Blasphemy Law Proposed in Iraqi Kurdistan after Muslim Protests

By Jeremy Reynalds
Senior Correspondent for ASSIST News Service

IRAQ (ANS) -- A “blasphemy law” has been drafted by MPs in the autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan following violent protests by Muslims against a magazine article deemed insulting to Islam.

According to a story by Barnabas Aid, the Draft Law to Protect Sanctities prescribes up to ten years in prison and fines of up to 50,000,000 dinars (US$43,029) for vaguely worded offences including “swearing at and mocking God” and “swearing at, mocking, insulting and portraying prophets inappropriately.”

Any media outlet that publishes or broadcasts material deemed blasphemous could be closed for up to a year and fined.

Barnabas Aid said the move follows the enraged Muslim reaction to a piece in an Erbil-based magazine, Chrpa (Whisper) May 2. It reprinted a 2010 Facebook post entitled “Me and God,” an imaginary dialogue condemned as blasphemous by some local imams and insulting to Islam by government officials.

Chrpa’s editor-in-chief was arrested on May 7 for “violating religious sensibilities,” but this move was not enough to placate local Muslims.

Barnabas Aid said incited by the mullahs, hundreds took to the streets of Erbil in protest the following day. They threw stones at police, and attacked a television station, cultural center, bars and a guardhouse outside the parliament. Dozens of people were injured.

Kurdistan Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani.  (Kurdistan Photo)

In the following days, Kurdistan Regional Government’s Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, said the government “will confront all insults against the religion of Islam strongly,” and proposed the introduction of a blasphemy law.

Barnabas Aid said a parliamentary committee then drafted the Law to Protect Sanctities and plans to present it for a vote shortly. It has been criticized by Human Rights Watch, who called for MPs to oppose the bill on the grounds that it “clearly restricts the right to free expression.”

According to Barnabas Aid, although the bill ostensibly applies to all religions, it has clearly been created with a view to appeasing Muslim sensibilities. It comes against a backdrop of growing Islamic fervency in Kurdistan.

Barnabas Aid reported that Sozan Sahab, an MP for the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) said, “After the Arab Spring comes the Islamic Spring. It’s in the region, in the atmosphere. The mullahs have changed.”

Barnabas Aid said this is a worrying development for Christians in Kurdistan, many of whom fled there to escape persecution in other parts of Iraq. They have generally enjoyed peace alongside other religious groups in Kurdistan, but this has recently come under threat. 

In Dec. 2011, shops and businesses owned by Christians and Yezidis, another minority group, were torched by Islamists in an outbreak of violent attacks.

In a separate incident that month, Barnabas Aid said, a 29-year-old Christian man was kidnaped for ransom, a common occurrence in other parts of Iraq but not in Kurdistan. This raised fears that the persecution Christians have fled is catching up with them.

Barnabas Aid said the introduction of a blasphemy law in Kurdistan would pose a further threat to Christians, who suffer greatly under such legislation in other countries. Since the Arab Spring, similar laws have been proposed and/or implemented in various countries in the region. They include Kuwait, Egypt and Tunisia. There have been a number of high-profile cases of people being imprisoned for actions or statements deemed insulting to Islam.

Barnabas Aid commented that while the Arab Spring seemed to promise increased freedom and rights for citizens in the region, the spreading anti-blasphemy movement indicates it is actually delivering the opposite.

Barnabas Aid provides hope and relief for the persecuted church. For more information go towww.barnabasfund.org/US/Home/

---

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 athttp://www.homelessinthecity.com. Reynalds lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. For more information contact: Jeremy Reynalds at jeremyreynalds@comcast.net.

Christians repond to Muslim offer of protection in Garissa, Kenya

(Photos courtesy of Christian Aid Mission)

Kenya (MNN) ― Garissa has long had a perilous reputation in Kenya. A small outpost down near the Somalia border, the area has been filled with dangerous people for over a decade.

Africa Director for Christian Aid Mission Rae Burnett notes that was even before the Islamic terrorist group al-Shabaab came into prominence.

Al-Shabaab is the Somalia-based cell of al-Qaeda hunting down Christians in both Somalia and now, in Kenya. The group has been getting bolder and more organized. Burnett explains, "There's been a huge, huge influx of Somalis that have overrun the country, I mean even into Nairobi. They stick together, and they are told by their government that now that there's so many of them there, they really need to take over the country and establish Sharia."

