Letter From Youcef Nadarkhani

I have received a letter from brother Youcef Nadarkhani regarding his current condition, his thoughts about his persecution, and his response towards the burning of Qurans. I am very blessed by what he writes and am sincerely thankful for the testimony he is maintaining through the power of God. I am reminded of the Scripture, “I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.” Colossians 4:18

07 May 2012
Greetings from your servant and younger brother in Christ, Youcef Nadarkhani.
To: All those who are concerned and worried about my current situation.
First, I would like to inform all of my beloved brothers and sisters that I am in perfect health in the  flesh and spirit. And I try to have a little different approach from others to these days, and consider it as the day of exam and trial of my faith. And during these days which are hard in order to prove your loyalty and sincerity to God, I am trying to do the best in my power to stay right with what I have learned from God’s commandments.
I need to remind my beloveds, though my trial due has been so long, and as in the flesh I wish these days to end, yet I have surrendered myself to God’s will.
I am neither a political person nor do I know about political complicity, but I know that while there are many things in common between different cultures, there are also differences between these cultures around the world which can result in criticism, which most of the times response to this criticisms will be harsh and as a result will lengthen our problems.
From time to time I am  informed about the news which is spreading in the media about my current situation, for instance being supported by various churches and famous politicians who have asked for my release, or campaigns and human rights activities which are going on against the charges which are applied to me. I do believe that these kind of activities can be very helpful in order to reach freedom, and respecting human rights in a right way can bring forth positive results.
I want to appreciate all those are trying to reach this goal. But at the other hand, I’d like to announce my disagreement with the insulting activities which cause stress and trouble, which unfortunately are done with the justification (excuse) of defending human rights and freedom, for the results are so clear and obvious for me.
I try to be humble and obedient to those who are in power, obedience to those in authority which God has granted to the officials of my country, and pray for them to rule the country according to the will of God and be successful in doing this. For I know in this way I have obeyed God’s word.  I try to obey along with those whom I see in a common situation with me. They never had any complaint, but just let the power of God be manifested in their lives, and though sometimes we read that they have used this right to defend themselves, for they had this right, I am not an exception as well and have used all possibilities and so forth and am waiting for the final result.
So I ask all the beloved ones to pray for me as the holy word has said. At the end I hope my freedom will be prepared as soon as possible, as the authorities of my country will do with free will according to their law and commandments which are answerable to.
May God’s Grace and Mercy be upon you now and forever. Amen.
Youcef Nadarkhani

 

In Christ,

Jason DeMars

Christians fight religious food labels

April 18 2012 at 09:09am
By ZELDA VENTER

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INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERSA Christian group is taking legal action over the religious labelling of food packaging, such as halaal signs. Photo: Handout/Supplied

A Christian voluntary organisation is taking the government to court over its new regulations allowing a wide range of food packaging to be religiously certified and to carry religious signs, such as the halaal certification mark, without regulating the labelling.

It is claimed that these regulations exclude certain faiths, such as Christianity, and is thus unconstitutional.

The National Coalition of Christian Groups and Individuals for Practical Equality and Protection of Constitutional Rights objects to religious labelling, such as the halaal certification mark, that signifies the food can be eaten by Muslims.

This sign appears on a wide range of products, such as meat, drinks, chips, sweets and biscuits.

The coalition said it represents various Christian organisations and Christian people in SA, on whose behalf it is launching the court action. It will ask the Pretoria High Court for orders, including to declare that the religious certifying of the food, which exclude the Christian faith, is unconstitutional.

The coalition will also ask that the ministers of health and trade and industry be forced to introduce measures that will ensure that when these products carry religious signs on its packaging, similar food products – without these signs – also be made available to the consumer.

This, however, would exclude processed food products exclusive to a particular religious group and originate from their faiths (such as slaughtering prescriptions in the case of Muslims), where it would, for example, carry the halaal mark.

Christians do not have any religious signs on foodstuffs and many of the coalition’s members do not favour consumables with religious signs, it said in court papers.

The coalition also fears that consumers would have to foot the bill for these additional markings on packaging.

It will ask the court to force the government to introduce measures ensuring that the costs associated with these signs are not directly or indirectly passed on to consumers of other religious groups who are excluded on the labelling.

