Muslim World News
Iraq
KIDNAPPERS MURDER CHURCH ELDER IN MOSUL
Iraq's northern city of Mosul completed three days of mourning for a murdered Presbyterian Church elder, only hours before another Iraqi clergyman was grabbed off the streets of Baghdad. Identified only as 69-year old Elder Munthir, the murdered Christian had been kidnapped after leading worship services at the National Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Mosul on November 16. His body was found four days later. According to one Mosul source who described the kidnappers' conversations, "They said, `We will cut his throat. We will take revenge for the Pope's words ... We will kill all the Christians, and we will start with him."' In Baghdad, the Chaldean Catholic Patriarchate confirmed that another clergyman - Father Samy Abdulahad - was kidnapped as he left his church in the Al-Sinaa district. --- Compass
Eritrea
ERITREA IMPOSES NEW CONTROLS ON CHURCH
The government of Eritrea wrested financial and personnel control away from the Eritrean Orthodox Church, the day after security police jailed nine staff of a Christian aid agency. In an ultimatum delivered to the church's Asmara headquarters on December 5, the state demanded that all offerings and tithes collected through the Orthodox Church be deposited directly into a government account. Asmara sources also confirmed that on December 4, security officials arrested nine truck drivers working for Samaritan's Purse, an international aid agency ordered to leave the country last month. In addition, local Christians report that gospel singer Helen Berhane, released in late October after more than two years in jail for refusing to recant her faith, is recuperating at her home in Asmara ---- Compass
Iran
IRAN ARRESTS LEADERS OF HOUSE CHURCH MOVEMENT
Iranian Secret Police began to raid and arrest leaders of the Islamic republic's indigenous "Jesus Only" movement on December 10, arriving unannounced in the early morning hours to search their homes in Tehran, Karaj, Rasht and Bandar Anzali. Several members of the house church movement have been called in for interrogation and then released, but eight remain under arrest. According to one source, those arrested face 10 accusations, including evangelization activities and actions against the national security of Iran. --- Compass
Pakistan
CHRISTIAN COUPLE SENTENCED FOR BLASPHEMY
Two Pakistani believers were sentenced to 15 years in prison and a fine of 25,000 rupees each for burning the Koran. On October 18, 2006, Boota and James Masih, a married couple, were asked to clean a Muslim family's store and burn the garbage when they finished. The two gathered all the garbage in a donkey cart and burned it outside the home. Some Muslim neighbors saw the burning and discovered Koranic papers in the fire. An angry mob gathered and planned to burn Christian homes and churches. Police controlled the mob by arresting Boota and James, even though they are illiterate and did riot know the contents of the garbage. Despite reforms, blasphemy laws are consistently implemented in the persecution of Pakistani Christians. --- VOM
** From Intercede, March/April 2007 Vol. XXIII, NO. 2, page 3, A bimonthly publication of the Center for Ministry to Muslims, 2032 East Kearney, Suite 205, Springfield, MO. 65803,
www.CMMequip.org
