- ganised campaigns for Muslim men to marry and convert ly in the West, as relationships are forged here across many Christian women, as part of a strategy of dawa (Muslim cultural and racial barriers. Enjoying freedom from parental mission). The men are often paid for each Christian they authority, often for the rst time, a young woman is able to marry, and sometimes, it is reported, more if she is a paspursue her own relationships away from the critical eyes of tors daughter. her family. It can be in naivety that she forms a friendship In Pakistan and Egypt, where there are large comwith a young Muslim man, in the same way as she would munities of very poor Christians, young Christian cou-
II
WINDOWS ON ISLAM
Some women convert to Islam because they are not aware of the differences between Islam and Christianity. They It is not only younger Western women who fall in love think the religions are very similar, so it does not matter with Muslim men, but also women in their forties, fties which one they follow. Muslims speak about God and Jesus, and older. These women are usually unmarried, divorced how Jesus was born of a virgin, was sinless, performed or widowed and are often nanmiracles and ascended into heavcially well off. But they may also en. They also mention many of be desperately lonely and looking the prophets of the Old Testament, for companionship and love. They the End Times, the coming of the go travelling to Africa or Middle Antichrist, and practices such as Eastern countries and meet Musprayer, fasting and reciting the lim men, sometimes considerably creed. People can be confused younger than they are, and marry because these are also Christian them. As Western societies bethemes. Many Christian women come more fragmented, with disconvert to Islam when they get astrous effects on families and communities, many women married, thinking there is very little difference between are looking for a sense of belonging. They are nding this the religions. This can happen particularly in Africa, where in an Islamic context, where they seem to be warmly wel- many Christians do not know much about their faith, and comed into families and communities. think that, in comparison to the pagan beliefs of traditional African religions, Islam is much the same as Christianity.
A woman married to a Muslim man would often have difculty even speaking to a man who was not a relative
Simplicity
One attraction of Islam is that the practices and beliefs of the religion are set out simply and are very easy to understand. Islam is not a complex religion and is in fact a set of rules. It tells you how to pray, when to pray, how to fast, when to fast, what to believe, how much money to give and so on. All this is laid out clearly. Some people are attracted by this simplicity, with everything set out and organised for them. The Islamic creed is very simple: There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger. Muslims must recite this creed at least once a day. Some women convert to Islam because they believe that it is genuinely the right path to nding God. These are women who are aware of a spiritual vacuum within their lives, or they can be people who are very lonely and looking for friendship.
WINDOWS ON ISLAM
If you would like to know more about the issues raised in this article, you may like to read Why Christian Women Convert to Islam by Rosemary Sookhdeo. This is available at the offer price of 5.00 including postage (RRP 7.99) from www.barnabasfund.org/shop. Alternatively please contact your nearest Barnabas Fund ofce (addresses below). E-books in e-pub and .mobi formats are also available.
www.barnabasfund.org
CAMPAIGNS
illions of Christians live in contexts of persecution, discrimination and disadvantage. In this threatening context it is encouraging to see international bodies promoting human rights and religious freedom.
