Persecuted Church News: 8/21/11

Friday, August 26, 2011

The debate over Sharia law creeps into American politics

USA (MNN) ― A panel discussion in Tennessee moderated by the First Amendment Center took place this week, addressing a growing legal concern in the United States.

There are roughly 20 states that have legislative measures filed barring judges from considering Sharia law in their decisions. Four states have passed legislation. An earlier restatement of a Tennessee law would effectively criminalize the practice of Islam, punishing those individuals with up to 15 years in prison.

Open Doors advocacy coordinator Lindsay Vessey explains, "Sharia law is basically Islamic law, and that deals with everything from legal issues to social issues and marital issues--it basically controls every aspect of one's life."

In recent years, a movement has been growing steadily as more Muslims come to the U.S. to live. Vessey says, "In Western countries, a lot of Muslims would like to bring Sharia law. Their argument is essentially that to be culturally sensitive to them, these countries should allow them to govern themselves by their own Sharia law, and that it doesn't really contradict or cause any problems with the existing legal structure."

Opponents of such laws say the proposals reflect an "Islamaphobia" aimed at restricting the presence and religious beliefs of Muslims. However, Vessey explains, "It actually takes away the rights of people who maybe don't want to be subjected to Sharia law, but because they were born into a Muslim family who ascribes to it, they're actually forced into it. That's a really dangerous situation, to have two parallel systems of law going on in a country."

In other countries experimenting with the concept, the Sharia law system has proven to be chaotic. "One of the best examples where we can see this is in England. There are hundreds of Sharia courts there. Many of the Muslim immigrants use those courts as opposed to using the British legal system."

The issue is that "under Sharia law, something that's illegal is to convert away from Islam. That means that if you are a Muslim in England and you are being subjected to Sharia law, you can't convert to Christianity, or you can't even leave your faith and become an atheist," explains Vessey.

Under that scenario, there is no religious freedom. Vessey says the argument that Sharia does not conflict with an existing legal system also fails the Constitution test. "You can be punished under that law. That's a court that would be in direct contradiction to our laws here in the United States--the freedom of religion/ freedom of expression is one of our dearest-held constitutional beliefs."

Similar to other bills in the U.S., the language does not mention "Sharia" specifically. For example, the Michigan bill, introduced by State Rep. Dave Agema, R-Grandville, says the ban would "limit the application and enforcement...of foreign laws that would impair constitutional rights."

Vessey says although Muslim groups are threatening to challenge the constitutionality of the proposals, the legal argument will likely be what defenders are focused on. "Everything that goes at the heart of what Americans believe and what is enshrined in our Constitution is contradicted by Sharia law in terms of religious freedom. Something should be done to prevent having Sharia courts and Sharia law being used side-by-side in the United States like is already being done in England."

As the opponents and proponents of the bills continue to make their cases, Vessey says it's important not to forget the reason why believers are part of this discussion. "The one thing that we can do is to pray that their hearts and eyes are opened to the message of the Gospel. Pray for opportunities to share with Muslims in our communities."

India marks a bloody 3-year anniversary

India (MNN) ― This week, thousands of Christians marked the third anniversary of the mass violence in Orissa State, India.

During the pogrom, Hindu extremists brutally murdered at least 100 Christians, raped and pillaged 300 houses of worship and burned 5,000 homes. The riots also led to the displacement of over 56,000 Christians.

Dave Stravers with Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Mission Indiasays while the buildings are no longer ablaze, the scars remain. "The overt violence is not continuing, except now in isolated cases. In several of the places, the villages are still empty. People have not returned to their homes; they're permanent refugees because it's just not safe for them to go back."

Hindu nationalists named the anniversary of the attacks (which began August 23, 2008) as the day of "Protection of Religion." They handed out leaflets that reminded Hindus that their faith is under attack by Christians. Stravers says the plan to eliminate Christians is not surprising. "Over the last year, persecution has probably worsened from what it was just a couple of years ago all over the country. We feel that it's a confirmation of all the reports that we hear from all over India of people coming to Christ."

These nationals represent a militant action in a secular country, but it's not one to be discounted, says Stravers. "It's a small minority of people who are concerned that, for the first time in history, their traditional religious beliefs are being challenged. People are getting new hope. They're hearing the good news about Jesus and they're open."

According to Stravers, the same group is trying to get the anti-conversion laws implemented in more than the half dozen states that already have them. "There have been members of Parliament in the capital that have advocated nationwide anti-conversion legislation. This has not gained any massive support among the politicians."

Stravers explains that the laws that are in existence are not enforced uniformly, but they do cause disruption among their workers. In fact, just two weeks ago, "Fifteen people were baptized, and they were all arrested. The person who baptized them was arrested. They were charged with violating the law. They were in jail for a couple of days, then released on bail. Their case has not been settled. "

Stravers adds d that "this kind of intimidation and harassment is intended to discourage people who are considering Christ." Still, "It's not stopping the movement at all' in fact, we see the response to Christianity accelerating. The general population is all very open to the Gospel."

Their ministry comes alongside church leaders with training to help them not only share the hope of Christ, but also plant churches and disciple new believers.

Children's Bible Clubs are also fast becoming the foundation of ministry due to the 4/14 Window, a time when a child between the ages of 4 and 14 is most open and responsive to the Gospel.
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HR Resolution 16/18

-- the OIC, the UN and the criminalisation of criticism of Islam

By Elizabeth Kendal
Religious Liberty Monitoring
Special to ASSIST News Service

AUSTRALIA (ANS) -- Thesis: While it has been hailed in the West as a victory for free speech, the Organisation of the Islamic Conference's (OIC's) new Resolution 16/18, "Combating intolerance . . .", is even more dangerous than resolution 2005/3, "Combating Defamation of Religion". Far from being an OIC back-down or a breakthrough for liberty, the change in focus from defamation to incitement is not only totally consistent with OIC strategy since early 2009, but it actually advances the OIC's primary goal: the criminalisation of criticism of Islam.
NOTE: on 28 June 2011, the Organisation of the Islamic Conference changed its name to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
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HR Resolution 16/18

In March 2011, after discussions with the US held in wake of the blasphemy assassinations of the governor of Punjab, Salmaan Taseer, and Minorities MP, Shabbaz Bhatti , Pakistan presented the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) with a new resolution: HR Resolution 16/18, "Combating intolerance, negative stereotyping and stigmatization of, and discrimination, incitement to violence, and violence against persons based on religion or belief".