The coalition objecting mainly to a notice in the Government Gazette of March 12, in which the Health Minister gave the go-ahead for these religious signs, without proper regulations in place.

Phillip Groenenstein, of the coalition, said in court papers, that religious signs on packaging should be regulated by the government to prevent discriminatory usage.

This was not an attack on any faith or religion, he said, but stressed that the application, launched by Lombards Attorneys in Pretoria is aimed at ensuring equality between faiths and religions.

These food labels evoke religious emotions based on the religious orientation of the different religious groups in our country, he said. An example was the recent hot cross bun debacle over a halaal mark that caused an outcry among many Christians, he said. Woolworths subsequently announced it would next Easter also offer hot cross buns without the halaal sign, he said. – Pretoria News

Christian Acquitted of ‘Blasphemy’ Charge in Pakistan

Summary:

LAHORE, Pakistan, April 17 (Compass Direct News) – A Pakistani Christian falsely charged with “blasphemy” after rescuing his 8-year-old nephew from a beating at the hands of Muslim boys has been cleared of the charge. Dildar Masih, a 27-year-old father of two young children, was acquitted on March 26 after prosecutors failed to produce any evidence against him, he said. “I was produced in court three times during the case proceedings, but not one accuser ever turned up at the hearings,” Masih told Compass by phone. His nephew, Ihtesham (also known as Sunny), had gone out to fetch ice when Muslim boys from a nearby madrassa (religious school) beat him for refusing to convert to Islam in village No. 68 AR Farmwala, in Khanewal district’s Mian Channu area in Punjab Province, on June 10, 2011. Seeing the attack from a distance, Masih shouted and rushed to the scene, rescued his nephew and then went to his work as a painter. Soon after the incident, a Muslim mob of about 55 led by village prayer leader Qari Hasnain besieged Masih’s house and ordered his father, Yousaf Masih, to hand over “the blasphemer” to them. Masih said that during his imprisonment, he stood by his faith that Jesus would free him from the false charge and that he would be able to return to his family. “I prayed a lot … This was the only other thing I did in prison besides having food and sleeping,” he said.

By Murad Khan

 

LAHORE, Pakistan, April 17 (Compass Direct News) – A Pakistani Christian falsely charged with “blasphemy” after rescuing his 8-year-old nephew from a beating at the hands of Muslim boys has been cleared of the charge.

 

Dildar Masih, a 27-year-old father of two young children, was acquitted on March 26 after prosecutors failed to produce any evidence against him, he said.

 

“I was produced in court three times during the case proceedings, but not one accuser ever turned up at the hearings,” Masih told Compass by phone. “You cannot imagine my joy when the prison officials told me that I had been acquitted by the court. I had not been taken to the hearing that day; only my lawyer, Javed Raza, and father were present in the courtroom.”

 

His nephew, Ihtesham (also known as Sunny), had gone out to fetch ice when Muslim boys from a nearby madrassa (religious school) beat him for refusing to convert to Islam in village No. 68 AR Farmwala, in Khanewal district’s Mian Channu area in Punjab Province, on June 10, 2011.

 

Seeing the attack from a distance, Masih shouted and rushed to the scene, rescued his nephew and then went to his work as a painter. Soon after the incident, a Muslim mob of about 55 led by village prayer leader Qari Hasnain besieged Masih’s house and ordered his father, Yousaf Masih, to hand over “the blasphemer” to them.

Yousaf Masih said that Hasnain claimed to have heard Dildar Masih “abusing Islamic holy words” as he was standing in the entrance of his mosque near the site of the incident. Hasnain later telephoned clerics in neighboring villages, and they called on all Muslims to “come out for the defense of Islam” after Friday prayers (see www.compassdirect.org, “Pakistani Families Flee after Another Bogus ‘Blasphemy’ Charge,” June 15, 2011).

 

Unaware of the declarations emanating from the mosque, Dildar Masih had no idea why the Islamic throng arrived at the house he was painting and “pounced on him like tigers,” his elderly father told Compass.

 

Police registered a blasphemy case against Dildar Masih, No. 211/11 under Section 298 of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 16 of the Maintenance of Public Order, later that night after a crowd of about 2,500 Muslims gathered outside the police station and demanded officers hand him over to them.