Barnabas Fund has registered status as a Non-Governmental Organisation with the Organisation of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). As part of our Proclaim
The Barnabas staff took the opportunity to make contact with representatives of individual states who gave reports on their countries progress. These included a number of Central Asian nations where Barnabas provides support for persecuted Christians. Barnabas was concerned by the discussions about the protection of religions from defamation, which was a highly charged issue in the context of the recent lm Innocence of Muslims, which portrayed Muhammad negatively, and the violent reactions against it by Muslims around the world, which often targeted Christians. The Turkish Prime Minister has also declared his intention of asking the UN to include Islamophobia among recognised hate crimes, and he has suggested that his government might make it a criminal offence. Barnabas reiterated our stance that belief systems should not be protected, but rather must be open to free and fair debate, especially when some of them generate persecution of those who hold different beliefs. A criminal offence of Islamophobia would severely limit free speech, effectively preventing even legitimate criticism of Islam, and would put Christian (and other) minorities in Muslim-majority contexts in greater danger. Barnabas Fund was invited with many others to attend a day-long consultation on the content of new guidelines for participating states on the Recognition of Religious or Belief Communities. These guidelines, which are being drafted with help from the Ofce for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (the organisation within the OSCE that promotes human rights), will set out concrete ways in which participating states can ensure compliance with OSCE commitments and international standards in this area. This provided us with a unique opportunity to explain the challenges Christians encounter when trying to practise their faith in countries such as Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
Freedom campaign, two Barnabas staff members attended a conference convened by the OSCE in Warsaw at the beginning of October 2012. The event, which is Europes largest annual conference of its kind, provides a platform for governments and interested groups to discuss issues of human rights and religious freedom. The OSCE has 56 member states from Europe, Central Asia and North America. Christians in some of these states see churches closed, pastors and evangelists harassed, converts under pressure, and Bibles and Christian books restricted. These problems, which are particularly relevant to Proclaim Freedom, can result from constitutions or laws that limit freedom of religion. Hungary, Russia, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan have recently introduced more severe restrictions. Although guidelines issued by OSCE do not carry legal weight, member states are expected to implement them. The guidelines can also inuence other countries, in the Middle East and Central Asia. One of the keynote speakers at the conference was the UN Special Rapporteur on Religious Freedom, Professor Dr Heiner Bielefeldt. He said that the enjoyment of religious freedom as a right should not be granted by governments as an act of mercy; rather it should be a fundamental assumption based on the inherent dignity of every human being.
Barnabas Funds Proclaim Freedom campaign aims to press Western governments to promote freedom of religion, human rights and justice in other countries, especially for the millions of persecuted Christians, and for those who incite or engage in anti-Christian hatred and violence to be held accountable.
NEWSDESK
Ch stians in aos oft Christians in Laos ofte come s ften ome under extreme pressure from nder nde xtrem pres r r d r essur their ocal communit their local community he oc mu t u
Police suspect that sympathisers of the militant Islamist group al-Shabaab were responsible
2012. An improvised explosive was thrown at a classroom in St Polycarp Church, where the children were waiting for their Sunday school
NEWSDESK
The regimes harsh crack-down has not hindered the spread of the Gospel
Forughi, Eskandar Rezaie, Bijan Haghighi, Mehdi Ameruni and Shahin Lahooti are now being detained at the Intelligence Ministrys infamous detention centre. Vahid Zarday, a Christian artist who was arrested in a house church raid in Mashhad in May, has been temporarily released pending his trial. He was held for four months in Vakil-Abad prison, which has been
Thi This Christi n couple, Pastor Farhad Sabok i r stian co l Past r Farhad Sabok i ou Fa d bokrouh and his wife Shahnaz Jeizan, were previous arrested wif we previously rreste s and w r sentenced and were sente ced to a year behind bars on 15 October (Source: Mohabat News) t r h hi ba o r S ws)
described by human rights activists as hell on earth. He will face trial, as will ve other Christian converts who were arrested in Shiraz in February. The regimes harsh crack-down on the house-church movement of
Muslim-background Christians has not hindered the spread of the Gospel. A report in a government-backed Iranian newspaper acknowledged that 200 house-churches are now operating in Mashhad, and a senior
Islamic cleric, Akhond Sobhani, also felt the need to speak out as a warning against the growth of Christianity. He claimed that 600 people had become Christians in Neishabour alone.
NEWSDESK
Hussein and his men have been terrorising Christians in the village since January 2011
Hussein and members of his gang stormed their home in Deir Mawas on 14 October 2012. Hussein had threatened to kidnap their relative, 25-year-old Hiyam Zaki Zaher, unless the family paid him 1,000,000 Egyptian pounds (100,000; $165,000, 125,000). The terrorising Christians in the village since January 2011, seizing homes and property, extorting money, raping women and kidnapping children. The Christians plight looks set to intensify, as his 300-man gang plus other local Muslims have now threatened them with revenge for Husseins death.