The resolution was presented by Pakistan for OIC under Agenda item 9 pertaining to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related form of intolerance, follow-up and implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action.

Because it shifted the focus from "defamation" to "incitement", Resolution 16/18 was immediately hailed as a "huge achie vement" -- a breakthrough for human rights. However, it has long been the intention of the OIC to shift the focus to incitement as per Article 20 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) which mandates that incitement be "prohibited by law". The resolution was passed on 24 March 2011.
Excerpts: UNHRC Resolution 16/18 (emphasis mine)

The Human Rights Council,

(1) Expresses deep concern at the continued serious instances of derogatory stereotyping, negative profiling and stigmatization of persons based on their religion or beliefs, as well as programmes and agendas pursued by extremistorganizations and groups aimed at creating and perpetuating negative stereotypes about religious groups . . .

(3) Condemns any advocacy of religious hatred that constitute s incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence [NOTE: exact wording of ICCPR Article 20.2], whether it involves the use of print, audio-visual of electronic media or any other means . . .

(5) . . . call[s] on States to take the following actions to foster a domestic environment of religious tolerance, peace and respect, by:

(e) Speaking out against intolerance, including advocacy of religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence [NOTE: exact wording of ICCPR Article 20.2];

(g) Understanding the need to combat denigration and negative religious stereotyping of persons, as well asincitement to religious hatred . . .

(6) Calls upon all States:

(d) To make a strong effort to counter religious profiling, which is understood to be the invidious use of religion as a criterion in conducting questionings, sear ches and other law enforcement investigative procedures;
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Presumably this resolution would permit a critic to assert that "fundamentalist Islam is inherently violent", while making it unacceptable for an employer or security officer to suggest than an Islamic fundamentalist should not be employed at this school or that airport, or that they should be watched or investigated or searched -- for that would be negative profiling based on religion.

Meanwhile, though the language of "defamation" has been eradicated, a critical / offensive comment such as "fundamentalist Islam is inherently violent", would doubtless be viewed as incitement. In fact anything that could have been deemed "defamation" under Resolution 2005/3 will doubtless be deemed incitement under Resolution 16/18.

This shift in focus from "defamation" to "incitement" -- something the OIC has been pursuing since April 2009 -- i s hugely significant as the ICCPR specifically mandates that incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence beprohibited by law (ICCPR Article 20.2).

DIALOGUE BEGINS

In line with Item VII (Combating Islamophobia) point 4 of the OIC's 10 year plan (Dakar 2005), Article 9 of Resolution 16/18 "Calls for strengthened international efforts to foster a global dialogue for the promotion of a culture of tolerance and peace at all levels, based on respect for human rights and diversity of religions and beliefs . . ."
The first meeting pursuant of Resolution 16/18 took place in Istanbul on 15 July 2011 and was co-chaired by OIC Secretary-General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

"The test would lie in the implementation", said Ihsanoglu, adding that there was a delic ate balance between freedom of expression and incendiary speech. "We continue to be particularly disturbed by attitudes of certain individuals or groupsexploiting the freedom of expression to incite hatred by demonizing purposefully [defaming?] the religions and their followers." (emphasis mine)

See: OIC, West pledge to combat intolerance
arabnews.com 16 July 2011

ArabNews reports: "Speaking of the United States, Clinton said: 'We have seen in the United States how the incendiary actions of just a very few people can create wide ripples of intolerance, so we are focused on promoting interfaith education and collaboration, enforcing anti-discrimination laws, protecting the rights of all people to worship as they choose, and to use some old-fashioned techniques of peer pressure and shaming so t hat people don't feel that they have the support to do what we abhor.'"

The next meeting to discuss the implementation of Resolution 16/18 will held in Washington in the coming months.

The International Islamic News Agency (IINA) reports (1 Aug): "According to informed sources in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the two sides, in addition to other European parties, will hold a number of specialized meetings of experts in law and religion in order to finalize the legal aspect on how to better implement the UN resolution.

"The sources said that the upcoming meetings aim at developing a legal basis for the UN Human Rights Council's resolution which help in enacting domestic laws for the countries involved in the issue, as well as formulatinginternational laws preventing inciting hatred resulting from the continued defamation of religions." (Emphasis mine)

IINA quoted OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu being quick to exploit Anders Behring Breivik's 22 July 2011 Oslo massacre, a tragedy Ihsanoglu cited as evidence of the danger posed by institutionalised Islamophobia. ("OIC/ Islamophobia: OIC Observatory warned wince 2009 against the growth of the extreme right in Europe, Washington plans to host a meeting on resolution opposing defamation of religions." IINA, 1 Aug 2011. NOTE: article has been removed.))

And so, while it is being hailed in the West as a victory for free speech, Resolution 16/18, "Combating intolerance . . .", is even more dangerous than resolution 2005/3, "Combating Defamation of Religion". It is in no way an OIC back-down or a breakthrough for liberty. Rather, the change in focus from defamation to incitement is not only totally consistent with OIC strategy since early 2009, but it actually advances the OIC's primary goal: the criminalisation of cr iticism of Islam.
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A full 2,858 word report, complete with history / background, can be found at Religious Liberty Monitoring.

Elizabeth Kendal is an international religious liberty analyst and advocate. This article is an edited version of a posting written for her blog: Religious Liberty Monitoring .

Pakistan: legal discrimination & impunity fuel persecution

-- a call to pray for Pakistan's besieged Christians

By Elizabeth Kendal
Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin (RLPB) 122
Special to ASSIST News Service

AUSTRALIA (ANS) -- Sharia Law prohibits Christians testifying against Muslims in court. Consequently, in an Islamic state Muslims are essentially guaranteed impunity for crimes committed against Christians. As would be expected, impunity and legal discrimination then fuels further persecution. The resulting profound insecurity is doubtless the most devastating aspect of dhimmitude (subjugation under Islam).

Furthermore, as Islamic fundamentalism rises in constitutionally secular Muslim-majority states, Sharia provisions are increasingly being enforced to appease politically powerful hardline Islamists, even though these provisions conflict with the law of the land. Weak and fearful governments are increasingly opting for 'reconciliation' and 'harmony' over justice. As the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) recently noted, 'Legal discrimination against religious minorities and the failure of Pakistan's federal and provincial governments to address religious persecution by Islamist groups, effectively enables atrocities against these groups and others who are vulnerable.'

