Send a Christmas card to a believer among the Persecuted Church. Your words are never wasted when it comes to writing a letter
to our brothers and sisters of the persecuted Church. Mail sent by concerned
believers can have a profound impact on those who are suffering and even on
their persecutors. You can be an
encouragement by sending a card or a letter to bring them hope.
Your letters to prisoners can do five
things:
1.
Provide
tremendous encouragement. Letters touch our
persecuted brethren right where they are, demonstrating that they're not
forgotten and that someone somewhere cares for them and is praying for them.
2. Indicate to authorities that you are
aware of a Christian’s situation, and you care!
3. Testify of the love and unity found
among followers of Jesus Christ worldwide. This is especially true when letters
are opened and censored. God can use your letter to work in the lives of those
in authority.
4. Prove our persecuted family is not
forgotten. Through isolation and loneliness, the devil can prey on imprisoned
Christians’ faith. When a prisoner receives a letter, whether they can read it
or not, they know someone cares.
5.
Lead
to better treatment of Christian prisoners. Prison officials and government
authorities know someone is watching them.
Christmas Card Tips
Why not add some sparkle with a sprinkling of Christmas
confetti in your Christmas cards? Get the kids involved by cutting out
Christmas shapes and words to add to a family or Sunday school card. Christmas
is a particularly great time to remind people God’s hope and promise through
Jesus’ birth … so in the card you send you could mention the Bible verses that
reflect this great Christmas hope.
In his teaching to the disciples about the Judgment, Jesus
said: "I was in prison and you came to visit me," and in response
people would say, "when did we see you in prison and visit you?" Jesus
connected serving Him and serving those who suffer trials for His Name by
replying, "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of
mine, you did for me" Matthew 25:31-46.
The people listed below – church leaders, persecuted
Christians, and their families – benefit tremendously from your letters or
cards. So, take a few minutes today to write to a prisoner, either
individually or as part of a small group – even a short note will bring such
hope and encouragement!
It's easy to get into card
writing, and you don’t have to do it just at Christmas. Here are some quick ideas for all year.
- Choose one or two people each month and sign cards for them at the end of your Church service or Sunday School class meeting.
- Sign a card each week or month in your family devotions, tell the children how the person you are writing is suffering for the Name of Jesus, and let the kids draw a picture or write a note to include in the card.
- Make a regular time to write to those you feel led to encourage.
- Pass a card around your small group and you could have dozens of people communicating love and support to a brother or sister on the other side of the world.
- Get social and throw a card writing party with friends.
Whatever you choose to do, this is grassroots, tangible,
effective encouragement and it is so easy to help.
Frequently asked questions:
Is it OK to include Christian greetings and Scripture verses?
It is fine to insert appropriate Scripture verses and
Christian greetings such as “God bless you,” “Merry Christmas,” or May the
peace of Christ be with you.” Writing relevant Bible references (book, chapter,
and verse) is useful for those who are unable to read English so they can look
up the verses of encouragement and hope in their own language.
What if I can only write in English?
It is fine to write in English. Please print or write
clearly. Your note must be legible to be translated. Many people study English,
so there will likely be someone to translate your letter. Even if no one
receiving your card is able to read English, receiving a card can still bring
them hope and encouragement by reminding them that they are not forgotten. Add
Scripture references which they can look up themselves and know what
encouragement you had on your heart when you wrote them. However, if you can
write in the language of the person, even just a phrase or two, please do so.
They will appreciate your effort.
Will my card or letter actually reach the prisoner I write?
Although some letters may be intercepted, most will reach
their destination. Even if the letter doesn’t reach a prisoner, it can still
have a powerful effect by reminding governments that a prisoner’s case is not
going unnoticed by the rest of the world.
Is it safe to include my name and address on my cards?
The safest possible route to take is to include only your
name and country. However, as long as you are happy to receive a reply,
including your contact details is not a problem. In fact, a pen pal
relationship with someone who is persecuted for their faith can be extremely
inspiring for you. However, because you are an American, you may receive
letters requesting financial help. Before you respond to a request of any kind,
ask Pastor Gene about it first.
Do my cards and letters actually make a difference?
Yes! These brothers and sisters actually receive these
letters and are greatly encouraged and blessed by the cards and letters they
have received. Jose Luis Garcia Paneque, a former Cuban prisoner now in Spain
wrote to Christian Solidarity Worldwide (Canada), “You cannot imagine the value
of a postcard to someone in my situation and thanks to God; his Angels broke
through to deliver the sign, the message of a father who never abandons his
children.”
What should I write?
Share your name and that you know about the prisoner’s
situation.
Be respectful and encouraging.
Tell prisoners that they are not forgotten and that you are
praying for them.
Include a Scripture verse.
What should I NOT write?
Do NOT criticize a government or discuss politics, as this
could place Christian prisoners in danger. In fact, do not mention any
politics.
