Mahdi Army in Iraq orders Christian women in Baghdad to veil themselves or face serious consequences

ASSIST News Service (ANS) – PO Box 609, Lake Forest, CA 92609-0609 USA
Visit our web site at: www.assistnews.net — E-mail: assistnews@aol.com

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Mahdi Army in Iraq orders Christian women in Baghdad to veil themselves or face serious consequences

By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service

Copy of the original letter.

BAGHDAD, IRAQ (ANS) – An undated letter issued by Muqtada al-Sadr’s Mahdi army to Christians in Baghdad orders Christian women to veil themselves or face grave consequences.

The letter, obtained and translated by AINA (Assyrian International News Agency; www.aina.org) and provided to ASSIST News, states that the Virgin Mary was not unveiled and so Christian women should not be unveiled. The letter ends with an ominous note that committees have been established to monitor the Christian populace and enforce the decree.

AINA says that for the Christian Assyrians (also known as Chaldeans and Syriacs) in Baghdad, the imposition of Shari’a (Islamic law) is coming from both Sunnis and Shiites.

According to AINA, on March 18 al-Qaeda moved into the predominantly Assyrian Dora neighborhood in Baghdad and demanded payment of the jizya, the poll tax demanded by the Koran which all Christians and Jews must pay. Families that could not pay the jizya were instructed to give a daughter or sister in marriage to a Muslim.

Here is the translated text of the Mahdi Army letter:

“The Legal Veil

“Allah be praised, said in His perfect and noble book:
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
(And do not display yourselves like that of the times of ignorance) — Affirmed Allah the Mighty
Surah Al-Ahzab — Verse 33

“According to Ali, Prince of Believers (peace be upon him), he said, “We were with the Prophet (saas1) and he said, Tell me what is best for women? The Prince of Believers said, when I went back to Fatima (peace be upon her) and told her about what the Prophet (saas) said to us, Fatima said: ‘It is best for women not to see men and for the men not to see them.’”

“And in the Noble Narrative (She who went out of her home adorned with finery and ornaments or scented with perfumes is under the cursing of Allah, angels and the people all together until she goes back home. Neither a religious duty nor a gift shall be accepted from her until she performs the ritual ablution. )

“According to martyr Mohammad Mohammad Sadiq al-Sadr (Sacred be his noble secret): ‘Was the Virgin Mary (peace be upon her) unveiled so that Christian women be allowed to be unveiled? Was Fatima al-Zahra unveiled? And were the wives of the Caliphs in the First Caliphate or others unveiled? No and then no…Allah forbid and far be it from all of them.’

“Furthermore, His Eminence Mohammad al-Sadr prohibited self-adoration and not wearing the veil in a number of religious edicts, including:

“Question: What is the punishment of the woman who does not commit to the legal veil?

“Answer: In the name of the Supreme Being, She is an adulteress, and she even proclaims sinfulness, challenges and fights Allah and his Prophet and ignores and neglects religion. So what would be her fate but hell and that is best outcome for her?

“Question: What measure should be taken against a woman who disobeys her father, husband, or her guardian by not committing to the legal veil?

“Answer: In the name of the Supreme Being, they must order her in a courteous manner to abstain from the forbidden. If she refuses, he then must guide and educate her religiously in order to convince her. If she is not convinced still, then they must imprison her at home and do not expose her to the forbidden interaction with men.

“Note: Based on this, special committees have been established to follow up on this matter and she who is warned is excused.

“Preparation
The People’s Foundation for the Master al-Mahdi Army.”

Note: saas1: Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. This is an expression that Muslims use whenever the name of Prophet Muhammad is mentioned or written. The meaning of it is: “May the blessings and the peace of Allah be upon him (Muhammad).

———-

** Michael Ireland is an international British freelance journalist. A former reporter with a London newspaper, Michael is the Chief Correspondent for ASSIST News Service of Lake Forest, California. Michael immigrated to the United States in 1982 and became a US citizen in September, 1995. He is married with two children. Michael has also been a frequent contributor to UCB Europe, a British Christian radio station.

