Kazakhstan: Small Churches Banned

A religion law adopted last October has been used to revoke registration from religious groups of fewer than 50 adults, and small churches are now struggling to maintain legal status. In the past, authorities fined those who met without registration, but the new religion law officially bans all unregistered religious activity. The number of religious groups in Kazakhstan has declined 13 percent, from 4,551to 3,972, since the government began enforcing the stricter regulations. A complementary law increased penalties for religious offences.

In February, government officials demanded that 579 religious groups forfeit their registration certificates and cease all religious activity. Even though the churches complied, local officials continue to visit the communities to ensure enforcement of the new regulations.

Under the old religion law, religious communities were registered under the Ministry of Justice either as legal entities or as small Religious Groups without legal status.

Kulyan Seydahmetova, a local official at the Internal Policy Department (IPD), explained that the small groups are illegal under the new law because it includes no specific provision for small religious organizations. “No such form of activity is defined there; therefore, these groups cannot exist in this form,” Seydahmetova said. “In order to be able to continue activity, they must re-register as legal entities.”

The now illegal small Christian churches are concerned that they will not be able to collect the required 50 signatures in the short time allowed for re-registration. If they have not applied for re-registration by Oct. 25, the courts will shut them down.

The government has also used the new law to close churches and prayer rooms in prisons throughout Kazakhstan. Aliya Kadnova, an aide to the deputy head overseeing the prisons, said, “They are illegal — that’s why they are being closed down.”

Nigeria: Church Bombed in Jos

Boko Haram terrorists bombed a large church in Jos on Sunday, killing a church member and a baby, along with themselves. Church security guards prevented the suicide bombers from reaching the church auditorium, where a service was in progress. Claiming responsibility for the attack, a Boko Haram spokesman said, “We have just started.”

The suicide bombers arrived at the Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN) compound shortly after the 7 a.m. Hausa language service began. A security guard suspected of collaborating with the terrorists opened the gate for their Volkswagen vehicle packed with explosives. But other security guards, who noticed the unusual activity, shot one of the car’s occupants and managed to stop the vehicle before it reached the main church building. The car bomb exploded in the parking area at about 7:20 a.m., killing church usher Grace Daniel, a baby that died later at the hospital and the two bombers. At least 38 others were injured in the bombing. Church services were canceled for the day throughout Jos.

Boko Haram is a terrorist group that seeks to impose Islamic law throughout Nigeria. The city of Jos, in north central Nigeria, is often described as the religious fault line between the north and the south. Boko Haram spokesman Abul Qaqa told The Sun News, “We did what we did as part of our resolve to avenge the killings and dehumanization of Muslims in Jos in the last 10 years.” Qaqa said the church was not chosen for a specific reason. “We attacked simply because it’s a church.”

The blast damaged most of the cars in the parking lot, along with the church’s fence and some nearby homes. The guard who opened the gate for the bombers’ vehicle was seized and beaten by the other guards. Police intervened to prevent them from killing him.

In reprisal attacks later in the day, a mob of non-Muslims lynched a water vendor and a commercial motorcyclist. Two other people were also killed in the attacks, and the mob burned down a motorcycle parts shop not far from the church.

The Jos state governor, Johan David Jang, typically attends the church, but that day he had planned to attend the 10 a.m. English language service. VOM staff members have often worshiped at the COCIN church when in Jos.

President Goodluck Jonathan condemned the attack by Boko Haram as well as the reprisal attacks that followed. “Those who seek to divide us by fear and terror will not succeed,” he said.

China: Li Ying Released

Journalist and Christian activist Li Ying was released from prison in China on Dec. 25, 2011, just three years shy of completing a 15-year sentence she received because of her work on an underground Christian magazine. Li was arrested in April 2001 along with 16 others from the South China Church.

China Aid Association founder and president Bob Fu spoke with Li on Friday, Feb. 10. Li is very grateful for the support she received from around the world. She told Fu that she was aware of the many letters she had received but that authorities never let her see the letters. Li reiterated her thanks to her world-wide supporters.