 

He told Compass that he could scarcely believe his ears when he learned that he had been acquitted and would be released that same day. He said that there had been instances when Muslim prisoners and junior jail officials at the Multan Central Jail had tried to vent their anger at him, “but some prisoner or another would intervene in the situation and tell them that I was not guilty of blasphemy and thus saved me from being beaten up.”

 

Masih said that during his imprisonment, he stood by his faith that Jesus would free him from the false charge and that he would be able to return to his family.

 

“I prayed a lot … This was the only other thing I did in prison besides having food and sleeping,” he said. “I kept on telling God that I had complete faith in Him and would wait for the day when He would set me free.”

 

After being released from jail – so full of joy that he forgot several of his belongings in his hurry to leave – Masih joined his family in a village where the entire clan has relocated after the incident.

 

“I haven’t found work as yet, but I’m sure God will provide a living for me very soon,” he said. “It’s so good to be back among my two children and wife … And yes, I’m much more closer to God now.”

 

He said he’s witnessed the hand of the Almighty at work.

 

“About 13 people are currently imprisoned in Multan Central Jail under blasphemy charges,” he said. “I was the only Christian, and probably the only one to have been able to return home in less than a year.” 

 

www.compassdirect.org

 

Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani Spends 35th Birthday Behind Bars

Today, is Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani’s birthday, and our sources in Iran confirm that he is still alive. Thirty-five years ago, on the 23rd of the Farvardin month of the Persian Calendar, Youcef was born in Iran.

This is the third birthday that Pastor Youcef has been forced to celebrate behind bars, condemned to death in Iran for apostasy – becoming a Christian in a regime governed by Shariah (Islamic) law.

Tomorrow, marks exactly two and a half years of imprisonment – 913 days illegally held in prison for his faith.

Both the Iranian Constitution and the International Declaration of Human Rights, of which Iran is a signatory, not only forbid executing someone for their faith but expressly protect religious freedom. Despite these assurances of religious freedom, Iran continues to imprison Pastor Youcef indefinitely for charges related solely to the exercise of his faith.

Today, Christians and supporters of Pastor Youcef all around the world are holding a fasting and prayer vigil for the persecuted pastor to bring attention to his plight. Just last week, hundreds of Christians and supporters of religious liberty attended a vigil and march for Pastor Youcef’s release inHamburg, Germany.

These are just a few examples of the increasing international pressure being placed on Iran to release Pastor Youcef. Nations like the United Kingdom,Brazil, and many others are directly demanding that Iran immediately and unconditionally release Pastor Youcef.

The ACLJ’s Tweet for Youcef campaign is now reaching nearly 1.5 million Twitter accounts around the world each day with updates about Pastor Youcef. His story has reached over 91 percent of the United Nations member states, including Iran. The Tweet for Youcef Brazil campaign in Portuguese also continues to see tremendous growth.

Even with this increasing international pressure on Iran for Pastor Youcef’s release, it is critically important to remember that Pastor Youcef is still in an Iranian prison under a death sentence that could be carried out at any time. The only reason that he is still alive today is because of the international outcry against this abhorrent situation. It is not enough that Iran remove his death sentence, rather we must demand his ultimate and unconditional freedom.

Please continue to pray for Pastor Youcef. As a Birthday present for Pastor Youcef and symbol of solidarity for those persecuted for their faith, please let the world know that you support Pastor Youcef by signing up to Tweet for Youcef today.

Happy Birthday Pastor Youcef.

Christian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani has been illegally imprisoned in Iran for more than two and a half years – separated from his wife and two young boys.

http://aclj.org/iran/pastor-youcef-nadarkhani-spends-birthday-behind-bars

 

Christians on trial in Iran on easter sunday

Christian’s On 

Trial On Easter

 

On Easter Sunday in Iran 12 Christian’s will stand trail before the court in Rasht. These same Chritian’s were acquitted for the same crimes last year in Bandar Anzali, a city on the Caspian Sea. This highlights, once again, that it is illegal to be a Christian in Iran.