The persecution of Lina Joy,

“You can’t at whim and fancy convert from one religion to another,” Federal Court Chief Justice Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim said in delivering judgment in the case, which has stirred religious tensions in the mainly Muslim nation. …The ruling was greeted by shouts of “God is great”

read more | digg story

Observer fears Islamic takeover of France imminent (OneNewsNow.com)

A U.S. national defense expert and Pentagon advisor says that, even with the election of Nicolas Sarkozy as France’s new president, it may already be too late to stop the eventual Islamic takeover of that country and much of Western Europe.

read more | digg story

Creation Museum worries scientists

The Creation Museum that opens in northern Kentucky next weekend is built on this belief: God created heaven and Earth and all living things in six consecutive 24-hour days 6,000 years ago.

read more | digg story

Ten Reasons Why Liberals Hate Christians

Ten Reasons Why Liberals Hate Christians

By Dr. David M. Berman
www.wakeupandsmellthetruth.com

I have been a Christian since I was nineteen years old. I remember the day I received Jesus into my heart. It was an amazing revelation that changed my life completely. Before I became a Christian I was hostile against Christianity. I am a Jew and had always believed that Christians were my enemies. I thought that Christians persecuted my people and the two furthest things from my mind were 1) to become a Christian 2) to be a Christian minister. Over time I began to wonder why I hated Christians so much and looked into Christian teaching as well as other religious teachings. I began to realize that Jesus did not teach what I had experienced and heard about “Christians”. I could see that many people who said they were Christians simply were not and had misrepresented the truth of Jesus’ and the Apostles teachings. A person can say that they represent anyone or anything but that does not make them true representatives. Jesus was a Jew himself and therefore I could not understand why so called Christians seemed to hate Jews. As I opened my heart and turned from my own hatred and I began to see that Jesus did not teach his true followers to hate Jews but rather the bible says:

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” – Romans 1:16

I thank God for opening my eyes and dealing with my bitterness so I could see the truth. It is often the way of man to look through the glasses of his own hurts and misunderstanding. As a Christian I step back and think as I seek the Lord’s direction and His word for guidance on issues. It is important not to be ruled by emotions but rather to examine a position and see if it makes sense in the context of biblical truth, logic and history. Liberals always use emotions and often lie, use personal attacks, and swear at people that they do not agree with.

Another major revelation to me was the fact that before I became a Christian I hated biblical teachings also because they were not in agreement with my immorality. This of course is the case with everyone who hates God’s word. Before I was a Christian I remember being at a gas station and a man came up to me and handed me a small booklet about Jesus. He was not mean or threatening in any way but my rage consumed me. I remember people I was with holding me back as my eyes filled with contempt for this nice man who simply gave me a booklet that I could either read of throw away. After that incident I wondered why I was so angry. The answer was simple. I did not want anyone or anything that would tell me what to do or not do. I certainly did not want to be told that my behavior was immoral in any way. The name “Jesus” is a powerful one that provoked me to human wrath. The bible says when speaking of Jesus”

“Unto you therefore who believe he is precious: but unto them who are disobedient, the stone which the builders rejected, the same is made the head of the corner, And, A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense (emphasis mine), even to them who stumble at the word, being disobedient: to which also they were appointed.” -1 Peter 2:7-8

This is the problem with all unbelievers, but with the rabid purposeful anti-Christian liberals it is this stumbling that brings out their vitriolic hatred of true Christians. Liberals on the other hand love liberal so called “Christians” who take no stand on God’s word and twist Jesus’ teaching into “Jesus accepts any behavior and belief”. The liberals love that because it validates their anything goes relativist moral positions (well anything goes except being a true bible believing Christian that is).

Why do the liberals hate us? One reason is because we have the audacity to proclaim openly that there are absolute truths. The only “absolute truth” that liberals seem to believe is that bible believing Christians are the purveyors of the worst plague of destruction the universe has ever encountered. They call us “haters” when in truth it is they who hate us. They have an interesting definition of hate. There definition is the following. If you disagree with our position and morality (or should I say lack thereof) it is not because you have a different view that could possibly make sense (not that liberals are concerned with what makes sense), it is simply because you hate us. Now what they do not understand is that a difference in world view is not automatically hate. The reason we speak out against things like sexual immorality is because we know from the bible that it leads to many social problems. And guess what people….no one in their right mind can say that the rampant sexual immorality since the 1960’s has not led to major social problems like single mothers, breakdown in family relationships, increased drug use, sexually transmitted diseases, and an increase in people taking drugs just to try and cope with all the emotional pain that immorality has caused. There is perhaps no greater contrast concerning an ability to be a blessing or a curse than that of sexuality. It is God who invented this most powerful form of intimacy. Within the confines of the Creators purpose for it, there is no superior form of human communion. The contrast is not so, for sexuality that is outside of God’s purpose, there is only emotional, spiritual, and often physical ruin. So powerful is the passion, it often blinds of the consequences that are so clearly seen in our so called “liberated” society.

