Syria: Violence
Situations needing prayer: Many Syrian refugees are fleeing to Turkey from the violent Assad-regime. Tanks and troops are under orders to advance on and attack Jisr al-Shugour after the government accused armed bands there of killing security men. Residents report the incident as an army mutiny by troops refusing to kill citizens. The UN Security Council are reportedly drafting resolutions on Syria condemning murder and torture of peaceful protesters, (despite opposition from veto-wielding Russia). Violence also broke out in a Palestinian refugee camp in Damascus with fourteen dying after thousands of refugees attacked the headquarters of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. The Syrian interior minister said they would respond firmly to attacks in the Muslim Brotherhood stronghold. international observers fear violence may enter a new and bloodier phase after three months of popular unrest that has left over 1,000 dead. Pray: for God’s mercy to cover Syria, for the controlling strongholds to be broken and the land to come into Gods purposes. (Job.5:11-15) More: http://www.jpost.com/
Libya: Praying into the crisis
The following statements are posted to aid informed prayer for Libya. 1.The West’s military campaign and attendant instability present strategic threats to Libya’s neighbours. 2. There is a large-scale refugee crisis. 3. The risk of infiltration by al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb whose networks of activists are present in Algeria, Mali and Niger. 4. Mounting bitterness on both sides constituting a heavy legacy for any post-Qaddafi government. 5. When pressures finally force Qaddafi out there’s a possibility the transition to democracy could face a vacuum due to no second choice government waiting in the wings. 6. Political and security implications for Libya’s neighbours during government transition may well aggravate an already serious humanitarian crisis. 7. The prospect for Libya and North Africa is increasingly ominous, unless a negotiated compromise for an orderly transition to a post-Qaddafi state that has legitimacy in the eyes of the Libyan people is achieved.
Pray: for God to be in every detail of resolving Libya’s civil war. (Ps.4:1)
Nepal: New law planned forbidding evangelism
Five years after abolishing Hinduism as the state religion, Nepal is working on a new criminal code forbidding a person from one faith to ‘convert a person or abet him to change his religion.’ The proposed code also says no one will be allowed to do anything or behave in any way that could cause a person from a caste, community or creed to lose faith in his/her traditional religion or convert to a different religion. The proposal also prohibits conversion ‘by offering inducements or without inducement,’ and preaching ‘a different religion or faith with any other intent.’ Offenders could be imprisoned for a maximum of five years and fined up to US$685. If the offender is a foreigner they would be deported within seven days of completing the sentence. Last weekend Nepal failed to complete a new constitution for religious freedom due to a protracted battle for political power. Pray: for Nepal’s Christian community, which has no representation in the Council of Ministers or in Parliament, to know God's provision. (Ps.1:6) More: http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/nepal/article_113290.html
Nigeria: Blasts rock Nigeria's northeast
A state police chief, said on Tuesday that members of a Muslim group locally known as Boko Haram detonated bombs at two police stations and at St Patrick's Church in the city of Maiduguri killing up to eleven people. The multiple blasts come a day after motorcycle-mounted gunmen shot dead a cleric from a rival sect. The police also blame Boko Haram for killing the cleric on Monday at his home because he had been critical of Boko Haram's violence. Boko Haram has pushed for the implementation of sharia in Borno State. The group has vowed to keep killing people believed to support the establishment until sharia is adopted alongside other demands.
Pray: for tensions to be calmed, fear to be removed, and Boko Haram to be lessened in influence. (Ps.140:8)
More: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/06/201167223659877448.html
Uganda: 'Nodding disease' blights children
A mysterious disease, which has no cure, is affecting growing numbers of children in Northern Uganda, Sudan and Tanzania. It is referred to as 'nodding disease', and has confounded the World Health Organisation. One of the first symptoms is that children appear to be falling asleep - their eyes close and head droops, even though they may not be tired. It frequently causes them to lose consciousness then they fall and injure themselves. Children affected are mostly between the ages of five and fifteen. They are more likely to die young because, after loosing consciousness, they have horrific accidents such as falling into cooking fires or drowning. Other symptoms are losing cognitive ability and stunted growth. Some children are abandoned by communities unable to afford to care for them. Experts are at a loss as to what causes the degenerative disease.