 

Pastor Matthias Haghnejad who was acquitted for crimes against the order in a Bandar Anzali court is being on trial on April 8th for the same charge in Rasht. There were 11 others put on trial with him and they are now going to have to go to court for the second time. They are Anahita Khadeimi (the wife of Matthias), Mahmoud Khosh-Hal and his wife Hava Saadetmend, Amir Goldoust, Mina Goldoust, Zhaina Bahremand, Fatemah Modir-Nouri, Mehrdad Habibzade, Milad Radef, Behzad Taalipasand and Amin Pishkar. Please pray for these believers as they stand trial at 11:30 PM eastern standard time on the 7th. We pray that God gives them courage to stand for their faith, to express themselves clearly and to bring him honor and glory. We also pray that he touches the heart of the judges to acquit these saints of these “crimes.”

 

In Christ,

Present Truth Ministries

To muslim kidnappers: “IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST “We urge you to free ROSSELLA Urru”

Rossella Urru is one of those woman no one should forget about once they have acknowledged her work and passion. She is a volunteer for a Not-Governative Organization called “Comitato internazionale per lo Sviluppo dei Popoli” (International Committee for Population Development), she worked in Tindouf, Algeria, where the sarahawi population lives in exile.  She worked, yes, because she was active until the night between October 22 and 23, 2011, 4 months ago, she was abducted with two of her mission partners Enric Gonyalons and Ainhoa Fernandez by an African jihad movement. 4 months and not much.

Italian medias have not talked much about this tragedy till Geppi Cucciari, Italian Comedienne, has remembered Rossella in a monologue on the star studded Sanremo theatre during the Italian Music Festival last week. Italian people knew nothing about it and it’s such a shameful situation.

In a world where every news can reach the other side of the Earth in a Tweet, no one has taken the time to talk about this woman. A woman who is giving her life to help a population which is, surely, in need and which has been fighting poverty for the last 30 years.

What I am asking today is attention. I am asking all my friends on every social network to take a moment away from their busy lives to spread this news. The last 4 months of Rossella Urru’s life have been spent in the hands of terrorists, away from her family, her Country and her passion, helping people. She NEEDS our help now, it’s really time to give help. Spread the word, #FREEROSSELLAURRU.

Please, reblog and retweet this.

http://stuckintranslation.tumblr.com/post/18375539627/rossella-urru-italian-people-scream-for-help-to-save

Monza: Manifest for the Liberation of ROSSELLA Urru

Posted on March 13, 2012

See the people in line to enter the dining Magdalene in Monza, half an hour before the event, has left us a little bit surprised, because usually people arrive late.

It ‘happened in Monza, the demonstration of solidarity calling for the release of Scarlett Urru, the young volunteer humanitarian, kidnapped in Algeria October 20, 2011, in concert with the Reading-room and the Magdalene-ethnic creative Market Square Cambiaghi, organized by the Circle Sardinia, with the collaboration of the Municipality of Monza, Department of Culture and sponsored by Sardinia Region, Department of Labour, Province of Monza and Brianza, in the STEPS and Zero Boundaries, a Women’s Day, dedicated to Scarlett Urru.

At 16, a Sunday, March 11, packed the hall  to speak was the president of the Club Sardegna, Salvatore Carta, thanking the Citizens and Members, for good participation.

The Head of Culture, Prof. Alfonso Di Lio brought greetings from the city of Monza.

He spoke the D.ressa Tiziana Fraterrigo, Vice President of Humanitarian Zero Boundaries, who recalled Scarlett Urru, citing some humanitarian initiatives undertaken by the Association, the Sahrawis, along with Scarlett Urru.Ha then read some poems on theme of Freedom, dedicated to Scarlett, accompanied by applause.

The intervention of the President of Zero Boundaries Antonetta Carrabs, then examined the binding of its association with Rossella Urru missions in the Sahrawi and at the end he read a poem called Sahrawi right, between the emotion and applause from the large audience of President presente.Il Circle thanked Sardinia and then handed a bouquet of mimosas symbolic to the two brave women poets.

He then kicked off the concert dedicated to all women and particularly Scarlett Urru, starting from the Sardinian song “No potho reposare”, continuing with lyrics dedicated to women, De Andrè, Baptists, Sugar, From, Cocker, etc. . performed by the orchestra Symphony-Live, among many enthusiastic applause of citizenship.

