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More than 1,000 Muslim protesters have stormed a courthouse and burned two churches in central Java after a Christian man was sentenced to five years in jail for distributing leaflets deemed insulting to Islam. Indonesian police said the crowd considered the sentence too lenient and were demanding the death penalty.The violence spread to surrounding neighbourhoods where two churches were set on fire and a third was damaged. A body which advises the US government on religious freedom has said Indonesia must act against ‘extremist’ attacks, and should be more intolerant of extremist groups. Indonesia has the world's largest Muslim population but it is currently a secular nation. International observers say more hard-line fringe groups have been harassing religious minorities in recent years.The Indonesian president has been criticised for not doing enough to protect the rights of all citizens.
Pray: for God to lead the Indonesian government into actions that would end hate crimes and revoke a 2008 decree that encourages vicious attacks. (Ps.109:30-31)
Bricks are a crucial part of India’s growing economy as brick kilns supply the country's booming construction sector who in turn are raising buildings owned by Indian, British, and multinational companies. There are more than 2 million brick workers in India. Many kilns use bonded labourers working in conditions of near-slavery earning at best around £1.50 for a 12-hour day. Many suffer ill health from the acrid smoke and harsh working conditions leading campaigners to call the bricks they make ‘blood bricks.’ By a mound of coal, barefoot women and children squat to break pieces of coal with ungloved hands. Two of the children are barely four years old their faces smeared black as they break coal by hitting pieces against each other. All of this is against the law. Among many reports of abuses, last week labour contractors were accused of cutting off the hands of two workers who tried to leave their jobs.
Incidents of violence against Christians in Karnataka state have spiked since June, including hospitalisation of Sannamma a 50 year old Christian school helper who was attacked by about 40 extremists when she visited a village to invite students back to school. Hindu nationalists stopped her and demanded she give money for a Hindu festival. She agreed to give money later, as she did not carry any cash. They called her ‘pagan,’ accused her of forceful conversion, punched and kicked her then dragged her to a Hindu temple to attempt to forcefully convert her back to Hinduism by pouring water on her (as a symbol of religious cleansing from Christianity) and applying a red dot on her forehead to symbolise Hindu reconversion. They then forced Sannamma to sign a paper stating that she and her husband, Shidda Naik, (he was not with her at the time of the attack) would not spread word of Christianity.
Pray: God’s protection and provision for all of India’s Christian residents who bravely share their faith amid hostile communities. Pray for a harvest of Christian believers to grow in the dark places. (Lk.10:2)
Ultra-nationalist Hindu Bajrang Dal activists attacked members of two different Christian communities engaged in a prayer service, accusing them of practicing forced conversions. The episodes took place on November 12th and 13th in Karnataka.The assaulted Christians are now in prison. This brings to 40 the number of attacks against the Christian community of the state in 2011. ‘Two incidents in two days belie every promise regarding religious freedom made to the Christian community by the Chief Minister of Karnataka, a member of the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party). Collusion between the government of the BJP and the Sangh Parivar is very real, the attacks are deliberate and meticulously planned. As long as these movements escape the harsh measures of the Indian criminal justice system, violence will continue.’
Pray: for freedom of public worship for Christian minorities across secular India. (Ps.71:1)
Global development agency Christian Aid has released £50,000 to partner organisations in India after more than 6,000 Indian villagers were forced from their homes and 48 were killed by Cyclone Thane which swept through east-India’s state of Tamil Nadu on December 30th uprooting trees, destroying roads and buildings and bringing down power lines. As villagers attempt to rebuild their homes many are without electricity and clean drinking water. 15000 hectares of paddy crops and 20000 hectares of cashew and jackfruit trees were also destroyed, affecting both immediate survival needs and long term livelihoods. The two most vulnerable groups of concern to Christian Aid are the socially excluded Dalit community and Sri Lankan Tamil refugees.
Pray: for speedy distribution of emergency aid and refugee rehabilitation for the thousands still suffering. (Ps.86:12)
More: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/16029
A prayer request from one of our contacts in North East India: ‘Many youth in the Christian community in north east India have resorted to the worship of Satan to get fulfilment of their needs and aspirations. There have been many cases of desecration of churches by these Satanic worshippers where Bibles are torn and black masses are conducted inside the church buildings. Also there are many incidents of gatherings in cemeteries for the conduct of black masses. It has become a sort of trend among many wayward youth to listen to music glorifying Satan and dabbling with the occult and the Satanic. All these things are happening in the predominantly Christian areas of North East India.’