Do NOT include your mailing address. (You may state your
name and country.)
Do NOT send money or respond to requests for money.
Unscrupulous individuals, claiming to be the prisoner or a family member,
occasionally steal letters and solicit funds.
Do NOT mention your source of information.
Anything else I need to know?
You can send notes, postcards, bookmarks and attractive
Christian greeting cards. Express your Christian love and mention that you are
praying. You may also include a snapshot of yourself, your family or prayer
group.
Sources: Voice of
the Martyrs Canada Letter Writing Guide (http://www.persecution.net/download/prisonlst.pdf)
and Christian Solidarity Worldwide (UK) Connect and Encourage Winter 2011 (http://docs-eu.livesiteadmin.com/c8880e0f-f6ed-4585-8f09-4e4b6d11e698/csw-resources-connect--and-encourage-winter-2011.pdf).
China
More Christians have been and continue to be detained in
China than in any other country. The government officially recognizes five
religious groups: Buddhism, Daoism, Islam, Protestant and Catholic. It strictly
controls the Church through the state-monitored Three-Self Patriotic Movement
(TSPM) and the Catholic Patriotic Association (CPA). During the Cultural Revolution,
even these submissive structures were banned, and all religious activity was
forced underground, giving birth to the house-church movement. Today, there is
much debate related to the current number of Chinese Christians, as the
government releases only data from TSPM or CPA churches. While the government
says there are officially 28.6 million Christians, experts estimate the real
number to lie somewhere between 80 and 130 million.
GONG BANGKUN
No. 3 Division, Section 6
Jiangling District
Jingzhou City, Hubei Province 434110
People’s Republic of China
Mr. Gong Bangkun, a member of the South China Church, was
sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2002.
ZHONG CHEN
Shu Yang County Prison
Jiang Su Province
People’s Republic of China
Zhong Chen was arrested for “illegal evangelistic activities
and disturbing social safety” in 2000, at age 32. Her prison term is unknown.
YI CHUANFU
No. 2 Division, Section 6
Jiangling District
Jingzhou City, Hubei Province 434110
People’s Republic of China
Mr. Yi Chuanfu, a member of the South China Church, was
sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2002.
DONG DAOLAI
No. 1 Division, Section 6
Jiangling District
Jingzhou City, Hubei Province 434110
People’s Republic of China
Mr. Dong Daolai, a member of the South China Church, was
sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2002.
CHI FAMIN
Yongchuan Female Prison
Yongchuan City, Chongqing City 402164
People’s Republic of China
Chi Famin was handed a 10-year sentence for being a member
of an “evil cult” (refers to South China Church) by the People’s Court of
Yunyang County, Chongqing City, on May 14, 2002.
XU FUMING
Jingzhou Prison
Jingzhou City, Hubei Province 434020
People’s Republic of China
Mr. Xu Fuming, a member of the South China Church, was sentenced
to life in prison in 2002.
KIM KYUNG IL
Tiebei Prison
Changchun City
Jilin Province
People’s Republic of China
In 1997, Kim Kyung Il and his brother crossed the border
from North Korea into China. The following year, Kim met a pastor, became a
Christian and joined a Bible study group. Under the leadership of this pastor,
Kim served refugees from North Korea and started Bible studies in the Chengdoo
region. He later helped send refugees to South Korea.
Kim was overseer of a safe house that discipled over 70
refugees. When a large number of the group was arrested by the Chinese police,
he fled with some of the remaining refugees to the China-Mongolian border. He
and his wife were captured, but the rest of the group continued their journey
in the desert. Without their leader, they wandered for two days and finally
crossed the border into Mongolia, where they reached the South Korean embassy
and received passage to South Korea.
Kim and his wife were sent back to North Korea and placed in
prison. His pregnant wife was hit in the stomach with a stick, forcing an
abortion. In the prison, there were many inmates who knew Kim well, but they
protected him by pretending not to know him. Thus the authorities did not
realize how involved he was with helping North Koreans escape. He was released
after serving only a short sentence. Those who protected his identity while in
prison asked him to work harder to let the world know about their situation.
Kim’s wife was released from prison shortly after the forced
abortion. She escaped to South Korea with other family members. After his
release, Kim fled to China and worked at another safe house. He continued to
disciple refugees and assisted them in escaping to South Korea. In April 2002,
he was caught by the Chinese police. Since his arrest, he has been in prison in
China.
In early 2011, VOM contacts received word that Kim’s
sentence was expected to be commuted in March and that he may be free in
September. As soon as Kim is released, he'll face deportation to North Korea.
There, he will almost certainly be executed. Our contact writes, "The only
hope he may have is a huge outpouring of public awareness on this issue, which
might at least delay his execution once he's returned."
Peng Ming
Hubei Provincial Han
Yang Prison
Cai Dian District,
Wuhan City
Hubei Province
People’s Republic of
China
Peng Ming was sentenced to life in prison by Chinese
officials in October 2005 on spurious charges of engaging in terrorism activities.
