(christiansunite.com) - A Christian in Ethiopia's southern town of Moyale has been languishing in jail for two months after his Muslim business partner accused him of writing "Jesus is Lord" in a copy of the Qur'an.
Tamirat Woldegorgis, who is in his early 30s and is a member of the Full Gospel Church, was arrested in early August after his partner in their clothes-making business discovered Tamirat had inscribed "Jesus is Lord" on some cloth. His Muslim co-worker, whose name has not been established, went to a nearby mosque with the accusation that Tamirat had written "Jesus is Lord" in the Qur'an itself. Angry sheikhs at the mosque subsequently had Tamirat arrested for desecrating the book sacred to Islam.
Other sources have said, however, that Muslims accused Tamirat of writing "Jesus is Lord" on a piece of wood, on a minibus, and then on the wall of a house. A church leader who requested anonymity has stated that when two of Tamirat's friends enquired about him at the Moyale police station, they were jailed for two weeks.
In Ethiopia's federal state system, each state is autonomous in its administration, and most of those holding government positions in Somali Region Zone Five are Muslims. "We fear that our brother might be taken to Islamic court in Jijiga for trial, which will further threaten his life," the church leader said.
Authorities are reportedly offering to release Tamirat if he will convert to Islam. Tamirat is physically weak but strong in his faith, the church leader said, adding that he needs food and other material assistance, as well as an attorney. (Source: Compass Direct)
source:http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion09782.shtml
Showing posts with label islam. Show all posts
Showing posts with label islam. Show all posts
Monday, November 22, 2010
Friday, September 10, 2010
Burning the Quran? Leaders Speak Out
ChurchWatch
Join Craig von Buseck weekdays as he shares his perspective on the major trends and news affecting the Body of Christ today.
Craig von Buseck
By now, most people have heard the reports that a virtually unknown minister, Pastor Terry Jones of Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Florida, plans to mark the anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington by burning copies of the Quran.
The QuranJones said he will still go ahead with the event despite U.S. official warnings it will endanger American troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. "We are still determined to do it, yes," Jones told the CBS "Early Morning" show.
Earlier this week, the U.S. commander in Afghanistan, General David Petraeus, issued a statement criticizing the plan to burn copies of the Quran on September 11, warning the demonstration "could cause significant problems" for American troops overseas.
"It could endanger troops and it could endanger the overall effort in Afghanistan," General Petraeus said.
Petraeus warned that burning Qurans "is precisely the kind of action the Taliban uses and could cause significant problems -- not just here, but everywhere in the world we are engaged with the Islamic community."
Jones insists the event is "neither an act of love nor of hate," but a warning against what he calls the threats posed by Islam.
But other Christian leaders disagree and have been vocal in their opposition to what is being called a dangerous publicity stunt.
On The 700 Club, Pat Robertson asked the question, "Can you imagine a pastor that is so egotistical that he would sacrifice the lives of missionaries and soldiers to go forward with it? … This guy is looking for attention. He's looking for publicity. … I think it's horrible what this guy is doing."
Open Doors USA President, Carl Moeller reacted with a strong warning. “The planned burning of the Quran is a disaster on two fronts: It violates the command of Jesus to love our neighbor and it would likely cause Christians worldwide to be more vilified and persecuted.”
Moeller says a possible Muslim backlash would probably focus on Christians living in predominately Muslim countries who already are caught in the crossfire, including those who have converted from Islam to Christianity.
“The burning of Qurans will only confirm what many Muslims believe – that Christians hate Muslims. That is exactly the opposite message we as Christians want to send."
“I urge the Dove World Outreach Center and its senior pastor, Terry Jones, to cancel the event," Moeller pleaded. "Hate is not biblical; it is not the message of Jesus.”
J. Lee Grady of Charisma Magazine declared, "Rev. Terry Jones does not speak for charismatic Christians, and his brand of fire-breathing judgmentalism doesn't even remotely resemble the message of Jesus Christ. I am praying that he will repent and renounce his outrageous intentions before the time arrives to strike the first match."
Grady points out that the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE), which represents numerous Pentecostal denominations and charismatic fellowships, denounced Jones' actions in a recent statement. "The NAE calls on its members to cultivate relationships of trust and respect with our neighbours of other faiths. God created human beings in His image, and therefore all should be treated with dignity and respect," the statement said.