Pray: God will reveal the root cause of this disease and break its stronghold over the children. (Ps.3:8)
Kyrgyzstan: Injustice may spark fresh violence
Failure to deliver justice for last year's killings of civilians in ethnic clashes in Kyrgyzstan could spark more violence, Amnesty International warns. In a report released ahead of the first anniversary of the 10 June unrest. Amnesty urges Bishkek to ‘establish the truth about what happened’. 470 people died in four days of clashes between Kyrgyz and Uzbeks in the south of the country, hundreds were injured and thousands of houses destroyed. The violence followed weeks of turmoil after the ousting of then President Kurmanbek Bakiyev in April 2010’s uprising. Amnesty International urges the Kyrgyz government to punish the perpetrators of last year's violence. ‘Failure to bring those behind the violence to justice could provide fertile soil for future turmoil and human rights violations,' said Amnesty's Europe and Central Asia director. Ethnic bias and corruption are behind the pervading impunity in Kyrgyzstan. Pray: for a rebuilding of trust between the ethnic groups, and for justice to be seen to be done. (Ps.103:6)
EU to rule on Christian discrimination cases
In a significant legal development, the European Court of Human Rights has requested that the British Government state whether they believe that the rights of Christians have been infringed in recent cases where individuals have been penalised for expressing their faith in the workplace. The request has come because legal action is being taken by four Christians who argue that their rights have been infringed. The four Christians are: Gary McFarlane, a counsellor who was sacked by a counselling service for saying that he would not give sex therapy to homosexual couples (See PA5310); Shirley Chaplin, a nurse who was banned for wearing a cross around her neck (See PA1510); Nadia Eweida, a British Airways employee who was prevented from wearing a cross; and Lillian Ladele, who was disciplined by Islington council for refusing to conduct civil partnership ceremonies for homosexual couples. The cases have been viewed by the European Court as being of such importance that they merit further investigation. Pray: that this development will lead to the law being changed to protect those who wish to practice their faith. (Ps.5:11)
EU to rule on Christian discrimination cases
In a significant legal development, the European Court of Human Rights has requested that the British Government state whether they believe that the rights of Christians have been infringed in recent cases where individuals have been penalised for expressing their faith in the workplace. The request has come because legal action is being taken by four Christians who argue that their rights have been infringed. The four Christians are: Gary McFarlane, a counsellor who was sacked by a counselling service for saying that he would not give sex therapy to homosexual couples (See PA5310); Shirley Chaplin, a nurse who was banned for wearing a cross around her neck (See PA1510); Nadia Eweida, a British Airways employee who was prevented from wearing a cross; and Lillian Ladele, who was disciplined by Islington council for refusing to conduct civil partnership ceremonies for homosexual couples. The cases have been viewed by the European Court as being of such importance that they merit further investigation. Pray: that this development will lead to the law being changed to protect those who wish to practice their faith. (Ps.5:11)
European official says 105,000 Christians martyred yearly
This shocking figure was disclosed by Italian sociologist Massimo Introvigne, representative of the OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) on Combating Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians, at the ‘International Conference on Inter-religious dialogue between Christians, Jews and Muslims.’ The conference on peaceful coexistence between religions was hosted by the Hungarian government as a highlight of its EU presidency of the European Union. ‘Every five minutes’, Introvigne said in his speech, ‘a Christian is killed for his faith.’ The figure does not include the victims of civil wars, or wars between nations, but only the people put to death because they are Christians. ‘If these figures are not cried out to the world, if this massacre is not stopped,’ Introvigne continued; ‘if it is not recognized that the persecution against Christians is the first worldwide emergency with regard to religious discrimination and violence, dialogue between religions will only produce wonderful symposia but no concrete results.’
Pray: for Christians worldwide that God would protect and uphold them in times of persecution. (Ps.91:11)
More: http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=10555
European official says 105,000 Christians martyred yearly
This shocking figure was disclosed by Italian sociologist Massimo Introvigne, representative of the OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) on Combating Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians, at the ‘International Conference on Inter-religious dialogue between Christians, Jews and Muslims.’ The conference on peaceful coexistence between religions was hosted by the Hungarian government as a highlight of its EU presidency of the European Union. ‘Every five minutes’, Introvigne said in his speech, ‘a Christian is killed for his faith.’ The figure does not include the victims of civil wars, or wars between nations, but only the people put to death because they are Christians. ‘If these figures are not cried out to the world, if this massacre is not stopped,’ Introvigne continued; ‘if it is not recognized that the persecution against Christians is the first worldwide emergency with regard to religious discrimination and violence, dialogue between religions will only produce wonderful symposia but no concrete results.’
Pray: for Christians worldwide that God would protect and uphold them in times of persecution. (Ps.91:11)
More: http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=10555