Ba n Barnabas hel in Barnabas is helping to meet the basic needs of Syrian Christians hel elpin ee si need i eed yri y n Ch s an affected by violence ffect d ected ect c iolence len e
NEWSDESK
St dents one of the Christ a Students at one of the Christian nts n n ne hri hris schools that Barnabas Fund h l that Barn bas Fund hat t as supports in Bangladesh ng
CHURCHES ATTACKED THREE MORE CHRISTIAN CHILDREN ACCUSED OF AND TORCHED IN BLASPHEMY MUSLIM RIOTS
TANZANIA At least four churches were pulled down in the suburbs of Dar es Salaam during two nights of violence by Muslim rioters in the Mbagala area. The mob began rampaging on the night of 12 October 2012, when at least three churches were destroyed. The cars and other property of church members were damaged, and shop members of the group. The destruction of the churches, as is often the case, is an example of an entire Christian community being disproportionately targeted as revenge for the actions of one of its members. In this instance, the anti-Christian violence was sparked by an incident on 12 October involving two boys, one Christian and one Muslim. The 14-year-old Christian boy was drawn by his friend into committing an act considered by Muslims to be desecration of the Quran. After the Muslim boy told his parents and they reported it to the local mosque, an angry mob formed at the scene, threatening the Christian boys life. The police took the boy into protective custody. The Council of Islamic Organisations has since blamed the subsequent violence on police laxity, claiming that they failed to give the matter its due weight. Anti-Christian hostility is becoming increasingly common in Tanzania, especially in the semi-autonomous region of Zanzibar, where radical Islam is spreading violence. PAKISTAN AND EGYPT Three more young Christians were accused of blasphemy and detained, in two separate incidents in October. On 10 October 2012 in Karachi, Pakistan, Ryan Stanten (16) was accused of sending a blasphemous text message containing material deemed offensive to Islam. An angry Muslim mob attacked Ryans family home, ransacking it and setting re to numerous household items. The Christian family had already abandoned the house. Ryan said that he did not send the text, nor was there any record of the sent message on his phone. He had however lent his phone to a friend while on the way to a cricket match the day before. He faces charges not only of making derogatory remarks about Muhammad, which carries the death penalty, but also under Pakistans AntiTerrorism Act and Telegraph Acts. Ryans arrest follows that of two Christian boys in Egypt, Mina Nady Farag (9) and Nabil Nagy Rizk (10), who were detained on 2 October after being accused of tearing up pages of the Quran and urinating on them. Nabils father pointed out that as both children are illiterate, they could not have known what they were doing when they came across a plastic bag containing torn papers in the street. Nevertheless, the imam of the local mosque in their village of
ADVOCACY
Christian Refugees
As
Syria is blighted by lawlessness and civil war, many of its endangered Christians are trying desperately to escape their stricken country. Hundreds of families have put themselves in the hands of human trafckers or endured treacherous journeys to reach Europe. Some have sold all their possessions to pay for their passage, or have almost died en route. Yet when they arrive, they may not be welcome or safe. This tragic and continuing story highlights the plight of so many Christians around the world who are forced by persecution to become refugees far from home.
These Iraqi Christian refugees receive food packages through Barnabas Fund
3. Barnabas Fund is creating a manual for Christians, Christian organisations and Christian leaders who wish to help refugees in their local community. This
provides practical guidance on how to support individuals seeking refugee status. It also explains ways in which to engage in advocacy on behalf of asylum-seekers at a local, national and international level. Its main focus is the UNHCRbased system, but the information is equally applicable to countries that process applications for refugee status through their own state institutions. The vision behind the manual is to see churches empowered to support refugees within their communities. In addition we hope that as a result of greater engagement by churches in the refugee system, both state authorities and the UNHCR will be better able to understand and respond to the needs of Christian refugees, especially converts. Barnabas Fund is not in a position to assist with individual applications for refugee status, but various organisations exist for this purpose. The manual will be available shortly. More details to follow.