Andrea Lafferty of the Traditional Values Coalition wrote, "I heard someone call the Dove World Outreach Center’s 'Burn a Koran Day' a 'stunt' earlier today and I thought that captured it pretty well. Burning books takes on a very ominous tone because it is so closely associated with the Nazis. It is being done for one purpose – publicity. Like that Kansas pastor who shows up at military funerals with his crude signs, the Florida pastor is anxious for his 15 minutes of fame and he’ll do anything to get it."
Charles Colson of Prison Fellowship explains that this act is not only un-Christian, but it is also un-American. "The unique thing about the United States is that we are prepared to fight for and defend every single individual’s right to his or her choice to practice the religion of their choice. We learn to respect our differences in a free, pluralistic society."
"I find Jones’s plan to burn the Koran foolish and contemptible," Colson declared. "It poses dangers Jones has either overlooked or chooses to ignore.
Dr. John Rankin, president of the Theological Education Institute warns, if Jones burns the Qur’an, “the images will reverberate on the Internet internationally, and this could lead to unparalleled fury in the Muslim world.”
Colson agrees and points out that most of that fury will be directed into violence against Christians in Muslim areas throughout the world. "If Jones goes through with this horrid plan, people—Christian people—will suffer and some will die."
Secretary of State Clinton has condemned the church's plans during her remarks at a State Department dinner she hosted in observance of Iftar, the breaking of the daily fast during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. "I am heartened by the clear, unequivocal condemnation of this disrespectful, disgraceful act that has come from American religious leaders of all faiths," Clinton said.
CNN is reporting that religious leaders in Gainesville have planned an event billed as a "Gathering for Peace, Understanding and Hope" on September 10, in response to the Jones' Quran burning plan.
Carl Moeller stated the case in plain language. "We will most likely see Christians killed around the world because of these Quran burnings."
So here's my take on this issue: I think we need to go back to the words of Jesus when confronted with these kinds of inflammatory and antagonistic actions.
But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. (Matthew 5:44, ESV)
Nothing more needs to be said.
Join Craig von Buseck weekdays as he shares his perspective on the major trends and news affecting the Body of Christ today.
Craig von Buseck
By now, most people have heard the reports that a virtually unknown minister, Pastor Terry Jones of Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Florida, plans to mark the anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington by burning copies of the Quran.
The QuranJones said he will still go ahead with the event despite U.S. official warnings it will endanger American troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. "We are still determined to do it, yes," Jones told the CBS "Early Morning" show.
Earlier this week, the U.S. commander in Afghanistan, General David Petraeus, issued a statement criticizing the plan to burn copies of the Quran on September 11, warning the demonstration "could cause significant problems" for American troops overseas.
"It could endanger troops and it could endanger the overall effort in Afghanistan," General Petraeus said.
Petraeus warned that burning Qurans "is precisely the kind of action the Taliban uses and could cause significant problems -- not just here, but everywhere in the world we are engaged with the Islamic community."
Jones insists the event is "neither an act of love nor of hate," but a warning against what he calls the threats posed by Islam.
But other Christian leaders disagree and have been vocal in their opposition to what is being called a dangerous publicity stunt.
On The 700 Club, Pat Robertson asked the question, "Can you imagine a pastor that is so egotistical that he would sacrifice the lives of missionaries and soldiers to go forward with it? … This guy is looking for attention. He's looking for publicity. … I think it's horrible what this guy is doing."
Open Doors USA President, Carl Moeller reacted with a strong warning. “The planned burning of the Quran is a disaster on two fronts: It violates the command of Jesus to love our neighbor and it would likely cause Christians worldwide to be more vilified and persecuted.”
Moeller says a possible Muslim backlash would probably focus on Christians living in predominately Muslim countries who already are caught in the crossfire, including those who have converted from Islam to Christianity.
“The burning of Qurans will only confirm what many Muslims believe – that Christians hate Muslims. That is exactly the opposite message we as Christians want to send."
“I urge the Dove World Outreach Center and its senior pastor, Terry Jones, to cancel the event," Moeller pleaded. "Hate is not biblical; it is not the message of Jesus.”
