(Source: VOM)
VOM sources in Pakistan are reporting that Pakistan's Minister of Minority Affairs, Shahbaz Bhatti, was assassinated March 2 while on his way to work in Islamabad. This is the latest attack on a high-profile Pakistani figure who had urged reforming harsh blasphemy laws that impose the death penalty for insulting Islam. Bhatti was on his way to work when unknown gunmen riddled his car with bullets. The minister arrived dead at Shifa Hospital.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but private Pakistani TV channels showed pamphlets at the scene of the killing that were attributed to the Pakistani Taliban warning of the same fate for anyone opposing the blasphemy laws. An eyewitness saw three gunmen open fire on Bhatti's car as he left his house. The gunmen then sped away in a car. It was not immediately clear why Bhatti, a member of the ruling Pakistani People's Party, did not have bodyguards with him.
In recent months, Bhatti boldly defended Asia Bibi, a Christian woman sentenced to death for blasphemy. After the killing of Salman Taseer, Governor of Punjab, whom Islamic fundamentalists blamed for having defended Asia Bibi, Bhatti became the radicals' "top target." Bhatti was in Canada just last month, meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper and several cabinet ministers during his visit to Ottawa. According to a spokesman for the prime minister, the men discussed the importance of standing up for the rights of religious minorities.
Thank the Lord for the life of Shahbaz Bhatti and his attempts to change Pakistan's blasphemy laws. Pray the Lord will bring comfort to his family in their time of sorrow. Pray the Lord will not allow Pakistani believers to be discouraged, but to be emboldened in their faith, putting their trust in the everlasting God.
Find out more about the intense persecution of Christians in Pakistan at the Pakistan Country Report.
Update: Afghan Christian released from prison
(Sources: Compass Direct, International Christian Concern)
After intense diplomatic pressure, authorities have released Said Musa, 46, a convert from Islam to Christianity who was imprisoned in May 2010 on charges of apostasy (for more information, click here). The date of Said's release was not clear at last report, but it is known that he left the country on February 21. Said wrote a series of letters from his prison cell. In the last letter, dated February 13, he revealed that representatives of embassies in Kabul visited him and offered him asylum. He was later taken to another room where three Afghan officials tried to convince him to recant his faith, promising him that he would be released within 24 hours if he complied. Said, however, stood firm in his faith. "I told them I cannot Islam," he wrote in his letter. "I am Jesus Christ's servant. They pushed me much and much. I refused their demands." Details of Said's release remained confidential in order to protect him and his family, who reportedly still remain in danger.
Praise the Lord for Said's release! Pray the Lord will swiftly reconnect him with his family. Pray that he and his family will continue to look to Christ as their provider, guardian and Saviour.
You can find out more about the sufferings of Christians in Afghanistan at the Afghanistan Country Report.
Murder of Chaldean man in Iraq raises fears
(Source: AsiaNews)
A group of armed men burst into the home of an elderly believer, stabbing him to death in Iraq. Youssif Isho, a 70-year-old Chaldean Christian, lived alone in Karrad, central Baghdad. According to information obtained by AsiaNews, Youssif Isho's death was a targeted killing by extremist groups. Sources warned AsiaNews that other attacks against Christians are possible in the capital. "The faithful continue to suffer," a Christian leader said, "and people are scared, moving cautiously out of fear of more violence." Street demonstrations were scheduled in Iraq's main cities in the wake of the attack.
Pray for all those grieving the loss of this Christian man. Pray the Lord will strengthen the faith of believers in Iraq and take away all fear. Pray the Lord will strengthen and grow the Church in spite of the ongoing violence towards Christians.
Learn more about the tribulations of Iraqi Christians in the Iraq Country Report.
Monk, workers shot in attack on monastery in Egypt
(Source: Compass Direct)
One monk and six church workers were shot and wounded last week when the Egyptian Army attacked a Coptic Orthodox monastery in order to destroy a wall monks had built to defend their property from raiders. The attack with small arms, heavy machine guns and armoured personnel carriers happened February 23 at the Anba Bishoy Monastery in Wadi Al-Natroun, 110 kilometres north of Cairo. The soldiers used armoured personnel carriers to bulldoze the wall, sources said, as the monks sang a prayer in unison, declaring, "God is merciful."
As security diminished following the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak on February 11, the monastery came under increasing attacks from raiders and criminals set free from prisons. The military denied a request for protection from the monks, who then built a brick wall with a metal gate to control access. The army claimed the monastery had not acquired the proper permits and issued a deadline for the wall to be torn down. The monks refused to demolish the wall, and the army moved in. At the time of writing, seven people remained in the Anglo American Hospital in Cairo, two of them in critical condition.
Pray these men will be healed and have their health fully restored. Pray the Lord will strengthen their faith and use their testimony as a witness to others. Pray the Lord will bring peace to Egypt. Pray the current unrest will bring about greater religious freedom and an opportunity to further spread the gospel.
Read more about trials facing Christians in Egypt at the Egypt Country Report.
Christian students attacked by Muslim mob in Ethiopia
(Source: International Christian Concern)
A Muslim mob assaulted and wounded 17 Christian college students on a short-term missions trip in Oma village, Ethiopia, on February 26. The students, who were from Meda Welabu University, went to the Muslim village in Bale province. After the students started to distribute Bibles and speak with the Muslims, one of the villagers angrily argued with them, inciting a mob to attack the students. The Muslims shouted "Allah Akbar" (Allah is greater) and hurled stones at the Christians and beat them with rods. The mob overwhelmed the government militia who attempted to protect the students. When the Christians fled the village, the mob unsuccessfully attempted to set fire to their car.
One of the victims who wanted to remain anonymous said, "We thank God that no one was killed. It's sad that we suffered the attacks despite the Ethiopian laws which say there is freedom of religion and equality in the country." While Ethiopia's constitution guarantees freedom of religion, Muslims occasionally attack Christians living in Muslim-majority areas.
Pray these believers will be encouraged to persevere in their faith and Christian witness. Pray they will rejoice in the opportunity to grow in Christ-likeness through the opposition they have faced (James 1:2-4). Pray for those who have been wounded. Pray also for the people who received Bibles from the Christian students.
Find out more about the persecuted Church in Ethiopia at the Ethiopia Country Report.