The police are now seeking to whitewash the 2 March 2011 assassination of Minorities Minister Shahbaz Bhatti (a Christian) by shifting the blame from those who claimed responsibility -- militants linked to the Tehrik-i-Taliban -- to Bhatti's Christian relatives. Bhatti died because he was defending Asia Bibi, a Christian woman jailed in June 2009 on a charge of blasphemy. Asia has been languishing on death row since her conviction in November 2010.

Her refusal to convert to Islam had earned the hatred of her Muslim co-labourers. One day they refused to drink the water she delivered, claiming it was contaminated because Asia was an infidel. Asia responded that her Jesus was the Son of God while their Muhammad was no prophet. After her arrest, a local Muslim leader offered to pay US$6000 to anyone who killed her. Two of the three MPs who have risen to defend Asia have been assassinated, leaving the remaining MP, Sherry Rehman, fearing for her life. Not safe even in the local jail, Asia has been transferred to Multan Prison. Her husband, Ashiq, and five children have been driven into hiding.

Mukhtar Masih is an ordained pastor of the Full Gospel Assemblies of Pakistan. While running a small fellowship from his house in Gloria Colony, Sheikhupura, Punjab, he also established and ran the Good Shepherd High School. Islamic fundamentalists complained about the school's Christian activities whilst other Muslims coveted the school's land. Eventually these hostile forces used Islamic militants to threaten and terrorise Mukhtar Masih until he fled Pakistan for his life, taking his daughter Mary with him. Mukhtar's sons, Samuel and Emmanuel, and his brother Araf Masih then took on running the school. Directed by Muslim lawyer Muhammad Ashraf, the Islamic militants eventually forced Mukhtar's relatives to sign over the property and make the Muslims shareholders in the business. Mukhtar's relatives have also had to sell their homes to meet the Muslims' extortion demands. Muhammad Ashraf has occupied the school and changed its name to Focus School System.

The National Director of the Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS), Joseph Francis, brought the case before the local court, which cancelled the agreement and ordered the return of the property. Muhammad Ashraf respo nded by sending armed militants to kill Mukhtar's relatives, who fortunately managed to escape. Now he has started filing false charges against the Christians, including robbery and murder. From experience, the great danger is that they will be accused of blasphemy also, an emotive charge that carries a mandatory death sentence.

PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY THAT --

God will anoint more Pakistani MPs, lawyers, writers and artists to speak up for justice to great effect for the sake of Pakistan's besieged Church.

'Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped . . .to open doors before him . . . I call you by your name, I name you, though you do not know me . . . I equip you, though you do not know me, that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the LORD, and there is no other.' (From Isaiah 45:1-6 ESV)

the Holy Spirit will draw all the Church in Pakistan to rely on God who raises the dead and delivers his people in answer to prayer (2 Corinthians 1:8-11).
God will provide all the needs of Asia Bibi, Mukhtar Masih and their families and deliver them from evil; may the Lord's 'own arm' deliver justice against the wicked and recompense for the persecuted.

Say to those who have an anxious heart, 'Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.' (Isaiah 35:4 ESV)

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Elizabeth Kendal is an international religious liberty analyst and advocate. This prayer bulletin was initially written for the Australian Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission (AEA RLC).

Elizabeth Kendal's blogs:
Religious Liberty Monitoring and Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin

Thursday, August 25, 2011

PRI President: Biden 'Fully Understands' China Policy Because I Explained it to Him

FRONT ROYAL, Aug. 25, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Vice President has run into a buzzsaw of criticism for seeming to condone Chinese-style population control. His defenders argue that in saying that while he "fully understands" the one-child-per-family policy and is not "second-guessing" it, he was not endorsing it. Others believe that Biden is simply ignorant of the way that the one-child policy relies upon forced abortions, forced sterilizations, and other coercive measures.

Steven Mosher, an eyewitness to forced abortions in China, disagrees. "While serving as a Commissioner of the U.S. Commission on Broadcasting to China, I briefed then-Senator Biden on population control, Chinese style."

Mosher, who serves as PRI's President, continued, "I know that Joe Biden 'fully understands' how women are arrested for the 'crime' of being pregnant, how they are incarcerated and browbeaten for this 'crime,' and how they are forced to undergo abortions and sterilizations. I know because I told him so."

"The Vice President was clearly pandering to his Chinese hosts," said Mosher. "This wasn't ignorance and it wasn't a gaffe. Biden wanted China's communist leaders to know that he and the President he serves are more than willing to turn a blind eye to the atrocities committed in the name of the one-child policy. In other words, Joe Biden has perfected the kowtow."

Biden now says that he finds the policy "repugnant."

Continued Arrests of Iranian Christians and Bibles Confiscated

By Jeremy Reynalds
Senior Correspondent for ASSIST News Service

SURREY, ENGLAND (ANS) -- A Christian human rights agency has received reports that Abdolreza "Matthias" Haghnejad, a pastor in the evangelical Church of Iran denomination from the city of Bandar Anzal, has again been arrested.
The arrest by Iranian authorities in Rasht occurred on Aug. 17 while Haghnejad was making a pastoral visit.

According to a news release from Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), Haghnejad's family has no idea of his current location, or the charges against him. It is believed he is being held without access to an attorney.
Earlier this year CSW said, the pastor was detained and charged, then acquitted, along with ten other members of his denomination, of activities against the (Iranian) order. He was also arrested in 2006.

CSW said Haghnejad's re-arrest occurred amidst reports of another escalation in governmental pressure on Christians. In late July, Leila Mohammadi (a Christian), was arrested in Tehran after police raided her house, according to Iranian news agency Mohabat News. Reports indicate she may have been transferred to Evin prison. A man was also reportedly detained temporarily in connection with this case.

CSW said in August a consignment of 6,500 Bibles was confiscated while being transported between the cities of Zanjan and Ahbar in the north-western province of Zanjan. Commenting on the seizure, Dr. Majid Abhari, advisor to the social issues committee of the Iranian parliament, said that Christian missionaries were attempting to deceive people, especially the youth, with an expensive propaganda campaign.
CSW said Abhari also commented that all religions are strengthening their power to confront Islam.

CSW said this rhetoric is the latest in a stream of condemnations of Christians from members of the Iranian regime, who have attempted to demonize Christians as western-backed conspirators, "parasites," and as being "like the Taliban."

