Persecution Blog

Persecution Podcast Episode 32

Steve — 2009-11-20T14:00:47-08:00

This week Todd and Mark talk about Ethiopia, China and Iran. Also an audio segment revealing some of VOM’s history.

Russian Priest Gunned Down in Church

Stacy L. Harp — 2009-11-20T11:43:24-08:00

Moscow is in shock after an unknown masked gunman shot dead an Orthodox priest in his own church. Father Daniil Sysoev was known for his debates with people of different beliefs. Shortly before his death, Father Daniil claimed in his Internet Blog that he had received 14 threats from Muslims.

Here's a related article on this tragedy. Click here.

Muslim Nations Seeking International Blasphemy Ban

Stacy L. Harp — 2009-11-20T11:33:21-08:00

Fox News has a very interesting article today on muslim nations that are seeking to ban blasphemy. Click here to read the full article.

GENEVA — Four years after cartoons of the prophet Muhammad set off violent protests across the Muslim world, Islamic nations are mounting a campaign for an international treaty to protect religious symbols and beliefs from mockery — essentially a ban on blasphemy that would put them on a collision course with free speech laws in the West.

Documents obtained by The Associated Press show that Algeria and Pakistan have taken the lead in lobbying to eventually bring the proposal to a vote in the U.N. General Assembly.

If ratified in countries that enshrine freedom of expression as a fundamental right, such a treaty would require them to limit free speech if it risks seriously offending religious believers. The process, though, will take years and no showdown is imminent.

The proposal faces stiff resistance from Western countries, including the United States, which in the past has brushed aside other U.N. treaties, such as one on the protection of migrant workers.

Experts say the bid stands some chance of eventual success if Muslim countries persist. And whatever the outcome, the campaign risks reigniting tensions between Muslims and the West that President Barack Obama has pledged to heal, reviving fears of a "clash of civilizations."

What do you think of these proposals? Good idea? Bad Idea? Sound off.

Special Prayer Request

Stacy L. Harp — 2009-11-19T12:35:42-08:00

If you follow VOM on Facebook, then you already know about this special prayer request, but if you don't, I wanted to tell you about it so that you can offer a prayer for our friend in Turkey who will be debating and Islamic scholar. And if you are not yet apart of our Facebook Fan page, please see the right side bar of this page and join us today.

Thank you for praying! We love you!

A believer in Turkey has been asked to appear THIS FRIDAY on national TV to debate with an Islamic scholar on the reliability of the New Testament. Pray for wisdom for him, and the ability to clearly speak Truth (John 14:6).

Take New Steps to Free Gao!

Stacy L. Harp — 2009-11-19T12:28:19-08:00

With the exciting news of the release of Maryam and Marzieh, let me remind you that our brother Gao Zhisheng is still missing and we are still trying to find out how his health is and where he has been taken.

We do know from recent reports that Gao is living, however we need to continue to put pressure on government officials, as well as pray, so that Gao will become free just like Maryam and Marzieh.

Here's more information from China Aid and The Voice of the Martyrs.

Even after delivering over 106,000 signed petitions to the Chinese embassy, officials there have refused to provide any further details of human rights attorney, Gao Zhisheng's whereabouts or physical condition.

During recent committee hearings in Washington D.C., six Chinese human rights legal defenders spoke on the human rights abuses in China, including the specific case of Gao Zhisheng.

A number of concerned US government officials, including Rep. Frank Wolf and Rep. Chris Smith, committed to continue putting pressure on the Chinese government. Thirty U.S. House Representatives then signed a Congressional Letter to President Obama on November 10th, calling on him to raise awareness of human rights issues while in China - listing the treatment of human rights lawyers first.

Most U.S. Representatives remain unaware of the kidnapping and brutal torture of Gao, a man nominated for the Nobel peace prize in 2008.

And they will remain unaware unless we take action.

We have set up a special page on www.FreeGao.com to assist you in contacting your state representative by email and making him or her aware of Gao Zhisheng's tragic situation.

After entering your email address, you will receive complete instructions from China Aid on how to send your message. The whole process will take you less than 10 minutes.

You will also have the opportunity to make a financial contribution to help China Aid keep this campaign and others like it moving forward and ultimately to free wrongly persecuted individuals like Gao Zhisheng.

Please remember to share this campaign with your friends and family. The more voices we add to the petition and hold our US Representatives accountable through our emails, the greater the volume of the outcry and the stronger chance we have of helping return Gao to his family.

For complete instructions on contacting your state representative on behalf of Gao Zhisheng, please follow the link below.

www.FreeGao.com/actionsteps

Thank you for taking action today!

Chinese Human Rights Attorney Jiang Tianyong Arrested and His Wife Beaten in Front of Their Daughter

Stacy L. Harp — 2009-11-19T12:18:41-08:00

Breaking News from our friends at China Aid.

