A mob of over 3000 Muslims have attacked Copts in the village of Kobry-el-Sharbat (el-Ameriya), Alexandria, Egypt. Coptic homes and shops were looted before being set ablaze. Two Copts and a Muslim were injured. The violence started after a rumour was spread that a Coptic man had an allegedly intimate photo of a Muslim woman on his mobile phone. The Coptic man, Mourad Samy Guirgis, surrendered to the police for his protection. Father Boktor Nashed from St George's Church in el-Nahdah, said that a meeting between Muslim and Christian representatives was supposed to take place in the evening in Kobry-el-Sharbat. But, by 3 pm a Muslim mob looted and torched the home of Mourad Samy Guirgis, as well as the home of his extended family and three homes of Coptic neighbours. A number of Coptic-owned shops and businesses were also looted and torched.
Pray: for the believers as they go through transition within the nation and that they will find opportunities to live and work together without conflict. (Pro.10:12
Egypt: 100,000 Christians have left since March
04 Oct 2011In a pattern that follows the exodus of Christians from several Middle Eastern countries a reported 100,000 Coptic believers have left Egypt since the ousting of President Hosni Mubarak. The report on emigration of Christians was sent to the Egyptian cabinet and the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces warning that this emigration has been prompted by the escalating intimidation and attacks on Christians by Islamists. Emigrating Copts from professional and business classes are not prompted by their need for work, but from fear of the hard line Salafists. Constitutional amendments and Salafist intention to implement Hudud laws (Sharia-based punishments, which include capital punishment by sword/crucifixion, stoning, amputation and flogging). Copts also have to pay the jizya (tax paid by non-Muslims to the state) because they are not first class citizens and can never enjoy full citizenship rights, or obtain sensitive posts. Also churches are being attacked and Christians killed.
Pray: for protection and provision for Egyptian Copts and through a future of hope within a democratic constitution. (Pr.23:15)
Egypt: 'Christian Winter'
16 Feb 2013Egyptians drove President Hosni Mubarak from office during ‘Arab Spring’. Revolutionaries are back with cries of ‘Leave, leave, President Morsi.’ The economy is in tatters, 90% of the 45 million under 30 are unemployed and European powers are reluctant to provide financial aid until the social unrest abates. In the background of every public debate is religion. The US and European powers have blinded their eyes to the fundamental nature of the Middle East; pressure between the Islamic majority and the Christian minority is reaching a boiling point. Christians in particular have felt the heavy hand of Mubarak's police (or their absence) when attacked by extremists. Christians have been fired, denied education, harassed and killed on the basis of their faith, which they are required to declare on official government documents. It will be a tragedy if Egypt's Christians are forced to flee after 1,300 years of successful co-existence with their Muslim neighbours.
Pray: for a modern, progressive Egypt. (Pr.2:10-12)
More: http://www.christianpost.com/news/egypts-christian-winter-89885/
The high profile criminal trial of 21-year-old Christian Girgis Baroumi accused of sexually assaulting a Muslim girl, is viewed by the Christian community as an example of the Egyptian government, Attorney General, Interior Minister and Parliament Speaker using him as a scapegoat to justify Muslim assaults on Christians in 2009. On December 13th the criminal court witnessed another stormy session when Baroumi's defence team withdrew from the trial in protest over the court's rejection of several requests vital to prove the defendant's innocence. The prosecution is using religious language during the proceedings saying, ‘those who cause sectarian strife ought to be killed or crucified'. Pray: for religious discrimination in the criminal justice system of Egypt to be removed. (Ps.11:7) More: ttp://english.freecopts.net/english//index.phpoption=com_content&task=view&id=1172&Itemid=9
East Africa: Violence spreading
16 Nov 2012Dozens of Christian worship places have been destroyed by Islamic extremists in Tanzania and church leaders are fleeing its heavily Muslim island of Zanzibar as the persecution of Christians spreads throughout East Africa. ‘About 25 churches and convents have been destroyed since May. This destruction is mostly confined to Zanzibar where the population is 99% Muslim and openly hostile to Christians,’ explained William Stark, regional manager for Africa of advocacy group International Christian Concern. The latest incidents of violence broke out after a Muslim boy encouraged a Christian boy to urinate on a Qur'an. ‘As a result of this the Christian boy was threatened with being beheaded and at least five churches were destroyed,’ Stark said.
Pray: that Christians in this area of East Africa would be free of oppression and experience the protection of God over their lives. (Ps.119:45-46)
As emergency appeals get underway for people in the East and Horn of Africa, development workers plead for a more permanent solution. A ’toxic mix’ of drought, failed harvests and rising food prices have brought severe food shortages to the East and the Horn of Africa and the UN office for the co-ordination of humanitarian affairs predicts that 10 million people in parts of Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Uganda and Djibouti will face chronic shortages and be in need of humanitarian assistance. However short-term emergency relief work has to be backed up with long-term strategies to enable people in these regions to cope when disasters such as drought and failed harvests occur, says Nigel Harris, CEO of the NGO Farm-Africa.
Pray: for God to break this drought crisis with rain, and for NGOs to develop longer-term partnerships and strategies as well as short -term solutions to climate anomalies. (Dt.11:14-15 & Job 5:10)
In an audio message released on Wednesday, a Saudi leader of al-Qaida has urged sympathizers in the Saudi security forces to kill Christians living in the kingdom. The audiotape posted on a website used by Islamists also repeated an often-made call to overthrow the Saudi government. ‘Those of you who work in guarding the tyrants of princes or ministers, or the compounds inhabited by Christians, or can reach them, should seek God's help and kill them,’ said Said al-Shihri. Shihri a former inmate of Guantanamo Bay who claimed his organisation has received correspondence from members of Saudi armed forces asking for ‘guidance'. During Ramadan pray for the Saudi Muslims (mainly Sunni) living in Dharan, Ras Ta-nura, Jubail, Dammam, Al-Khobar, Hofuf, Abqaiq, Udhailiya and Shayba. (Please know that you are among only a small group worldwide who has ever prayed for these cities by name) Pray: for the thousands of Saudis involved in the oil industry to come to the knowledge of Christ (2Cor.4:6) More: http://www.canada.com/news/Saudi+Qaida+leader+urges+killing+Christians/3385069/story.html
Disabled must be included in development plans
05 Nov 2012Worldwide: Disabled people not to be ignored
Disabled people must be put ‘at the heart’ of international development, The Leprosy Mission has said. The estimated billion disabled people worldwide were ‘not effectively included’ within the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). International leaders were hosted by David Cameron in London last week for discussions on a global development strategy post 2015 - the target year for the fulfilment of the MDGs. The panel is to make recommendations to the United Nations about what should replace the MDGs. The Leprosy Mission said many disabled people around the world were ‘excluded’ from society and at a greater risk of being trapped in extreme poverty, with half of disabled people being out of work. Head of Programmes Co-ordination at The Leprosy Mission, Sian Arulanantham, said: ‘We are lobbying for disability to be specifically included in the new post 2015 framework.'
Pray: for the work of The Leprosy Mission and for a greater awareness of the issues faced by those with any form of disability across the world. (Gal.6:2)