CSW's Advocacy Director Andrew Johnston said in a news release, "These latest arrests are extremely concerning, as is the increase in hostile and unwarranted rhetoric on the part of Iranian officials against evangelical Christians."

He added, "It is vital that the Republic of Iran ensures due process and ends this practice of incarcerating persons simply on the basis of their faith as this is in clear violation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Those who, like the pastor, have been arrested must either be charged and tried in a timely manner or released, and all detainees must be allowed contact with their families and lawyers."

Christian Solidarity Worldwide works for religious freedom through advocacy and human rights, in the pursuit of justice.

For further information, go to www.csw.org.uk.

Jeremy Reynalds is Senior Correspondent for the ASSIST News Service, a freelance writer and also the founder and CEO of Joy Junction, New Mexico's largest emergency homeless shelter,http://www.joyjunction.org He has a master's degree in communication from the University of New Mexico, and a Ph.D. in intercultural education from Biola University in Los Angeles. His newest book is "Homeless in the City."

Additional details on "Homeless in the City" are available at http://www.homelessinthecity.com. Reynalds lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. For more information contact: Jeremy Reynalds atjeremyreynalds@comcast.net.

Matthias Haghnejad Update

We have received some news regarding our brother, Matthias Haghnejad. MOIS (Ministry of Intelligence and Security), also known as VEVAK, is holding Matthias at a MOIS facility in Rasht. MOIS, one the most powerful ministries in the Iranian government, operates many facilities throughout Iran, all independent of any government oversight. These facilities are reserved for those deemed a threat to national security, often political prisoners. Matthias has not been allowed any visitors at this point, so his physical condition is unknown. Also, they have not yet decided what they will charge him with, but have set his bail at $30,000. Please continue to hold him up in prayer for his safety, strength, courage in the face of suffering.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

House Church Leaders in Inner Mongolia, Ningixa Criminally Detained

By Jeremy Reynalds
Senior Correspondent for ASSIST News Service

WUHAI, INNER MONGOLIA (ANS) -- Fifteen house church leaders from two remote regions of China have been in detention since mid-July.

According to a news release from the ChinaAid Association, during this period local police have tried to extort money from their families with promises of their release once the money has been paid, and threats of labor camp sentences or criminal prosecution if it is not.

ChinaAid said the incident began at 10 a.m. on July 26, when dozens of local police and officers of the Domestic Security Protection Department entered a meeting in the city of Wuhai, Inner Mongolia. There more than 20 church leaders from Wuhai and Ningxia province's Shizuishan were gathered to plan summer church activities.

ChinaAid said police surrounded the meeting site and arrested 21 people. They also confiscated everything at the meeting site, not just Bibles but even the bamboo mats that attendees use to rest and nap on after meetings. Everything was loaded into police vehicles and taken away.

The 21 detainees were later criminally detained on suspicion of "using a cult organization to undermine national law enforcement." However, ChinaAid said, police failed to notify the families as required, and didn't provide families with paperwork (also required) for the detention.

ChinaAid said before the 21 detainees were transferred to the Wuhai Detention Center, they were given physical exams. Six of them were elderly, and found to be in poor health. As a result, the detention center refused to accept them and they were released.

The remaining 15 church leaders were held for 15 days, after which the Public Security Bureau notified the families that their case had already been sent to the prosecutor's office. The families were told that if they raised 50,000 yuan (US$ 7800), the detainees would be released.

ChinaAid said when the families delivered the money to the prosecutor's office, the case was sent back to the Public Security Bureau.

According to ChinaAid, the Public Security Bureau then told the families that if they raised several tens of thousands of yuan (thousands of dollars) again, the detainees would be released. If not, they would be sent to labor camps or criminally prosecuted.

ChinaAid founder and president Bob Fu was shocked when he learned of this case and has been following it closely. He condemned the local officials and speaking in a news release, called on them to "immediately and with no pre-conditions release these innocent Christian believers."

Fu commented, "As the Bible says, 'It is hard for you to kick against the goads,'" quoting the words that God spoke to Paul of Tarsus, who had been brutally persecuting the early church, when he had his miraculous Damascus Road conversion.

Fu added, "The church will not retreat in the face of persecution. In fact, it will grow larger and stronger with each passing day."

For more information about ChinaAid go to www.chinaaid.org

Church Building in North Sudan in Ruins as Hostilities Grow

Presbyterian congregation sees little hope of rebuilding amid growing anti-Christian sentiment.

Special to Compass Direct News

KHARTOUM, Sudan, August 23 (Compass Direct News) – More than seven months after Muslim extremists burned its church building, a Presbyterian Church of the Sudan (PCOS) congregation is still afraid to meet for worship, according to Christian sources.

The Rev. Maubark Hamad said his church in Wad Madani, 138 kilometers (85 miles) southeast of Khartoum, has not been able to rebuild since the Jan. 15 devastation due to the congregation’s meager resources.

“Nothing has been done for the burned church building; so far it has not been rebuilt,” he told Compass by phone.

Christian sources said they are increasingly fearful as Muslim extremists pose more threats against Christians in an attempt to rid what they call Dar al Islam, the “Land of Islam,” of Christianity.

“The increased challenges now faced by many Christians in North Sudan are something for which we need to pray very hard for the Lord to intervene,” said another church leader on condition of anonymity.

The PCOS building in Wad Madani was burned after a series of threats against its members by Muslims extremists, sources said.

“These anti-Christian activities continue to be growing these days, aiming to cause fear among the believers in North Sudan,” said the church leader.

When PCOS leaders reported the case to police in Wad Madani, they were surprised to find officers reluctant to investigate. At press time the assailants had not been arrested.

Property damages to the church building were estimated at 2,000 Sudanese pounds (US$740); destroyed items included Christian literature, Bibles in local languages, chairs, tables and a pulpit.

“Muslims target our church because they don’t want anything that is related to the church,” one church member said.

Christians in North Sudan are living beneath a blanket of fear since South Sudan seceded on July 9. Just one month after the South voted for independence from the predominantly Islamic North, pressures on churches and Christians have increased, with Muslim groups threatening to destroy churches, kill Christians and purge the country of Christianity.

One anti-Christian newspaper with strong ties to the North’s ruling party continuously advocates that North Sudan become a purely Islamic state and a purely Arab country. The Al Intibaha Arabic daily is well-known for provoking Muslims against Christians in Sudan.