He has suffered beatings while in prison and has been denied medical treatment.
His elderly parents who live in Sweden have made repeated requests to the
Chinese government for their son’s freedom. They fear they will not live to see
his release.
XIAO YANLI
No. 2 Division, Section 2
Wuhan Female Prison
Wuhan City, Hubei Province 430032
People’s Republic of China
Ms. Xiao Yanli, a member of the South China Church, was
sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2002.
Alimujiang Yimiti
Xinjiang No. 3 Prison
No. 1339, Dongzhan
Road
Urumqi City
Xinjiang, Uyguhur
Autonomous Region 830013
People’s Republic of
China
Alimujiang was working as a project manager for a British
company, Jirehouse, when it was targeted in a series of closures of foreign
businesses belonging to Christians in Xinjiang in September 2007. In January
2008, “Alim,” a Muslim convert to Christianity from the Uyghur people group,
was arrested and accused of “subversion of the national government and
endangering national security,” a crime punishable by death. On May 27, 2008,
Alim’s case went to trial but it was referred back to the Public Security
Bureau’s prosecutors due to insufficient evidence.
On October 27, 2009, Alim was handed a 15-year prison
sentence for “providing state secrets to overseas organizations.” In November
2010, the Higher People’s Court of Xinjiang accepted an appeal by Alim’s wife
and mother and decided to retry his case. In February 2011, the Higher People’s
Court of Xinjiang notified Alim that they upheld the original sentence of 15
years of imprisonment. Alim is being detained “solely because of his faith”
according to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.
HU YING
Jingzhou Prison
Jingzhou City, Hubei Province 434020
People’s Republic of China
Mr. Hu Ying, a leader in the South China Church, was
sentenced to life in prison in 2002.
LI YING
No. 2 Division, Section 3 Wuhan
Female Prison
Wuhan City, Hubei Province 430032
People’s Republic of China
Journalist Li Ying is serving a 15-year prison sentence for
helping publish an underground church magazine. She was arrested in April 2001
alongside 16 others from the South China Church. She was condemned to death in
December 2001. Her current sentence was handed down during a retrial ordered by
the Hubei Provincial Supreme Court in October 2002. Li has been arrested many
times and spent a year in prison in 1996. She cannot have a Bible and is forced
to work 15 hours each day on materials to be exported out of China.
WANG ZHAOMIN
Team #2, Qishan Lao Gai Camp
Datong District
Huainan City, Anhui Province
People’s Republic of China
Wang Zhaomin has been imprisoned since June 1999.
AIQING ZHU
The
Public Security Department
Xiang
Xiang City
Hu
Nan Province
People’s
Republic of China
Aiqing Zhu was arrested for “illegal evangelistic
activities” on June 9, 1996, at age 40. She was sentenced to a 20-year prison
term.
Colombia
Pastor Isaias Prasca
Iglesia Cristo Reg
AIEC
Calle 15 #15-76
Tierralta
Cordoba
Colombia
Pastor Isaias Prasca and his family have received death
threats from armed groups operating in their area. He continues to minister in
areas hard hit by the violence and works with particularly vulnerable
communities. Letters and cards serve both as an encouragement to him and his
congregation, reminding them that their situation is not forgotten.
Additionally it sends a message to the armed groups that Colombian pastors and
their families are part of a worldwide body that cares very much about what
happens to them. This can often mean the difference between life and death.
Cuba
Maranatha First Baptist Church of Holguin
Primera Iglesia
Bautista Maranatha
Fomento 298 e/ Marti
y Luz Caballero
Ciudad de Holguin
Holguin 80100, Cuba
The Maranatha First Baptist Church was first visited by provincial officials
from the Ministry of Housing in April 2011 and informed in a highly
intimidating manner that their buildings would be confiscated on a permanent
basis by state authorities. The 1,000-strong church is based in the town of
Holquin, in northwest Cuba, and has a very active local ministry working with
vulnerable members of the community such as the elderly and the disabled. The
church has also planted many new congregations through their outreach work in
the region, and runs a thriving youth ministry. Despite being registered, the
church now faces confiscation threats.
Pastor Mario Felix Lleonart Barroso
Rivadeneira 66
Taguayabon
Valla Clara 54260
Cuba
Pastor Lleonart Barroso is a Baptist pastor in central Cuba who
has gotten in trouble with the government for ministering to human rights and
democracy activists. Authorities have put pressure on church leaders to remove
him from his leadership position and have tried to isolate Pastor Barroso and
his family.
Rvdo. Roberto Rodríguez
Princesa No. 52
e/Laborde y Gene
Cardenas
42110 Matanzas
Cuba
In answer to prayer, Rev. Rodríguez was cleared of the
charges against him in September 2011. He and his family continue to live in
difficult circumstances and have been unable to return to their home.
