"Once we begin to flee the things that threaten and burden us, there is no end to fleeing. God's solution is surprising. He offers rest. But it's a unique form of rest. It's to rest in him in the midst of our threats and our burdens. It's discovering, as David did in seasons of distress, that God is our rock and refuge right in the thick of our situation." -Mark Buchanan
Being in Somalia is being right in the thick of a situation. Not only has the country seen fighting from factions and clans and civil war, but the country also has to deal with pirates. Somalia is a dangerous place to be for any Somalian, but then to add to that the danger of being a Christian convert in an Islamic country and life gets really uncertain. Just this past month on November 16th, militants publicly murdered a young Christian man by beheading him in broad daylight and desecrating his body as a warning to others because he converted from Islam. The church in Somalia has been underground since the civil war in 1991, but despite the persecution they remain faithful, even unto death. While we lift Somalia up in prayer this month, let us pray that our God provides rest to these believers even in the midst of their distress, and that God would be their refuge even when life is uncertain.
--------------------------------------------
Somalia
Basic Info: The country of Somalia is slightly smaller than Texas and it is located in Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, east of Ethiopia. This strategic location on the Horn of Africa provides a route through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. However, the country suffers from recurring droughts, frequent dust storms over eastern plains in the summer, and floods during the rainy season. All of this contributes to a problem with famine. Figuring an estimated population for Somalia is difficult because of the large number of nomads and by refugee movements in response to famine and clan warfare. The current estimate is based off of an official census in 1975 and lists the population at 10,085,638. The official languages are Somali and Arabic, but Italian and English are spoken as well. Only 37% of the population is urban and only 37.8% are literate. It is estimated that due to the civil war in 1988, clan-based competition for resources, the famine in 2011, and fighting between al-Shabaab and TFG allied forces, there are about 1.36 million internally displaced persons in Somalia. Also since 2005, the UN has listed the Transitional Federal Government and its allied militias as persistent violators in recruiting children (2010).
Government: Somalia has had a turbulent history in the recent past. In 1960, Britain withdrew from British Somaliland to allow the country to join with Italian Somaliland and form the new nation of Somalia. Only 9 years later, a coup headed by Mohamed Siad Barre ushered in an authoritarian socialist rule characterized by the persecution, jailing, and torture of political opponents and dissidents. Civil war finally toppled the dictatorship in 1991, but no viable alternative emerged and Somalia descended into turmoil, factional fighting, and anarchy. One ray of hope is that in May 1991, northern clans declared an independent Republic of Somaliland that now includes the administrative regions of Awdal, Woqooyi Galbeed, Togdheer, Sanaag, and Sool. Although not recognized by any government, this entity has maintained a stable existence and continues efforts to establish a constitutional democracy, including holding municipal, parliamentary, and presidential elections. The regions of Bari, Nugaal, and northern Mudug comprise a neighboring semi-autonomous state of Puntland, which has been self-governing since 1998 but does not aim at independence; it has also made strides toward reconstructing a legitimate, representative government but has suffered some civil strife. Puntland disputes its border with Somaliland. Beginning in 1993, a two-year UN humanitarian effort (primarily in the south) was able to alleviate famine conditions, but when the UN withdrew in 1995, having suffered significant casualties, order still had not been restored. In 2000, the Somalia National Peace Conference (SNPC) held in Djibouti resulted in the formation of an interim government, known as the Transitional National Government (TNG). When the TNG failed to establish adequate security or governing institutions, the Government of Kenya, under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), led a subsequent peace process that concluded in October 2004 with the election of Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed as President of a second interim government, known as the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of the Somali Republic. The TFG included a 275-member parliamentary body, known as the Transitional Federal Parliament (TFP). The TFG was supported by Ethiopia and other democratic nations. Around the same time, the Islamist group Union of Islamic Courts (supported by Islamic powers and jihadists) emerged as a national power. In 2006, the Union of Islamic Courts took control of the capital, Mogadishu, along with significant areas of the country. Eventually Ethiopian