The next morning, the pastor went to the police station to file a complaint and was asked to meet with police at his home later that day at 4 p.m. The police also asked the four Christians who were accosted to attend the meeting. While the Christians were waiting for the police to arrive at the pastor's home, approximately 150 people surrounded the house and began shouting out slurs. The family immediately called the police who told them that they were on their way.
At around 5:30 p.m., roughly 40 people from the mob broke through the security fence surrounding the house. Taking poles from the fence, they smashed the pastor's van while others poured into the home and attacked those inside. The pastor was knocked unconscious after receiving a harsh blow to the back of his neck with a pole. Afraid that they had killed him, the crowd immediately fled. The police, having finally arrived 10 minutes after the crowd dispersed, took the Christians to the police station. The believers were then held for questioning for seven hours, while their attackers were neither questioned nor arrested. The pastor spent four days in the hospital recovering, and three others were hospitalized for two days.
The Christians filed a case against their attackers two weeks later. When the case was heard on May 29th, a magistrate reprimanded the police and instructed that all the attackers be arrested immediately.
Please join us in praying for these fellow believers as they recover from this unwarranted attack. Ask God to grant physical and emotional healing to all who were injured. May our Lord encourage them in their faith so that they will not give in to fear or discouragement but rather entrust themselves fully to Him. Please also remember the perpetrators of this violent assault, praying that the Holy Spirit will work mightily in their hearts, and lead them to salvation in Jesus Christ.
For more information on the trials our Christian family faces in Sri Lanka,
visit our website.
RECENT PRISONER UPDATES
SUDAN: Young Mother Released on Bail, Facing New Charges
Sources: Christian Solidarity Worldwide, The Guardian
After being apprehended by authorities the day after her acquittal and release from prison, Meriam Ibrahim and her family remain in Sudan and now face new charges.
Meriam, 27, was sentenced in May with both apostasy and adultery, as government officials didn't consider her marriage to a Christian man valid. Although she was released from prison on June 23rd, she was detained the next day along with her husband, Daniel, and their two young children at the airport in Khartoum. The couple has been charged with forgery and provision of false information for using travel documents issued by the Embassy of South Sudan. (For more information on these new charges, please
visit our website.)
Mervyn Thomas of Christian Solidarity Worldwide has argued against the charges: "Their extended detention, which occurred despite the provision of credible evidence by relevant officials from the South Sudanese embassy that negates every allegation levelled against them, violates Sudan's criminal procedures as well as article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Sudan is a signatory." The family is reportedly required to remain in Sudan until this new case is concluded.
In addition to these latest charges, Meriam recently shared that she fears her infant daughter, who was born in late May while she was shackled to the prison floor, may be physically disabled due to the mistreatment she endured during labour and delivery.
Please continue to keep this distressed family in your prayers, asking God to greatly encourage and strengthen them each day. When they feel weary from this difficult and agonizing trial, pray that they will continue looking to their Saviour for guidance. May these new charges quickly be dropped so they will be free to depart Sudan. Ask God to grant His wisdom to the legal team as they advocate on this dear family's behalf. Please also pray for Meriam and Daniel's newborn daughter, asking God to grant this little one strength and healing from any possible injuries or disabilities caused by the harsh treatment of the prison workers.
To post a prayer of support and encouragement for Meriam and her family, please visit our
Persecuted Church Prayer Wall.
CHINA: Persevering Prisoners Released from Custody
Source: China Aid
Three believers in Henan province were recently released from prison after enduring nearly seven months in prison. However, another six believers from the Nanle County Christian Church remain imprisoned, including the church's pastor. The Christians were detained in November of 2013 following a land dispute between the church and the local government. (For more information on their arrests, please
read our previous report.)
Yan Beibei, Fan Ruiling and Zhao Zhijun were freed on June 11th. One of the released Christians announced to a fellow believer: "It does not matter. It is normal for us to be imprisoned or to be freed. Let's continue (to spread) the Gospel."
Of the six Christians remaining in custody, Zhang Cuijuan and Zhao Junling are being held at the Nanle County Detention Centre; and Li Cairen, Zhao Guoli and Wu Guishan are being held at an unknown location. Finally, Zhang Shaojie, the church's pastor and the only detainee who has been to trial, awaits the court's decision on charges of fraud and "gathering a crowd to disrupt public order."
Thank the Lord that these three Christians have been released from prison! Pray that these believers will use their newfound freedom to glorify God and expand His Kingdom in Henan province. Please also remember the six believers who remain imprisoned. May God provide for their every physical, emotional and spiritual need, and may their release soon follow! Finally, let us also intercede on behalf of the authorities involved in this case, praying that their eyes will be opened to the truth of God's redemptive work through His Son Jesus.
To learn more about other Christians around the world who are currently detained in prison because of their faith, please visit VOM's letter-writing site at
www.prisoneralert.com.
Additional Note: Imprisoned Iranian Believer Returned to Prison
In last week's edition of the prayer alert, we requested prayer for Behnam Irani, an imprisoned Iranian believer who had been beaten and taken to an undisclosed location. Pastor Behnam has since been returned to Ghezal Hesar Prison. While we are certainly thankful that his loved ones now know his present whereabouts and condition, we urge you to continue praying for Behnam's health, safety and final release from confinement.
