PERSECUTION.ORG
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http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/s05080105.htm
ASSIST News Service (ANS) - PO Box 2126, Garden Grove, CA 92842-2126 USA
Visit our web site at: www.assistnews.net -- E-mail: danjuma1@aol.com
Thursday, August 25, 2005
PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS GROWS IN SAUDIA ARABIA UNDER NEW KING ABDULLAH
Indian Christians told not to bring in Holy Books and icons, nor to meet in private to pray
By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA (ANS) -- AsiaNews has reported that, with the death of King Fahd and the arrival of King Abdullah, the persecution by the Saudi Kingdom of believers of religions other than Islam, especially Christians, is on the rise
In a story posted on their website, AsiaNews says that their sources in the Saudi capital have confirmed that the religious police, the Muttawa, has raided the homes of foreigners, especially suspect homes (i.e. those where Christians live).
“This has forced many groups, who used to meet in the privacy of their home to pray, to stop this activity,” said the AsiaNews story. “Furthermore, fear is such that people have stopped meeting out of fear that the police might link them to one another. Indians are particularly targeted. In the last few months, nine Indians were arrested for illegal religious activities.
“According to Indo-Asia News, things have become so tense that India’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia sent a circular to Indian nationals living in the country warning them that the number of Indians in detention for engaging in religious activities was growing. He told them not to organize prayer meetings in private homes or preach in any way. He also advised his government to warn all those leaving for Saudi Arabia to leave religious books, Bibles, photos, or icons behind.”
The story goes on to say, “The Saudi government has banned any religious practice other than Wahhabi fundamentalist Islam. Any missionary activity or public expression of faith (having Bibles, wearing a crucifix, holding a rosary, praying in public) is outlawed.
“The religious police, well-known for its violence and torture, makes sure that the ban is enforced.
“Under international pressure, the Saudi monarchy had in the last few years allowed people to practice their religious beliefs in the privacy of their homes. But, the Muttawa did not heed this toleration and continued to arrest, jail and torture people whose only crime was to practice religions other than Islam in private.
“Although it persecutes non Muslims, Saudi Arabia has been recruiting skilled foreign labor for its economy. And only recently has Riyadh promised a 15-year tax holiday to attract foreign capital to invest in its railway, desalination plants, power plants and new industrial zones.”
Open Doors' “World Watch List” of countries where Christians are persecuted has stated that Saudi Arabia comes second only to North Korea in terms of anti-Christian persecution.
Dan Wooding is an award winning British journalist now living in Southern California with his wife Norma. He is the founder and international director of ASSIST (Aid to Special Saints in Strategic Times) and the ASSIST News Service (ANS). Wooding is the co-host of the weekly radio show, "Window on the World" and was, for ten years a commentator, on the UPI Radio Network in Washington, DC. Wooding is the author of some 42 books, the latest of which is his autobiography, "From Tabloid to Truth", which is published by Theatron Books. To order a copy, go to www.fromtabloidtotruth.com.
danjuma1@aol.com.
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ASSIST News Service (ANS) - PO Box 2126, Garden Grove, CA 92842-2126 USA
Visit our web site at: www.assistnews.net -- E-mail: danjuma1@aol.com
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
CHINA: DEFIANTLY INTENSIFYING PERSECUTION
By Elizabeth Kendal
World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission (WEA RLC)
Special to ASSIST News Service
AUSTRALIA (ANS) -- Two recent news releases from China Aid Association (CAA http://www.ChinaAid.org) document a shocking escalation of persecution in China. There seems (to RLP) to be a direct correlation between increasing Russian-Chinese-Central Asian solidarity and growing persecution of unsanctioned Protestant Christians in those states. The dictators are uniting to protect their totalitarian regimes through alliances that reduce the influence and leverage of Western human rights and religious liberty advocates. Furthermore, China is systematically strengthening its assault on 'cults' (which includes house churches) through ideological training of cadres. These are very concerning developments. But God is in control of his-story for his glory! So we will confidently and dependently approach his 'throne of grace' (Hebrews 4:14-16).
CAA reports that in Henan Province on 1 July, 70 Christians in a house church fellowship were holding a baptismal service for 60 new believers when they were raided by police. Pastor Wang Baode and nine others were sentenced to 15 days' administrative detention, whilst all others present were fined, probably unofficially as no receipts were issued. On 7 July Pastor Cai Zhuohua faced court in Beijing charged with 'illegal business operations' for printing more than 200,000 Bibles and other Christian books. (As they were given away and not sold, there was no 'business'.) He is in prison awaiting sentence. On 22 July, 100 High School students were arrested at a Vocational Bible School in Hebei Province. The Public Security Bureau (PSB) interrogated them for hours before releasing them with the order not to gather again. On 26 July, a 400-member house church fellowship in Shanghai was ordered to close.
On 2 August, two touring American theology students were arrested along with 43 South China Church pastors and believers in Zaoyang City, Hebei Province. The two Americans were interrogated for seven hours and their personal Bibles, books and notebooks were confiscated. The SCC believers were imprisoned. All but two have since been released, having suffered torture, humiliation and beatings. A 17-year-old evangelist, Mr He Baobao, had to be hospitalised. The two still in prison are Ms Gu Junqing (38) and Ms Ren Daoyun (60) who had hosted the SCC meeting in her home. Eye witnesses told CAA Ms Ren was severely punished by the Domestic Security Squad of the Zaoyang PSB, being savagely and repeatedly beaten into unconsciousness.
On Sunday 7 August, a house church in Hejing County, Xinjiang Province, was raided during worship. Some 30 believers were arrested by the Domestic Security Protection Squad. Ten of the women were then stripped and paraded naked. Those who refused to remove their clothes were savagely beaten. One woman tried to kill herself by beating her head into a brick wall, such was her humiliation. Three church leaders, Mr Song Jun, Mr He Jiangwei and Ms Liang Fanglan are still held incommunicado.
On 11 August, 35 High School and University students, along with several church leaders, were arrested at a Sunday School teacher training class in Jiangxi Province. Police confiscated money and church property, without receipts. All those arrested have been released but six will be prosecuted for criminal offences. On 15 August, five American church leaders were arrested along with 27
house church pastors. The group had simply been enjoying Christian fellowship together. Where they are being detained is not known.
PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY FOR:
'mercy and grace' in this time of great need, especially for those in prison (Hebrews 4:14-16; 13:3), asking God in his mercy to protect them from brutality and grant them justice.
all those who have suffered, that God will give them healing, strength and grace to love and pray for their persecutors without bitterness, the ultimate spiritual victory.
With this spiritual battle in mind, 'Be alert and always keep on praying for the saints' (Ephesians 6:18 NIV)
God to so use the integrity, gospel witness, and supernatural grace of China's persecuted believers that their persecutors will be convicted of sin and ultimately be drawn to Christ.
revival to sweep through the Chinese Communist Party at every level, and for God to intervene in the life of CCP chief, President Hu Jintao, that he might humble himself before the Lord, renounce his sins, do what is right, and acknowledge that 'Heaven rules'. (2 Chronicles 33; Daniel 4).
Elizabeth Kendal is the Principal Researcher and Writer for the World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission (WEA RLC) www.worldevangelical.org/rlc.html. This article was initially written for the WEA RLP(Religious Liberty Prayer) mailing list
Elizabeth can be contacted by e-mail at rl-research@crossnet.org.au.
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