and Transitional Federal Government forces were able to expel the militants from the capital, but more than 10,000 civilians were killed and approximately one million people displaced in the insurgency. Militant Islamic groups still control the majority of the south and center of the country. President Yusuf resigned late in 2008 while United Nations-sponsored talks between the TFG and the opposition Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS) were underway in Djibouti. In January 2009, following the creation of a TFG-ARS unity government, Ethiopian military forces withdrew from the country. The TFP was doubled in size to 550 seats with the addition of 200 ARS and 75 civil society members of parliament. The expanded parliament elected Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, the former ICU and ARS chairman as president in January 2009. The creation of the TFG was based on the Transitional Federal Charter (TFC), which outlined a five-year mandate leading to the establishment of a new Somali constitution and a transition to a representative government following national elections. In 2009, the TFP amended the TFC to extend TFG's mandate until 2011 and in 2011 Somali principals agreed to institute political transition by August 2012. The transition process ended in September 2012 when clan elders appointed 275 members to a new parliament replacing the TFP and the subsequent election, by parliament, of a new president. The new President is Hassan Sheikh Mahamud. The country has a mixed legal system of civil law, Islamic law, and customary law. After the breakdown of the central government, most regions reverted to local forms of conflict resolution, either secular, traditional Somali customary law, or sharia (Islamic) law with a provision for appeal of all sentences.
Economy: Despite the government's turbulent history and its lack of oversight in the midst of other national crisis, Somalia has maintained a healthy but informal economy. It is based mostly on livestock, remittance/money transfer companies, and telecommunications. Livestock provides typically about 40% of GDP and more than 50% of export earnings. A large part of the population is nomadic and semi-pastoralists, who are dependent upon their livestock for their livelihood. Livestock, hides, fish, charcoal, and bananas are Somalia's principal exports, while sugar, sorghum, corn, qat, and machined goods are the principal imports. Somalia had a small industrial sector, but it has mostly been looted and the machinery sold as scrap metal. Telecommunication firms provide wireless services in most major cities and offer the lowest international call rates on the continent, but during the civil war, the public telecommunications system was almost completely destroyed or dismantled. There are two private TV stations that rebroadcast Al-Jazeera and CNN. Somaliland has 1 government-operated TV station and Puntland has 1 private TV station. In the absence of a formal banking sector, money transfer/remittance services have sprouted throughout the country, handling up to $1.6 billion in remittances annually. Somalia's service sector has grown. Mogadishu's main market offers a variety of goods from food to the newest electronic gadgets. Hotels continue to operate and are supported with private-security militias. The International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean are still at the greatest risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships. In 2010, 50% of all attacks occurred in this region; 217 vessels, including commercial shipping and pleasure craft, were attacked or hijacked both at anchor and while underway. Hijackings off the coast of Somalia accounted for 92% of all ship seizures in 2010. As of May 2011, 26 vessels and 522 hostages were being held for ransom by Somali pirates. The presence of several naval task forces in the Gulf of Aden and additional anti-piracy measures on the part of ship operators have reduced the number of incidents. In response Somali-based pirates, using hijacked fishing trawlers as "mother ships" to extend their range, shifted operations as far south as the Mozambique Channel and eastward to the vicinity of the Maldives.
Religion: Sunni Islam is the official religion of Somalia according to the Transitional Federal Charter. The Somali Church was driven underground in 1991 when the dictatorial regime of Mohamed Siyad Barre fell in a popular uprising. Most of the several hundred Somali believers went underground or fled, taking refuge abroad. There are possibly about 4,000 Somali Christians in Somalia and twice that in the diaspora. They practice their faith in secret under extremely dangerous conditions. The murder of Christians and especially converts from Islam to Christianity is increasingly common. At least 10 Christians, including four teachers, were killed for their faith in 2008 and several others kidnapped and raped. A 17-year-old Somali woman who converted to Christianity from Islam was shot to death in November 2010 in an apparent "honor killing.” Muslim militants murdered a 21-year-old Christian man in April 2011 after someone allegedly informed the Islamic militants of his conversion from Islam.
