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| Quran, Mus'haf_Al_Tajweed. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
PAKISTAN - An 11-year-old Pakistani Christian
girl with Down syndrome was arrested and charged with blasphemy of Islam on
August 17. The girl, Rimsha Masih, who lives in a Christian area of Islamabad,
Pakistan's capital, is accused of burning a Qur’an.
Allegedly, a Qur’an was found [by Muslims] with some of its pages burned. In previous cases, Qur’an burning has almost always been done by Muslims or mentally unstable people. Muslim extremists are now threatening to burn down every Christian home in the community.
Several thousand Christians have fled the suburb and are in hiding, along with the family of the victim. The police are hostile to the accused, have presumed her guilt, and have no regard for her status as a minor or as one with Down syndrome. When the girl was brought to the police station she had a shopping bag containing partly-burned religious and Arabic-language papers, but no Qur’an.
The President of Pakistan has ordered an investigation, and local Christian rights workers are planning to apply for bail for Rimsha immediately after the end of the currently ongoing Muslim Eid celebrations. Please pray for her and her family. Source: Assist News, LA Times
Allegedly, a Qur’an was found [by Muslims] with some of its pages burned. In previous cases, Qur’an burning has almost always been done by Muslims or mentally unstable people. Muslim extremists are now threatening to burn down every Christian home in the community.
Several thousand Christians have fled the suburb and are in hiding, along with the family of the victim. The police are hostile to the accused, have presumed her guilt, and have no regard for her status as a minor or as one with Down syndrome. When the girl was brought to the police station she had a shopping bag containing partly-burned religious and Arabic-language papers, but no Qur’an.
The President of Pakistan has ordered an investigation, and local Christian rights workers are planning to apply for bail for Rimsha immediately after the end of the currently ongoing Muslim Eid celebrations. Please pray for her and her family. Source: Assist News, LA Times
TANZANIA - A teenager in Tanzania has been sentenced to two years in prison after being accused of desecrating the Qur'an. Eva Abdullah, 17, converted to Christianity from Islam three years ago. Her parents disowned her after her conversion and a group of radicals in her hometown tried to persuade her to renounce her Christian faith. When she refused, they falsely accused her of desecrating a Qur'an. Many Christian leaders were afraid to defend Eva because of Muslim dominance in the district.
On July 26, Eva was sentenced to two years in prison by a judge who was allegedly bribed by the Islamic militants. Praise the Lord for Eva's witness for the Gospel and ask God to strengthen her faith regardless of her circumstances (2 Peter 1:2-4). Pray the Lord will give her opportunities to share her faith in prison and use her testimony to strengthen the faith of believers all over Tanzania. Source: VOM
INDIA - For months, a group of Hindu extremists in southern India’s Karnataka state had been blasting high-volume movie music at a local church prayer meeting in the pastor’s home. In early July, the harassment crossed the line to assault when the Hindus burst into the prayer meeting of EndTime Ministries, knocked three worshippers unconscious and ripped the clothes off a widow.
The Christians lodged a police complaint against the Hindu extremists, who filed a counter complaint against EndTime pastor, Mounesh. When both sides appeared in court on July 27, the magistrate told Pastor Mounesh he should not conduct worship services in homes. EndTime Ministries has now moved its services to another area for safety reasons.
Pray the Lord will give grace and strength to all believers affected in the attack. Pray the Lord will give wisdom to Pastor Mounesh to know how best to serve Him and the congregation. Pray for the perpetrators as well as those in authority in the region. Source: VOM
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