North Sudan’s predominantly Arab population has intermingled with several indigenous peoples, leading some other Arab nations to regard it as not “pure Arab,” according toOperation World. Besides striving for an Arab-based ethnic-religious purging in North Sudan, Islamists may also be trying to counter estimated losses among adherents to Islam, with some estimating the Muslim population of the formerly unified Sudan recently dropping to about 55 percent from 61 percent.

Hostilities toward Christians by the Islamic government in Khartoum began to increase last year following a statement by President Omar al-Bashir, when he asserted that his second republic would be based on sharia (Islamic law) and Islamic culture, with Arabic as the official language.

www.compassdirect.org

END

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Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Restrictive child religion law to be enacted after Ramadan

Tajikistan (MNN) ― A controversial law which bans most children under 18 from participating in religious activities is set to go into effect in Tajikistan once Ramadan ends.

The Law on Parental Responsibility for Education and Upbringing of Children was passed by parliament on July 21. On August 2, President Emomali Rahmon gave the law his stamp of approval as well.

"It looks like indeed this controversial Law of Parental Responsibility has actually entered the force," confirms Joel Griffith with Slavic Gospel Association. "The president did sign it. It does appear also that this particular law was the personal initiative of the president."

F18 News service notes that "religious communities of all faiths are struggling to find out how the law's almost complete ban on children's participation in religious activity will be enforced." But based on the testimonies of men like Hikmatullo Sayfullozoda of the Islamic Renaissance Party, it seems certain that the laws enforcement, to whatever degree, will begin at the end of August.

The Muslim holy month of Ramadan ends August 31. Griffith speculates that the Tajik government won't enact the law during Ramadan due to the possibility of uproar in the mostly-Muslim nation during an Islamic holy month.

When the law does go into effect, though, no one is certain what precisely it will mean. On August 16 when Forum 18 attempted to ask the Religious Affairs Committee in Dushanbe about the law, no one was prepared to explain what religious activity by children is now permitted.

"It's a little bit too soon to see just how this law will be enforced," agrees Griffith.

The Parental Responsibility Law, in practice, would place a ban on most children under 18 from participating in religious activities. The Office of Human Rights in Tajikistan told Forum 18 that the law is needed especially for parents who lose control of their children to extremist religious groups.

Whatever the intentions of the law, however, it will certainly affect ALL children of ALL religions. "That not only affects parents and their right to raise children in the faith as they choose, but also children being able to attend worship services and children being able to participate in church-led functions like summer camp ministries," explains Griffith. "It really is a serious concern for exactly what the ramifications of this law are and will be in the future."

It's hard to say what it will mean, but if the laws are enacted and put into practice, state religious affairs officials told Forum 18 that they have specialists who would be in place at religious services to be sure the laws are being followed. If they find kids or teens in religious activities, higher structures will be appealed to.

The Parental Responsibility Law even calls for parents to restrict certain types of jewelry, tattoos, and even names they can choose for their kids.

The law has been met with criticism from various religious and human rights groups, but so far, it seems to be moving full-speed ahead. Christians are bracing themselves for the September enactment of the law, but will not cease teaching their children about Christ.

"This seems to be heading back to the Soviet days where they're just going to have to do things discretely and clandestinely," notes Griffith. "So it just continues to be a matter of prayer."

Pray for protection for believers and their families, who may be targets in regard to this law in coming weeks. Continue to pray that this law might be turned around, and that the Lord would change the heart of the Tajik president so freedom to preach the Truth would reign.

SGA has several missionary contacts in Tajikistan. To track the progress of the laws as SGA hears from their missionaries, visitsga.org.

Libya advances on freedom

Libya (MNN) ― Now that rebels have stormed Tripoli, there are growing rumors hinting that Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi could flee to Venezuela or Cuba.

In the meantime, the European Union welcomed the advance and called for Gaddafi to step down. Whether or not the state of Libya will remain the same over the next 72 hours is yet to be seen.

What makes this advance particularly significant in the six months of civil war is the absence of key leaders who defected over the last few weeks, leaving Gaddafi increasingly isolated. Could another assault force a reset of the conflict? That's unknown.

However, says Todd Nettleton with Voice of the Martyrs, change is likely to favor those seeking freedom, specifically, the Christians. Libya is ranked 25th on the Open Doors World Watch List, a spot earned because "there was heavy persecution, particularly of Muslim converts. There were some churches in the city of Tripoli that were allowed to be open, allowed to operate, but primarily they dealt with foreigners."

Libya adheres to Islamic law, and all citizens are Sunni Muslims "by definition." Conversion to Christianity is forbidden, and there are few native Libyan believers. Nettleton explains that "where you run into persecution is where a Muslim changes [his or her] faith and comes to Jesus Christ. Those are the people who face really heavy persecution."

The National Transitional Council is urging Libya to start an "all-inclusive" dialogue leading to democratic elections.

Watchdog groups warn that the transition could bring more violence with it. Nettleton says, "There's just a lot of questions at this point, and we need to pray that Christians will be protected, that whoever ends up in government authority will provide protection, will recognize the rights of minority groups like Christians."
Currently, most Libyan Christians are forced to believe in secret and are afraid to meet with other believers. Small

Christian communities do exist, mostly consisting of sub-Saharan migrants and Western expatriate workers. They've remained active throughout the longest periods of oppression. Nettleton says because of this, "In some cases, Bibles have been able to be delivered into Libya because of some of the upheaval. Maybe the border is not being as tightly monitored as in previous years. "

That's nothing new. With Gaddafi's strict control of the country, evangelism has been difficult and any Christian literature that got into the country was smuggled in. At the crossroad of change, could there be more freedom? Nettleton indicates it's too early to know yet, but "we can pray about that as well, that Scriptures will go in and that Christian work can fill some of the voids."

Given the significance of the persecution and harassment in Libya, just 3% of the population is believers. That begs the question: Is Libya home to a remnant church? Nettleton replies, "There is a vibrant group of believers that are there, that are sharing the Gospel. So while I would say a 'remnant' is a fair description, don't be confused into thinking that there aren't really bold, on-fire believers there, because there absolutely are."

As Libya looks forward to a new beginning, Christians are encouraged to "pray first, pray second, and pray third. I think at this point, because there's so much upheaval, I think prayer really is the frontline of the spiritual battle for the nation of Libya."