Info compiled from CIAWorldFactBook “Somalia”; VOMC “Somalia” www.persecution.net
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Pirate Coast Somalia (Journeyman)
Somalia Justice
Somalia's fishermen make a comeback (Oct 2012)
Groundbreaking Somalia President offers hope and hard work (Oct 2012)
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Sunday, November 11, 2012
IDOP: The Power of the Word of God
What can you not live without? Maybe you thought of a home or job or family. Or maybe you thought of more basic needs like food and water. In truth, many of the things we think of as necessities are really just luxuries. If these were stripped away, we could still survive. Maybe not indefinately, but for a while. When you were catalouging your list of needs, did the Word of God come to mind? How easily we tend to forget the significance of something that we have in abundance. Perhaps it is only when it is taken away that we realize how much it meant to us all along. Jesus himself said that man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. True sustinance comes from the words of life that God has spoken to us. Without them we are lost in the sea of darkness that constantly tries to overwhelm us. May God's word continue to be a lamp unto our feet, and a light unto our path. May we hide God's word in our heart that we might not sin against Him, and so we will be ready to face whatever comes our way.
Open Doors World Watch List 2012: Top 10
IDOP 2012:
BOUNCHAN (Trailer)
One With Them
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Maldives: Surrender to Conformity
"To be one's self, and unafraid whether right or wrong, is more admirable than the easy cowardice of surrender to conformity." - Irving Wallace
There is no room for diversity in the Maldives. As a foreigner your choice is simple; conform or leave. In a country that claims a 100% Muslim and requires you to be a Muslim to be a citizen, there really is no choice at all for those who are born there. Here is a clip from an article in the Examiner in 2010. "A 37-year old Maldivian citizen named Mohamed Nazim stood up during the Q & A period of a religious lecture given by Islamic scholar Dr Zakir Naik, and announced that he did not believe in any religion. The audience of 11,000 Muslims reacted violently with many calling for his death and some physically attacking him. The police intervened though and Nazeem was led away to the second block of nearby police building Iskandharu Koshi. There a crowd gathered outside and demanded the police give him to them for beheading. Instead he was whisked away to an undisclosed location, still under arrest. His apostasy was both a state and religious crime. Mohamed Nazeem has been receiving "Islamic counseling" while in police custody and has, according to the Maldives news source 'Haveeru Online', recanted his atheism and returned to Islam. At a June 1 press conference sponsored by the Maldives Ministry for Islamic Affairs, Nazeem recited the Shahada (the Islamic testimony of faith: "There is no God but God, and Muhammad is His prophet") in front of journalists and made a public apology for his sins. Deputy Minister for Islamic Affairs Sheikh Mohamed Farooq said that Nazim reverted to Islam “on freewill.” “He was in police custody. [But] the only thing we did was, we sent two scholars and counselled him. We tried clarifying the misconceptions he had about Islam…[After] two days of counseling, he said that the misconceptions he had have been clarified and that he wanted to become a Muslim,” he said. The announcement was made in the media on Nazim’s request, Farooq added." Despite these claims of free will, it should be taken into consideration that the Islamic Foundation of the Maldives declared that if he did not repent he should be sentenced to death. There is a great chance that their statement influenced his decision, as well as the mob of people who were calling for his head.