Pastor Jose Miroel Matos Guilarte y wife Odelkys Breijo
Calle
21 #23 entre 8 y 10
Reparto el Triangulo
Colombia, Victoria Las Tunas
Cuba
This pastor and his family have been targets of harassment
and threats from Cuban government authorities and would be much encouraged by
letters and cards.
Pastor Tony Milhet Toirac and wife Gloria Pagán Gonzalez
Eduardo
Marmol #91 (oeste)
e/ Maceo y Honorato del Castillo
Ciego de Avila 2
Cuba
This pastor and his family have been targets of harassment
and threats from Cuban government authorities and would be much encouraged by
letters and cards.
Pastor Yogly Gonzalez Peréz
Calle Esperanza 214 Apt 12
e/ Florida Y Alanbique
Habana Vieja
Cuba
In 2009, Pastor Yogly Gonzalez Peréz, age 32, and his family
were forcibly evicted from the home he had inherited from his uncle by the
Cuban National Revolutionary Police and the National Institute of Housing.
Police forced their way into the house when he opened the door in the morning,
confiscated all his belongings and put them into a truck. They forced him and
his family, including his four year old child, to leave, sealed the house,
where they had lived for fifteen years. They have been homeless ever since and
have had to rely on the hospitality of others. He is currently living with his
mother in Havana.
Democratic Republic of Congo
Pastor Fernando Kutino
Prison
Centrale de Makala
CPRK
Kinshasa/Selembao
Democratic Republic of Congo
Evangelical church leader Fernando Kutino was arrested in
May 2006 and sentenced to twenty years’ imprisonment for the illegal possession
of firearms, criminal conspiracy and attempted murder. The charges were
introduced after the trial was underway, and the trial itself was inadequate,
lasting for only nine sittings despite the complexity and gravity of these
charges. After interventions by supporters of the persecuted church, his case
was reopened Dec 12, 2007, and he was sentenced this time to ten years’
imprisonment.
Eritrea
There was a general freedom to practice religion in Eritrea
until 2002, when the government announced it would recognize only four
religious communities: the Orthodox Church of Eritrea, Sunni Islam, the Roman
Catholic Church and the Lutheran-affiliated Evangelical Church of Eritrea.
From 2002 to 2010, the government has jailed, tortured and
killed numerous Eritreans for political and religious reasons, and tortured and
killed many of them extra-judicially. Today, it is estimated that between 2,000
and 3,000 Christians are in Eritrean prisons. Believers face deplorable
conditions, including torture. Many are held in metal shipping containers with
no ventilation or toilet facilities. Of thousands of Christians in detention,
not one has been charged with a crime or faced trial.
HAILE NAIZGI
2nd Police Station
Zone 7 Northern East
Asmara, Zoba Maakel
Eritrea
Prior to his imprisonment on May 23, 2004, Rev. Haile Naizgi
was the chairman of the board of the Full-Gospel Church of Eritrea, the largest
Pentecostal church in the nation. Previously, he was a senior accountant with
World Vision in Eritrea. Naizgi, who is married with two children, was one the
key organizers of the Church’s activities in Eritrea.
KIDANE WELDOU
2nd Police Station
Zone 7 Northern East
Asmara, Zoba Maakel
Eritrea
Pastor Kidane Weldou was imprisoned on March 18, 2005. He
was the senior pastor at Asmara Full-Gospel Church. His wife and children have
been unable to visit him in prison, and his exact whereabouts remain unknown.
Formerly, he was a high school biology teacher. He was also involved in many
gospel-related activities among students and professionals from various
churches in the nation.
DR. KIFLU GEBREMESKEL
2nd Police Station
Zone 7 Northern East
Asmara, Zoba Maakel
Eritrea
Dr. Kiflu Gebremeskel was the pastor of South-West
Full-Gospel Church in Asmara until his imprisonment on May 23, 2004. Dr. Kiflu,
a former dean of science and lecturer of mathematics at Asmara University, left
his job to serve the Lord as a pastor and Bible teacher in 1999. He has a
doctorate in mathematics from the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago,
Ill. Dr. Kiflu was also the chairman of the Eritrean Evangelical Alliance, a
union of all the churches belonging to the Baptist, Mennonite, Presbyterian,
Pentecostal and other Charismatic churches.
Iran
Iran has the largest Shi’a Islam population in the world.
Christians comprise one-half of 1 percent of the population. The Iranian
attitude toward religion can seem contradictory—very chaste in public but much
less so in private. The courts can impose the death sentence on male apostates
and life imprisonment for female apostates. Effectively, Iran is a religious
dictatorship where little of consequence can occur without the approval of the
Guardian Council of Mullahs.
Religious persecution of certain minorities has intensified
since 2005. This is aimed at the Baha’i, Sufi Muslims and Christians,
especially believers from a Muslim background. Almost all Christian activity is
illegal, especially when it occurs in Persian languages—from evangelism to
Bible training to publishing Scripture and Christian books. Yet, the regime’s
harsh treatment of Christians only further fuels the flames of church growth.