Two Mission Church Buildings Destroyed

Gospel for AsiaFor Immediate Release
SOUTH ASIA (ANS) -- One Gospel for Asia-supported missionary suffered an attack on his church building, and another missionary saw his church building destroyed this summer.

Church Vandalized

Dozens of churches, like the one shown here, have been destroyed by extremists in Orissa, India. The latest incident occurred during the first week of August.

The first incident occurred on June 25. When pastor Chandan Dutta showed up to lead worship the next day, he noticed that all the windows in the church were destroyed. The door was also damaged where the vandals attempted to break in.

Chandan reported the incident to the local police, but they have yet to identify the culprits.

This was not the first challenge to Chandan's ministry. In 2009 he was confronted by an angry mob of 200 people who took him to a nearby religious temple, accused him of forcing people to convert to Christianity and demanded he answer numerous questions about his activities. The incident happened after Chandan passed out some Gospel tracts. During the lengthy illegal trial at the temple, Chandan shared the Gospel, explaining the love of Jesus as outlined in Psalm 23 and the book of John.

His accusers let him go that day, but warned him not to preach the Gospel or hand out any more tracts. In spite of their harsh treatment, many people continue turning to Christ as a result of Chandan's ministry.

He is asking for prayer that his opponents won't interfere with the ministry, but instead, will fully comprehend God's love for them. He is also asking for prayer that he will be able to relocate his parsonage next to the church so that he can better guard the building.
Another Church Destroyed in Orissa

Another church in Orissa, India has been destroyed. This time, it was in an area about 200 miles northeast of Kandhamal, where much of the violence against Christians raged in 2008.

The destruction of the church was believed to be directed by a local anti-Christian leader with strong ties to the traditional faith of the area. His anti-Christian rebel group was angry that people from different castes were meeting together for worship. The church building was constructed on land donated by a Dalit ("Untouchable") man, which also angered the anti-Christian group. This particular group holds fast to the tradition of segregation based on caste, although that system was outlawed more than 60 years ago.

The leaders of GFA's ministry in Orissa ask for prayer for the believers who lost their church to remain unified and devoted to the Lord. They are also asking for wisdom and provision to rebuild the church building.

Orissa is a difficult state for missionaries. In 2008, this same anti-Christian rebel group went on a rampage after their leader was murdered. They killed hundreds of Christians and burned down thousands of churches, homes and businesses owned by believers.

See how GFA-supported missionaries are helping rebuild Orissa.

http://www.gfa.org/persecution/rebuild-orissa/

Gospel for Asia is an evangelical mission organization based in Carrollton, Texas, involved in sharing the love of Jesus across South Asia.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Closing Algerian Churches Violates Guaranteed Freedom

SANTA ANA, Calif., August 22, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- While many people residing in Middle Eastern and North African countries are undergoing turmoil, one group of people is experiencing extreme change for the worse: Christians. This is particularly true for Algerian Christians.

The People's Democratic Republic of Algeria ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) in 1989. Article 18 of this covenant guarantees freedom of religion and belief for all human beings without discrimination. Further, the constitution of Algeria guarantees fundamental freedoms and human rights to all Algerian citizens.

Despite these guarantees, Mustapha Krim, the president of the Protestant Church of Algeria (EPA), was informed by police on May 22 that all non-Muslim places of worship in Béjaïa Province, including the seven EPA churches he oversees, would be shut down. Algerian authorities based their decision to shut down the churches on the discriminatory Ordinance 06-03, which regulates non-Muslim worship.

The EPA has been attempting to gain official recognition with the government for many years and finally obtained it in July. However, a total of 25 individual EPA churches have not been granted official registration although they applied through the appropriate channels. As a result, these Christian churches are still unprotected by the government and may be closed.

In addition to this attack on the Christian community, Algerian officials have also targeted individual Christians. Karim Siaghi was arrested in April on charges of proselytism and blasphemy. He was sentenced to five years in prison and fined $2,740 in May. He had given a Christian CD to his neighbor. Karim was freed when he appealed the harsh sentence, but he may be picked up by the police at any time to serve his sentence.

Open Doors is asking Christians to defend Algerian Christians from this oppressive government action. People can send a message to Algerian Ambassador to the United States Abdallah Baali, asking him to rescind Ordinance 06-03 and to overturn Karim Siaghi's sentence. To send a message, visit www.OpenDoorsUSA.org orhttp://bit.ly/AlgerianChristians

"Please take a moment to send Algerian Ambassador Baali a message asking him to stop unfair limitations on religious freedom for Christians in Algeria," says Open Doors USA Advocacy Director Lindsay Vessey. "A few years ago when half of Algeria's Christian churches had been closed, Open Doors ran a similar campaign, as did other non-profit organizations. The increased advocacy pressure combined with international media attention resulted in no further church closures for an extended period of time. These campaigns do make a difference in the lives of persecuted Christians and I ask that you use your freedom to speak out for those who share our faith but not our freedom."

Algeria is ranked No. 22 on the Open Doors 2011World Watch List of the worst persecutors of Christians. Open Doors currently strengthens Christians in Algeria through delivering Bibles, children's material, literature and audiovisual resources for churches.

An estimated 100 million Christians worldwide suffer interrogation, arrest and even death for their faith in Christ, with millions more facing discrimination and alienation. Open Doors supports and strengthens believers in the world's most difficult areas through Bible and Christian literature distribution, leadership training and assistance, Christian community development, prayer and presence ministry and advocacy on behalf of suffering believers. To partner with Open Doors USA, call toll free at 888-5-BIBLE-5 (888-524-2535) or go to our Website at www.OpenDoorsUSA.org.

21 House Church Leaders in Inner Mongolia, Ningixa Criminally Detained

Contact: Bob Fu, President,Bob@ChinaAid.org; Mark Shan, Spokesperson, 888- 889-7757, 267-205-5210 cell,Mark@ChinaAid.org; both with ChinaAid; www.ChinaAid.org,www.MonitorChina.org

WUHAI, Inner Mongolia, August 22, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- Fifteen house church leaders from two remote regions of China have been in detention since mid-July as local police have tried to extort money from their families with promises of their release once the money has been paid and threats of labor camp sentences or criminal prosecution if it is not, ChinaAid has learned.

The incident began at 10 a.m. on July 26, when dozens of local police and officers of the Domestic Security Protection Department burst into a meeting in the city of Wuhai, Inner Mongolia, where more than 20 church leaders from Wuhai and Ningxia province's Shizuishan were gathered to plan summer church activities.