A Christian woman activist in Pakistan longs to speak out against oppressive blasphemy laws but is hindered by a climate of intimidation.
I wanted to say much more as she kept on accusing the governor. But with grief I submitted to silence. I did not have the slightest idea that following this incident a fear would start mounting within me that would discourage me from speaking up against blasphemy laws. I could not sleep for ve days. I had spent only 45 minutes travelling with the governor and his family. But the impression he gave was that he was a person of strong nerves and courageous outlook. On my way back home the sentence that repeated over and
dilute my expressions and descriptions. My fear increased further when I saw that the majority hesitated to speak against blasphemy laws in public. The level of fear went so deep that when I attended a seminar on Womens International Day at the premises of the Lahore High Court, a woman speaker emphasised that Islam is the only religion that gives women equal rights. I wanted to reply to her that Christianity allows fullness of humanity but my fear of being misunderstood stopped me from saying a word. This fear keeps telling me that I should not get into a debate with hardline Muslims, who do not allow space for dissent or disagreement. For my thesis I had decided that I would study the portrayal of religious minorities in school textbooks and Urdu newspapers in Pakistan. But many of my interviewees were so suspicious about my motives that I was forced to change the questionnaire I was using. It convinced me that I could no longer pursue any genuine scientic research on these topics, and I submitted my thesis with half-heartedness. Now I am faced with a big question: should I leave my country in order to continue my studies? On the other hand, my job at the church gives me peace and joy as I witness the positive results of the small-scale womens development projects that sustain and hold me in my country. But the feeling of being intellectually controlled really disturbs my inner peace.
With tears lling my eyes I expressed my displeasure. I wanted to say much more But with grief I submitted to silence.
over in my mind was: The governor was acting out of his true passion for humanity and was highly concerned about the misery of a Christian woman. I wanted to write my account but was stopped by my family and friends, who were worried that it might bring me into some problem. I was also told categorically by the editor of a newspaper that I sometimes write for that I should not mention my visit to Aasia Bibi with the governor. From that day onwards I tried to soften and
As we remember our Lords suffering in the weeks leading up to Easter, so this is a very appropriate time to pray for His people around the world who are persecuted. Barnabas Fund invites you to join us in prayer for the persecut ed Church at this time. Look out for your copy of the 2013 Barn abas Fund prayer booklet, et, which will be mailed with the March/A pril edition of Barnabas Aid, and which we hope you will nd a useful aid to your prayers. y p ayers. y s. s
We are so encouraged to see how far Barnabas Aid trave ls. A supporter sent us this photo, which he received from a village pastor in eastern Uganda. Barnabas Fund is so thankful to those who share the news of our work and for the praye rs of Christians in Uganda, and around the world, for our persecuted brothers and sisters. They so appreciate ou r intercession.
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Barnabas Fund never leave us to stand alone with those who are being persecuted. We appreciated your time to pray with us.
Barnabas partner in Sudan A big thank-you to everyone who took part in our Day of Prayer for the persecuted Church on 1 November! We have received many encouraging and inspiring reports from our partners around the world, who rallied local Christians to pray for their persecuted family elsewhere. A group of Afghan Christians, in exile in India because of their faith, held a prayer meeting. They told us:
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All brothers were happy and thankful to the Barnabas Fund for organising this prayer meeting which gave us a reason and opportunity to come to gather and pray especially for the persecuted church.
Events took place in at least 35 countries*, from Costa Rica to Turkey, Japan to Sierra Leone, Iran to Pakistan. In India, 4,440 churches participated. The Day of Prayer also had a signicant online following as prayer points were posted on our Facebook, Twitter and Google Plus pages. Our daily reach on Facebook trebled on 1 November from an average of around 3,000 to over 9,000 people. Our prayer guide, featuring 48 countries, was accessed by over 3,700 people online, while around 1,900 printed copies were distributed from our UK ofces. This chorus of voices raised in prayer sends a message to our suffering brothers and sisters that they are not alone.
*Please turn to page 18 to see a map showing the countries that took part.
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