It seems that the Kenyan town of Garissa, right on the border with Somalia, was getting less and less friendly to non-Muslims. "This is a town, that when I hear the name, I know there's danger there," says Burnett. She adds that in the 15 years she's been aware of the changing conditions there, Gospel inroads have been made. "Missionaries have been putting churches there, trying to bring people to Christ for years. They have now become a target of the Muslim extremists."

However, that didn't always sit well with the local population. "When doing any kind of evangelical work, the Muslims have sent their children to stone them." An indigenous ministry leader helped by Christian Aid told Burnett that the most recent attack was more evidence of the hostilities in the region toward Christians. "He said that plans to burn the churches were executed inside the mosque. Their thinking is that this is just totally for the outside world to hear."

Seventeen people were killed July 1 in Garissa as terrorists threw grenades into two churches and opened fire. It appears to be an effort to deepen rifts between Muslims and Christians in Kenya. These same people are also blamed for attacks on secular entertainment venues as well as the kidnapping and murder of aid workers.

Communication with indigenous ministries (supported by Christian Aid Mission) indicates increasing alarm among believers and disruption to Gospel work.

In the wake of the latest incident, one leader wrote:

This is big blow to our ministry vision, and our outreaches among the Muslims in the northern frontiers of Kenya. We are so much concerned at the trend of constant attacks on the churches in Kenya by al Shabaab terror group. I was planning another outreach in that area. So many of them have never been reached with the Gospel.

We are praying and planning to evacuate the wife and her children for some time till the situation improves. Please pray for our security. Any help extended to this family will be appreciated as we move in to assist.

Another sent this message:

Most of our churches in Northern Kenya have closed down due to attacks by the al Shabaab terrorists. The most affected areas are Wajir, Modogashe, Liboi, Garbatulla, Merti, Turbi, parts of Marsabit and some parts of Isiolo where you have spent so much time with the Samburu believers. Most Christians had to evacuate to safer areas. Missionaries and pastors who have been serving there had to relocate.

Now, there's word that Muslim leaders are offering to protect Christians following the attacks. But, says Burnett, Christians are incredulous. "Even if Muslims did offer something like that, no one would accept it because they would believe it to be a threat based on their experience with them in the past, particularly in an area like that where everyone (the Muslim community) is so close knit."

Burnett notes that Christian workers explained why they're so distrustful. "As these churches were being attacked, the Garissa women...(I'm reading directly here) 'after the attacks in Garissa, young men and women were celebrating in the streets.'"

Additionally, reprisal violence could be the spark that sets the tinder box aflame. "The nominal Christians are often the ones that cause so much of the problem. Those who really know the Lord, they understand the risk, and they're willing to bring people to Christ and to risk their lives for that."  

Gospel work continues, but believers are going to have to tread carefully. Burnett says prayer is the best defense. "Everyone, as a believer, needs wisdom and protection. We're always in such danger, whether we know it or not. These men and women and children who are on the forefront of this violence really need to know the Lord's will and that Christ will be seen."

Check our Featured Links section for ways you can help.

Bible translation team robbed in Nigeria

igeria (MNN) ― Churches in Nigeria have been under direct attack lately as several bombers have targeted church buildings. But on Friday morning, Bible translation was also threatened when a team of translators was robbed.

A team of IT professionals from Wycliffe Associates was in Nigeria to help with a workshop that mentors Nigerians on how to do Bible translation. En route to a city in northern Nigeria, the team was confronted.

"They were stopped by armed robbers. Everyone was forced to lie on the ground," says David Reeves with Wycliffe Associates. Reeves says money was taken, but he hasn't heard if their equipment was also commandeered.

Reeves could only speculate on whether the robbery was at all related to the string of church attacks over the last month or so in Nigeria. Regardless, he says, tensions against believers are high.

"This is not uncommon in Nigeria or in other parts of Africa to have these sort of events--remote roads, isolated locations and all--although the current environment is one where more of that is happening because of the unrest and the insecurity that's going on in the country," explains Reeves.

The team is safe, but the incident emphasizes the urgency behind the work Wycliffe Associates is doing.

Typically, Wycliffe Associates sends IT teams to Nigeria to deliver Bible Translation Acceleration Kits (TAKs). The full kit includes a satellite terminal, a solar panel, batteries, converters, and a laptop. Those items can change depending on the needs of the particular translation team, but those basic items make translation work exponentially faster.