 

At 18.30 we ended the show with some songs Tazenda and the appeal

to the kidnappers: “IN THE NAME OF HUMANITY ‘We urge you to FREE ROSSELLA Urru ”.

Written in Arabic on posters and 3,000 flyers with color photos of Scarlett.

We are very pleased with this event and also the market of creativity and art exhibition of masters Grassi and Boellis, hoping that our baby can serve to liberate Scarlett Urru and give a little courage and hope to his family Samugheo, Sardinia …. but above all that we can regain Scarlett between us.

http://www.brianzanews.it/2012/03/monza-manifesta-per-la-liberazione-di-rossella-urru/

State Department Demands Iran to Release Pastor

International worry and criticism toward Iran is growing after news that an execution order has been signed against a Christian pastor being detained since 2009 by the Islamic regime.

The U.S. State Department said Thursday that it is “deeply concerned” about Iran’s death sentence against Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani because he refuses to recant his faith.

Nadarkhani, 34, was born in northern Iran to Muslim parents, but decided to become a Christian at age 19, according to the human rights group Amnesty International.

When he was arrested in 2009, Nadarkhani was leading one of the most popular house churches in the country.

Sign the online petition urging more pressure on Iran to release Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani and dismiss his death sentence.

The ACLJ has also started a Twitter campaign to spread the word about Nadarkani’s case. @CBNNews has joined the effort. Learn how you can “Tweet for Youcef” here.

“Such government persecution for simply following one’s faith is common in Iran, where followers of many religious traditions face harsh treatment and severe violations of their religious freedom,” State Department Deputy Spokesman Mark Toner said in a statement.

“We stand with religious and political leaders from around the world in condemning Youcef Nadarkhani’s conviction and call for his immediate release,” he added.

The White House issued a statement Thursday condemning Iran’s persecution of the pastor and urged others to demand his release.

Appearing on the Fox News show “On The Record” Thursday night, Franklin Graham told Greta Van Susteren that President Obama should do more to help Nadarkani.

“The president could call for a prayer meeting at the White House. He could make a statement. We apologized to the Afghans because a Koran was mistakenly burned and this Koran had been used to smuggle messages out of Bagram prison, and he apologizes to the Afghans after an Afghan soldier killed two Americans,” Graham said.

“But why doesn’t he speak out? He could use the power of the White House to call pastors to gather at the White House to have a prayer meeting for this guy. But he hasn’t done it.” he added.

The American Center for Law and Justice has helped spearhead worldwide efforts to free Nadarkhani.

ACLJ Executive Director Jordan Sekulow warned that the situation is now “dire” because Iranian officials have been given the okay to hang the young pastor, husband and father of two any day now.

Thursday, Sekulow told CBN News he can’t confirm that Nadarkhani is still alive.

http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2012/February/State-Department-Others-Demand-Iran-to-Release-Pastor/

Former Muslim turned Pastor attacked by Extremists

“Pastor, can you help me?”

Those were the last words that Pastor Umar Melinde, a former Muslim turned pastor/evangelist, heard before he felt the sting of acid striking his face. Then another bucket on his back. He screamed and ran back towards the church for help as his assailants cried out, “Allah Akbar! Allah Akbar!”

I was able to sit down with Pastor Melinde in Tel Hashomer hospital recently. He is here in Israel recovering from this attack that was intended to take his life. It wasn’t the first time Muslims have tried to kill him.

“I take the gospel to the Muslim community because I was born a Muslim. Most of the ministers in our congregation are ex-Muslims. Our issue is not hating Islam, but speaking the truth.” Pastor Melinde is known for challenging Muslims to public debates. He himself was brought to faith by a bold preacher reaching out to Muslims.

Twenty years ago Umar heard a man preaching out of the Koran and the Bible. He told the people that Yeshua is more glorious than Mohamed.  Umar was convicted by the message but he was afraid to change because of so much pressure in Muslim homes never to leave Islam.

That night Umar had a dream where his hands and legs were tied with chains and he was hanging over the Lake of Fire.“The pain was from everywhere. And then, a man stood on my right hand outside the fire. He was shining—I could not see his face. He said, ‘Islam is leading you to this torture. Be born again and you shall survive.’”