Does this mean that Christians are not tempted? Does it mean that Christians are perfect? No it does not mean that. It means that Christians understand that sin is destructive to individuals and society. To pretend that sexual immorality is no big deal is not being intellectually honest. Sin is not simply an action of disobedience pertaining to a single evil deed. It is much more than that. Sin is a condition that every person is born in to. It is the disposition that believers and unbelievers alike are tainted by. The difference between the believer and the unbeliever is a matter of spiritual legal standing, not a matter of personal perfection one over the other. The believer simply has been pardoned of the eternal penalty of sin by the act of Christ on the cross. It is the imputation of the perfection of Christ that changes the believer in to a position of innocent spiritual legal standing. It is the unbeliever who is sadly left in the mire of his own sinful legal position before God due to his incredulous rejection of the pardon provided by Christ to those who receive him personally.

Liberals will not admit the failure of their philosophy because to do so would be a vindication of what Preachers have been warning of for 40 years.

There is never a mention of the wonderful works done by true Christians around the world. The liberals look as hard as they can to find something to make their case against Christians. Any wrong thing said or scandal that may happen in a Christian Leaders life, and liberals, like sharks who smell blood encircle with great delight as they justify their own immorality by pronouncing the failure of a Christian. Once they pounce like rabid dogs they then translate that that into discrediting the message of the bible. That is not logical. For example, if a person says it is wrong to be a racist and then it is discovered that person is himself a racist does that make the truth that he proclaimed not true?

Christians are feeding the hungry, and bringing needed medical help to the poor. In our own country we see compassionate outpouring of aid for Katrina victims that came from Christian churches and organizations. This is a fact but liberals will not acknowledge the great work done by true caring Christians. I remember one of the radio interviews I did where a caller berated me for not caring about the poor. The show was about illegal aliens from Mexico and this caller made vast charges against me. He said I was a hater and a person who did not care about poor Mexicans who live in that poverty in Mexico. When I finally had a chance to respond to his tirade I asked him a question. I asked if he had ever gone to Mexico and brought money clothes or food to the poor Mexican people that he so cared about. He said he had not. I then told him that I have. That was a point he ignored and went on to the next attack.

Another reason why liberals hate Christians is simply because liberals do not understand the gospel. They think that we are saying that human moral perfection is what we demand from people. Let me make this clear to those of you who are liberal and reading this. The teachings of Jesus and His Apostles never proclaim our ability as humans to live in perfection. In fact the bible teaches us the following:

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” -1 John 1:8-10

The message of Christ was and is that all people are sinners and that we do not have the ability to live in total perfection ourselves. You see if we were perfect we would not have need of the Savior. Jesus saves us by paying the price for our sin and freeing us from being condemned to separation from him for eternity. My point is that liberals think wrong about our position. When we speak out against immorality we are not saying that we are perfect. We are saying that immorality is immorality and all people including Christians are guilty of failing to be perfect. It is the position that liberals take that immorality is somehow not immoral that is the problem. Christians understand and acknowledge their own need for the Savior and so it is not us who are self righteous. We are the ones who have humbled ourselves and realized that we are not personally righteous. It is the very act of receiving Jesus as our personal Savior that speaks of our willingness to admit our own sinful nature as humans. If you do not think that you need the Savior what you are saying is that you are righteous in yourself and therefore you are self righteous. The following are the ten reasons why liberals hate Christians:

1) Liberals are relativists and hate Christians because Christians believe in absolute truth.

2) Liberals do not want anyone to say that immorality is immoral.

3) Liberals are selfish and are more interested in their “feelings” then they are with what is right for others.

4) Liberals misunderstand what Christians really believe.

5) Since liberals see themselves as the superior enlighten ones they do not recognize that taking a position against their position is not automatically hate.

6) Liberals do not want to listen to what makes sense, they would rather listen to their senses.

7) Liberals ignore the clear evidence of the result of their philosophical positions influence on the last 40 years. It had been a social disaster and they do not want to hear it.

They see Christians as intellectually inferior.

