Steel On Steel
Persecution of Christians Update
Monday 1 February 2010
January 31, 2010
Edited by: Donald McElvaney, www.missionbarnabas.org
Top Stories:
1. India Finally Allows EU to Visit Orissa - But No Fact-Finding
2. Despite Democracy, Christians in Bhutan Remain Underground
3. Iran Detains Christians without Legal Counsel
4. Violent Death of Girl in Pakistan Spurs Push for Justice
5. Death Toll of Christians in Jos, Nigeria Clash Hits 48
6. Islamic Militants in Somalia Murder Christian Leader
7. Anglican Archbishop Kidnapped in Southern Nigeria
8. Pakistani Christian Sentenced to Life under 'Blasphemy' Law
1. India Finally Allows EU to Visit Orissa - But No Fact-Finding
After months of asking, delegation wins clearance to enter Kandhamal
district.
By Vishal Arora
NEW DELHI, January 29 (Compass Direct News) - Weary of international scrutiny of troubled Kandhamal district in Orissa state, officials yesterday finally allowed delegates from the European Union (EU) to visit affected areas - as long as they do no fact-finding. A team of 13 diplomats from the EU was to begin its four-day tour of Kandhamal district yesterday, but the federal government had refused to give the required clearance to visit the area, which was wracked by anti-Christian violence in 2008. A facilitator of the delegation said that authorities then reversed themselves and yesterday gave approval to the team. The team plans to visit Kandhamal early next month to assess the state government's efforts in rehabilitating victims and prosecuting attackers in the district, where a spate of anti-Christian violence in August-September 2008 killed over 100 people and burned 4,640 houses, 252 churches and 13 educational institutions. When the federal government recommended that Orissa state officials allow the delegation to visit the area, the state government agreed under the condition that the diplomats undertake no fact-finding, according to the Press Trust of India. The government stipulated to the EU team, led by the deputy chief of mission of the Spanish embassy, Ramon Moreno, that they are only to interact with local residents. The delegation consented.
2. Despite Democracy, Christians in Bhutan Remain Underground
Open practice of faith could lead to more persecution, they fear.
By Anugrah Kumar
THIMPHU, Bhutan, January 25 (Compass Direct News) - In this distant and isolated nation in the eastern Himalayas, known as the "Land of the Thunder Dragon," almost everything looks uniformly Buddhist. There are no visible signs of Christians' tiny presence, but they do exist. Christians, whose only official identity falls in the "others" category in the census, are estimated to range in number between 3,000 and 6,000. They live out their Christian lives underground - no church buildings, Christian cemeteries or Christian bookstores are yet allowed. An absolute monarchy for over 100 years, Bhutan became a democratic, constitutional monarchy in March 2008, as per the wish of former King Jigme Singye Wangchuck. Asked what would happen if authorities found out about his underground church, a pastor who requested anonymity said that before 2008 they would have been arrested because Christianity was banned. "Even now, there will be serious repercussions," he said. "What exactly will happen, I do not know. But no Christian worker will take the risk to find it out the hard way."
3. Iran Detains Christians without Legal Counsel
Half of those arrested in recent months could face apostasy charges.
By Damaris Kremida
ISTANBUL, January 28 (Compass Direct News) - At least 14 Christians have been detained in Iranian prisons for weeks without legal counsel in the past few months as last year's crackdown has continued, sources said. Three Christians remained in detention at Evin prison after authorities arrested them along with 12 others who had gathered for Christmas celebrations on Dec. 24 in a home 20 kilometers (12 miles) southeast of Iran's capital, Tehran, according to a source who requested anonymity. While the others were released on Jan. 4, remaining at Evin prison were Maryam Jalili, Mitra Zahmati and Farzan Matin, according to the source. Authorities have promised the release of the three Christians arrested Dec. 24 but have yet to let them go. Within days after their arrest, Jalili's sister, Mobina Jalili, and another Christian were arrested in Isfahan. The source said these two have had no contact with their families. The location and conditions of their detainment are unknown. In the southwestern city of Shiraz, seven Christians were being detained as of Jan. 11, another source said, and most of them may face charges of apostasy, or leaving Islam. Detained in Shiraz are Parviz Khaladj, Mehdi Furutan, Roxana Furouyi, Behrouz Sadegh-Khanjani, Abdol Reza Ali Haghnejad, Iman Farzad and one identified only as Mahyar. Another Christian in the northern city of Rasht, Davoot Nejatsabet, also has been arrested. And Yousef Nadarkhani, who was arrested last year on Oct. 13 in Rasht, remains in prison.
4. Violent Death of Girl in Pakistan Spurs Push for Justice
Rare protest by family of tortured child puts spotlight on abuse of Christian working poor.
By Jawad Mazhar
LAHORE, Pakistan, January 28 (Compass Direct News) - A daring protest and a high-profile funeral here on Monday (Jan. 25) for a 12-year-old Christian girl who died from torture and malnourishment has cast a rare spotlight on abuse of the Christian poor in Pakistan. In an uncommon challenge in the predominantly Muslim nation, the Christian parents of Shazia Bashir Masih protested the unresponsiveness of police to the alleged violence against their daughter by Muslim attorney Chaudhary
Muhammad Naeem and his family and his attempt to buy their silence after her death. The house servant died on Friday (Jan. 22) after working for eight months in Naeem's house. An initial medical report indicated she died gradually from blows from a blunt instrument, wounds from a sharp-edged weapon, misuse of medicines and malnourishment. Key media highlighted the case on Pakistan's airwaves, and minority rights groups along with high-ranking Christian politicians have swooped in to help. The power of Muslim attorney Naeem, a former president of the Lahore Bar Association, was such that officers at Litton Road police station refused to listen to Shazia's relatives when they tried to file a complaint to retrieve her three months ago, telling the girl's
relatives, "a case against a lawyer cannot be registered," her uncle Rafiq Masih told Compass. Her mother, Nasreen Bibi, told Compass Naeem came to their home on the day Shazia died and offered 30,000 rupees (US$350) to keep the death secret and to pay for burial expenses. "I refused to accept their offer, and they went they went away hurling death threats," she said.