Reeves says the technology offers huge change to translators. "I know of places where they're even doing Bible translation on yellow notepads," says Reeves. "We're trying to get in to help them have tools like computers and connectivity to be able to move faster than that."

With increasing instability in Nigeria, it's not only vital that translators get their work done as quickly as possible, but that they are also able to move if needed. Computers, internet, and other devices help them to consult faster and to take their work with them should they need to flee the area or even the country.

Just a month after Reeves helped one translation team install their TAK, "500 people had been killed, 21 churches had been burned, and they were sending me e-mails asking me for prayer for their team. They still continued to do Bible translation, sending materials to their consultant, and still moving forward."

Reeves says the courage and perseverance is already there in the translators. The necessary technology is just needed to allow them to keep working through severe persecution.

Wycliffe Associates has placed 45 TAKs in Nigeria so far. It's excellent progress, but there are a total of 80 Bible translation projects going in Nigeria, and many more starting up. The urgent need has thrust Wycliffe Associates to new goals in Nigeria.

"We need to help them scale from about 80 projects to nearly 300 projects. The sooner we do that the better; there's a sense of urgency in light of the conflict and uncertainty of where all this is going," says Reeves. "I'm looking at probably another 100 in the next year that we'll try to do. As soon as we can, we'll try to do all the remaining ones."

It's dangerous and difficult work, but crucial in order for the Gospel to win over the oppression of terrorism in Nigeria. 

Each TAK costs $3,500. If you can help with even a portion of that, click here. If you have IT expertise and would like to volunteer with these projects in Nigeria, click here. 

Brutal forced abortions condemned

Hu Xia, another mother forced to abort her child,
 in the hospital (Photo courtesy of ChinaAid)

China (MNN) ― After an emergency vote last Thursday, July 5, the European Parliament passed a “resolution on the forced abortion scandal in China” that “strongly condemns” officials in the forced abortion case of seven-months-pregnant Feng Jianmei.

According to the resolution, “On 2 June 2012 a seven-months-pregnant woman, Feng Jianmei, was abducted and underwent a forced abortion in Zhenping county (Shanxi [sic] province), sparking a wave of indignation and condemnation in China and around the world…”

Bob Fu, President of ChinaAid Association, says this is the first time the European Parliament has passed a resolution like this, but it’s a huge milestone. “Because the European Union is a huge countries block, it really has support of the international affairs.... It is really important for this voice to be heard. It sends a much stronger signal to the Chinese government that the whole world is now united against this brutal practice of one-child policy, forced abortion, and forced sterilization.”

Fu goes on to say, “I think it will also encourage more Chinese victims to come up to tell their stories, and it will put pressure at least temporarily [on] the local family planning officials to be more careful when they try to do these kind of forced abortion, forced sterilization cases.”

The resolution urges the European Union to discuss the violation of human rights in these forced abortion cases with China in the next round of bilateral human rights dialogue.

However, the resolution didn’t cover everything. According to Fu, “It fell short in the sense [of] condemning the whole China family planning system. In the resolution, it still contends the language….It does not really condemn China’s brutal family planning system of the one-child policy.”

Feng Jainmei and her husband are Christians, and Fu says their family continues to suffer persecution. Their case only begins to scratch the surface of what China and the church there has been facing for over thirty years since the one-child policy was enacted.

Fu shares, “I have received lots of reports from churches in the past. One pastor told me his wife was dragged to the hospital by the family planning officials and, with a poison drug injection into their eight-month-pregnant baby, killed their son. So I was on the phone when that was happening with that pastor in the hospital.”

The Chinese government has prevented the birth of 400 million children since the one-child policy started 30 years ago. With 5.7 million Jews killed in the World War II Holocaust, that is equivalent to losing the population from the Holocaust 70 times over.

Fu says the Chinese church has mostly kept silent, until now. “The churches are now having a wake-up call.... Because of the enormous suppression and the enormous propaganda by the Chinese government, most of the people chose to be silent, because if you dare to speak up, you will face lots of retributions: you will lose your job, lose your property, lose everything. And not only the husband and wife involved, but also family members, the grandparents, your neighbors, all will be part of the calamity if you are found in violation of the one-child policy.”