9) Liberals see Christians as wanting to impose their religion on them when in truth it is the liberals who have used the courts system to impose their secular humanism religion on all of us.

10) Liberals are spiritually lost and blind to the truth of the gospel. Consider the following bible verses:

“But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” - 1 Corinthians 2:14

Who is a liar but he that denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denies the Father and the Son. Whosoever denies the Son, the same has not the Father: but he that confesses the Son has the Father also. -1 John 2:22-23

I have no desire to purposely offend those of you who are liberals who may be reading this. I know however that it is impossible to speak the biblical truth and not offend you. You need Jesus just as I do and my hope is that someone reading this will understand their need as I did 24 years ago. I pray you open your heart and understand that the bible is comprised of wisdom that originates beyond this world. It is filled with instances of God given righteousness in addition to showing the futility of human wisdom. No text has been of superior influence in the direction of prosperity of spirit, soul, and body. With all that being true, it is only a blessing to those who humble themselves under its central proclamation of Jesus Christ as Lord. To all who reject its central message the bible will become a irritation in the end. For all that stand in reliance on self shall be judged by the biblical standard of moral perfection, and shall fail miserably. This realization will haunt their minds as they grasp their misjudgment and rejection of the way, the truth, and the life contained in it. Rather than lashing out with the same old swearing and personal attacks, open your heart to The Jesus of the bible, call on him to save you and he will.

Distributed by www.ChristianWorldviewNetwork.com

The darker side of Mormonism

Just as the Mormon Republican Mitt Romney emerges as a major contender for the US presidency, a blood-soaked new film and a high-profile trial are exposing the dark side of his religion. And suddenly, the biggest obstacle on his road to the White House is the faith he holds so dear.

read more | digg story

Church caves in to critics of Islam conference

ASSIST News Service (ANS) – PO Box 609, Lake Forest, CA 92609-0609 USA
Visit our web site at: www.assistnews.net — E-mail: assistnews@aol.com

Sunday, May 20, 2007

Church caves in to critics of Islam conference

By John McNeil of Challenge Weekly, New Zealand
Special to ASSIST News Service

CHIRSTCHURCH, NZ (ANS) – A concerted negative campaign in the daily media has caused Spreydon Baptist Church to withdraw as a venue for the Christchurch leg of the nationwide “Mosques and Miracles” conference in July.

Since the conference was announced earlier this year, Spreydon Baptist and the organisers have been under constant attack.

The Press newspaper in an editorial likened the conference to covert activities of the Exclusive Brethren and said it was downright provocation and pressing the boundaries of religious tolerance in New Zealand.

Subsequent articles in The Press spoke of the “anti-Muslim” conference.

Murray Robertson

The senior pastor of Spreydon Baptist, the Rev Murray Robertson, said his church had agreed to host the conference because the global spread of Islam meant there is a need for a greater understanding of the religion and its similarities and differences with the Christian faith.

“Spreydon Baptist Church wishes to make it quite clear that we are not ‘anti- Muslim’ in our attitudes. Because labels applied by the media have a habit of sticking, and because we have no input into the content of the conference, we have made the decision not to make our facilities available for this event in order to make our position quite clear.

Mr Robertson said the decision was prompted to a large degree by pressure from people who support the church’s community work.

“They said they were not comfortable with the position, and would not support groups that are intolerant.”

“In one way, we are sad to do this because we believe our society needs an informed discussion on the growth of Islam in its various forms and its implications for us all.”

The three conferences, in Auckland, Lower Hutt and Christchurch, are sponsored by four mission organisations – Asian Outreach NZ, Interserve, Middle East Christian Outreach and Open Doors.

The four major speakers are Dr Stuart Robinson, senior pastor of Crossway Baptist Church in Melbourne and author of the book Mosques & Miracles; Dr Daniel Shayesteh, an Iranian immigrant who was a former Muslim political leader and who now directs an interdenominational organisation called Exodus from Darkness; Dr Mark Durie, vicar of St Mary’s Anglican Church in Caulfield, Melbourne; and Ben Gray, senior minister of CityHarvest church, Brisbane, and founder of the Australian Prayer Network.

A former president of the World Council of Churches, the Very Rev Dr Lois Wilson, who spoke in a debate recently at Auckland’s Holy Trinity Cathedral was reported as condemning what she called “violent talk” about the evils of Islam from some organisers of the tour.