The police surrounded the meeting site and apprehended 21 people. They also confiscated everything at the meeting site, not just Bibles but even the bamboo mats that the believers regularly use to rest and nap on after meetings. Everything was loaded into police vehicles and taken away.

The 21 detainees were later criminally detained on suspicion of "using a cult organization to undermine national law enforcement." (See scan of detention notice above, and translation below.) However, police failed to notify the families as required, nor did they provide the families with the required paperwork for the detention.

Before the 21 detainees were transferred to the Wuhai detention center, they were given physical exams. Six of them were very elderly and were found to be in poor health, and the detention center refused to accept them. So they were released.

The remaining 15 church leaders were held for 15 days, after which, the Public Security Bureau notified the families that their case had already been sent to the prosecutor's office. The families were told that if they raised 50,000 yuan (US$ 7,800), the detainees would be released. But when the families delivered the money to the prosecutor's office, it turned around and sent the case back to the Public Security Bureau.

The Public Security Bureau then told the families that if they raised several tens of thousands of yuan (thousands of dollars) again, the detainees would be released. If not, the detainees would be sent to labor camps or would be criminally prosecuted.

To date, the following individuals are still being held in the Wuhai detention center:

Eleven from Wuhai –Church leader Dong Zhen, Ren Xitao, Mu Liandi, Mu Guilian, Ning Yuncai, Mi Lili, Huang Xiulian, Uncle Ye, Hao An, Sister Ding, Yu Baojie.

Four from Shizuishan – Dong Yanxia, Zhang Mingfeng, Zhang Shuxia, Da Yumei

ChinaAid founder and president Bob Fu was shocked when he learned of this case and has been following it closely. He severely condemned the local officials and called on them to "immediately and with no pre-conditions release these innocent Christian believers."

"As the Bible says, 'It is hard for you to kick against the goads,'" Fu said, quoting the words that God spoke to Paul of Tarsus, who had been brutally persecuting the early church, when he had his miraculous and life-changing Damascus Road conversion. "The church will not retreat in the face of persecution. In fact, it will grow larger and stronger with each passing day."

The detention notice from the Haiboyuan Public Security Sub-bureau reads:

In accordance with Article 61 of the Criminal Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China, this bureau on July 26, 2011 at 8 p.m. has criminally detained Ning Yuncai on suspicion of using a cult organization to undermine national law enforcement, and is holding him in the Wuhai municipal detention center.

Hope springs eternal for believers in Bhutan

Bhutan (MNN) ―   There are conflicting reports over what's changing in the spiritual climate in Bhutan.
On one hand, Bhutan ranks 14th on the Open Doors World Watch List. The listing is a compilation of the 50 countries where persecution of Christians is the worst. In this case, it's not one particular faith that has been targeted.
Although Bhutan's constitution states that Buddhism is the "spiritual heritage" of the country, Lee DeYoung with Words of Hope says, "It's one of the few countries in the world where it is said there are no open mosques, Hindu temples, Christian churches or Jewish synagogues."
One the other hand, after 100 years of rule by absolute monarchy, the first elections were held in 2008, and Bhutan emerged as a parliamentary democracy.
Now, the government requires a license for the construction of religious buildings, which seems to hint that such buildings would be approved. Some religious freedom watchdog groups allege that those licenses are withheld, which gives force to the idea that Christianity would still be on the "black list." DeYoung agrees. "Although it is still technically illegal to be openly operating as a Christian, nevertheless, the number of believers in Bhutan is clearly growing, and they are gathering in house fellowships secretly."
Compass Direct News issued a report at the beginning of the year that indicated hopeful prospects of change. DeYoung explains that "some believe that the government may be very close--perhaps maybe later this year--to officially recognizing at least one Christian group. That would mark a milestone in which the government of Bhutan would make an open declaration that Christianity is permitted."
At the same time, movement on that issue seems to have stalled out for the last six months. Even though it seems there has been some movement toward freedom, evangelism is still forbidden in the country. This is where radio comes in. Radio has played a significant role in making the Christian presence felt in Bhutan, a country that is otherwise closed for Christian activities.
Programming in Dzongkha--the official language of Bhutan--occurs three days a week with a 15-minute program which includes health topics, music, and a Christian message. The programming not only encourages the existing believers, but also takes the message of Christ to others who are looking for answers.
They're responding, too, although DeYoung notes that "for the foreseeable future, the Bhutanese that are coming to Christ newly as believers would probably still tend to maintain a relatively low profile."

What's exciting is that "people widely believe that the government is well aware of many of those house fellowships and has chosen not to interfere, has not to gotten involved in trying to stop their activity," says DeYoung.

Although the atmosphere feels freer, DeYoung says, "It's the question of evangelism that would be still a very sensitive one."

Pray that Christians are treated fairly under the new constitution. Pray that the church continues to expand and flourish despite pressure.

Pakistani police claim Shahbaz Bhatti murder due to 'family dispute'

However, Christians reject this theory and say it is a huge 'cover up'

By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries

ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (ANS) -- Police investigators in Pakistan are developing a theory that the murder of Pakistani Religious Affairs Minister Shahbaz Bhatti was due to a "family dispute," not religious extremism, according to a story on August 9, in the Express Tribune English daily newspaper.

Shahbaz Bhatti

Mr. Bhatti was the first Federal Minister for Minorities from 2008 until he was assassinated on March 2, 2011 in Islamabad.

Quoting an unidentified official associated with the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) probing the assassination, the Tribune said "Shahbaz's murder is said to be linked to a 'chronic rivalry' with relatives who lived in Faisalabad five years ago."

According to a story written by Anto Akkara for Ecumenical News International (ENInews), Bhatti, 42, the first Christian in the Pakistani cabinet, had "vigorously campaigned for minority religious rights in Pakistan, which is 95 percent Muslim."

He went on to say, "He had criticized the country's blasphemy law, which makes it a capital crime to insult Islam, before he was ambushed and sprayed with bullets on March 2, 2011, as he was leaving for his office in Islamabad. Groups claiming ties with the Islamic Taliban and al-Qaida later claimed responsibility for the murder."

Shahbaz Bhatti had also campained for the release of Asia Bibi, a Christian mother of five who has been sentenced to death for alleged blasphemy.

