Friday, February 10, 2012
CBN News is has received several reports that Christians are among the dead in the Syrian city of Homs.
Homs is now a war zone, with many people reportedly killed and homes and businesses destroyed during the Syrian Army's onslaught against opposition fighters and others there.
One Christian sent us an unconfirmed report that 200 Christians have been murdered in Homs, including women and children.
Here's some more of the email we received:
"These Islamic gangs also kidnapped Chirstians demanding high ransoms. In two cases, after the ransoms were paid, the men's bodies were found. Christians are being forced to flee the city to the safety of government controlled areas. Muslim rebel fighters and their families are taking over their homes. We need prayers and we need them urgently. Please pass on this urgent plea to other churches and believers for their prayers."
A Voiceof the Martyrs contact in Homs said the email is not accurate. Another contact from Homs said he hadn't heard about this.
So, again--we cannot confirm this email report.
What we can confirm is that Homs is a war zone. Many people in the city are dead because of heavy fighting between government troops and rebels.
VOM has received a story about a Christian family that was driving in their car when Muslims shot at them. The car crashed and the mother of the family was killed. The rest of the family has been hospitalized.
According to VOM, an evangelist from Homs has recently started a new house church because "people want to know about Jesus." Apparently evangelists are requesting help to provide New Testaments and MP3 players which are in short supply in Syria.
VOM country contacts say residents of Homs are starting to fight each other for food and fuel because the city is running out of both.
Please keep praying for our Syrian brothers and sisters in Christ, especially those in Homs. They are in great need of material and spiritual provision and protection during this civil war crisis.
Like most people in the midst of a crisis, many Syrians are now seeking God. Let's pray they find Him.
Friday, February 03, 2012
I recently traveled to our Washington D.C. bureau where I met with Benjamin Kwashi, Anglican archbishop of Jos, Nigeria.
Jos is the capital of Plateau State, where Christians have suffered traumatizing raids on their villages and brutal murders at the hands of Islamic militants. Tens of thousands of Nigerian Christians have been killed or injured in Plateau State during the past decade.
Rev. Kwashi and I talked about how the country’s Christians have responded to recent church bombings committed by the terrorist group Boko Haram. A portion of my interview was broadcast last week on our international news program, Christian World News.
If you missed it, you may view it here and respond to the Bishop’s suggestion that Christians should not take up arms and retaliate when they are attacked by militant Muslims.
Let me know what you think. Is it time for Nigerian Christians to take up arms, form a militia, and defend themselves?
Also, who is Boko Haram? Bishop Kwashi says they are not just a bunch of well-armed street thugs. Watch more of my interview with the archbishop here:
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
The Iranian government is once again pressuring Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani to recant his Christian faith.
According to The Voice of The Martyrs, the demand came just last week when Pastor Youcef's lawyers met with Chief Justice Heshmati of the Gilan Provincial Court. Heshmati again stated that the house church pastor would be freed from prison if he leaves Christianity and returns to Islam.
And again, Pastor Youcef told his attorneys that repenting means to return--it is impossible for him to return to Islam because he was never a Muslim at any time in his life.
A verdict in the Nadarkhani case was required by law nearly four months ago, but because of an international uproar, the mullahs who rule the Iranian judiciary decided to delay a final decision for up to one year. They said they wanted to give Pastor Youcef time to recant.
So, what's really going on here? The Iranian government fears validating a previous court ruling mandatng that Nadarkhani be executed for apostasy. It also believes it would lose face if the pastor is released.
So, the stalemate continues with Iranian government officials hoping people will simply forget about Youcef Nadarkhani. They'd prefer that he rot in his cell, that the matter would disappear.
As he languishes in prison, Christians around the world thank God that Pastor Youcef is still alive.
Let's continue to pray for a miracle.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
The Obama administration and some members of Congress are praising the Myanmar government’s release of political prisoners “as further indication of progress and commitment.” Secretary of State Clinton described the occasion as a “momentous day” for the people of Burma.
So how much progress has the military regime actually made by releasing a total of 651 political prisoners? Yes, families are glad to see their loved ones after all these years (some have been held since the political uprising in 1988). But did you know that the sentences of most of those released were suspended, not fully pardoned?
Their crimes still remain on the books and they can be re-arrested and imprisoned at any time. Their actions and speech will be monitored closely by secret police.
Also, did you know that more political prisoners remain incarcerated now (estimated at about 1,000) than were imprisoned five years ago at this time?
Progress? Yes. A step forward? No.
