Country Reports
Persecution and Prayer Alert - November 5 Print E-mail

Imprisoned Christian dies, more believers arrested in Eritrea

Eritrean Christians continue to be targeted by authorities and imprisoned for their faith, according to an October 30 report from Open Doors-USA. Teklesenbet Gebreab Kiflom (36), a member of the Full Gospel Church who was detained for approximately a year at the Wi'a Military Confinement Centre, died recently of malaria. He reportedly suffered harsh military punishment and was denied medical attention.

Authorities have arrested 65 believers belonging to house churches in recent weeks. Officials made the arrests in five different locations, working off of a list of names that sources believe were provided by informants around the country.

Pray for those mourning the loss of brother Teklesenbet. Pray for the release of imprisoned Christians. Ask God to work in the hearts of Eritrea's leaders.

For more information on the plight of Eritrean Christians, please visit the Eritrea Country Report.

Priest dies after being beaten by Hindu militants in Orissa, India


Father Bernard Digal, marked with the red cross
Photo from GCIC

On October 28, Father Bernard Digal (48), died after succumbing to injuries he suffered in an attack by Hindu militants in Kandhamal, Orissa in late August. Thousands of believers attended the funeral for the martyred priest on October 31, commending his courage, his tireless commitment to working with persecuted Christians and his willingness to forgive those who brutally beat him.

Thank the Lord for the life and work of Father Digal. Pray that those who mourn for him will find strength and peace in Christ. Pray that God will embolden Christians in India to follow in his example of cross-bearing discipleship in an environment of opposition (1 Corinthians 4:9-14, 16).

More about Christians suffering for righteousness' sake in India can be found by visiting India's Country Report.

House churches banned in Yichun city, China

Photo of house church meeting from China Aid

House churches in Yichun city, Heilongjiang province, China were banned in mid-October, according to an October 29 report from China Aid Association. Verbal orders to end all house church activity came from both provincial and central government agencies.

Ask God to give strength and boldness to Christians in Yichun city. Pray that believers will continue to meet together despite opposition (Hebrews 10:23-25).

Learn more about China's persecuted Christians click here.

Update: Algerian Christians acquitted


Rachid
Muhammad Essaghir
Photo from
Compass Direct

On October 29, a court in Ain El-Turck, northwestern Algeria acquitted Rachid Muhammad Essinger and two other Christian leaders who were charged with blasphemy in February (click here). According to a report from Middle East Concern, the men were declared innocent because the evidence brought against them was fabricated. The Christians were informed that they could bring their accuser to court for his slanderous accusations, but they chose instead to forgive him. Local Christians hope that the ruling will set a legal precedence for other wrongly accused Christians in the country. In recent months, negative international attention on the discrimination of Christians in Algeria has reportedly improved the government's treatment of believers.


Update: Iranian Court claims recently acquitted Christians denied their faith


Mahmood Matin-Azad
Photo from Compass Direct

Iranian Christians Mahmood Matin-Azad and Arash Basirat, who were acquitted on charges of apostasy on September 25 (click here), have learned that their release was based on the false claim that they denied their Christian faith in court. According to an October 30 report from Compass Direct, the court claims that the men denied converting to Christianity from Islam. However, both men vehemently maintain that they openly professed their Christian faith throughout the trial.

Although they have been exonerated of the charges, they fear they will be re-arrested once they resume their Christian activity or that believers who associate with them will also face pressure. Some believe that they were released to appease international pressure and that they might be punished outside of the law.

Check out this month's edition The Persecution Report

Have you seen the latest edition of VOMC's monthly webcast, The Persecution Report? November's edition includes reports on believers serving Christ at great cost in Iraq, Egypt, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Check it out on our home page. If you have a website, consider adding The Persecution Report as a way of raising a voice for the persecuted. For more information, click here or contact our webmaster.

In This Week's VOMC Weblog (www.persecution.net/weblog.htm)

Check out the recent weblogs by the staff of VOMC:

a) "No forcible conversions here" shares the testimonies of Indians who have accepted the free gift of God’s grace.

b) In "To serve and protect" VOMC's Volunteer Ministries Coordinator reflects on how India's police failed in their duties to intervene in the rape of Sister Meena.

c) In "Haunted but not without hope," Adele Konyndyk reminds us that the grace and peace of God can be felt even when we are faced with stories of great suffering.

To make comments on these and previous VOMC weblogs, go to persecutedchurch.blogspot.com.
 
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