Christian groups, said Akkara, criticized the police investigation, based on the news reports. "This is just another cover up. They want to show that Shahbaz was not killed by religious extremists," Victor Azariah, general secretary of the National Council of Churches in Pakistan (NCCP), told ENInews on 12 August from his office in Lahore.

Blood stained car after assasination of Mr. Bhatti

According to the Tribune story, a member of the JIT team claims that two or three of the murderers converted to Islam and fled Pakistan. The report also quoted the official as saying that while names of the culprits have not been identified yet, "we will approach Interpol for their arrest."
Azariah said there is now no confidence in the Bhatti probe. "Nothing is going to happen with this investigation. The people have lost faith in the process," he said. The NCCP groups the country's four mainline Protestant churches. "The investigators seem to ignore even the claim of an Islamic party owning up to the murder," he added.

Cecil Choudhary, executive secretary of the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA), co-founded by Bhatti, told ENInews that the news represented "an extremely alarming twist" in the investigation. "It has deliberately been taken onto another track in order to clear the Islamic extremists, who categorically claimed responsibility for the murder," he said. APMA plans to organize street protests to demand a judicial enquiry into the assassination. "We want the truth to come out," he said.

Peter Jacob, executive secretary of the Justice and Commission of the Catholic church, told ENInews that the "family feud" theory is unfounded. "Bhatti is my third cousin and I know him from childhood. We have the same relatives. The allegation of family and property feud is only to defame a bold champion of minority rights," he said.

The Express Tribune, based in Karachi, Pakistan, is published in collaboration with the International Herald Tribune.

A recent meeting of the Central Executive Committee of The All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (AMPA) was held in Islamabad and presided over by Dr. Paul Bhatti (brother of the murdered minister) and Chairman of the Alliance.

At the gathering, the participants "strongly condemned" the latest developments released to the media, in which the Police investigators have attributed the Bhatti's assassination to a property dispute between relatives rather than a religiously motivated murder, subsequently diverting the case away from reality.

Members of Human Rights Focus Pakistan protesting the murder fo Shahbaz Bhatti

In a message to ANS, a spokesperson for AMPA said that those at the meeting "stated that the investigation has deliberately been taken onto another track in order to clear the actual culprits, who have categorically claimed responsibility for the murder. They further stated that turning the investigation into personal enmity and dispute over property is an attempt to sabotage the great sacrifice that Shahbaz Bhatti rendered for the rights of minorities.

"They said that such distortion of facts has sent a wave of anxiety and anger among the religious minorities.

The participants stated that the religious minorities of Pakistan rejects this investigation and demands the formation of a Judicial Commission under the supervision of a High Court Judge to investigate this highly sensitive case and uncover the hidden motives behind the assassination.

"The participants also stated that in case of any further delay in arresting the murderers and uncovering the conspiracy behind the assassination of Shahbaz Bhatti, the religious minorities will be compelled to launch a countrywide protest, until their demands are met.

"They also demanded of the Government to revisit all laws discriminating against minorities and to take concrete measures to curb its misuse.

The meeting concluded with the participants paying homage to Shahbaz Bhatti for his endeavors in seeking to improve and protect the rights and equality of religious minorities in Pakistan, they expressed that Shaheed Shahbaz Bhatti, through the sacrifice of his blood, had raised the heads of the religious minorities with pride."

The spokesperson added, "They stated that Shahbaz Bhatti was a bold, committed and courageous activist who dedicated his entire life for the cause of the religious minorities of Pakistan. He fearlessly raised a voice for the rights of minorities, justice, religious freedoms and was murdered as he stood firmly against the growing misuse of the Blasphemy Laws. They pledged not to let his sacrifice go to waste.

"The Alliance vowed to carry forward the mission of their Shahbaz Bhatti until success or martyrdom.
"At the end of the meeting a special prayer was offered for the integrity and prosperity of Pakistan and for peace and harmony within the country."

Dan Wooding, 70, is an award winning British journalist now living in Southern California with his wife Norma, to whom he has been married for 48 years. They have two sons, Andrew and Peter, and six grandchildren who all live in the UK. He is the founder and international director of ASSIST (Aid to Special Saints in Strategic Times) and the ASSIST News Service (ANS) and was, for ten years, a commentator, on the UPI Radio Network in Washington, DC. He now hosts the weekly "Front Page Radio" show on KWVE in Southern California which is also carried throughout the United States. The program is also aired in Great Britain on Calvary Chapel Radio UK and also in Belize and South Africa. Besides this, Wooding is a host for His Channel Live, which is carried via the Internet to some 200 countries. You can follow Dan on Facebook under his name there or at ASSIST News Service. He is the author of some 44 books. Two of the latest include his autobiography, "From Tabloid to Truth", which is published by Theatron Books. To order a copy, press this link. Wooding, who was born in Nigeria of British missionary parents, has also recently released his first novel "Red Dagger" which is available this link.

ChinaAid Seeks Special UN Investigation of Missing Human Rights Lawyer Gao Zhisehng

By Jeremy ReynaldsSenior Correspondent for ASSIST News Service

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (ANS) -- ChinaAid has formally requested a special U.N. investigation into the torture of missing Christian lawyer Gao Zhisheng.

Gao Zhisheng

ChinaAid said Aug. 15 was the five-year anniversary of his first kidnaping by Chinese police.

ChinaAid said the request was submitted by its legal counsel, and filed with the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture.

According to ChinaAid, Gao was taken by police on Aug. 15 2006 from his sister's home and held for unknown reasons. It wasn't until Sept. 21 2006 that the Chinese government announced he was being charged with inciting subversion.

In March 2010, ChinaAid said, the NGO Freedom Now partnered with a number of human rights specialists in filing a petition before the U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. That resulted in a U.N. finding of serious wrongdoing by the Chinese government, which had failed to even reply to the U.N. inquiry.

ChinaAid said China basically told the U.N. and the rest of the world to "mind its own business," because Gao's case was a matter of China's internal affairs, adding that China is a country under rule of law.

ChinaAid Founder and President Bob Fu and its legal counsel David E. Taylor said in a news release they expect that China is likely to respond similarly to this request for a special U.N. investigation.

Nonetheless, they believe it is important for the international community to see how negatively the Chinese Communist Party responds with arrogance and recalcitrance to the U.N. They also want to show the world, especially Gao's family and the Chinese government, that Gao has not been forgotten.

For more information about ChinaAid go to www.chinaaid.org