When approached by The Press, the president of the Federation of Islamic Associations in New Zealand, Javed Khan, was reported to have called the conference “fear-mongering Islamophobia”.

Glyn Carpenter

Although not involved in its organisation, Vision Network has been helping to promote the conference, and because of the negative media attention national director Glyn Carpenter has been asked by the organisers to act as a spokesman.

“It’s a pity that media coverage has portrayed the conference as being anti-Islam. It’s created unnecessary fears. It’s not that. It’s a pity that might have raised fears unnecessarily in people’s minds,” he told Challenge Weekly.

Mr Carpenter said that, in fact, after the first round of negative reports in The Press, he and several other Vision Network council members met Mr Khan.

“We explained the reason for the conference, and there was a good understanding at the end of it,” he said. He and other organisers were not trying to present Islam as “bad”.

Mr Carpenter said the conference would go ahead in Christchurch and organisers were arranging an alternate venue. At the time of going to print, it was not known whether it would be another church or a neutral venue.

It will also be held in the original Auckland and Lower Hutt venues, Greenlane Christian Centre and Hope Centre respectively. The senior pastor of Greenlane, Terry Calkin, said there has been no pressure in Auckland, although he pointed out that Greenlane is purely providing a venue.

---

John McNeil, a veteran of 40 years of newspaper and radio journalism, is South Island editor for Challenge Weekly, New Zealand’s non-denominational, independent national Christian newspaper.

Christians remain steadfast amidst threats to convert to Islam

ASSIST News Service (ANS) – PO Box 609, Lake Forest, CA 92609-0609 USA
Visit our web site at: www.assistnews.net — E-mail: assistnews@aol.com

Friday, May 18, 2007

Christians remain steadfast amidst threats to convert to Islam

By Sheraz Khurram Khan
Special Correspondent for ASSIST News Service in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (ANS) – Defying the threats the Islamic radicals hurled at them that they should either flee the town or face dire consequences, the Christians of Charsadda have responded to the ultimatum of conversion given by the Islamic extremists with a declaration that they were ready to sacrifice their lives for Jesus Christ but would not deny Him.

This announcement was made in a press conference organized by All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA) at Islamabad. The Christian Community leaders of Charsadda and Murdan, Pastors, Bishop Anthony Lobo, minority members of Assembly and Chairman, All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA) Mr. Shahbaz Bhatti addressed the conference, said APMA news release.

Christians in a Pakistani town of Charsadda in the Northwest Frontier Province of Pakistan, 35 Kilometers from Peshawar, the Provincial capital of North West Frontier Province bordering Afghanistan, received threatening letter with an ultimatum of 10 days to convert to Islam or face dire consequences and bomb explosions. The deadline of the ultimatum expired on May 17, 2007, it said.

“We strongly condemn the threatening letter and ultimatum given to Christians of Charsadda. Christians of Pakistan can not be intimidated through coercive means; we can die but can not compromise on our faith. We are Patriotic citizens of Pakistan and can never bow down before Islamic militants and extremist forces,” it quoted APMA Chief Shahbaz Bhatti as saying.

“Government of Pakistan is responsible for the protection and safety of its citizen. Therefore government must ensure the safety of Christians at Charsadda and take strong actions against those who are spreading violence, religious extremism, hate and terrorizing the minorities and women in Pakistan.”

It quoted him as saying that the religious extremists and misguided zealots were attacking video, audio and barber shops. “They are terrorizing and harassing minorities and women. These pro Taliban extremists are committing violence in the name of religion to impose their own radical Islam and Talibanization by force, which is worrisome particularly when these extremists are taking law in to their own hands, blowing themselves as suicidal bombers and policing the society”.

“Christians and other minorities of Pakistan are already facing institutionalized and constitutionalised discrimination; many innocent Christians are incarcerated and killed and many become target due to the misuse of blasphemy law by the extremist elements. Attacks on Churches, Christian schools and other institutions have been experienced by the Christians of Pakistan in the past few years and now the up rise of vigilante groups and the threats have further aggravated the situation. In these circumstances, the government is unable to control the violent activities of militant organizations in Pakistan or provide protection to its citizens”, it quoted Bhatti as saying.

“Christians are migrating from their ancestral homes due to increased apprehension of bomb attacks by militants. It must be remembered that no religion can be propagated by the use of sword”, the news release quoted Bishop of Rawalpindi/Islamabad Anthony Lobo as saying.