BEIJING--At 7:40 AM (Beijing time) on Nov. 19, Jiang Tianyong and his wife attempted to leave their home to take their daughter to school, when they were barred from leaving the apartment building by Public Security Bureau officers assembled at the gate. Before Jiang could speak with them, four officers grabbed him violently and forced him into a police car. A police officer named Wang Tao threw his wife to the ground and began striking her. Jiang's 7-year-old daughter cried helplessly as she watched her father being dragged away to detention by the officers.

Jiang Tianyong was arrested and held in detention at the Yangfangdian PSB office of Haidian District, Beijing for over 13 hours, under the guard of Officers Li Aimin and Wang Tao. He was allowed only one meal during his detention. A dozen human rights lawyers rallied in front of the station to demand Jiang's release and to show support for their colleague. He was released at 9:26 PM (Beijing time) to return home to his family.

Immediately after learning of Jiang's arrest, ChinaAid contacted the US Embassy in Beijing and several U.S. Congressional offices, notifying them of Jiang Tianyong's brutal treatment and detention. A US Embassy official quickly responded and said that the Embassy had called the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and formally registered the U.S. Government'sconcern and opposition to this action. The embassy further reported the incident to theNational Security Council and the State Department, all prior to Jiang's release.

...

Yesterday, on November 18, Jiang Tianyong and a fellow legal researcher attempted to arrange a meeting with President Obama before he left China, hoping to follow through with the lawyers' request for US acknowlegement of the current dire situation. After receiving a phone call from the U.S. Embassy, informing him President Obama would not be able to meet with the group of five human rights lawyers who had gathered, 200 police officers immediately pulled up, and interrogated Jiang and one of his colleagues in the hotel for over an hour. They were informed they "were not allowed to meet President Obama" and would "be held until he left" yesterday afternoon.

The brutal assault of Jiang Tianyong, his wife, and their daughter is an unjust an inexcusable attack on the rights of peaceful Chinese citizens. Jiang's family now suffers even more from this abuse, as their well-being was taxed after Jiang's license to practice law was revoked and his tenure at the Beijing Global Law Firm was terminated in April of this year.

ChinaAid denounces the cruel and inhumane treatment of human rights Attorney Jiang Tianyong. We urge the Chinese authorities to stop their harassment of Attorney Jiang and the other human rights lawyers and their families who have been detained during President Obama's visit.

ChinaAid further calls on the international community to pray for healing from this unjust persecution, in the wake of Jiang's courageous tour in the United States, and to call on American leaders to voice their opposition to human rights abuses in China.

Valedictorian's Case Dismissed

Stacy L. Harp — 2009-11-18T13:15:44-08:00

Today I wanted to share with you another example of discrimination here in America towards Christians (and there is a lot of it!)

A few years ago in 2006 maybe you heard about Brittany McComb who was the valedictorian for her high school class, who had her microphone shut off while she was giving her speech. Her crime? - It was speaking about her Christian faith.

Sadly, we have just found out that her case was not accepted by the United States Supreme Court, which is a huge loss for freedom of speech.

Here's some of the article from The Rutherford Institute who have been defending Brittany. Read the full article here and see Brittany give her speech.

On Thursday, June 15, 2006, McComb delivered her commencement address to over 400 fellow students, families and staff. However, believing that the district’s censorship of her speech amounted to a violation of her right to free speech, she attempted to deliver the original version of her remarks in which she shares her personal beliefs about the role that her Christian beliefs played in her success.

When school officials found her to be straying from the approved text, they unplugged her microphone, thus ending the address. Despite extensive jeers from the audience over the school officials’ actions, McComb was not permitted to finish giving her valedictory speech.

Attorneys for The Rutherford Institute filed a First Amendment lawsuit in federal court on behalf of Brittany. In their complaint, Institute attorneys asked the court to declare that school officials deprived McComb of her rights under the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution. In filing suit against Foothill High School officials, Rutherford Institute attorneys stated, “Brittany’s stellar academic performance qualified and entitled her to address her classmates at graduation in her own words, yet the Defendants sought to censor her speech, coerce her into giving a different speech in violation of her conscience, and interfere with and censor the delivery of her speech, all based upon her religious belief and viewpoint.”

"This is yet another example of a politically correct culture silencing Christians in order to not offend those of other beliefs," said John W. Whitehead, president of The Rutherford Institute. "Brittany McComb worked hard to earn the right to address her classmates as valedictorian and she has a constitutional right-like any other student-to freely speak about the factors that contributed to her success, whether they be a supportive family, friends or her faith in Jesus Christ."