J. Lee Grady of Charisma Magazine declared, "Rev. Terry Jones does not speak for charismatic Christians, and his brand of fire-breathing judgmentalism doesn't even remotely resemble the message of Jesus Christ. I am praying that he will repent and renounce his outrageous intentions before the time arrives to strike the first match."
Grady points out that the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE), which represents numerous Pentecostal denominations and charismatic fellowships, denounced Jones' actions in a recent statement. "The NAE calls on its members to cultivate relationships of trust and respect with our neighbours of other faiths. God created human beings in His image, and therefore all should be treated with dignity and respect," the statement said.
Andrea Lafferty of the Traditional Values Coalition wrote, "I heard someone call the Dove World Outreach Center’s 'Burn a Koran Day' a 'stunt' earlier today and I thought that captured it pretty well. Burning books takes on a very ominous tone because it is so closely associated with the Nazis. It is being done for one purpose – publicity. Like that Kansas pastor who shows up at military funerals with his crude signs, the Florida pastor is anxious for his 15 minutes of fame and he’ll do anything to get it."
Charles Colson of Prison Fellowship explains that this act is not only un-Christian, but it is also un-American. "The unique thing about the United States is that we are prepared to fight for and defend every single individual’s right to his or her choice to practice the religion of their choice. We learn to respect our differences in a free, pluralistic society."
"I find Jones’s plan to burn the Koran foolish and contemptible," Colson declared. "It poses dangers Jones has either overlooked or chooses to ignore.
Dr. John Rankin, president of the Theological Education Institute warns, if Jones burns the Qur’an, “the images will reverberate on the Internet internationally, and this could lead to unparalleled fury in the Muslim world.”
Colson agrees and points out that most of that fury will be directed into violence against Christians in Muslim areas throughout the world. "If Jones goes through with this horrid plan, people—Christian people—will suffer and some will die."
Secretary of State Clinton has condemned the church's plans during her remarks at a State Department dinner she hosted in observance of Iftar, the breaking of the daily fast during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. "I am heartened by the clear, unequivocal condemnation of this disrespectful, disgraceful act that has come from American religious leaders of all faiths," Clinton said.
CNN is reporting that religious leaders in Gainesville have planned an event billed as a "Gathering for Peace, Understanding and Hope" on September 10, in response to the Jones' Quran burning plan.
Carl Moeller stated the case in plain language. "We will most likely see Christians killed around the world because of these Quran burnings."
So here's my take on this issue: I think we need to go back to the words of Jesus when confronted with these kinds of inflammatory and antagonistic actions.
But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. (Matthew 5:44, ESV)
Nothing more needs to be said.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Muslims Seek to Censor Gospel of Christ
by Staff
August 13, 2010
BRIDGEPORT, Conn., (christiansunite.com) -- In an unprecedented move, Muslim leaders in Connecticut are staging a press conference in Hartford this afternoon, to plead with legislators to censor the Gospel of Christ from the public forum around mosques.
That's right! They are using their own potential for violence to silence the Gospel of Christ. Gentle Christian saints will be conducting a press conference on the public sidewalk in front of the Bridgeport Islamic Center, aka Mafjid An-Noor Mosque in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Truth is hate to those who hate the truth.
Islam is not a religion, nor a cult, but a total and complete 100 % system of life. It has religious, legal, political, economic, social, and military components. In all of the 27 countries ruled by Islam, the church is the state! No other religion will be tolerated.
"Islam presents a monstrous worldview, birthed in the pit of hell, which brings untold misery and murder upon precious people created in the image of God. Religion is its cover (its beard) by which it gains entrance into nations where the 'freedom of religion' is sacrosanct. It then takes this freedom afforded to it, and begins its insidious takeover." Rev. Flip Benham of Operation Save America.
"Like a python, slowly moving upon its prey with almost imperceptible and hypnotic movement, it begins to coil around its victim until it squeezes every last breath of air out of him. When dead, the victim is swallowed whole."
The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states that Congress shall make no law prohibiting the free exercise of religion, yet the Quran states in Sura 4:89, "Those who reject Islam must be killed. If they turn back (from Islam) take hold of them and kill them wherever you find them."