This same dream came to Umar a number of times. He had been taught in Islam when you have a bad dream, you are to pray a specific prayer against it. “I was running to Allah to help me avoid this bad dream.” However each time he went back to sleep, the dream returned. Allah could not help him.

The dream continued to return. “I heard a preacher saying I can pray in the name of Yeshua and something will happen. This time I did not pray the Muslim prayer against bad dreams. This time I knelt down and I said, ‘God if you are there and you are the one who wants me to be born again, I pray that this dream does not come back tonight.’ That night I slept like a baby.”Umar, despite his bandaged face, laughs out loud with joy and says, “The dream did not come back!”
The next morning just happened to be Easter Sunday. He went to church even though if he was discovered this would cause an outrage within his family. “I gave my life to Yeshua and was born-again.” (Picture: Several Christian leaders came to visit Pastor Mulinde in the hostpital in the days after his attack.)

Umar sought discipleship as he was hungry to grow in his new faith. He went to Bible school and was ordained for ministry. He began to serve as an evangelist. They would hold mass meetings with tens of thousands of people would come to stadiums to hear him preach the gospel. After much success in evangelistic work, he birthed a church in Kampala, the largest city in Uganda.

 

The Attack
From the time that Pastor Umar became a follower of the Messiah, he faced heavy criticism. Islam does not allow for conversion and in some countries leaving Islam for Christianity is punishable by death. Just like the pastor in Iran who is facing the death sentence for leaving Islam, Umar was a marked man.

Many times the Muslims have tried to attack and kill PastorMulinde, but without success. When he ministers publicly he always has a security team with him. However on this occasion, he was in a place where he felt completely safe—his own church.

On December 23^rd they saw 300 people receive Yeshua. Pastor Umar felt they should throw a huge party for these 300 because, as he explained it to me, “The Bible says that when one confesses there is a celebration in heaven.”

On Christmas Eve he was at his church helping with the preparations for the party. “I went to my car to drive home. It was late…about 10PM. As I was opening the door to my car, somebody pretended as if he wanted my help. ‘Pastor can you help me?’”

 

“My mind wanted to help the man, but my heart refused.”

He had a check in his spirit that something wasn’t right. He quickly opened his car door. At that point the man threw a bucket of acid on him, burning half his face. Had he turned toward the man to help him, the terrorist would have been able to throw the acid upon him directly, and the damage would have been far worse, possibly blinding or even killing him. He was driving a large four-wheel drive and thus the doors are higher than a normal sized vehicle. Because of this, when by sheer instinct, he was able to open the large door,his body was protected from much of the acid. “It could have finished me,” pastor Mulinde lamented, “I could have been worse than what I am.” However a second attacker threw acid on him as they both yelled praise to Allah.

Pastor Umar ran back towards the church screaming. They rushed him to the hospital. After several days it became clear he would need medical attention beyond the capabilities in Uganda. He wanted to come to Israel because he knew the medical care would be much better. However because there is no Israeli embassy in Uganda, he could not quickly get a visa. The other option was traveling to Nairobi, Kenya where there is an embassy—but that would take four days. (Picture: Pastor Umar, days aftert he attack)

He turned to a Jewish group he had befriended in the US. They paid for him to travel to Israel and receive medical attention at our Tel Hashomer Hospital, where I met him.

Umar believes there are three reasons that the Muslims targeted him:

1. Because he left Islam and became a believer in Yeshua.
2. Because he preaches the good news of Yeshua to Muslims—with great success.
3. Because he boldly challenges the people of Uganda to support Israel.

“I teach my congregation to support Israel. There is a lot biased information against Israel. For instance, if there is a rocket from Gaza to Israel, that is not news. An [Israeli] school is bombed—that is not news. But when Israel seeks to defend herself—that is very big news,” opines Pastor Mulinde. “It is as if somebody is sitting somewhere and approves the death of the Jews, but if the Jews want to do anything to defend themselves, everyone is against it. We are Christians and must tell the people the truth about Israel.”

