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Persecution and Prayer Alert, Voice of the Martyrs

Update: Pakistani Christian girl remains imprisoned; accuser charged with blasphemy



(Source: Christian Solidarity Worldwide) Rimsha Masih, a Christian Pakistani teenager who was accused of desecrating the Qur'an, has been in prison for two and a half weeks. After several delays, the high profile blasphemy case is now scheduled for September 7. Rimsha is believed to have Down's Syndrome and is deemed to be 14 years old (for more information, click here).
A witness has testified that the leader of his mosque, Khalid Jadoon Chishti, had falsified evidence to implicate Rimsha. He claimed that Chishti had added pages of the Qur'an to a bag of burned rubbish used as evidence against her to strengthen the basis for the blasphemy accusation, and that he had instigated both the complainant's charge and the mob aggression that followed. On September 2, Chishti was himself charged with blasphemy under section 295B of the Pakistan Penal Code, and is currently in police custody. It is further alleged that he and others from Rimsha's neighbourhood on the outskirts of Islamabad have been promoting anti-Christian sentiment in recent months.

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Please pray the Lord will protect Rimsha and her family. Pray for a favourable outcome on September 7. Pray that the perpetrators will be brought to justice. Ask the Lord to use this case to promote religious freedom for all in Pakistan. Pray that Christians in Pakistan will be the light that draws their neighbours to Jesus (Matthew 5:14-16). Please join Christians around the world in praying for Rimsha this weekend. To find out how, click here. For more on the opposition the Church faces in Pakistan, please visit the Pakistan Country Report.

Update: Iranian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani faces court hearing

(Source: Release International) Concern is growing for imprisoned Iranian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, who has been sentenced to death for apostasy. Pastor Nadarkhani is due to appear in court again on September 8 amid reports that he may face different charges of being in breach of national security. The new charges may be brought to avert international criticism that the pastor is to be executed for his faith. He is due to appear in court on different charges, which are believed to include claims of "repeated rape and extortion." He is also been accused of "setting up a house of corruption." In a news report, the Deputy Governor-General of Gilan province for Political and Security Affairs, Gholam-Ali Rezvani, said: "The issue of... capital punishment of this individual is not related to his faith or religion, as in our system no one can be executed for changing his/her religion... but he (Nadarkhani) is a Zionist, a traitor and had committed security crimes. Please pray that God will fill Youcef and his family with a peace that surpasses understanding. Pray that God will grant Youcef and his legal representatives the words to speak during the court hearing. Pray that the false charges against Youcef will be dropped and that he will be freed. Pray that his enduring faith will encourage other believers suffering for Christ's sake in Iran. For more information on Iran's persecuted believers, go to the Iran Country Report.

Churches attacked, two killed in riots in Kenya

(Source: International Christian Concern) Muslim rioters attacked five churches and killed two people, including a police officer, on August 28 in Mombasa, Kenya. The riots began after unknown gunmen killed Sheikh Aboud Rogo, a radical Muslim cleric. The Islamic extremist group al Shabab, which supported the rioters, said in a message, "Muslims must take the matter into their own hands, stand united against the Kuffar [non-believers] and take all necessary measures to protect their religion, their honor, their property and their lives from the enemies of Islam." Pray the Lord will bring rest and peace to Mombasa. Ask the Lord to comfort those who have lost loved ones. Pray that He will draw them close to Him and give them the grace they need to respond in a Christ-like manner. Pray that the perpetrators will come to repentance and into relationship with Christ. To post a prayer for those affected by these attacks, please visit our Persecuted Church Prayer Wall.

Government official in Nigeria arrested following church attacks

(Source: International Christian Concern) Nigerian police arrested a government official after gunmen killed 19 Christian worshippers and two soldiers in the town of Otite, Kogi State, on August 6. The police arrested Yahaya Karaku, Special Advisor to the governor of Kogi State, after he was suspected of involvement in an attack at Deeper Life Church. The pastor of the church was among the victims. The arrest of the government official is another indication of the possible infiltration of radical Muslims in the Nigerian government structure. In his speech at a Nigerian church in January, Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan, a Christian, said that his government had been infiltrated by members of Boko Haram. Nigerian Christians have been coming under relentless attacks from members of Boko Haram, an Islamic militant group. This year alone, militants have killed dozens of Christians. The group fights to establish an Islamic state throughout Nigeria. Thank the Lord for this arrest; pray that He will expose the deeds of more perpetrators. Pray for Goodluck Jonathan and members of the Nigerian government, that the Lord will grant them wisdom and discernment. Pray for members of Boko Haram, that many will come to repentance through the work of the Holy Spirit. Go to the Nigeria Country Report for more on Nigeria's persecuted Christians.


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