The key difference between Islam and Christianity is that Islam believes that we are to lay the lives of others down to promote the cause of Allah. Christianity, on the other hand, believes that we are to lay down our own lives that others might live. There is a huge difference between a Christian martyr (laying his own life down) and a martyr for Islam (laying the lives of others down). One requires courage. The other is the supreme act of cowardice.
source:http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion09587.shtml
August 13, 2010
BRIDGEPORT, Conn., (christiansunite.com) -- In an unprecedented move, Muslim leaders in Connecticut are staging a press conference in Hartford this afternoon, to plead with legislators to censor the Gospel of Christ from the public forum around mosques.
That's right! They are using their own potential for violence to silence the Gospel of Christ. Gentle Christian saints will be conducting a press conference on the public sidewalk in front of the Bridgeport Islamic Center, aka Mafjid An-Noor Mosque in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Truth is hate to those who hate the truth.
Islam is not a religion, nor a cult, but a total and complete 100 % system of life. It has religious, legal, political, economic, social, and military components. In all of the 27 countries ruled by Islam, the church is the state! No other religion will be tolerated.
"Islam presents a monstrous worldview, birthed in the pit of hell, which brings untold misery and murder upon precious people created in the image of God. Religion is its cover (its beard) by which it gains entrance into nations where the 'freedom of religion' is sacrosanct. It then takes this freedom afforded to it, and begins its insidious takeover." Rev. Flip Benham of Operation Save America.
"Like a python, slowly moving upon its prey with almost imperceptible and hypnotic movement, it begins to coil around its victim until it squeezes every last breath of air out of him. When dead, the victim is swallowed whole."
The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states that Congress shall make no law prohibiting the free exercise of religion, yet the Quran states in Sura 4:89, "Those who reject Islam must be killed. If they turn back (from Islam) take hold of them and kill them wherever you find them."
The key difference between Islam and Christianity is that Islam believes that we are to lay the lives of others down to promote the cause of Allah. Christianity, on the other hand, believes that we are to lay down our own lives that others might live. There is a huge difference between a Christian martyr (laying his own life down) and a martyr for Islam (laying the lives of others down). One requires courage. The other is the supreme act of cowardice.
source:http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion09587.shtml
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Thousands protest planned 'mega mosque' at Ground Zero
Thousands of protesters gathered around the corner of Liberty and Church Streets on Sunday to voice their opposition to a proposed “mega mosque” near New York City’s Ground Zero.
The protest, organised by Stop Islamisation of America (SIOA), kicked off at noon and rallied support behind efforts to stop construction of the Cordoba House – a 15-story facility that project leaders claim will promote tolerance and serve as a platform for people of all backgrounds to come together.
“This proposed project is about promoting integration, tolerance of difference and community cohesion through arts and culture,” say those behind the Cordoba House.
“Cordoba House will provide a place where individuals, regardless of their backgrounds, will find a centre of learning, art and culture; and most importantly, a centre guided by Islamic values in their truest form - compassion, generosity, and respect for all,” they add.
Opponents of the Muslim-led project, however, say building an Islamic center so close to Ground Zero would be demeaning and offensive to the 2, 976 victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Some even said the construction of the Cordoba House would mark a victory for those who sought and still seek to terrorise the American people.
“Ground Zero is a war memorial. Ground Zero is a burial ground,” said SIOA Co-Founder Pamela Geller during Sunday’s rally. “We are asking for sensitivity.”
As a New York community board had voted 29-1 last month in favour of the plans to build the centre, the only way now to derail the project would be to landmark the site that was purchased for the centere – the old Burlington Coat factory that stands just 600 feet from where the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center fell.
Knowing this, opponents of the Islamic centre are pressing the Landmarks Preservation Commission to vote in favour of granting the building landmark status. Aside from being a 152-year-old building, the old Burlington building also had a piece of one of the hijacked airplanes crash into it.
“We are going to sue the US Government to get a designation of war memorial status,” declared Geller on Sunday.
In addition to SIOA, other groups standing against the proposed Cordoba Center include the Freedom Defense Initiative, the Staten Island Tea Party, Shalom International, the Unity Coalition for Israel, 911 Families, and Faith Freedom International.
The Cordoba Center, meanwhile, is a collaboration between the American Society for Muslim Advancement and the Cordoba Initiative – both founded by Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, who preaches in a mosque twelve blocks from Ground Zero.