Lakan Prison
Rasht
Islamic Republic of Iran
Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani was arrested in October 2009, after
protesting a decision by the government requiring that his son study the
Qur’an. In October 2010, Pastor Youcef, a leader in the evangelical Church of Iran,
was sentenced to death for apostasy. He was transferred to Lakan Prison, which
is supervised by the Political Police of the Islamic Republic. In June 2011,
the Iranian Supreme Court upheld and confirmed the death sentence. In early
July 2011, his lawyer received word that the case was being returned to the
Revolutionary Tribunal of Gilan Province and that the Supreme Court would annul
the sentence if Pastor Youcef renounced his faith in Christ. The annulment is
dependent on him recanting his faith and embracing Islam. The Gilan Court, in
an unusual move, wrote two letters to the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khameini to
ask for his help in deciding Pastor Youcef’s fate. The court says it will make
a decision by mid-December if the Ayatollah does not respond. If Pastor Youcef
is executed, his death would be the first judicial execution of a Christian in
Iran in two decades.
MEHDI “PETROS” FOROUTON
Pirbanu Prison
Shiraz, Farsi State,
Islamic Republic of Iran
Mehdi “Petros” Forouton, a 27-year-old pastor in Iran, was
arrested in January 2010 and charged with crimes against national security and
blasphemy against Islam. Although acquitted of the blasphemy charge and
released on bail a month later, Pastor Forouton was sentenced to one year in
prison and told to report to prison soon. Unlike most people who wait for an
arrest warrant, Pastor Forouton reported to prison on Sept. 25, 2011, to begin
serving his sentence. Almost immediately, Pastor Forouton was transferred to a
camp for recovering drug addicts in Shiraz, often called “the end of the road”
for addicts and drug dealers. By mid-October
2011, Pastor Petros was placed in solitary confinement for evangelizing fellow
prisoners. He was allowed back into the general prison population the first of
November, 2011.
BEHNAM IRANI
Albourz State
Islamic Republic of Iran
Behnam Irani, a 41-year-old pastor from Kraj, Iran, was
convicted of crimes against national security in January 2011 and sentenced to
one year in prison. After voluntarily surrendering to authorities on May 31 to
begin his sentence, he learned that he would be forced to serve five years in
connection with a previous conviction. Officers from the Ministry of
Intelligence and National Security (MOIS) raided Irani’s house church on April
14, 2010, and assaulted him before taking him into custody. Although he was
released on bail two months after his arrest, he later received the one-year
prison sentence. Irani was first arrested in December 2006 and tried for crimes
against national security. He was released in January 2007 but was soon
re-arrested, tried and sentenced to five years in prison. Irani was never
called to serve the sentence that is now being held against him.
Lao Peoples Democratic Republic
Communist persecution of Christians in Laos was especially
harsh between 1975 and 1978. Restrictions eased afterward, but churches and
Christians are still watched and targeted. Buddhism has regained much of its
old influence, but is heavily syncretised with animism. Persecution tends to happen
in cycles and is expressed on a local or regional level as much as on a
national scale. In all cases, though, it can be intense and ruthless towards
the Church. Missionaries are forbidden.
THONG CHAN
Thong Chan
Ban Na Prison
Muang Xai, Udomxai
Lao Peoples Democratic
Republic
Mr. Thong Chan was a district governor and found Christ
through the Far Eastern Broadcasting Company ministry in 1997. He was arrested
in 1999, after his house church started growing in numbers. His criminal
conviction was based on “preaching the gospel, being a traitor to the nation
and speaking badly about the nation.” He is reportedly sickly and unable to
walk without help due to his time spent in prison labour. He faces 11 years in
prison.
Pakistan
Pakistan is an Islamic republic with a Sunni majority.
Despite its infringement of the constitution, Shariah law is increasingly
applied—even to Christians and Hindus—especially in areas where Islamist groups
have control or influence. While there is a notable degree of religious freedom
promised to minorities by law, non-Muslims and non-Sunnis must practice their
faith cautiously. Christians in Pakistan face severe opposition from militant
Islamic groups, including imprisonment, torture and even death.
Many Pakistani Christians are falsely accused under the
Blasphemy Law, or Law 295. Law 295a, blaspheming Islam, and Law 295b,
blaspheming the Qur’an, are criminal offenses. Law 295c makes blaspheming
Mohammed a crime punishable by death. Courtrooms packed with militants have often
pressured judges into returning a guilty verdict or continuing trials
indefinitely. Christians are regularly barred from jobs or face troubles from
their employers and co-workers. Christian merchants are often harassed.
