(Source: Compass Direct)
Amid the political shifts in the North African countries of Egypt and Sudan, the laws against defaming Islam continue to threaten Christians in the countries.
Article 98(f) of Egyptian law, known to attorneys as the "contempt of religion" charge, is not officially an anti-blasphemy law. It is meant to discourage people from offending others' religious sensitivities. In reality, however, it is reportedly used to stifle free speech and punish and intimidate those who do not subscribe to the standard, orthodox version of Sunni Islam practiced by most in Egypt. Violating this statute is known as having "defamed a heavenly religion." Others have been charged under the statute with "insulting Islam." By comparison, no convert from Christianity to Islam has ever been charged with Article 98(f) for defiling Christianity.
In Sudan, where the non-Islamic south is set to split from the Islamic north on July 9, as the result of the referendum earlier this year (click here for more information), Christians in the north remain vulnerable to baseless accusations of defaming Islam.
Apostasy (leaving Islam) is punishable by death. Violation of Section 125 of the Sudanese Criminal Act, which prohibits "insulting religion, inciting hatred and showing contempt for religious beliefs," is punishable by imprisonment of one year, a fine and 40 lashes. While convictions are reportedly rare, Christian converts from Islam continue to be victims of Sudan's blasphemy law.
Pray the Lord will equip faithful leaders who are willing to speak up for human rights and religious freedom in Egypt and Sudan. Ask the Lord to strengthen and protect His often-embattled Church in these countries. Pray that Christ's Body throughout North Africa will continue to be a bold testimony of His love and grace.
To find out more about trials facing Sudanese Christians, go to the Sudan Country Report. You can also learn more about the suffering Church in Egypt at the
Egypt Country Report.
Update: Released Chinese Christian in ill health
(Source: VOM-USA)
Yang Caizhen, a Chinese Christian detained along with her husband and four other believers in November 2009, has been released. In September 2009, Yang Caizhen and four other members of the Fushan church in Linfen, Shanxi province, were sentenced to two to several years of criminal detention for organizing a prayer rally (click here for more information). She has been ill and in the hospital several times since her arrest and was reportedly released in February due to her poor health. At last report, she was still in a very fragile state.
Praise God for Yang Caizhen's release. Ask Him to give healing to her as she recovers. Pray also for her husband, Yang Xuan, and Pastor Wang Xiaoguang, Yang Rongli and Zhang Huamei, who were arrested at the same time as Yang Caizhen and remain in prison.
To find out more about the persecution facing Chinese Christians, go to the
China Country Report.
Update: Shouwang Church in Beijing continues to face opposition
(Sources: ChinaAid Association, BBC)
For the sixth straight week, members of Shouwang Church in Beijing, China, have faced opposition from authorities for trying to hold outdoor Sunday worship (click here for more information). On May 15, Beijing police rounded up about 20 church members and roughly 100 church members were confined to their homes to prevent their going to the outdoor worship site. By noon, a few of those taken into police custody were released. Some of the church's leaders, however, including its pastors and elders, have been under extra-judicial house arrest since April 9, the day before the first outdoor worship attempt.
Christians throughout China are advocating for their brothers and sisters belonging to the Shouwang Church, one of Beijing's largest underground churches. The leaders of 17 unofficial Christian churches in China recently appealed to political leaders to protect their right to worship. A petition, addressed to the National People's Congress chairman, has been delivered to parliament, demanding an investigation into the treatment of church members.
Pray for continued resilience of faith for members of the Shouwang Church. Thank the Lord for the many believers willing to stand in solidarity with these suffering believers. Pray that Chinese authorities will be moved by the witness of Christ's Body and come to justly respect religious freedom. Pray that the Church in China will continue to show the light of God's love and truth and remain strong amid opposition.
Note: ChinaAid Association (CAA), a partner of Voice of the Martyrs and valued source of news and advocacy on behalf of persecuted Chinese Christians, has reported that their web server has been under attack in recent weeks. It is suspected that this attack may be a result of CAA's reporting on the Shouwang Church. At last report, the website had been restored. Please pray, however, for CAA as it continues to raise a voice for the suffering Church in China.
To find out more about the challenges facing Chinese followers of Christ, go to the
China Country Report.
Update: Pray for imprisoned Uzbek pastor
(Sources: VOM, Forum18 News)
The month of April reportedly saw an upsurge in opposition against Christians in Uzbekistan -- from raids to fines to literature confiscation -- underscoring the need to continue to remember the nation's believers in prayer. Tohar Haydarov, 27, has been imprisoned since his arrest in March 2010 and is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence for the "illegal sale of narcotic or psychotropic substances in large quantities" (for more click here). It is widely believed that the charges are fabricated as a means to punish Tohar for his religious activity. At last report, he had appealed the sentence but there was no indication of progress in justly clearing his name.
Pray for comfort and peace to reign in Tohar as he suffers for his faith. Pray that he will be assured that he is not forgotten, but loved and remembered by God and His people. Pray that the charges against Tohar will be dropped and that he will be released.
You can encourage Tohar today by writing him a letter online, in his own language here, (
link) . You can also download a free guide for writing to prisoners of faith.
To find out more about Uzbek believers serving Christ at great cost, go to the
Uzbekistan Country Report.