Born in Kuwait and educated in England, Egypt, and Malaysia, Rauf holds a Bachelor of Science in Physics from Columbia University in New York and a Master of Science in Plasma Physics from Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey.
source:http://www.christiantoday.com/article/thousands.protest.planned.mega.mosque.at.ground.zero/26056.htm
The protest, organised by Stop Islamisation of America (SIOA), kicked off at noon and rallied support behind efforts to stop construction of the Cordoba House – a 15-story facility that project leaders claim will promote tolerance and serve as a platform for people of all backgrounds to come together.
“This proposed project is about promoting integration, tolerance of difference and community cohesion through arts and culture,” say those behind the Cordoba House.
“Cordoba House will provide a place where individuals, regardless of their backgrounds, will find a centre of learning, art and culture; and most importantly, a centre guided by Islamic values in their truest form - compassion, generosity, and respect for all,” they add.
Opponents of the Muslim-led project, however, say building an Islamic center so close to Ground Zero would be demeaning and offensive to the 2, 976 victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Some even said the construction of the Cordoba House would mark a victory for those who sought and still seek to terrorise the American people.
“Ground Zero is a war memorial. Ground Zero is a burial ground,” said SIOA Co-Founder Pamela Geller during Sunday’s rally. “We are asking for sensitivity.”
As a New York community board had voted 29-1 last month in favour of the plans to build the centre, the only way now to derail the project would be to landmark the site that was purchased for the centere – the old Burlington Coat factory that stands just 600 feet from where the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center fell.
Knowing this, opponents of the Islamic centre are pressing the Landmarks Preservation Commission to vote in favour of granting the building landmark status. Aside from being a 152-year-old building, the old Burlington building also had a piece of one of the hijacked airplanes crash into it.
“We are going to sue the US Government to get a designation of war memorial status,” declared Geller on Sunday.
In addition to SIOA, other groups standing against the proposed Cordoba Center include the Freedom Defense Initiative, the Staten Island Tea Party, Shalom International, the Unity Coalition for Israel, 911 Families, and Faith Freedom International.
The Cordoba Center, meanwhile, is a collaboration between the American Society for Muslim Advancement and the Cordoba Initiative – both founded by Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, who preaches in a mosque twelve blocks from Ground Zero.
Born in Kuwait and educated in England, Egypt, and Malaysia, Rauf holds a Bachelor of Science in Physics from Columbia University in New York and a Master of Science in Plasma Physics from Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey.
source:http://www.christiantoday.com/article/thousands.protest.planned.mega.mosque.at.ground.zero/26056.htm
Friday, March 26, 2010
Egyptian security agents destroy church
by Ethan Cole, Christian PostPosted: Friday, March 26, 2010, 9:21 (GMT)
State security agents in the upper Egyptian city of Luxor destroyed an Anglican church and assaulted the church’s pastor when he tried to save the building last week.
Pastor Mahrous Karam of the Anglican Church in Luxor reported that he was still negotiating with city authorities about replacing the community center building on the church’s compound the day before the demolition occurred. Authorities said they were still considering the options, according to Karam.
But the next morning, March 18, without warning, hundreds of security personnel blocked the road leading to the church and dragged the pastor’s family out of their residence. The pastor’s wife, Sabah, said two men used force to remove her from the home, including slapping her face, pulling her by her clothes, and dragging her by her hair.
"They threatened that if I do not leave the place they would take my 3-year-old boy and throw him under the bulldozers which came for the demolition work," she told Freecopts. "Twenty traumatized children were dragged out of the attached nursery and thrown into the church hall."
All the family’s possessions were thrown in the street and they are now homeless.
"I believe they wanted to give us an Easter present, the way they gave the Copts of Nag Hammadi the Christmas Eve Massacre," she said bitterly.
Gunmen in several cars opened fired on Coptic and Eastern Orthodox Christians in Nag Hammadi who were celebrating their Christmas Eve on January 6. Six Christians were killed, mostly young men in their twenties, from the attack.
The Christmas Eve attack was the worst assault on Copts in Egypt since January 2000, when 21 Christians were killed in sectarian violence.
During last week’s persecution incident, Pastor Mahrous tried to save the buildings from being demolished by sitting on the church’s fence to block the demolition work, but he was beaten and dragged away.