ASIA BIBI
Sheikhupura
Punjab
Pakistan
Asia Bibi, 38, was arrested by police on allegations of
blasphemy in the village of Ittanwali, Punjab province. On June 19, 2009, some
Muslim women who work with Bibi on a farm owned by a local Muslim engaged in a
heated discussion with Bibi about Islam. Bibi told them that Christ died on the
cross for their sins and asked them what Mohammed had done for them. "Our
Christ is the true prophet of God and yours is not true," Bibi said. The
Muslim women became angry and began to beat her. Some men then locked her in a
room. Local Christians urged the police not to file blasphemy charges; however,
police claimed that they must go forward due to pressure from local Muslim
leaders.
On November 8, 2010, Bibi was sentenced to death. She is the
first Pakistani woman ever to receive a death sentence for blasphemy. Her
attorney has filed an appeal. In December 2010, a hard-line cleric offered a US$6,000
reward to anyone who will kill Asia Bibi if the government does not put her to
death. In January 2011, the governor of Punjab province was assassinated by his
bodyguard for speaking out against the blasphemy law under which Asia was
sentenced. The governor had recently met with Asia in jail. In March 2011,
Pakistan’s Minister of Minority Affairs, Shahbaz Bhatti, the only Christian in
the Cabinet, was assassinated while on his way to work. Bhatti had also spoken
out against the country’s blasphemy law.
IMRAN GHAFUR
Faisalabad
Pakistan
On July 1, 2009, Pakistani police arrested Imran Ghafur in
Punjab province after Muslims accused him of burning pages of the Qur’an. While
cleaning his brother’s retail shop, Imran removed the trash he had collected,
intending to burn some of it. While burning the trash, pages of an Islamic book
flew into the fire and burned. Imran’s neighbour, Haji Liaqat, saw the burned
pages of the Islamic book and alerted other Muslims in the area.
Imran and his father were severely beaten before police
arrested Imran. Following the arrest, news of the incident spread throughout
the city, and angry Muslims threw stones at the police station where Imran was
being held. “Give the death sentence to him who disgraces the Holy Qur’an, and
hang him who disgraces the Holy Qur’an,” the Muslims said. “Christians are
dogs; Imran is a dog,” they shouted.
On July 2, 2009, Imran was moved to a jail. “The situation
is very tense in Hajwari town, where the Christian families live,” said a Voice
of the Martyrs contact. “Haji Liaqat and his friends are saying that they will
not allow Imran’s family to live in the colony or run their business.” Imran
and his family manage businesses in the area and are actively involved with
other local Christians.
Augustine Ashiq ‘Kingri’ Masih
c/o All Pakistan Minorities Alliance
House 1/B
Street 95
1-84 Islamabad
Pakistan
Sentenced to death in 2002 for blasphemy against the prophet
Mohammed, Kingri is still in prison eight years later, pending appeal.
Turkmenistan
Constitutionally, there is freedom of religion in Turkmenistan.
In practice, this is limited to Sunni Islam or Russian Orthodoxy―all other
forms of Islam or minority religions are subject to severe repression and
harassment. Hostility against any non-Orthodox Christian activity has persisted
for more than 10 years. Almost every foreign Christian has been expelled.
Several national pastors have been exiled, beaten, heavily fined or imprisoned.
Congregations continue to be intimidated and forbidden to meet. Registration is
a difficult, near-impossible process, and when it does occur, it subjects the
church to greater surveillance. Unregistered religious gatherings of any size
or kind are strictly forbidden.
ILMURAD NURLIEV
Seydi uchr. LB-K/12
Turkmenistan
Pentecostal pastor Ilmurad Nurliev was arrested at his home in
Mary, southeastern Turkmenistan, on August 27, 2010. He was charged with
extracting money from three people. His wife, Maya, and church members strongly
deny the allegations. During his trial, several witnesses against the
45-year-old pastor were coerced into testifying. Pastor Nurliev was sentenced
to four years in prison, and his wife was forced to pay “compensation”
immediately, or risk being kicked out of their home. Pastor Nurliev was also
ordered to undergo “forcible medical treatment” to “wean him off his narcotic
dependency,” another claim that his wife and church members reject.
In December 2010, Pastor Nurliev was transferred to Seyi
Labour Camp, known for its use of psychotropic drugs on prisoners. A former
prisoner in the camp described conditions “like something from the Middle
Ages.” The pastor is a diabetic, and his family is concerned about his health
while he is in prison. He has no access to medical treatment. Instead of
working in the camp’s brick kiln, the pastor is being permitted to work as a
barber, serving both prisoners and camp staff. Prison authorities have denied
Pastor Nurliev a Bible.
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan is a secular state, promoting a moderate, tightly
controlled form of Islam. The growing Islamist movement is handled with venom
by the state. Christians are third-party victims of this struggle. Ethnic Uzbek
Christians, in particular, receive harsh treatment.
Religious communities are required to officially register.