“This is a great answer to prayer,” said Todd Nettleton, Director of Media Development for The Voice of the Martyrs. “We thank the Lord that Li Ying is alive and out of prison.”

Li was condemned to death in Dec. 2001, but the judgment was revised to a 15-year prison sentence by the Hubei Provincial Supreme Court in October 2002. During her time in prison, she was reportedly forced to work 15 hours a day on products for export. Her visits with her family were also strictly limited, and she was not allowed to have a Bible.

Li Ying is the niece of Pastor Gong Shengliang, founder of the South China Church, one of the fastest growing house-church movements in China. She has been arrested several times and also spent a year in prison in 1996. Her story was featured on www.prisoneralert.com, which allows concerned Christians to write letters of encouragement to imprisoned Christians. Since 2004, more than 11,400 letters were written to Li through the website.

“Li Ying was one of the very first prisoners that we featured on PrisonerAlert,” said Nettleton. “And even though she was not allowed to see the letters, we know that prison officials and Chinese authorities knew that her case was being watched. They knew that the world had not forgotten her.”

Iran: Persecution Continues

Authorities burst into a private home in Shiraz on Feb. 8, 2012, and arrested a group of believers who had gathered for worship. Iranians who convert from Islam to Christianity must worship in private homes because leaving Islam is forbidden by Iran’s Islamic government. Security officers confiscated Bibles, books, DVDs, teaching booklets, computers and a satellite dish.

Between seven and 10 Christian were arrested, but Mohabat News was able to confirm the identities of only seven. Those arrested include Mojtaba Hosseini, who was previously arrested in May 2008 and charged with being a Christian; Fariba Nazemian, Homayoung Shokoohi and their 17-year-old son, Nima; a woman named Sharifeh Dookh; and two other men, Vahid Hakkani and Masoud Golrooyan. The whereabouts of these believers is unknown.

Christians who are detained are usually interrogated and pressured to renounce their faith. In this case, family members of those arrested have not been contacted by authorities, and they have no idea where their loved ones are being held. These are just the latest in a series of arrests and detentions of Christians that the Iranian government has carried out since before Christmas 2011.

In another attempt to suppress Christian activities, Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence on Feb. 10 ordered the last two officially registered Christian churches to discontinue their Farsi-language services on Fridays, most Iranians’ day off. The churches may still hold Farsi services on Sunday, when most Iranians are not able to attend church. Membership in both churches has already dropped by half, according to Compass Direct News.

The Iranian government also increased Internet censorship this month by blocking secure websites, including Google’s Gmail, Yahoo mail, Twitter and some bank sites. The police commander of Iran’s cyber unit told Mohabat News, “We’ll shut down anti-religion blogs and websites and any sites seeking to cause religious sedition in cyberspace.” The government followed through with its threat. Within a week, the Iranian government had blocked the website of a VOM partner.

Turkmenistan: Pastor Nurliev Released

Protestant pastor Ilmurad Nurliev was released from prison on Feb. 18 as part of the president’s “Flag Day” amnesty, in which about 230 prisoners were freed. Pastor Nurliev’s wife, Maya, and other family members greeted him as he arrived on a train from the Seydi labor camp with other pardoned prisoners.

“His release was so unexpected we forgot to get flowers,” she said. “It is such a joy I can’t tell you. Our sincere thanks and blessings to you and all who worked for his release.” The pastor learned of his amnesty the previous evening, and his family discovered it when they saw a list of those to be released posted on the Internet.

The 46-year-old Nurliev, who has a daughter and two grandchildren, leads Light to the World Protestant Church in Mary, Turkmenistan. He was barred from leaving Turkmenistan in 2007, and his church has been denied state registration. Police raided his home in February 2009, confiscating 225 Christian cassettes and DVDs.

In August 2010, Pastor Nurliev was arrested, charged with swindling and sentenced to four years in labor camp. His congregation said the charges were fabricated in order to punish him for his religious activity.