The pastor said Christians simply want the same treatment as Muslims who build mosques and additions to their Islamic centers.
After the demolition, only a 400 sq metre prayer hall was left standing out of the nearly 3,000 sq metres of buildings attached to the church.
The governor of Luxor, Dr Samir Farag, claims the security forces seized only one room of the Anglican church and denied his personnel assaulted the pastor’s family.
"The Governor is lying, that is why the forces blocked the road leading to the Church before their attack, so that nobody would witness their doings,” said one Anglican witness, who was not identified. “But he forgot there is the Internet and cell phone videos to show the whole world the uncivilised way Egypt deals with Christians and their places of worship."
The Anglican Church in Egypt issued a statement on March 19 condemning the actions of Luxor authorities.
Egypt’s Christian population makes up eight to 12 per cent of the overall population.
Despite their sizeable number in the country, the Christian community in Egypt, which consists of mostly Coptic Christians, are marginalised in society and reportedly suffer from violent forms of abuse. They also lack fair representation in the government, leading to further abuse of the minority group.
Among the most common complaints by Copts are government obstacles when it comes to building, repairing or additions to churches. While Muslims are free to build mosques in Egypt, Christians need to obtain special government permission for any construction work done on a church. The permission is almost always not granted.
Islam is the “religion of state” and the country’s “principle source of legislation”, according to Egypt’s constitution.
source:http://www.christiantoday.com/article/egyptian.security.agents.destroy.church/25568.htm
State security agents in the upper Egyptian city of Luxor destroyed an Anglican church and assaulted the church’s pastor when he tried to save the building last week.
Pastor Mahrous Karam of the Anglican Church in Luxor reported that he was still negotiating with city authorities about replacing the community center building on the church’s compound the day before the demolition occurred. Authorities said they were still considering the options, according to Karam.
But the next morning, March 18, without warning, hundreds of security personnel blocked the road leading to the church and dragged the pastor’s family out of their residence. The pastor’s wife, Sabah, said two men used force to remove her from the home, including slapping her face, pulling her by her clothes, and dragging her by her hair.
"They threatened that if I do not leave the place they would take my 3-year-old boy and throw him under the bulldozers which came for the demolition work," she told Freecopts. "Twenty traumatized children were dragged out of the attached nursery and thrown into the church hall."
All the family’s possessions were thrown in the street and they are now homeless.
"I believe they wanted to give us an Easter present, the way they gave the Copts of Nag Hammadi the Christmas Eve Massacre," she said bitterly.
Gunmen in several cars opened fired on Coptic and Eastern Orthodox Christians in Nag Hammadi who were celebrating their Christmas Eve on January 6. Six Christians were killed, mostly young men in their twenties, from the attack.
The Christmas Eve attack was the worst assault on Copts in Egypt since January 2000, when 21 Christians were killed in sectarian violence.
During last week’s persecution incident, Pastor Mahrous tried to save the buildings from being demolished by sitting on the church’s fence to block the demolition work, but he was beaten and dragged away.
The pastor said Christians simply want the same treatment as Muslims who build mosques and additions to their Islamic centers.
After the demolition, only a 400 sq metre prayer hall was left standing out of the nearly 3,000 sq metres of buildings attached to the church.
The governor of Luxor, Dr Samir Farag, claims the security forces seized only one room of the Anglican church and denied his personnel assaulted the pastor’s family.
"The Governor is lying, that is why the forces blocked the road leading to the Church before their attack, so that nobody would witness their doings,” said one Anglican witness, who was not identified. “But he forgot there is the Internet and cell phone videos to show the whole world the uncivilised way Egypt deals with Christians and their places of worship."
The Anglican Church in Egypt issued a statement on March 19 condemning the actions of Luxor authorities.
Egypt’s Christian population makes up eight to 12 per cent of the overall population.
Despite their sizeable number in the country, the Christian community in Egypt, which consists of mostly Coptic Christians, are marginalised in society and reportedly suffer from violent forms of abuse. They also lack fair representation in the government, leading to further abuse of the minority group.
Among the most common complaints by Copts are government obstacles when it comes to building, repairing or additions to churches. While Muslims are free to build mosques in Egypt, Christians need to obtain special government permission for any construction work done on a church. The permission is almost always not granted.