Many Burmese doubt the sincerity of this regime because they’ve seen this before—a few positive actions that resemble progress toward democracy, and then the hammer falls like it did against the Buddhist monks when they rallied in 2007.
Some Burmese think the United States may be moving a bit too fast by normalizing relations. An exchange of ambassadors will happen soon and a U.S. business delegation is expected to visit next month.
Will President Obama or Congress put the brakes on the rush to normalize and then lift sanctions? Congress seems to be on board with the president. There's a lot of money to be made in Burma.
The following video includes comments made by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell during his meeting Monday with Nobel Peace Prize winner, pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani sits in a prison cell awaiting execution for apostasy...
American Amir Mirzaei Hekmati faces death on charges of spying against Iran....
Now we share news that the Islamic Republic has convicted an Iranian blogger for “insulting the Prophet of Islam” and “enmity with God” or “waging war against God.”
Mohammad Reza Pour Shajari 's crime? Speaking out harshly against Islam and the Iranian regime.
His trial was held Dec. 21 and lasted only 15 minutes. He reportedly told the presiding judge,"One day, like Gaddafi, you will hide in a hole.”
The judge reportedly responded saying, “Now we are here, and you, and people like you, will pay the price.”
Tehran's agressive actions against American visitors, Iranian Christians, and its citizens who voice concerns about their country may worsen in the days ahead. As expanded sanctions against the regime move beyond saber rattling and mere threats, it seems the Islamic Republic is responding like a caged animal backed into a corner.
The question now is, will the lion tamer respond by cracking the whip, or by throwing the lion more meat to devour?
One blogger describes Shajari as, "a gentle and polished man, who has lost a kidney as a result of tortures he has suffered in prison."
You can get a good glimpse of Shajari in chains in the video below as he is being led into court:
Tuesday, January 03, 2012
After more than 20 months of silence, the Chinese government has finally revealed the whereabouts of human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng.
Gao aggressively defended Christians and coal miners in legal disputes with the government. He was arrested in February 2009, released in March 2010, and re-arrested after he publicly disclosed that he had been tortured during his imprisonment.
According to the Texas-based rights organization China Aid, Gao’s brother recently received a government letter stating that Gao Zhisheng is being held in Shaya prison, Xinjiang. That’s in western China—far from family, friends, and the prying eyes of international media based in Beijing, Shanghai or Hong Kong. The Chinese government says Gao was returned to prison for violating terms of his probation.
China Aid’s Bob Fu says Gao was imprisoned in a remote region to prevent concerned people from visiting the jailed attorney.
Is this good news? At least Gao's family finally knows that he is still alive. Now, the Chinese government needs to allow them (and perhaps the Red Cross) to visit Gao to encourage him and determine his health status.
You can learn more about Gao Zhisheng and also sign a petition demanding his release here.
The following video details his story. WARNING! It’s not suitable for viewing by young children.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
CAIRO, Egypt -- Gone from Tahrir Square are the young advocates of democracy, the peeps and Facebook friends who launched a revolution earlier this year.
Enter the Islamists, emboldened by their landslide victories in the first two rounds of parliamentary elections, challenging the authority of the Egyptian Army and members of the Supreme Council.
The Islamists want to rule Egypt now rather than wait for a promised presidential election and civilian government control scheduled for next June.
Egyptians I have talked to here tell me little has changed in Egypt during the past 60 years--once again the Army is squaring off with Islamist for control of the country.
It happened during the time of Gamal Abdel Nasser during the 1950s and 1960s, during the time of President Anwar Sadat and again during the reign of recently deposed President Hosni Mubarak.
The Islamists don’t have the guns or tanks needed to force a take over, but they’re hoping video and Internet images of army brutality witnessed by the world this week will cause the international community to pressure the Egyptian Army to relinquish government control.
But the Islamists' tactics may backfire. Many Egyptians are growing tired of the demonstrations and ongoing battles with the army. Though a plurality have voted for the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party and the Salafist al Nour Party, many want to see an orderly transition to the future.
What’s next? A battle over the new constitution. The army wants to include all members of society by seating Christians, secularists, women, and others on the constitutional drafting commission. This may ensure a more secular and democratic future (and army privileges and influence).
The Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamists want constitutional commission members to be chosen by the new parliament (which they will dominate). That would ensure that some aspects of shariah law will be written into the constitution.
Some Egyptians tell me they expect a third phase to their revolution--perhaps beginning on the first anniversary of the start of their uprising, Jan. 25, 2011. This time, it may be much more violent and bloody.
