The Persecution & Prayer Alert
The Voice of the Martyrs, Canada
www.persecution.net
Wednesday, July 2, 2008

A weekly news digest on the Persecuted Church and how you can respond.

"Remember Them" -- find out how. Go to www.rememberthem.ca.

Subscribe to the RSS feed at www.persecution.net/pnp.xml.
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In this week's edition: Reports from Iran, Uzbekistan and India with updates from Turkey, Russia and VOMC
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1. Convert Couple Arrested, Tortured and Threatened in Iran

On June 3, a newly converted Christian couple was arrested by police for holding Bible studies with Muslims in their home and attending a house church, according to a June 25 report from Compass Direct. Makan Arya (31) and Tina Rad (28) were seized from their home in east Tehran after one of Makan's relatives informed security police of the couple's Christian activities. Their four-year-old daughter was left behind, ill and unattended. The couple was taken to an unknown jail where they were severely beaten and interrogated for four days. Makan was accused of "activities against national security" and Tina of "activities against the holy religion of Islam." The authorities threatened to take their daughter away to a religious institution and warned them that they could be imprisoned on charges of apostasy or fabricated drug charges if they didn't stop their Christian work.

Eventually the couple was pressured into signing a statement claiming they had not changed their religion from Islam and promising that they would stay away from their house church and other Christians. After a court hearing, Makan was freed on bail charges of $20,000 (CAD) and Tina upon payment of $30,000 (CAD). The couple returned home to find that the window of their shop had been smashed by local Muslims. On June 23, Makan received a letter threatening him with continued attacks if he did not put up evidence of his Islamic faith on the front of his shop, to which he responded by hanging pictures of Muslim leaders on his window.

Ask God to strengthen the hearts of these believers to proclaim His Name without hesitation or fear (2 Timothy 1:5). Pray for healing, especially for Tina who currently cannot walk as a result of her mistreatment in detention.

For more information on persecution facing Christians in Iran, visit www.persecution.net/country/iran.htm.
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2. Uzbek Christian Detained on Terrorism Charges

On June 14, eight police officers claiming to be conducting an identity check raided the home of Jandos Kuandikov in Nukus, Karakalpakstan, an autonomous region of Uzbekistan, where several Christians were gathered to prepare for a wedding, according to a June 27 report from Forum 18. Kuandikov was not home at the time, but when he returned he asked the police for a warrant authorizing their action. None was provided. Police demanded statements that a religious meeting was not being conducted but the family refused. Police then accused Kuandikov of being a terrorist and Wahhabi (a form of Islam found predominantly in Saudi Arabia). The police continued their search and interrogation throughout the day and then took several of those present to the police station. All but one, Aimurat Khayburahmanov, were eventually released. At last report, Khayburahmanov remained in detention on false charges of terrorism.

Pray that Uzbek Christians will be able to bless and pray for those who falsely accuse them (Luke 6:28). Pray that Aimurat Khayburahmanov will be released.

For more information on the persecution of Christians in Uzbekistan, go to www.persecution.net/country/uzbekistan.htm.
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3. Pastors Attacked, Accused of Forcible Conversion in India

Pastor Murugan (65) was beaten by Hindu militants who ambushed him and two other believers while returning home from a prayer meeting in Moodalpalya, Karnataka on June 24. The other two managed to flee and escape any harm. The militants accused the pastor of forcibly converting people and "spoiling the minds of the children" and took him to the local police station where he was detained.

On June 26, Hindu militants barged into the home of a local believer in Hubli, Karnataka, shouted curses at the Christians gathered for a prayer meeting and beat Pastor Vinod Talakere. They dragged the pastor and another believer to the local police station where the men were detained on accusations of forcibly converting people and kidnapping local girls and enrolling them in Bible college.

Pray for the release of these pastors. Ask God to bless their ministry and the work of other Christians spreading the Gospel in India.

For more information on persecution in India, go to www.persecution.net/country/india.htm.
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4. Ninth Court Hearing Held for Christians Accused of "Insulting Turkishness"

Two Turkish Christians, Hakan Tastan and Turan Topal, have been on trial for "insulting Turkishness and Islam" for twenty months (see www.persecution.net/news/turkey21.html for more details). During a June 24 hearing, a criminal court in Silviri requested a judicial review of one of three charges against them, according to a June 27 report from Compass Direct. The judge ordered the review due to the Turkish Parliament's amendment of article 301 of the Penal Code, which changed the wording from "insulting Turkishness" to "insulting the Turkish nation" and required that permission be obtained from the Ministry of Justice for someone to be charged under the article. The court will continue, however, to prosecute the men on the other two charges against them -- reviling Islam and compiling information files on private citizens. Also during the hearing, both teenage witnesses for the prosecution testified that they had neither met nor seen Tastan or Topal prior to court, contradicting the prosecution's claim that they had been given literature and invited to church by the Christians.
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5. Reprieve for Church Dissolved for Having a Sunday School in Russia

On June 10 Russia's Supreme Court ruled that a Smolensk Regional Court decision to dissolve a local Methodist church in late March for having a Sunday school (see www.persecution.net/news/russia5.html for more details) was "unlawful and without foundation," according to a June 30 report from Forum 18. Local Christians consider the ruling a crucial development for religious organizations. Other Bible schools, however, continue to fight liquidation on similar grounds. The Light of the World Pentecostal Church in Samara is facing closure for adult religious classes. That case has been sent to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg but no admissibility decision has yet been made.
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6. Check Out the July Persecution Report

Be sure to check out the July edition of VOMC's monthly webcast, The Persecution Report. This month's report features up-to-date news, interviews and testimonies from around the world including Eritrea, Nigeria, Israel and Vietnam. Go to www.persecution.net to view it now! If you have a website, consider adding The Persecution Report as a way of raising a voice for the persecuted. For more information, visit www.persecution.net/pr_link.html or contact our webmaster at www.persecution.net/contact.htm.
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7. In This Week's VOMC Weblog (www.persecution.net/weblog.htm)

Check out the most recent weblogs by VOMC CEO Glenn Penner. In "Viewing Canada Through the Lens of Ecclesiastes," he discusses the book's teachings on searching for justice in a fallen world in view of current religious freedom concerns in Canada. He also shares some possible reasons why many persecuted Christians resist calling what they are going through "persecution" in "Understanding Persecution Better."

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