In a different story from BBC News in 2010, we see the story end tragically for another young man. "Ismail Mohamed Didi, 25, had admitted being an atheist and had sought political asylum abroad. He was found on Tuesday hanging at his workplace - the air traffic control tower at the international airport in the capital, Male. He asked a foreign charity to help him seek asylum in Britain because, he said, "there is no place for non-Muslim Maldivians in this society". He said his colleagues had spread word of his apostasy and that his closest friends would no longer meet him. He was afraid for his life and knew no-one in the country who could help him. His employer at the airport had launched an investigation into his lack of belief and referred him to the Ministry of Islamic Affairs." Despite the severity of the consequences of living in Maldives, we know that God is stronger than any earthly power and He has a heart for all people. Let us pray this month for a crack to open in this society, and that God's Spirit would flow into this nation and bring about change for those who dare to question the norm.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maldives
Basic Info: Maldives is a group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India, about 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC. The 500 mile long string of 1,190 coral islands are grouped into 26 atolls (200 inhabited islands, plus 80 islands with tourist resorts). The archipelago has a strategic location astride and along major sea lanes in the Indian Ocean. The country is known for its white sandy beaches and is a famous tourist attraction. Its only natural resource is fish, and the country was dependent on its fishing industry until it switched to high end tourism. The population is only 394,451 (July 2012 est.) people, and tourists usually out number the local population by 2 to 1. About 40% of the population is urban, and while Dhivehi is the official language (a dialect of Sinhala, script derived from Arabic) English is spoken by most government officials. The US does not have an embassy in Maldives. The US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Ambassador Patricia A. Butenis, is accredited to Maldives and makes periodic visits.
Government: Maldives was ruled by a sultanate from the 12th century until it became a British protectorate in 1887. Three years after gaining its independence, the country became a republic in 1968. For 30 years, President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom held political control. He was elected to 6 successive terms by single-party referendums. After riots in 2003, he promised to enact democratic reforms, such as a more representative political system and more political freedoms. Change was slow to be seen, but political parties were finally legalized in 2005, and a new constitution was ratified by the president in 2008. The first ever multi-candidate, multi-party presidential elections were held in 2008 and Gayoom lost to Mohamed Nasheed, a political activist that was jailed several years earlier. Some of the challenges for Nasheed’s presidency were strengthening democracy and combating poverty and drug abuse. When Nasheed fired a top judge, several weeks of protests forced him to resign the presidency and Vice President Mohammed Waheed Hassan Maniku came to power. The country has an Islamic religious legal system with English common law influences, primarily in commercial matters. Maldives plays a significant role on the UN Human Rights Council in international climate change discussions because of the island’s low elevation and rising sea levels. The Maldives also encourages regional cooperation between India and Pakistan.
Economy: Maldives is dependent on tourism. Over 90% of government tax revenue comes from import duties and tourism-related taxes. The fishing industry has declined in recent years. Agriculture and manufacturing have dropped off as well because of the limited availability of cultivable land and the shortage of domestic labor. Most staple foods must be imported. The country saw declining revenue with a drop in tourism in 2005 after the Indian Ocean tsunami, and in 2009 after the global financial crisis. Falling tourist arrivals and fish exports, combined with high government spending on social needs, subsidies, and civil servant salaries contributed to a budget crisis. This crisis was eased in 2009 with a $79.3 million IMF standby agreement. However, after the first two disbursements, the IMF withheld subsequent disbursements due to concerns over Maldives' growing budget deficit. Maldives has had chronic budget deficits in recent years and the government's plans to cut expenditures have not happened. A new Goods and Services Tax on Tourism (GST) was introduced in January 2011 and a new Business Profit Tax is to be introduced during 2012. These taxes are expected to increase government revenue by about 25%. The government has privatized the main airport and is partially privatizing the energy sector. Tourism will remain the driving force of the economy. The Government of the Maldives has aggressively promoted building new island resorts. Due to increasing tourist arrivals, GDP growth climbed to 8% in 2010 and around 6% in 2011. Diversifying the economy beyond tourism and fishing, reforming public finance, and increasing employment opportunities are major challenges facing the government. Over the longer term Maldivian authorities worry about the impact of erosion and possible global warming on their low-lying country because 80% of the area is 1 meter or less above sea level. Despite the high end tourism, about 16% (2008) of the population is below the poverty line. The government exclusively controlled the radio and TV stations until recently. There are 2 state-owned TV channels and 2 privately-owned TV stations. The government owns Voice of Maldives and operates both an entertainment and a music-based radio station, and there are 5 privately-owned radio stations (2009). The Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF), with its small size and with little serviceable equipment, is inadequate to prevent external aggression and is primarily tasked to reinforce the Maldives Police Service (MPS) and ensure security in the exclusive economic zone (2008).