“Chinese women have the highest suicide rate in the whole world, partially--even according to the Chinese government scholars--because of this traumatic experience of forced abortion,” states Fu. “They need the Gospel of Christ to really bring healing and to comfort their hearts, knowing the Lord has remembered her and her baby. Otherwise, there’s going to be more disaster.”

The Gospel is desperately needed. “This is a matter of life and death, and especially the value of life [is] deeply rooted from the perspective of the Gospel,” states Fu. “There’s no other way to explain why a baby’s life is so precious in his or her mother’s womb except to recognize the image of God, the ‘imago Dei.’ Every human being bears that image, and that is directly from Scripture.”

Fu poses the echoing question, “If the church does not stand up for life, who will? And if the church refuses to speak up and refuses to fight for life, who will?”

Click here to learn more and how you can take action at ChindAid’s Web site.

New charges may be coming in apostasy case

Lakan Prison, where Pastor Nadarkhani is being held.
 (Photo courtesy of Present Truth Ministries)

Iran (CSW/MNN) ― Sunday July 8 marked 1,000 days since Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani was imprisoned in Iran for apostasy.

According to a report from Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani may face fresh charges in September.

The report makes note of new charges that may concern crimes against national security and possibly blasphemy in order to make his death sentence appear more acceptable. September 8, 2012 appears to be the new date for trial, according to CSW sources.

Nadarkhani faces the death penalty. Without the intervention of Supreme Leader or the Head of the Iranian Judiciary, authorities will carry out the Supreme Court ruling, which upheld the conviction.

It means Nadarkhani could be executed if he refuses to recant. Voice of the Martyrs says he has been pressured consistently--offered freedom in exchange for renouncing his faith on at least four occasions--but refuses to do so.

In a public statement, CSW's Advocacy Director Andrew Johnston said, "CSW is deeply concerned at reports that Pastor Nadarkhani may face fresh charges in September. The Iranian government is increasingly bringing charges against Christians on political grounds to mask the fact that like Pastor Nadarkhani and Pastor Fathi Malayeri, they have been arrested and imprisoned solely on account of their faith.

"We are also concerned by the lack of due process in these cases and continue to call for the immediate and unconditional release of Pastor Nadarkhani, Pastor Fathi Malayeri, and others who are unjustly imprisoned or facing execution following flawed judicial processes. CSW urges the Iranian authorities to ensure respect for the right to freedom of religion, which is guaranteed in the international covenants to which Iran is a signatory, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)."

Please continue to pray for wisdom and strength for Pastor Nadarkhani and for those trying to help him. Ask God to change hearts, and pray for open doors.

CSW is a Christian organization working for religious freedom through advocacy and human rights in the pursuit of justice.

Pakistan Mob Burns Man to Death for Alleged ‘Blasphemy’

Another shocking extra judicial killing 

By Dan Wooding and Xavier Patras William
Special to ASSIST News Service

BAHAWALPUR, PUNJAB, PAKISTAN (ANS) -- In another shocking case of extra judicial killing in Pakistan, a man accused of blasphemy was killed by a mob outside a police station.

A shocking picture of the man being burnt alive by the mob

The unidentified man was burnt alive close to a police station on Tuesday evening (July 3, 2012), in the Chani Ghoth area of Bahawalpur in Punjab Province.

A mob broke into the police station and brought him outside and dragged him to the Chanighot Chakar (roundabout), where he had allegedly desecrated the Holy Quran, doused him in petrol (gasoline) and set him on fire.

According to a story by Shahzeb Jillani, BBC World Service South Asia Editor, witnesses said hundreds of people looked on as he screamed for help.

“Pakistan's controversial blasphemy law imposes the death penalty for insulting Islam, but it is rarely carried out,” said Jillani. “The area where the lynching took place is home to hundreds of madrassas - religious schools - run by radical Islamist or sectarian groups.

“Police said they detained the man after locals complained that he had desecrated the Koran. But before the allegation could be investigated, thousands of angry people surrounded the police station, police said.”

The Deputy Superintendent of Police for the Ahmedpur Bahawalpur District said, “The Chani Goth police station received a complaint that a person had burnt pages of the Quran, and the police arrested the person and brought him to the police station and put him in the lock up.”

ANS had learned that the trouble began when a group of religious leaders announced on loud speakers that the men had “committed blasphemy against Islam” which then resulted in the out-of-control mob gathering outside the police station and demanded that police had over the man.