---

The writer is a freelance journalist based in Pakistan.

AMERICA IS A NATION OF CHURCH PEOPLE

HAPPENINGS AROUND THE CHURCH

By Dr. Riley Case

May 14, 2007

AMERICA IS A NATION OF CHURCH PEOPLE

Forty years ago or so, during the 1960s, when “Death of God” theology was a fad, and Harvey Cox wrote in The Secular City that increasing secularism meant that Christianity would have to change or die, and the Woodstock generation was declaring Biblical faith irrelevant, a number of people in America began to predict that Christianity in America would go the way of Christianity in Europe: empty churches and people relying more and more on government and secular social services to meet their human needs. People “come of age” would not need Christianity.

The prognosticators were simply wrong. A careful reading of the 2007 Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches (a project of the National Council of Churches) reveals that Christianity in America is very likely stronger than it has ever been. The yearbook reports church membership of 168 million (in a nation of 300 million). But a qualifying paragraph in the yearbook explains that the figures do not include megachurches and independent churches and other churches that simply do not send in reports.

So how many more million should we add to the total of 168 million people to get the true picture of America church adherents? The most casual observer is aware that non-denominational megachurches and independent churches are the fastest growing segment of Christianity. In many communities, these churches dominate the religious landscape, and this says nothing about the growing number of house churches.

If we add another 40 million persons in independent churches and subtract from the total Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses (which were included in the 168 million), we would end up with 200 million Christian church members in a population of 300 million persons in America. That is 67%, or two-thirds of all Americans. Compare this with the statistic that in 1790 only 10% of Americans were church members.

While it is true that church membership itself is not an indictor of true Christianity, nevertheless the figures are an encouragement for all those concerned about the cause of Christ.

Visit Our Website at www.confessingumc.org.

Letters threaten Pakistani Christians to convert to Islam

ASSIST News Service (ANS) – PO Box 609, Lake Forest, CA 92609-0609 USA
Visit our web site at: www.assistnews.net — E-mail: assistnews@aol.com

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Letters threaten Pakistani Christians to convert to Islam

By Sheraz Khurram Khan
Special Correspondent for ASSIST News Service in Pakistan

CHARSADDA/ MARDAN, PAKISTAN (ANS) – Pakistani Christians in the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan are reportedly receiving menacing letters asking them to close their churches and convert to Islam within 10 days, ANS has learnt.

“Christians in Charsadda and Mardan, in Pakistan’s North West Frontier Province, have received letters threatening that they must close their churches and convert to Islam within ten days”, said Barnabas Fund in its May 14 news release.

It went on to say that although some letters did not say what the consequences would be if Christians failed to comply, others are reported to have threatened bombing or the execution of all Christians. Police have increased security at churches, it said.

The unsigned handwritten letters were delivered to churches and Christian homes in the two towns on May 7th, giving a period of ten days for compliance, it added.

It said several Christian families have already fled since the letters were distributed. The news release quoted some Christians as saying that they knew the militants could kill them but they were trusting God for His protection. It further quoted them as saying that they would not yield to threats.

“These extremists are asking us to change our religion. We will not do it, even if we have to die”, the news release quoted All Pakistan Minorities Alliance Chief Shahbaz Bhatti as saying.

It said the Christians all over Pakistan will observe a period of prayer and fasting from May 17th (the date on which the ultimatum to the Christians expires) until May 27th.

Around 500 Christians live in Charsadda, where Islamic militants are using intimidation and violence to try to enforce a strict Islamic life-style, resembling that advocated by the Taliban in nearby Afghanistan, the news release said.

The militants’ bomb music shops, put pressure on barbers not to shave beards, and are trying to have girls’ schools closed, it maintained.

It was in Charsadda that Pakistan’s Federal Interior Minister, Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, narrowly escaped death in a suicide attack last month which killed 28 people, it added.

Bible Institute also threatened

The release said that Rt. Rev. Mano Rumalshah, the Church of Pakistan Bishop of Peshawar, in whose diocese lie Charsadda and Mardan, spoke to Barnabas Fund of his grave concern about the ultimatum to Christians. Furthermore, in the city of Peshawar, two Taliban-style militants visited the Pakistan Bible Institute in the same week as the threatening letters appeared, it said.