Pastor Nurliev told Forum 18 that conditions in labor camp were “not too bad.” He said apart from the initial 10 days he spent in an isolation cell after his arrival in the camp, he did not spend further time in isolation and had not been beaten. The pastor, who is diabetic, also said prison officials gave him the medicines his wife brought.

However, he was not allowed to have a Bible during his 18-month imprisonment. “When I saw that the Muslim imams in Seydi were allowed to have copies of the Quran, I went to the head of the labor camp,” he said. “But he told me I couldn’t have a Bible. He gave no reason.”

The pastor was also denied the many letters, cards and photos sent to him from around the world. “I was able to see letters and cards from Canada, Britain and elsewhere that had come in for me,” he said. “But although I could have a quick look at some of them, they wouldn’t give them to me.” He thanked those who had written to him. “They showed me I was not forgotten.”

Pastor Nurliev must report to the police every Saturday evening. He does not know if there are other conditions on his release, and he’s unsure if he will be allowed to travel out of the country.

“Church members have been coming to the house to celebrate my release with me,” Pastor Nurliev said. “I want to thank … everyone who supported me and helped [in] my release.”

Israel: Death to Christianity

A Jerusalem church was vandalized on Monday, Feb. 20, in an attack reflecting the sentiments of Jewish nationalists.

Vandals spray-painted the words “Death to Christianity” on the wall of the Baptist Narkis Street Congregation church. The graffiti included profanity about Jesus and the words “Price Tag,” a slogan used by Jewish extremists to protest policies they perceive as anti-settlement. The vandals also slashed the tires of several cars parked in the church compound.

Police have launched an investigation into Monday’s attack, which is similar to a graffiti attack two weeks ago on the 11th-century Monastery of the Cross, also in west Jerusalem. “Officers are investigating a strong possibility of a nationalist motive, but no one has been apprehended yet,” police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told Ynet News. It is unlikely that Muslim vandals would have denigrated Jesus, who is considered a holy prophet in Islam.

When asked for comment on the attack by a local reporter, a VOM contact in the region said, “Jesus told us persecution would happen, and he told us to forgive when it does happen. So that’s what we think about the incident.”

“Price tag” attacks are carried out all over Israel by Jewish extremists. The term is used to suggest that vandalism is the “price” that must be paid by non-Jews for the evacuation and demolition of Jewish settlements. The extremists have targeted mosques, Palestinian homes and Israeli military installations in the West Bank.

Jerusalem church was vandalized on Monday, Feb. 20, in an attack reflecting the sentiments of Jewish nationalists.

Vandals spray-painted the words “Death to Christianity” on the wall of the Baptist Narkis Street Congregation church. The graffiti included profanity about Jesus and the words “Price Tag,” a slogan used by Jewish extremists to protest policies they perceive as anti-settlement. The vandals also slashed the tires of several cars parked in the church compound.

Police have launched an investigation into Monday’s attack, which is similar to a graffiti attack two weeks ago on the 11th-century Monastery of the Cross, also in west Jerusalem. “Officers are investigating a strong possibility of a nationalist motive, but no one has been apprehended yet,” police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told Ynet News. It is unlikely that Muslim vandals would have denigrated Jesus, who is considered a holy prophet in Islam.

When asked for comment on the attack by a local reporter, a VOM contact in the region said, “Jesus told us persecution would happen, and he told us to forgive when it does happen. So that’s what we think about the incident.”

“Price tag” attacks are carried out all over Israel by Jewish extremists. The term is used to suggest that vandalism is the “price” that must be paid by non-Jews for the evacuation and demolition of Jewish settlements. The extremists have targeted mosques, Palestinian homes and Israeli military installations in the West Bank.

Pakistan: New Blasphemy Charge

Dildar Yousaf, 28, was arrested and charged with blasphemy after defending his 8-year-old nephew from a group of Muslim boys on June 10, 2011. That morning, Dildar’s nephew, Ehtasham, was taunted by a group of boys as he passed the madrassa on his way to the market. A madrassa is a school where Islamic students study the Quran.