Islam is the “religion of state” and the country’s “principle source of legislation”, according to Egypt’s constitution.
source:http://www.christiantoday.com/article/egyptian.security.agents.destroy.church/25568.htm
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
New Video Shows Radical Islamic Network in New England
by Staff
March 23, 2010
BOSTON, (christiansunite.com) -- Americans for Peace and Tolerance (APT) today released an 8-minute online video clip describing a network of Islamic radicals operating in New England. The video focuses on the October arrest - and the response to that arrest - of a Sudbury, Massachusetts resident who the FBI charged with planning to machine gun shoppers in a New England mall.
"The arrest of Tarek Mehanna was shocking," said APT President, Dr. Charles Jacobs. "It occurred just two weeks before the murder of 13 Americans at Fort Hood.
Jacobs said "What is especially disheartening, given the historical moderation and success of Boston Muslims, is the current groundswell of support for Tarek within a segment of the Boston Muslim community and its virulent response to his arrest."
Jacobs said "our video offers a glimpse into a loosely- coordinated web of radical Islamic individuals and organizations based in New England with ties to Islamic terrorist groups overseas." He added, "what we're witnessing is the radicalization of the next generation of American Muslims."
The video shows how Islamic radicals have been using the Internet to organize thousands of supporters and raise money for Tarek - a man who the FBI alleges had enjoyed gloating over propaganda videos of Al Qaeda terrorists disemboweling and burning the bodies of American GIs in Iraq. (Tarek and his friends mockingly called these mutilations "Texas BBQs.")
Jacobs noted that Tarek's Internet support groups are rife with anti-American and anti-Semitic sloganeering ("Close Guantanamo - Re-open Auschwitz") and support for violence in the name of Islam.
Jacobs said the decision to release the film now was precipitated by a campaign launched by Tarek's supporters against Aloke Chakravarty, the assistant U.S. attorney in Boston responsible for Tarek's prosecution.
Jacobs said, "We learned from the Jihadist Fort Hood massacre that our political leadership class, blinded by political correctness, has failed to deal effectively with the threat of radical Islam to American society. It will take a grassroots effort to break the silence about this threat."
APT is working to organize such a movement in order to compel our failed leaders to protect our communities, and in order to support those officials like Mr. Chakravarty who are seeking to do justice in the face of intimidation.
Video can be viewed at: www.peaceandtolerance.org
source:http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion09140.shtml
March 23, 2010
BOSTON, (christiansunite.com) -- Americans for Peace and Tolerance (APT) today released an 8-minute online video clip describing a network of Islamic radicals operating in New England. The video focuses on the October arrest - and the response to that arrest - of a Sudbury, Massachusetts resident who the FBI charged with planning to machine gun shoppers in a New England mall.
"The arrest of Tarek Mehanna was shocking," said APT President, Dr. Charles Jacobs. "It occurred just two weeks before the murder of 13 Americans at Fort Hood.
Jacobs said "What is especially disheartening, given the historical moderation and success of Boston Muslims, is the current groundswell of support for Tarek within a segment of the Boston Muslim community and its virulent response to his arrest."
Jacobs said "our video offers a glimpse into a loosely- coordinated web of radical Islamic individuals and organizations based in New England with ties to Islamic terrorist groups overseas." He added, "what we're witnessing is the radicalization of the next generation of American Muslims."
The video shows how Islamic radicals have been using the Internet to organize thousands of supporters and raise money for Tarek - a man who the FBI alleges had enjoyed gloating over propaganda videos of Al Qaeda terrorists disemboweling and burning the bodies of American GIs in Iraq. (Tarek and his friends mockingly called these mutilations "Texas BBQs.")
Jacobs noted that Tarek's Internet support groups are rife with anti-American and anti-Semitic sloganeering ("Close Guantanamo - Re-open Auschwitz") and support for violence in the name of Islam.
Jacobs said the decision to release the film now was precipitated by a campaign launched by Tarek's supporters against Aloke Chakravarty, the assistant U.S. attorney in Boston responsible for Tarek's prosecution.
Jacobs said, "We learned from the Jihadist Fort Hood massacre that our political leadership class, blinded by political correctness, has failed to deal effectively with the threat of radical Islam to American society. It will take a grassroots effort to break the silence about this threat."