It maintained that no senior leaders were present at the time, so the militants held a gun to the head of a junior staff member and began to threaten him, saying, “We hear you are converting Muslims.” They were on the point of shooting him when a noise disturbed them and they fled, it claimed.

Apostasy Bill

Amidst much pressure for increasing Islamization in Pakistan, there is a new threat to Christians from a Muslim background. Until now such converts have not faced any legal penalty, though harassment or violence from family and community are commonplace, and sometimes other legal pretexts are used to put pressure on them, it said adding that Pakistan’s National Assembly was considering a draft Apostasy Bill, moved by the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal party. The Bill, which it said had been sent to the Standing Committee on Law and Justice for consideration, would impose a death penalty for adult men leaving Islam and imprisonment for adult women leaving Islam, in line with the dictates of Sharia (Islamic law).

Seeing a pattern?

“Shocking in themselves, these threatening letters to Pakistani Christians are even more alarming because of their similarity to what is happening in other countries at present,” the release quoted International Director of Barnabas Fund, Dr Patrick Sookhdeo as saying.

“Threats to convert to Islam, to leave or be killed are being made against Christians in Iraq, sometimes written, sometimes verbal In Egypt last Friday leaflets were apparently the trigger for violence in the village of Behma, south of Cairo. The leaflets condemned a church building project, and the result was rioting in which Christians were injured and Christian homes and businesses set on fire”.

“The incident at the Pakistan Bible Institute is reminiscent of the killing of three Christians at a Christian publishing house in Turkey last month. Their throats were slit, apparently by those who resented their outreach to Turkish Muslims. Is this simply copy-cat terrorism, or could there be an organized international strategy against Christian minorities in the Muslim world and against Christian evangelism in Muslim contexts?”

The All Pakistan Minorities Alliance has asked concerned Christians to pray for the protection of Christians in Charsadda and Mardan. Praise God that the Christians “are undefeated spiritually and continue to uphold their faith in these difficult times”. Pray also for the Pakistan Bible Institute and all other Christian ministries in the country.

Pray that the government of Pakistan, the various state governments, and the local police and judiciary in every part of the country will act with wisdom and courage to prevent violence against Christians and all other minorities.

Please continue to pray, especially as the deadline of 17th May comes on Thursday this week, after which the militants in Charsadda and Mardan have threatened to punish any Christians who have not converted to Islam. Keep praying as Christians in Pakistan pray and fast from 17th to 27th May.

Pray that the proposed apostasy bill will be rejected, and that Muslims in Pakistan will be free to choose another faith if they desire. Pray that the Lord will watch over and keep safe all those who have left another faith to follow Him.

Pray for peace and stability in Behma, Egypt, after the anti-Christian rioting there. Pray for a complete change of attitude amongst the Muslim community in Egypt so that there will be no objections to expanding church buildings or even erecting new ones from scratch.

---

The writer is a freelance journalist based in Pakistan.

Christians have 10 Days to Convert to Islam in Pakistan

Christians in Charsadda, a town in North-West Frontier Province in Pakistan, have been warned that if they do not convert to Islam by 17 May they will face “dire consequences and bomb explosions”.

Christians in Charsadda, a town in North-West Frontier Province in Pakistan, have been warned that if they do not convert to Islam by 17 May they will face “dire consequences and bomb explosions”, Christian Today has learned.

The threats were made in a letter circulated last week to the town’s Christian population, according to the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance.

They come as Pakistan’s National Assembly overwhelmingly rejected proposed amendments to the blasphemy laws, which were tabled by a minority representative Member of Parliament, Mr Bhandara. On 8 May, the Government led the movement in the National Assembly to defeat the reforms.

Under the existing blasphemy laws, anyone convicted of blasphemy against the Prophet Mohammad faces life imprisonment or the death penalty, according to section 295C of the Pakistan Penal Code…

Read the rest here.

.

CAIR Says Not To Link Dix Six To Islam

Should Media Disclose Their Faith?

read more | digg story

EXCLUSIVE: German Homeschooler Talks

By Dale Hurd
CBN News
May 9, 2007

CBNNews.com — ERLANGEN, Germany — A few months ago we told about the German homeschool girl who was taken from her parents and placed in a mental hospital.

Because of our story and others like it, there’s been a new development in the case.

Three months ago, 15-year-old German homeschool student Melissa Busekros was taken from her family in a SWAT-style police raid.

