Breaking News...
Washington, D.C. (June 2, 2010) International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that an Afghan parliamentary secretary called for the public execution of Christian converts on the parliament floor.
On Tuesday, the Associated Free Press reported that Abdul Sattar Khawasi, deputy secretary of the Afghan lower house in parliament, called for the execution of Christian converts from Islam. Speaking in regards to a video broadcasted by Afghan television network Noorin TV showing footage of Christian men being baptized and praying in Farsi, Khawasi said, "/Those Afghans that appeared in this video film should be executed in public, the house should order the attorney general and the NDS (intelligence agency) to arrest these Afghans and execute them.
The broadcast triggered a protest by hundreds of Kabul University students on Monday, who shouted death threats and demanded the expulsion of Christian foreigners accused of proselytizing. As a result, the operations of Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) and U.S.-based Church World Service (CWS) have been suspended over allegations of proselytizing. The Afghan government is currently undertaking an intensive investigation into the matter. According to Afghan law, proselytizing is illegal and conversion from Islam is punishable by death.
ICC sources within Afghanistan have reported that many national Christians are in hiding, fearful of execution. Under government pressure during investigations, some Afghans have reportedly revealed names and locations of Christian converts.
Aidan Clay, ICC Regional Manager for the Middle East, said, “It is absolutely appalling that the execution of Christians would be promoted on the floor of the Afghan parliament.” Khawasi’s statement sounded a whole lot like the tyrannical manifesto of the Taliban, not that of a U.S. ally. American lives are being lost fighting terrorism and defending freedom in Afghanistan -- yet Christians are being oppressed within Afghan borders. This comes after billions of U.S. dollars have been invested in the war effort, and millions more have been given in aid. The U.S. government must intervene to protect the religious freedoms and human rights of all Afghans. The U.S. is not a mere outside bystander -- but, is closely intertwined within Afghan policy. Intervention is not a choice, but a responsibility, as Afghan policies reflect the U.S. government’s ability and commitment to secure a stable government in Afghanistan.
All contents © copyright 1995-2009 persecution.org : Helping the suffering persecuted Christian Church
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Washington, D.C. (June 2, 2010) International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that an Afghan parliamentary secretary called for the public execution of Christian converts on the parliament floor.
On Tuesday, the Associated Free Press reported that Abdul Sattar Khawasi, deputy secretary of the Afghan lower house in parliament, called for the execution of Christian converts from Islam. Speaking in regards to a video broadcasted by Afghan television network Noorin TV showing footage of Christian men being baptized and praying in Farsi, Khawasi said, "/Those Afghans that appeared in this video film should be executed in public, the house should order the attorney general and the NDS (intelligence agency) to arrest these Afghans and execute them.
The broadcast triggered a protest by hundreds of Kabul University students on Monday, who shouted death threats and demanded the expulsion of Christian foreigners accused of proselytizing. As a result, the operations of Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) and U.S.-based Church World Service (CWS) have been suspended over allegations of proselytizing. The Afghan government is currently undertaking an intensive investigation into the matter. According to Afghan law, proselytizing is illegal and conversion from Islam is punishable by death.
ICC sources within Afghanistan have reported that many national Christians are in hiding, fearful of execution. Under government pressure during investigations, some Afghans have reportedly revealed names and locations of Christian converts.
Aidan Clay, ICC Regional Manager for the Middle East, said, “It is absolutely appalling that the execution of Christians would be promoted on the floor of the Afghan parliament.” Khawasi’s statement sounded a whole lot like the tyrannical manifesto of the Taliban, not that of a U.S. ally. American lives are being lost fighting terrorism and defending freedom in Afghanistan -- yet Christians are being oppressed within Afghan borders. This comes after billions of U.S. dollars have been invested in the war effort, and millions more have been given in aid. The U.S. government must intervene to protect the religious freedoms and human rights of all Afghans. The U.S. is not a mere outside bystander -- but, is closely intertwined within Afghan policy. Intervention is not a choice, but a responsibility, as Afghan policies reflect the U.S. government’s ability and commitment to secure a stable government in Afghanistan.
All contents © copyright 1995-2009 persecution.org : Helping the suffering persecuted Christian Church
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Over the last few days, I have heard that this situation was brewing and my heart has been so heavy.
I laid in bed last night wondering what it is like right now for an Afghan Christian to go to bed. I go to bed in a comfortable bed, in a peaceful country, with no threat of authorities breaking in or militants storming the door to arrest me, torture me, or kill me because they saw me reading a Bible or overheard me talking about Jesus with a friend at work. Not so for the Afghan believer. I ponder how I would feel laying in bed in that nation, wondering about the origin of every noise, praying for the Lord to protect me and my family until morning's light, concerned for fellow believers and what they might be facing, and especially, fearful for the day when authorities or militants may show up at my door and what they might do when they show up. Would I be strong in those moments? Would I give up names of my fellow believers in an attempt to save myself or my family? Would I recant my faith as Peter did in desperate fear and for the hope that my life in this world would continue?
Even as I ponder these things, I realize that I am in a quagmire regarding how to pray for these believers. I know that if I were in their situation, I would want relief from the persecution. I would want the government to take a giant leap forward and create laws that pave the way for religious freedom. And yet, I look at the book of Acts and wonder if praying for those things bears any resemblance to the kingdom of Christ. It is in the easiest of times that the church has faced its most devastating days; not the days of martyrdom and persecution. As Tertullian once said and history has itself proven, "the blood of the martyrs is [indeed] the seed of the church." In my search for how to pray, I ran across these scriptures today....
"Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved." [Matthew 24: 9-13]
Jesus has never been and never will be surprised by events that unfold in this world. He anticipated exactly what Afghanistan is facing. His instructions were not to appeal to government policy or pray for immediate release from suffering but to ENDURE. It is my prayer for the Afghans that they would endure.
"But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven." [Matthew 5: 44-45]
Some days it is hard to love the people who love you, let alone the people that hurt you or betray you in one way or another. Try to imagine trying to love someone who has arrested you, who has tortured you, your family, or your friends, who is threatening you with execution. Lord, have mercy and grant these believers the same love that sent you to the cross for your enemies. Give them the grace to forgive, knowing the tremendous depth of forgiveness you have lavished upon them.
"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you adn utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." [Matthew 5: 10-12]
There is one thing that strikes me right off the bat in this passage. Jesus has a very different definition of blessing than we do. We feel sorry for people who are persecuted, reviled, or slandered, even if it for righteousness' sake. This is not in-line with the teachings of our Lord. There is a great reward awaiting those who face persecutions with joy and trust. Abba, give Afghan believers an eternal perspective that leads them to focus on the reward ahead and to know that those who lose their lives for your sake are the only ones that ever find life.
"When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise against me, yet I will be confident." [Psalm 27: 2-3]
I realized today that much of the reason we in the Western church do not obey or honor our Lord has to do with what we fear. We fear the loss of our jobs, our security, the esteem of man. Pitiful things in comparison with all the Afghan believers have faced, but fears common among us nonetheless. Because we do not fear the Lord (which, as Proverbs says, is the beginning of wisdom), we fear other things that are not worthy of our fear. So it is with Afghan believers. Father, lead them to fear you as Judge, as Creator, as Sovereign Lord over all lest they be tempted to fear those who can kill the body but cannot kill the soul.
"And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your words with all boldness..." [Acts 4: 29]
May this be the timid but real prayer of my Afghan brothers and sisters tonight. May they trust in your justice and find peace in your plan. Whether they survive these days with their earthly lives in tact or not, may they one day rejoice before your throne among others who stood firm when every bit of ground besides the Lord Jesus Christ was shaken.
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