Only approved religious organizations—Muslim groups, Jews, Russian Orthodox and
some Protestant groups—can be registered, and registration is frequently
refused or delayed. Police make surprise visits to churches and forcibly close
those who cannot immediately produce registration papers. Evangelism, missionary
activity and religious instruction are forbidden by law. Uzbek Christians have
been fined, beaten and imprisoned for their faith.
TOHAR HAYDAROV
Otryad 13
Pos. Shaikh-Ali
G. Karshi, Kashkadarya Region
180020
Uzbekistan
On March 9, 2010, a criminal court in Uzbekistan sentenced
27-year-old Tohar Haydarov to 10 years in prison for the “illegal sale of
narcotic or psychotropic substances in large quantities.” Members of the
Baptist church in Uzbekistan insist that the charges are fabricated and that
Haydarov’s sentence was punishment for his religious activity. It is unclear
why Haydarov received a 10-year sentence. Baptists insist that police planted
drugs on Haydarov, and church members insist that he is “a man with a pure
conscience and an honest Christian.” Haydarov has appealed his sentence.
Vietnam
Vietnam is one of the world’s few remaining Communist
nations. Though Vietnam's constitution provides for freedom of worship, the
government continues to restrict organized activities of many religious groups.
Only government-controlled religious organizations are allowed. The Southern
Evangelical Church of Vietnam and the smaller Evangelical Church of Vietnam
North are two of the largest officially recognized Protestant churches. Unregistered
churches and ethnic minority Christians still suffer harassment, discrimination
and, sometimes, outright persecution.
Y WO NIE
Ba Sao Village
Kim Bang District
Ha Nam Province
Vietnam
Pastor Y Wo Nie was arrested on August 18, 2004, for leading
a demonstration demanding more religious freedom and the release of property
confiscated by the Vietnamese government. He received a nine-year sentence.
Pastor Y Du / Pastor Y Co
Doi 7, Phan Trai K3
Trai giam so 5
Huyen Yen Ding
Ting Thang Hoa
Vietnam
Pastors Y Du and Y Co are pastors of small congregations of
an unregistered denomination from the majority-Christian Ede ethnic group in
the Central Highlands of Vietnam. They were arrested Jan. 27, 2010, and
sentenced on Nov. 15, 2010. It is believed their charges are spurious and they
are being targeted for their Christian work. Pastor Y Du was charged with being
part of the Degar separatist movement and received six years’ imprisonment
followed by three years’ house arrest for “undermining the state.”
Pastor Y Co received four years’ imprisonment followed by
two years’ house arrest for “undermining the state.” Prior to their trials,
both pastors’ wives were visited at home by police and told that if they would
renounce their faith in Jesus Christ their husbands would be released. Both men
are being beaten severely in prison. Their wives are not able to visit them and
are worried their husbands may die in prison.
Addresses to cut out for mailings
GONG BANGKUN
No. 3 Division,
Section 6
Jiangling District
Jingzhou City, Hubei
Province 434110
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF
CHINA
ZHONG CHEN
Shu Yang County
Prison
Jiang Su Province
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF
CHINA
YI CHUANFU
No. 2 Division,
Section 6
Jiangling District
Jingzhou City, Hubei
Province 434110
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF
CHINA
DONG DAOLAI
No. 1 Division,
Section 6
Jiangling District
Jingzhou City, Hubei
Province 434110
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF
CHINA
CHI FAMIN
Yongchuan Female
Prison
Yongchuan City,
Chongqing City 402164
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF
CHINA
XU FUMING
Jingzhou Prison
Jingzhou City, Hubei
Province 434020
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF
CHINA
KIM KYUNG IL
#104-1004 Mailbox
Tiebei Prison
Changchun City, Jilin
Province
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF
CHINA
PENG MING
No. 4 Prison Branch
Hubei Provincial Han
Yang Prison
Cai Dian District,
Wuhan City
Hubei Province
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF
CHINA
XIAO YANLI
No. 2 Division,
Section 2
Wuhan Female Prison
Wuhan City, Hubei
Province 430032
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF
CHINA
ALIMUJIANG YIMITI
Section 11,
Xinjiang No. 3 Prison
No. 1339, Dongzhan
Road
Urumqi City 830013
Xinjiang, Uyghur
Autonomous Region
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF
CHINA
HU YING
Jingzhou Prison
Jingzhou City, Hubei
Province 434020
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF
CHINA
LI YING
No. 2 Division,
Section 3
Wuhan Female Prison