The First Amendment lawsuit against Foothill High School officials was filed in July 2006. In June 2007, the U.S. District Court for Nevada rejected the school district's second attempt to have the case dismissed and affirmed that the lawsuit raises substantial claims of infringement of McComb's right of free speech. School officials subsequently appealed and, in March 2009, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed the case. Three months later, The Rutherford Institute appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

In November, the court refused to hear the case, thus ending her fight. “This is a sad day for the cause of freedom," said John W. Whitehead, president of The Rutherford Institute, in response. "When the Supreme Court cannot clear their calendar to hear a case of this magnitude, then our freedoms are in jeopardy. Such censorship and discrimination should not be permitted in America."

Another Christian Has Been Killed in Somalia

Stacy L. Harp — 2009-11-18T12:34:40-08:00

Sadly, we have another report of a Christian who has died as a result of their faith in Christ Jesus.

Somalia (MNN) ― A human rights group has learned that members of al-Shabaab (a Somali Islamic extremist group) have killed yet another leader of an underground church in the Somalia capital of Mogadishu.

Washington-based International Christian Concern (ICC) reports that on Oct. 10, Pastor Ali Hussein Weheliye was returning home from a worship service when two masked members of al-Shabaab ambushed and shot him. He was later taken to Darful Shifa Hospital.

ICC's Regional Manager for Africa and South Asia Jonathan Racho says Pastor Ali died of his injuries. "This is very sad news because this year alone, Ali is the 15th Christian to be killed by Islamic extremists in Somalia."

According to ICC, Ali converted from Islam to Christianity in 1999 while working in Somalia's capital as a linguist. In 2002, he started pastoring an underground house church. He is survived by his wife and a daughter who are now in hiding, fearing for their lives.

ICC reports that al-Shabaab has previously declared Somalia as an Islamic state, vowing to eradicate Christians. Just this year, the group has killed a dozen Somali Christians. Several Christians have also left the country due to the intense persecution. Racho says, "Christians in that country are underground. They're living double lives. Some of them are even going to the mosques just to appear to the Islamists that they are just Muslims."

Racho adds, "The underground church in Somalia is enduring untold suffering; al-Shabaab and other Islamic extremist groups are hunting down and killing Christians. By killing Christians, the Islamic extremists have repeatedly demonstrated utter disregard for human life and freedom of religion."

RELEASED! Maryam and Marzieh Set Free After 259 Days in Prison

Stacy L. Harp — 2009-11-18T12:10:44-08:00

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VOM’s friend, Elam Ministries, which serves the growing church in Iran, has announced that Maryam Rustampoor and Marzieh Amirizadeh have been released from Evin Prison in Tehran. Family members picked them up at the prison this afternoon, Iran time.
   The two women immediately expressed thanks to Christians around the world who had prayed for them during their 259 days in prison.
   “Words are not enough to express our gratitude to the Lord and to his people who have prayed and worked for our release," they said.
   The pair was released without bail, but charges against them have not been formally dropped and they may still face a court hearing in the future.
   Maryam and Marzieh were arrested March 5 and have been held in the notorious Evin Prison since then. Though their health has suffered greatly during their incarceration, they have steadfastly refused to denounce their Christian faith.
   “We are thankful to the Lord for sustaining Maryam and Marzieh—physically and spiritually—during their time in prison,” said VOM’s Todd Nettleton. “We also thank all those who prayed for them and wrote letters to them at www.prisoneralert.com.”
   Please continue to pray that Maryam and Marzieh will recover physically from their ordeal, and pray that all charges against them will be dropped. Pray also for other Christians in Iran who are persecuted for their faith in Christ.

Christian Convert Who Came in on Hijacked Plane Given Asylum

Stacy L. Harp — 2009-11-17T16:35:30-08:00

Everyday as I read through stories of Christian persecution, I am amazed at the faith of believers all over the world. I am especially moved by the fact, and it is truly a FACT, that if a person leaves Islam to follow Jesus Christ, in many cases it is a death sentence. So as you read this, consider whether or not you'd follow Jesus if you knew you could die for it. Thankfully this story is good news for our brother in Christ. Read on...click here for the full story.

The man, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, used human rights rules to overturn a previous Home Office decision to refuse him asylum.

Lawyers said there were fears that, as an apostate – one who rejects the Muslim religion – the man, originally from Mazar-i-Sharif, but now living in Hounslow, west London, would face persecution, or even death, if returned.

The former Kabul hotel worker had arrived in the UK as a Muslim, but converted to Christianity, was baptised and now regularly attends a west London church and bible classes.

But his conversion had met with hostility from other Afghans and Muslims, who spat at him in the street when rumours spread, the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Tribunal was told.

He was even threatened with death by two Afghans with whom he had shared a house in London and warned by others that he would be killed if he went back to Afghanistan.

Although the Afghan Constitution allows non-Muslims to practise their faith, the small Christian community practises exclusively underground and it is forbidden for Afghans to abandon Islam.