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Indian PM says Christianity is part of national heritage |
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Saturday, 22 November 2008 |
The Indian Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh stated "Christianity is part of our national heritage" in a meeting with Dr Samuel Kobia, the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches.
He noted that Christianity in India has a longer history than in many Western countries and made reference to the Indian constitution which states that India “guarantees freedom to practice and propagate one’s faith”. These statements are a strong rebuttal of the views of Hindu nationalist groups who describe Christianity as a foreign religion in order to justify recent attacks on Christians in India.
Manmohan Singh assured Samuel Kobia that his government will take measures to restore the confidence of the Christian community. He has also promised to extend financial assistance from the federal government to rebuild destroyed and damaged churches, and to support Christian families that have lost everything in the violence.
Hindu fundamentalists have attacked more than 5,000 Christian houses, 142 churches and dozens of Christian institutions in recent months.Many places in India are still dangerous for Christians. Reports indicate this is being accentuated by multitudes of houses flying *VHP flags whereas Christian homes have none. * VHP = Hindu World Council
Refugee camp conditions for thousands include epidemics of malaria and other water borne diseases. For those forced to go home, there is the danger of living in a house without a VHP flag, in the midst of houses flying them.Many of the 50,000 internally displaced persons, refugees in their own homeland cannot return home for fear of being forced at gunpoint, by VHP youths or the Bajrang Dal, to become Hindus. Those who have reconverted to Hinduism under this pressure have been forced to burn Bibles and prayer books, and have their heads shaved and to drink cow urine (for Hindu purification).
In Madivala, Karnakata on November 16 police arrested a pastor, charging him with “hurting religious sentiments” after a mob of about 25 Hindu extremists stormed his house church service, struck him and cursed the congregation. He has internal injuries and a seriously damaged eardrum.
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Lao Officials release Christians from stocks |
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Saturday, 22 November 2008 |
Pastor and two other Christians released but village officials still hostile to Christians
Lao officials have released Pastor Sompong Supatto and two other believers - Boot Chanthaleuxay and Khamvan Chanthaleuxay, after several weeks of detention, but restrictions on Christian worship in the village are still in force.
The three prisoners from Boukham village were released on October 16 against the wishes of the village chief, who had threatened to hand Supatto a life sentence at a maximum-security prison. Village officials remain hostile to the presence of Christians, according to Human Rights Watch for Lao Religious Freedom.
Authorities had temporarily arrested Supatto and four other believers on July 20 for “believing and worshiping God.”
When they continued to gather for worship, police arrested Supatto and two members of the Chanthaleuxay family on August 3, detaining them in handcuffs and wooden foot-stocks in a police detention cell.
W e give thanks to God for many answered prayers
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Indonesian Christian students driven from college |
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Saturday, 22 November 2008 |
Over 1,000 students were forced from the Arastamar Evangelical School of Theology (SETIA) in East Jakarta on July 26 and 27. Muslims in the area felt “disturbed” by the presence of the Christian college.
 Urged on by announcements from a mosque loudspeaker to “drive out the unwanted neighbor,” hundreds of protestors shouting “Allahu-Akbar [“Allah is greater]” and brandishing machetes, sharpened bamboo and acid, forced the evacuation of staff and students.
700 students were moved by officials to a campground, the other 432 to a migrant hostel and a housing complex. Eventually they moved to an abandoned mayoral office with minimal facilities for cooking, toilets, washing, and sleeping and laundry.
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Saturday, 22 November 2008 |
Girl Released Early from Prison in Iraq
16-year-old, Asya Ahmad Muhammad (Maria), was released from prison on November 10. Maria was sentenced to five years in prison for killing her uncle when defending herself and her family against his outraged attack for “shaming” their family by becoming Christian.
Two South Korean cameramen won the Impact Award 2008
Two South Korean cameramen won the Impact Award 2008, sponsored by Sony UK Ltd for their film Korea: Out of the North, at the prestigious Rory Peck Awards ceremony on November 13. It follows North Korean refugees crossing the Tumen River into China in a desperate bid to escape North Korea and the human rights abuses they have experienced there.
Nigeria
Local Muslims dismantled the foundation stones of a new church belonging to the Church of Christ in Sabon Kaura, Nigeria, on Sunday, November 16.An Anglican church two kilometres away was then burnt down on Tuesday evening, November 18.
Pakistan
Because of its alleged success at 'curing' Islamists of their militancy, Saudi Arabia, the world's leading disseminator of Wahhabism has been asked to assist in pacifying the northern Federally Administered Tribal Areas that border Afghanistan. This may well mean that some interesting deals will be brokered.
Nuns Abducted in Kenya
Two nuns were abducted by insurgent Somali militia on November 9th at midnight from Kenya’s northern Mandera district near the Somali border. Negotiations are continuing for their release. Pastor Alois Maina of Community Church in Mandera said the two nuns were being held in El-Haddah, Somalia, about 19 miles from the border. A pastor in Mandera said that Christian leaders were collaborating with village elders in both Kenya and Somalia to negotiate with the militia for the nuns’ release.
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Chinese pastor given re-education |
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Saturday, 22 November 2008 |
Pastor Zhu Baoguoin sentenced to one year of “re-education through labor”
On October 12, five church leaders were detained from a church gathering of about 20 people at Dushu village, Nanyang city, Henan province.
Pastor Zhu received 15 days of administrative detention. The other four leaders were sentenced to five days.
Released on October 30, two days later he was sentenced to one year of re-education through labour - charged with being a member of “an evil cult” - and immediately sent to a labour camp.
His family say Pastor Zhu suffers from heart disease.
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