She was placed in a mental hospital in Nuremberg and diagnosed with what German officials called “school phobia.”

Her Christian home environment was deemed to be dangerous, and she was placed in foster care.

Homeschooling is illegal in Germany, and CBN News has shown you German homeschoolers who have been fined several thousand Euros and thrown in jail.

Is Germany’s treatment of homeschoolers are throwback to Nazi Germany? Click player to watch report and to hear Gordon Robertson weigh in.

But the newest tactic by the German government is taking children from their parents.

Melissa was taken away by more than a dozen police officers in what some labeled an abduction.

But on April 23, Melissa turned 16.

And just after midnight, she packed her suitcase, escaped through a bedroom window and simply walked away from her foster home.

She found her way to her parents’ house.

Because she is now 16, and because of international outrage over the treatment of the Busekros family, local officials have so far not moved to take her away again.

Melissa sat down and talked with us in her home in Bavaria.

She said, “I was taken from my family by, I think, more than 15 policemen, and it wasn’t nice to be away…I couldn’t phone my family and I didn’t know where I was.”

A state psychiatric evaluation of Melissa said that, along with her alleged “school phobia,” she is too obedient and too devoted to her father, and that is deemed a mental disorder.

The evaluation said that Melissa is “a highly disturbed girl who obediently and faithfully obeys the idealistic statements of the father and who describes the State as being despotic and ‘fascist-like’.”

It adds, with a concerned tone, that “Melissa demonstrates loyalty towards her father and unconditional solidarity with her family.”

We asked Melissa if she ever wondered if she indeed had mental problems like officials said she did.

“No,” she said, “I always knew I wasn’t stupid or crazy.”

Her case sparked international outrage and led to a massive phone, e-mail, and letter-writing campaign to German officials, as well as an outpouring of support for the Busekros family, for which they are very thankful.

Her mother Gudrun said, “A lot of letters came from the United States. Most of the letters came from there, even with invitations to come to their house and live with them if we want to escape. This was so nice.”

Melissa says that when she was away from her family, she learned to cast her cares upon God.

“What I learned is you have to trust ‘in everything God,’ and that He is the first position in your life,” Melissa said.

Her mother Gudrun is just thankful to have her daughter back.

“I know it’s written in the Bible that for those who love God, everything will work together for good,” Gudrun said, “and I’m sure this verse is true.”

It would be nice if we could say that this story had a happy ending, but the story is not over yet, and the police could return and take Melissa away again.

Hubert, Melissa’s father, said, “Yes, this is possible. They can come at any time and take Melissa again. Our situation is very uncertain, and for this reason we can’t relax.”

Christian attorney Joel Thornton is helping defend the Busekros.

Thornton said, “I think a proper analogy with Melissa’s case is we’re at half-time and we have a lead. There’s a lot of action going on and the fear is that it could still end up with Melissa back in custody.”

CBN News: Will you go with them if they come back?

Melissa: No, not by myself. When they forced me, OK, I couldn’t do anything. But I don’t want to go again.

CBN News: So are you saying they’ll have to take you by force?

Melissa: Yes.

Germany continues to resist international pressure to allow homeschooling.

And CBN News has learned that Germany’s treatment of homeschoolers will be mentioned in next year’s U.S. State Department annual report on human rights violations.

Melissa’s attorney, Johannes Hildebrandt, says that the local judge in the case erred by relying on what he calls a “pseudo-examination” of Melissa that found her to be mentally ill.

Hildebrandt said, “That’s ridiculous.”

The Busekros family just hopes that the German government will somehow leave them alone.

“I feel very relieved to have my daughter back here,” said Gudrun. “And, we just feel complete again.”

So for now, Melissa Busekros is home. But how long she can remain with her parents is still uncertain.

Bill requires hiring ‘gays,’ cross-dressers

‘Perceived sexual orientation or gender identity’ protected

Following on the heels of an ‘anti-discrimination’ plan Christians insist would virtually outlaw their religious beliefs comes another proposal – introduced by openly homosexual U.S. Rep. Barney Frank – that requires businesses to give special privileges to “gay” and “transgendered” individuals.

Shari Rendall, director of legislation and public policy for Concerned Women for America, the nation’s largest women’s public policy group, said H.R. 2015, the “Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2007,” would be a disaster.

read more | digg story