As Ehtasham walked by the madrassa, seven boys gathered around him and tried to force him to become a Muslim by repeating the phrase, “There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet.” Ehtasham refused, and the boys began to scream at him and beat him.

Ehtasham’s uncle, Dildar, happened to pass by at that moment. Dildar pulled his nephew away from the boys and took him back home. Dildar then went on to his job. That afternoon, the news spread that Dildar had disgraced the Muslim proclamation of faith; the news was repeated from one mosque loudspeaker to another. Soon Muslim crowds began to shout, “Kill him! Death for the blasphemer!”

Police picked up Dildar from his workplace and put him in protective custody. They also filed a blasphemy charge against him under Pakistani law 298A, which carries the lightest sentence for blasphemers. (Pakistani Christian Asia Bibi, who was charged with blasphemy under 298C, was sentenced to death. Her case is on appeal.)

Dildar remains in prison as his case progresses through the justice system. His blasphemy charge carries a potential three-year sentence, with the possibility of parole. Dildar’s wife, Naseem, and two children have had to leave their home and move in with her family in another village because of ongoing threats. Ehtasham and his family have also had to leave their village. VOM is supporting the family and providing legal assistance to Dildar.

Dildar’s village has a history of persecution. In the past, a Christian’s house was burned, a pastor was killed, and believer Ayub Masih was charged with blasphemy. “Muslims have always looked down on us,” Ayub told VOM workers. “We cannot send our children to school, and we cannot feed our animals because we cannot go into the fields. We live under the fear that anything can happen any time.”

Laos: Khmu Christian Life

For Khmu Christians in Laos, a shortwave radio is a lifeline to the outside world. The Khmu are some of the poorest people in Laos, and they subsist on the simple crops they farm in small, remote villages. Most of them are animists who worship their ancestors. Those who give up the traditional religious practices to follow Jesus Christ are labeled as traitors and followers of an evil, Western religion. Family pressure to recant can be immense, and coupled with pressure from their community and village leaders, some Khmu Christians renounce their faith.

With little money, little possibility to travel outside their village and little opportunity to meet others from outside their village, Khmu believers rely on radio programs to learn about Jesus. In a small village in Luangprabang province, seven families began to gather every evening to listen to a Christian program broadcast by Far East Broadcasting Company (FEBC). The families are very poor and face severe persecution, but they gain strength by meeting together and listening to the broadcast. The families often call the radio station, a VOM partner, at 9 p.m. when the program is over. They say, “Thank you so much for your message tonight. It is so good, and we invited unbelievers to listen with us. Sometimes six or seven people come, and they are very interested in the messages.”

In a year’s time, the group has grown by 11 families. Last November, this house church received help in expanding the pastor’s house so there would be enough room for everyone to sit during meetings.

But following Jesus often brings great hardship. One of the group’s leaders, “Jaeh,” became a believer about a year ago after listening to Christian radio programs. This past June, his parents told him that if he did not stop believing in Jesus, listening to the radio programs, leading people to Jesus and holding worship services, he was no longer welcome in their home. So Jaeh and his wife left the family home.

The Khmu grow rice, and at harvest time they save enough for the whole year. When Jaeh left, his parents did not give him any rice, and it was too late for him to plant his own crop. Although Jaeh continued to help his parents with the farm, they did not give him any rice at harvest time.

Shortly afterward, the Lao government decided to relocate the village in order to build a road. When the village moved, Jaeh and his wife were not allowed to move to the new location. So now Jaeh and his wife are separated from their community of believers.

“These are just some of the Christians in Laos today that are facing constant fear,” a VOM contact said. “To be a Christian means to risk their life. But it is worthwhile to risk their life for the true God, who loves them, gives his life to them as redemption, gives forgiveness of sin, salvation and eternal life. What else can be counted! Please pray for Jaeh, his wife and the 26 others, that they would stand firm in the Lord in their faith, and know that Jesus is their powerful God.”