“I once read in the news that Israel was a racist nation,” he continued. “It is not true! I came to Israel in 2008. You have to understand that because I was born into a Muslim family I hated Israel for no good reason. I could not tell you where Israel was on a map, but I hated them. So when I came here, our first taxi driver was an Arab. I saw that the workers in the hotel were Arabs. I saw that the Arabs were free in Tel Aviv and free in Jerusalem. This is different from I had been taught about Israel.”

Pastor Mulinde assumed that Israeli Arabs were battered and abused—like prisoners within the Jewish nation. He had no idea that we have Arabs serving in the Knesset (Parliament) as well as police officers and judges all over the country.

I was deeply impressed by the boldness and authority in which he spoke to me. It was not what I expected when I met him. He looks like a mummy with his entire face bandaged and one eye surgically closed for its own protection. Thanks to Israeli doctors, they are expecting him to receive his full sight in that eye.

I asked him point blank if he plans to change or tone down his support for Israel or efforts to reach the Muslims. “I cannot quit because of this. I will continue doing the work of the Lord. This was not the first attack—the other attacks were not successful.” He then quoted John 16:2, ‘The time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God.’

Pastor Mulinde says that his attack has become a national issue in Uganda because it was a clear terrorist attack. He believes God will use this for His kingdom. “Whenever [the news] reports they say, ‘This is because he converted from Islam and he is preaching in support of Israel.’ Somebody will be touched by this.” The report of the attack is simply news, but that fact that he converted speaks volumes to other Muslims who are afraid to leave Islam. He reminds me of Paul who said that his chains “actually served to advance the gospel.”

I am looking forward to visiting Pastor Mulinde’s church in Kampala in the future and bringing the word of the Lord from Jerusalem to these ex-Muslim believers who love us so much. Please keep this family in your prayers.

His wife Evelyn, an accomplished gospel singer in Uganda, is with him here in Israel. She is able to stay at the Hospital hotel and be with her husband. They have six children in Uganda.

http://messiahsmandate.org/blog/316-former-muslim-pastor-attacked-by-extremists.html

Saudi Arabian Officials Assault, Strip Search Christian Women Prisoners

by MICHAEL CARL

BOSTON – Saudi Arabian authorities are adding sexual assault to their routine for processing prisoners when they are Christian women, according to a new report that is imploring the international community to pressure the restrictive Islamic nation on basic human rights.

International Christian Concern’s Jonathan Racho says the 35 women prisoners were arrested for meeting for a prayer time, and they are reporting that they were molested.

“The female prisoners have told us about how they were sexually harassed. When the Saudis arrested them, they knew the Ethiopians were Christians,” Racho said.

“They took off the women’s clothes and touched them. When the strip searching was going on, the officers were touching the women,” Racho said.

Racho adds that some of the details are graphic.

“They were using gloves to strip search and they were putting their fingers into their genitals,” Racho said.

“This is a very, very serious accusation of harassment and we want the international community to look into this,” Racho said. “The Saudis have to stop harassing these Christians.”

Racho adds that the treatment of the Christians is the opposite of Saudi public statements.

“The Saudis in the past have publicly said that they want religious tolerance and dialogue between the people of faith,” Racho said. “The Saudi king and the Saudi government have been very active in promoting peaceful existence and religious freedom.”

WND reported in December that Saudi authorities raided the mostly Ethiopian prayer meeting in Jeddah and charged all 35 with “Illicit Mingling.”

Members of the group were taken into custody and moved to an undisclosed location.

Racho says the Christians have been behind bars for over a month, but ICC is not content to let the incarceration continue.

“ICC has been working hard to highlight the plight of the Christian prisoners. We’ve been issuing press releases and asking our supporters to call the Saudi Embassy,” Racho said.

“We’ve been gathering petitions to ask the Saudi Arabian government to release the prisoners,” Racho said.

He also says his organization has spoken with members of Congress and to the State Department.

State Department spokeswomen Molly Lynn Westrate says the department has been pressuring the Saudi regime.

“Absolutely we have. We call on the Saudi government to recognize religious freedom and to permit private worship in individual’s homes,” Westrate said.

The Saudi government has not responded to WND’s request for an interview.

WND reported in January that Open Doors’ America’s “World Watch” puts Saudi Arabia as the third worst country for religious persecution. Muslim nations lead the pack.