5. Death Toll of Christians in Jos, Nigeria Clash Hits 48
Outbreak of violence in Plateau state results in burning of 10 church buildings.
By Lekan Otufodunrin
LAGOS, Nigeria, January 27 (Compass Direct News) - Two pastors and 46 other Christians have been confirmed killed in the outbreak of violence 10 days ago in Jos, Plateau state in Nigeria, according to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). In the Muslim/Christian clash, triggered when Muslim youths on Jan. 17 attacked a Catholic church, 10 church buildings were burned and 27 Christians are still missing, CAN officials said at a press conference in Jos today. Police estimate over 300 lives were lost in the clash. The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) accused the state General Officer Commanding, Major-Gen. Salleh Maina,and some soldiers of taking sides in the clash. "Soldiers were seen in some parts of Jos watching Muslim youths shooting Christians and burning places without any efforts to stop them," according to a PFN press statement.
6. Islamic Militants in Somalia Murder Christian Leader
Al Shabaab extremists threaten widow of slain pastor of underground church.
By Simba Tian
NAIROBI, Kenya, January 26 (Compass Direct News) - Islamic extremists shot the leader of an underground church to death outside the capital city of Somalia this month and have threatened to kill his wife, his tearful widow told Compass. Having learned that he had left Islam to become a Christian, Somali militants from the Islamic extremist al Shabaab murdered 41-year-old Mohammed Ahmed Ali at about noon on Jan. 1, Amina Ibrahim Hassan said. He was killed sometime after leaving his home in Hodan, on the outskirts of Mogadishu, she said. Ali had led an underground church. Christian sources said members of al Shabaab, said to have links with al Qaeda terrorists, had been monitoring Ali and his wife for indications that they had left Islam. Ali had organized New Year's Day festivities for Christians to take place outside of Mogadishu. Al Shabaab extremists killed him after word of the planned party leaked to them, said Hassan, who has since fled to Nairobi with their 2-year-old son. Hassan said she received threatening calls from members of al Shabaab on Jan. 3. "We know who you are working for," Hassan said one extremist told her. "We also know your home and that you are a follower of the Christians, and we are going to kill you the way we killed your husband."
7. Anglican Archbishop Kidnapped in Southern Nigeria
Gunmen abduct Edo state chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria after service.
By Lekan Otufodunrin
LAGOS, Nigeria, January 26 (Compass Direct News) - Gunmen are still holding the Anglican archbishop of Benin diocese in southern Nigeria's Edo state after abducting him on Sunday (Jan. 24). Peter Imasuen, who is also the state chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, was abducted in front of his official residence on his way back from a church service. The kidnappers are reportedly demanding $750,000 for his release. The armed kidnappers reportedly followed the archbishop from the St. Matthew Cathedral to his residence, where they dragged him out of his car and took him to an unknown location. Edo Gov. Adams Oshiomhole decried the kidnapping, which he blamed on the federal government's withdrawal of soldiers from a state joint security program code-named, "Operation Thunderstorm" designed to help thwart militant violence and kidnappers. The identity of the kidnappers was not clear, but in recent years abducting top public figures for ransom has become common in the South-South and South- Eastern zones of the country, where militant groups have been campaigning against the poor level of development of the area.
8. Pakistani Christian Sentenced to Life under 'Blasphemy' Law
Young man convicted of 'desecrating Quran' by accusation of rival shopkeeper.
By Jawad Mazhar
FAISALABAD, Pakistan, January 22 (Compass Direct News) - A young Christian shopkeeper was sentenced to a life term in prison and fined more than $1,000 last week following a dubious conviction of desecrating the Quran, according to Pakistan's National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP). Peter Jacob, general secretary of the NCJP, said 22-year-old Imran Masih of the Faisalabad suburb of Hajvairy was convicted of desecrating the Quran (Section 295-B of Pakistan's legal code) and thereby outraging religious feelings (Section 295-A) by Additional District & Sessions Judge Raja Ghazanfar Ali Khan on Jan. 11. The conviction was based on the accusation of a rival shopkeeper who, as part of an Islamic extremist proselytizing group, allegedly used a mosque loudspeaker system to incite a mob that beat Masih and ransacked his shop. Neighboring shopkeeper Hajji Liaquat Abdul Ghafoor accused Masih of burning part of the Quran on July 1, 2009. Denying that he burned any pages of the Quran, Masih told investigators that the papers he burned were a heap of old merchandise records he had gathered while cleaning his store. Nearby shopkeepers told Compass that they had seen the two men arguing over business a few days before the incident. They said that when Masih burned the papers, Ghafoor started shouting that he had desecrated the Quran and blasphemed Islam and its prophet, Muhammad. "Ghafoor spread misconceptions about Imran Masih," said one of the shopkeepers, "and a mob of angry Muslim men unaware of the facts attacked Masih and viciously beat him, looted his shop and later handed him over to police." Sources said Masih plans to appeal to a higher court.
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