Wuhan City, Hubei
Province 430032
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF
CHINA
WANG ZHAOMIN
Team #2, Qishan Lao
Gai Camp
Datong District
Huainan City, Anhui
Province
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF
CHINA
AIQING ZHU
The Public Security Department
Xiang Xiang City, Hu
Nan Province
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF
CHINA
PASTOR ISAIAS PRASCA
Iglesia Cristo Reg
AIEC
Calle 15 #15-76
Tierralta, Cordoba
COLOMBIA
PRIMERA IGLESIA
BAUTISTA MARANATHA
Fomento 298 e/ Marti
y Luz Caballero
Ciudad de Holguin
Holguin 80100
CUBA
PASTOR MARIO FELIX
LLEONART BARROSO
Rivadeneira 66
Taguayabon
Valla Clara 54260
CUBA
RVDO. ROBERTO
RODRÍGUEZ
Princesa No. 52
e/Laborde y Gene
Cardenas
42110 Matanzas
CUBA
PASTOR JOSE MIROEL
MATOS GUILARTE Y ODELKYS BREIJO
Calle 21 #23 entre 8 y 10
Reparto el Triangulo
Colombia, Victoria Las Tunas
CUBA
PASTOR TONY MILHET
TOIRAC Y
GLORIA PAGÁN GONZALEZ
Eduardo Marmol #91 (oeste)
e/ Maceo y Honorato del Castillo
Ciego de Avila 2
CUBA
PASTOR YOGLY GONZALEZ
PERÉZ
Calle Esperanza 214 Apt 12
e/ Florida Y Alanbique
Habana Vieja
CUBA
PASTOR FERNANDO
KUTINO
Prison Centrale de Makala
CPRK
Kinshasa/Selembao
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
HAILE NAIZGI
Karsheli Prison
2nd Police Station
Zone 7 Northern East
Asmara, Zoba Maakel
ERITREA
KIDANE WELDOU
Karsheli Prison
2nd Police Station
Zone 7 Northern East
Asmara, Zoba Maakel
ERITREA
DR. KIFLU GEBREMESKEL
Karsheli Prison
2nd Police Station
Zone 7 Northern East
Asmara, Zoba Maakel
ERITREA
YOUCEF NADARKHANI
Lakan Prison
Rasht, Gilan
ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN
MEHDI “PETROS”
FOROUTON
10KM after Abelabad
Pirbanu Prison
Shiraz, Farsi State
ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN
BEHNAM IRANI
Karaj
Prison
Albourz State
ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN
THONG CHAN
Ban Na Prison
Muang Xai, Udomxai
LAO PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC
ASIA BIBI
District Jail
Sheikhupura, Punjab
PAKISTAN
IMRAN GHAFUR
Central Jail of Faisalabad
Faisalabad
PAKISTAN
AUGUSTINE ASHIQ
‘KINGRI’ MASIH
c/o All Pakistan Minorities Alliance
House 1/B
Street 95
1-84 Islamabad
PAKISTAN
ILMURAD NURLIEV
746222 Lebap vilayet
Seydi uchr. LB-K/12
TURKMENISTAN
TOHAR HAYDAROV
UYa 64/49
Otryad 13
Pos. Shaikh-Ali
G. Karshi, Kashkadarya Region
180020
UZBEKISTAN
Y WO NIE
Nam Ha Prison, Team
27
Ba Sao Village
Kim Bang District
Ha Nam Province
VIETNAM
PASTOR Y DU / PASTOR
Y CO
Doi 7, Phan Trai K3
Trai giam so 5
Huyen Yen Ding
Ting Thang Hoa
VIETNAM
Gene:
ReplyDeleteMy name is Ken Zintak and I am a member of the Christian Advocacy Now group at The Orchard Evangelical Free Church in Arlington Heights.
We are doing the exact same thing as what you are doing with this blog! In fact, we have a Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/ChristianAdvocacyNow
where we are posting a Christmas Card prisoner of the day. We also have a website where we give directions for sending cards and even throwing a Christmas Card party: http://www.christianadvocacynow.org/ccprty.shtml
Last Sunday, we held our annual Card party for the persecuted church and got about 1000 cards done.
Anyway, I hope you get lots of participation.
Also, I hope you will make your friends aware of our facebook page and website. Finally, one of our goals is to start CAN groups at various churches. Our goal in forming these groups is "to inform, inspire, and organize Christians to pray and act on behalf of the persecuted and oppressed".
Can you imagine if groups like ours were in many churches?
Thank you for your efforts. I pray that God will continue to bless your ministry to HIs Glory.
Ken Zintak
CAN Board Member
zintak@comcast.net
Ken, what an encouraging post. I made out this document (a compilation of two different such documents from Christian Solidarity Worldwide and Voice of the Martyrs) for the use of our church members to send cards to the persecuted church. After putting it together, I got the idea that the document may be useful to others if I posted it on my blog.
ReplyDeleteI have been leading the church on Wednesday nights to pray for the persecuted church for about a year. Here the Girls in Action and the Royal Ambassadors (boys) made 29 cards which we mailed last week. I made about 25 copies of the document, and all but five or six have disappeared. I hope some Sunday School classes are sending cards. The youth pastor said the youth were making out cards, too. Our family's plan is to read from the document and send one or two a day.
Thanks for all you do for the Kingdom and to encourage the Persecuted Church. Many blessings on CAN and all that you do.