APT is working to organize such a movement in order to compel our failed leaders to protect our communities, and in order to support those officials like Mr. Chakravarty who are seeking to do justice in the face of intimidation.
Video can be viewed at: www.peaceandtolerance.org
source:http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion09140.shtml
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Christian from Muslim background martyred in Somalia
by Staff
December 2, 2009
(christiansunite.com) - The body of a 23-year-old Somali convert from Islam to Christianity, Mumin Abdikarim Yusuf, was discovered on the morning of November 14 in Mogadishu's Yaqshid district.
On October 28, members of al-Shabaab, an Islamic militant group, apprehended Yusuf and searched his home for Christian materials after a 15-year-old Muslim boy accused Yusuf of trying to convert him to Christianity. In an attempt to extract evidence against him and to gain information about other Somali Christians, the militants knocked out all of Yusuf's front teeth and broke several of his fingers.
They then shot him twice in the head and discarded his body on an empty residential street. Since it is unknown whether Yusuf disclosed any information during his torture, the underground Christians who knew him have relocated for their safety. Yusuf's Muslim family members are also in danger as militants have accused them of failing to report his conversion to Christianity. (Source: Compass Direct)
Pray for all those mourning the death of this brother in the Lord. Pray for safety for the relocated believers. Pray that Yusuf's faithful witness will be a testimony to his Muslim family members and that they will turn to Jesus for their salvation.
source:http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion08795.shtml
December 2, 2009
(christiansunite.com) - The body of a 23-year-old Somali convert from Islam to Christianity, Mumin Abdikarim Yusuf, was discovered on the morning of November 14 in Mogadishu's Yaqshid district.
On October 28, members of al-Shabaab, an Islamic militant group, apprehended Yusuf and searched his home for Christian materials after a 15-year-old Muslim boy accused Yusuf of trying to convert him to Christianity. In an attempt to extract evidence against him and to gain information about other Somali Christians, the militants knocked out all of Yusuf's front teeth and broke several of his fingers.
They then shot him twice in the head and discarded his body on an empty residential street. Since it is unknown whether Yusuf disclosed any information during his torture, the underground Christians who knew him have relocated for their safety. Yusuf's Muslim family members are also in danger as militants have accused them of failing to report his conversion to Christianity. (Source: Compass Direct)
Pray for all those mourning the death of this brother in the Lord. Pray for safety for the relocated believers. Pray that Yusuf's faithful witness will be a testimony to his Muslim family members and that they will turn to Jesus for their salvation.
source:http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion08795.shtml
Friday, October 9, 2009
Study: Muslims = Quarter of World Population
A new study reveals nearly one in four people in the world practice Islam.
A new study reveals nearly one in four people in the world practice Islam.
The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life says the total global population is estimated to be 6.8 billion. Of this number, Muslims of all ages living in more than 200 countries in the world today total 1.57 billion or 23 percent.
When compared to Christianity, there are an estimated 2.1 billion Christians of all ages living in the world today.
The report gives precise numbers on a religious population whose size has long been debated.
The study also maps out where the world's Muslim population lives in a very comprehensive fashion. It also contradicts the idea that Muslims are Arabs and Arabs are Muslims.
Here are some of the key findings of the Pew Forum's study Mapping the Global Muslim Population: A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World's Muslim Population.
- 60 percent of all practicing Muslims in the world live in Asia.
- 20 percent live in the Middle East and North Africa.
- 15 percent live in sub-Saharan Africa.
- 2.4 percent live in Europe and less than 1 percent in the Americas.
- The world's largest Muslim population can be found in Indonesia. There are more than 200 million Muslims living there.
The report finds that India, which is majority Hindu, has the third largest Muslim population of any nation with more than 161 million Muslims. Germany has four million Muslims and that's more than the entire country of Lebanon.
There are concerns about the growth of Islam, because in Muslim countries ruled by Islamic law, religious liberty is rare or nonexistent.
"Look at how Christians today are treated in countries where Islam is dominant," said Geert Wilders, Dutch politician and filmmaker. "Try buying a bible in Saudi Arabia. Try to visit a church in Iran. Try to do anything Christian in an Islamic country. There is no room for it. They are intolerant."
Source: CBN.com - http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2009/October/New-Study-Maps-Global-Muslim-Population-/
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