Pray: for the youth of north east India, the future generation, that they would be set free from the wiles of the Devil. (2Tim.2:26)
Chhattisgarh - Police arrested three Christians for ‘luring people to convert to Christianity’ by offering them money and ‘false hope’ when Hindu extremists filed a complaint against them. Karnataka – Hindu extremists disrupted the worship meeting of Ebenezer Assembly of God Church and beat Pastor Ravi George and a church member identified only as Ramu. Both received hospital treatment for serious head and hand injuries. Karnataka - Christians face a social boycott of business and grocery shops, students are prevented from attending Christian schools and the Rev. Philip Rock of St. Sebastian Church was charged with ‘causing disharmony’ after Christians refused to follow Hindu rituals. New Delhi - Hindu extremists attacked Pastor Isaac Laal returning from a Sunday church service. The Evangelical Fellowship of India reported that armed extremists took him to a Municipal Corporation hall, accused him of forceful conversion and severely beat him. Pray: for these and the hundreds of other Christians persecuted for their faith in India. (Ps.18:6) More: http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/india/24929/
A Hindu extremist in Adigar, Phulbani, Kandhamal district on Jan 25 attacked a pastor’s hut and harassed his family, according to the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC). Jaleshwar Pradhan threw stones at the home of Pastor Patiba Mohan Kota while he was away, verbally abused his wife and pushed his daughters, shouting, ‘You Christians must not live here it is not your land.The last time your houses were only damaged, this time all of you will be buried here.’ Though damage to the house was minimal, the pastor and his family were in fear as Hindu extremists have previously tortured him causing partial loss of eyesight and hearing. The pastor was among those whose houses were destroyed during anti-Christian violence in 2008. Pradhan was booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code.
Pray: against ethnic hostility in and around Orissa. (Ps.109:28)
More: http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/india/article_1377575.html
On March 6th a Washington report, ‘Seeking Refuge’ highlighted 100,000 Chin People seeking refuge in Mizoram State, India. Leading refugee and human rights experts are calling on Mizoram State to respond to the protection and humanitarian crisis. The refugees face serious problems related to livelihood, health, and education. The Chins seeking refuge make up almost 10% of Mizoram's population, which is 95% Christian. The Chins in Mizoram have been out of sight and out of mind from the international community because of long standing travel restrictions to the region and because UNHCR has had no access to Mizoram. The delegation responsible for this report was only able to assess the protracted, urban refugee situation after the central government of India lifted the travel restrictions. Chins from Burma have no status or protection under the law and many suffer chronic economic insecurity, lacking adequate and stable shelter, food security, health and education.
Pray: that God will lead Mizoram State and the Indian Government into avenues of humanitarian ministry to its refugees. (Joel 2:19)
More: http://www.worldea.org/index.php/news/3905
In parts of India Christian pastors and communities are being continually persecuted. The following are just a few instances of persecution that need our prayers:- Pastor beaten and prayer meeting disrupted on 18 Sept in Karnataka. Prayer meeting stopped on 26 Sept by alleged Hindu extremists in Karnataka. Gospel meeting disrupted on 28 Sept by alleged Hindu extremists in Madhya Pradesh. Pastor arrested On 30 Sep in Uttar Pradesh. Baptism service disrupted on 2 Oct in Orissa. Pastor beaten unconscious on 11 Oct in Karnataka. Pastor arrested on false accusation of enticement on 12 Oct in Chhattisgarh. Pastor beaten up on 14 Oct in New Delhi. We are asked to pray for the persecuted families as they rebuild their lives, ministries and homes. Also this week the Evangelical Fellowship of India called on the Indian Government to observe international human rights requirements with regards to the Dalit Christian's constitutional rights.
Pray: for the government to grant Scheduled Caste status to Dalit Christians and take steps to pre-empt violence against Christian communities and pastors. (Ps.121)
More: http://www.efionline.org/