Nine of the 10 worst nations for persecution of Christians are run essentially under Islamic law, and the “Arab Spring” across parts of northern African has led to a surge of repression, according to the global assessment.

“The top 10 in this year’s report are in order, North Korea, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Iran, the Maldives, Uzbekistan, Yemen, Iraq and Pakistan,” the story said.

http://www.wnd.com/2012/02/christian-women-report-being-assaulted-after-arrests/

Ugandan pastor attacked by Muslims heals in Israel

By EMANUEL MFOUKOU

“I am teaching my people about Israel, along with encouraging them to visit the country.”

Photo by: Emanuel Mfoukou/ICEJ

It is last Christmas Eve. Pastor Umar Mulinde leaves a service at his thriving congregation, the 1,000-member Gospel Life Church International in the Ugandan capital of Kampala. He’s anxious to get home to his wife and six children. As he unlocks his car, an unknown man approaches and calls out, “Pastor! Pastor!” As Mulinde turns, a burning acid splashes across his face, and the shouts turn to “Allahu akbar!” (Allah is greater!) The assailant flees.

Some church workers rush Mulinde to the local hospital, where they treat his severe wounds the best they can. A few days later, he is flown to India, and then on January 5 he arrives at the Sheba Medical Center in Tel Aviv, to be cared for by one of the world’s foremost hospitals for burn victims.

The Christian Edition visited Mulinde in his hospital room a few days later, to find out more about his condition and why he was attacked. It appears he was targeted by local Muslim extremists because he had converted from Islam, became a minister of the Gospel, and started teaching love for Israel.

The top-notch doctors at Sheba have determined that Mulinde will require a series of skin repair operations over several weeks, as well as an operation on his badly damaged right eye. They are treating him as an Israeli victim of terror, which covers his medical procedures. They hope to save his sight in the right eye and restore his appearance as best as possible. Mulinde could not ask for better care.

“I was born into a large Muslim family. I am the 52nd child of my father, who had several wives and ran two mosques,” Mulinde began. “I grew up studying Islam, but at age 18 I met some Christians who opened my eyes to the Christian faith. I soon converted.”

Mulinde explained that as a Muslim, he and his friends were taught to hate Israel and the Jews, even though they could not find Israel on a map. Even as a young Christian convert, he was hesitant about loving Israel. But as he studied the Bible, he read much about the wonderful God of Israel.

“I decided if I was going to love this God, I also had to love His people. I began teaching myself and realized the importance of supporting Israel. One key source for my Israel studies was Jerusalem Online University, based on the Web.”

Today, Mulinde’s ministry is regularly organizing pro-Israel rallies and conferences in Uganda. One such event recently drew 5,000 people to the Nakivubo football stadium in Kampala.

“I am teaching my people about Israel, along with encouraging them to visit the country. Many have developed a strong interest in Israel,” he assured.

Muslims make up only 12 percent of the Ugandan population, but they recently pushed for adopting Shari’a law in the parliament. Mulinde helped lobby against it, saying he believes in coexistence, but “wherever there is strict Shari’a rule, there is hatred of Israel and persecution of Christians.”

On the day he was attacked, Mulinde had preached at a crusade where more than 300 people came to faith in Jesus, including many Muslims. And on Monday after the attack, he was going to show a film about how the tiny nation of Israel has assisted many nations.

Since the assault, Mulinde and his wife, Evelyn, have received prayers and support from all over the world.

But he is especially grateful to the Jerusalem Online University and its director, Andrea Gottlieb, along with Illan Sharon, a Jewish acquaintance from Minnesota, who made it possible for him to come for treatments in Israel. He also is glowing about the doctors and nurses at the Sheba Medical Center.

“When you are sick, and full of wounds and pain, I believe that relationships with people also contribute to your healing. The way I am able to talk to these people here is a healing medicine for the heart. I really feel at home.”

Mulinde is already amped to return to Uganda, as soon as the doctors allow, and resume his work for the Kingdom of God and for Israel. Meanwhile, back in Uganda, the search for Mulinde’s attackers is in the national headlines every day.

http://www.jpost.com/ChristianInIsrael/Comment/Article.aspx?id=255467