Egypt is the key to the future of the Middle East. Which way will it turn in the coming year? Stay tuned.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Hillary Clinton is making history this week: she's the first U.S. Secretary of State to visit Burma in more than 50 years.
President Obama has sent Clinton to the nation--also known as Myanmar--because he sees "flickers of progress" being made by the military dictators there.
The regime has released some political prisoners, but at least 1,000 still remain behind bars. Nobel Peace Prize winner, opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been free from house arrest for more than one year. She says she may run for a seat in Parliament. More progress.
Certainly the Burmese government has made some small, positive political moves, but Clinton needs to press them to do much more. The speaker of the lower house of the Burmese Parliament, Thura Shwe Mann, said his country wants a "regular relationship" with the United States.
Translation: the Burmese government wants to convince the United States and other nations that it has made significant changes--enough to warrant the lifting of economic sanctions against the country. Western nations imposed sanctions on the government because of it's ongoing human rights abuses.
As President Thein Sein wines and dines the U.S. Secretary of State this week, his military continues a new wave of persecution against Myanamar Christians.
Earlier this month both Christian Solidarity Worldwide and The Voice of the Martyrs confirmed Burmese Army attacks in Kachin State.
Here is a portion of the CSW report:
Soldiers from the Burma Army’s 88th Light Infantry Division attacked the Assemblies of God church in Muk Chyik village, Wai Maw Township on 6 November, injuring several people. The congregation was expelled from the church, and soldiers reportedly looted church donation boxes. The house of one church member, Mr Jumphpawk Hawng Lum, was burned down. At least fifty church members are taken to work as forced porters for the Burma Army.
The pastor of the church, the Reverend Yajawng Hkawng, was severely tortured and is now in hospital. One of the church deacons, Hpalawng Lum Hkawng, who is the youth music team leader, was injured in his leg.
Secretary Clinton needs to question the Burmese government about this incident and similar army attacks against ethnic Karen Christians and others.
Before this U.S. administration considers lifting any of the sanctions against Burma, the military regime must not only continue to make progress in the area of political rights, but it should consistently demonstrate a respect for religious freedom.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
This is an update on Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani from The Voice of the Martyrs. He’s the house church leader who is facing execution for apostasy:
An attorney for Nadarkhani said if the Ayatollah Khomeini does not respond to the two letters sent to him by the 11th Circuit Court of Gilan, the court will issue a ruling in the pastor’s case by mid-December.
The court says it will wait only one month. The court asked the supreme leader to issue a final decision in the matter, but so far he has refused to get involved.
Pastor Nadarkhani remains in Lakan prison in Iran’s Gilan Province. VOM said he is continuing to stand strong in his faith and remains in good spirits and health.
His family and members of his church are asking Christians to pray that God will sustain him and give him courage and boldness to testify to those around him.
You can write a letter to him in his own (Farsi) language at VOM's Prisoner Alert.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Khartoum has yet to see massive crowds of angry protestors in its streets like those seen earlier this year in various capitals in North Africa and the Middle East, but trouble may soon be rising on Sudan's political horizon.
Four rebel groups -- all opposed to Omar al-Bashir and his National Congress Party (formerly the National Islamic Front and prior to that, The Muslim Brotherhood) -- have now coalesced to form the Sudan Revolutionary Front, or SRF.
It's an alliance aimed at toppling the Bashir regime through "armed struggle" and "civil political action."
Three of the four rebel groups in SRF are from Darfur, the other is from the Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan. The strongest of the four groups is the Justice and Equality Movement, which was part of the Sudan Liberation Army movement in the North.
Bashir still faces charges by the International Criminal Court for committing alleged war crimes and genocide in Darfur, and his government has faced additional pressure since the independence of South Sudan last July.
Northern Sudanese desire many of the same freedoms now enjoyed by a liberated South. The North/South border is still in dispute and negotiations scheduled for Addis Ababa last month were cancelled.
Antonov aircraft belonging to the Sudan Armed Forces reportedly dropped at least four bombs on South Sudan's Yida refugee camp Nov. 10. Yida is home to 22,000 refugees. No one was killed in that attack, but seven people perished in a similar SAF bombing incident one day earlier in the Upper Nile. The Satellite Sentinel Project reports the Bashir government is increasing its air attack capacity.
Why the bombings?
I talked with a representative of the South Sudan government in Washington, D.C., who told me that Bashir is trying to deflect attention away from political problems in his own country by bombing the world's newest one.
The question now? How long will South Sudan tolerate attacks against its sovereignty and when will Omar al-Bashir experience the same pressures felt by Arab despots elsewhere in Africa and the Middle East?