They then blocked the main highway and broke down the gates of the police station and attacked the officers on duty, injuring the Station House Officer, Ghulam Mohiuddin Gajjar, along with his four guards.

“I also sustained a few injuries during the attack. Our 14-15 police officers were injured and were admitted in the hospital,” said the Station House Officer. “Before we could know details about the person who was arrested, the mob broke into the lockup and took out the prisoner, threw petrol [gasoline] on him and burnt him alive.

“They also torched the police vehicles in the police station, this continued for over two hours. The mob stood there until the man completely burnt to death.”

The police say that they believe that the man was “mentally unstable”, but so far have not been able to ascertain his identity.

DSP Naveed said, “We have registered the First Information Report (FIR) about the incident and will arrest the culprits soon. We are thankful to Allah that no policemen were killed in the attack.”

The charred body has been sent for autopsy and are awaiting the result and to try and learn the identity of the person who was killed. So far no one came forward to claim the body of the deceased.

This incident has raised fears amongst the minority population of Pakistan of more extra judicial killing for those accused of blasphemy, or those who help the blasphemy-accused.

He paid for this with his life. Salman Taseer pictured with Asia Bibi.

Among those who have been killed in this is the former Governor Punjab Salman Taseer who was assassinated by his own bodyguard for taking a stand for Asia Bibi, the Christian woman accused of blasphemy. She now says that she also fears for her life after this incident.

The Masihi Foundation Pakistan and Life for All Pakistan have both strongly condemned the incident.

In a statement, they said, “Religion should be kept separate from the state affairs, and burning a man alive is an inhuman act. The police has failed to take action against the people responsible and the law was abused by the mob.

“There is no justification for this barbaric act. The authorities must act and take action against such lawlessness. No one is above the law, and there is no justification in killing a human being. It is for the judicial system to decide whether a person is guilty or not.”

The statement added, “It is time to put an end of the law of the jungle. Laws are made to protect men from other men, not to protect God from humans. We urge the Chief Justice to take notice of the incident and take action against the people involved in the incident. He must ensure the rule of the law in the Country.”

The Bahawalpur Catholic Diocese has also condemned the incident. Father Zafar Samuel from Bahawalpur said, “This is a sad incident and we condemn it. This is an inhuman act. There is a strong need to spread awareness regarding blasphemy and the laws associated with it. These naive people have no idea what it’s all about.”

The Bishop of Rawalpindi/Islamabad, Rufin Anthony, said, “We strongly condemn the attack on the police station and the loss of a human life. The law enforcing agencies must act and ensure the rule of the law. Taking the law in one’s own hands is against the law. It is time for some changes in the legislation, so that it will protect innocent lives and ensure the safety of the people accused and under trial.

“How much more blood do we have to have shed for the authorities to realize that it is time to act.”

According to media reports, Pakistan, President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday expressed “profound grief and shock” over the burning of the man. Expressing shock, the president directed the adviser on interior to conduct an inquiry into the unfortunate incident and immediately submit the report to him.

He said that no one should be allowed to take law into in his own hand no matter what the crime is. He also directed the authorities concerned to dispense justice in the case according to the law.

---

Xavier Patras William is an international journalist and human rights activist. He is the Regional Director of “Life for All” in Islamabad, Pakistan, which is an organization is working for human rights and the education of the Christians in Pakistan. The head office of “Life for All” is in Lahore, Pakistan and its regional office is located in Islamabad. Xavier can be reached at:xave_william@yahoo.com

---

Dan Wooding, 71, 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 hosts the weekly “Front Page Radio” show on the KWVE Radio Network in Southern California and 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 192 countries and also provides a regular commentary for Worship Life Radio on KWVE. You can follow Dan Wooding on Facebook under his name there or at ASSIST News Service. Dan has recently received two top media awards -- the "Passion for the Persecuted" award from Open Doors US, and one of the top "Newsmakers of 2011" from Plain Truth magazine. He is the author of some 44 books, the latest of which is "Caped Crusader: Rick Wakeman in the 1970s." To order a copy, go to: http://www.amazon.com/CAPED-CRUSADER-Rick-Wakeman-1970s/dp/1908728302/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1335474883&sr=1-1 . Wooding, who was born in Nigeria of British missionary parents, has also recently released his first novel “Red Dagger” which is available this link.