Religion: Sunni Muslim (official) 100% Islam? Islam is the only recognized religion, and the open practice of all other religions is forbidden. The country's 2008 Constitution is decidedly anti-Christian and states that a "non-Muslim may not become a citizen of the Maldives." Sunni Islam is strongly promoted for national unity and preservation of the government’s power, but a more fundamentalist brand of Islam has rapidly grown in size and influence in recent years. Almost all adherents of other religions are foreigners. Expatriates following other religions can practice their faith only individually and within their respective homes. In 1998, all known Christian foreigners were expelled from the country, and all known Maldivian Christians were arrested and released only after intense international pressure. Maldivians who become Christians abroad have been known to disappear when they return home, never to be heard from again. The country claims to be a 100% Muslim, but really Christians make up less than one-half of 1 percent of the population. In September 2011, police arrested and held Shijo Kokkattu, a 30-year-old teacher from India, for more than two weeks before deporting him for keeping a Bible in his home, according to a foreign source in the capital city. Shijo was arrested in a raid after prompting from his colleagues who found Christian materials on a school computer he had used and reported it to authorities. Last month, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs published new regulations to control propagation of non-Islamic religions in the country. Any violation is punishable by imprisonment of between two and five years, banishment or house arrest. Foreigners who are found proselytizing are to be deported.
Information compiled from CIAWorldFactBook “Maldives”, VOMC “Maldives” www.persecution.net
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maldives: Island Kingdom Under Siege
Maldives Under Threat Wave of Change - Maldives (2005)
Maldives, Paradise for visitors, hell for her people (2007)
Maldives reverses islamic ban on spas (Jan 2012)
PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS IN THE MALDIVES IS SYSTEMATIC (Feb 2012)
TEACHER DEPORTED FOR OWNING A BIBLE(MALDIVES Oct 2011)
There is no room for diversity in the Maldives. As a foreigner your choice is simple; conform or leave. In a country that claims a 100% Muslim and requires you to be a Muslim to be a citizen, there really is no choice at all for those who are born there. Here is a clip from an article in the Examiner in 2010. "A 37-year old Maldivian citizen named Mohamed Nazim stood up during the Q & A period of a religious lecture given by Islamic scholar Dr Zakir Naik, and announced that he did not believe in any religion. The audience of 11,000 Muslims reacted violently with many calling for his death and some physically attacking him. The police intervened though and Nazeem was led away to the second block of nearby police building Iskandharu Koshi. There a crowd gathered outside and demanded the police give him to them for beheading. Instead he was whisked away to an undisclosed location, still under arrest. His apostasy was both a state and religious crime. Mohamed Nazeem has been receiving "Islamic counseling" while in police custody and has, according to the Maldives news source 'Haveeru Online', recanted his atheism and returned to Islam. At a June 1 press conference sponsored by the Maldives Ministry for Islamic Affairs, Nazeem recited the Shahada (the Islamic testimony of faith: "There is no God but God, and Muhammad is His prophet") in front of journalists and made a public apology for his sins. Deputy Minister for Islamic Affairs Sheikh Mohamed Farooq said that Nazim reverted to Islam “on freewill.” “He was in police custody. [But] the only thing we did was, we sent two scholars and counselled him. We tried clarifying the misconceptions he had about Islam…[After] two days of counseling, he said that the misconceptions he had have been clarified and that he wanted to become a Muslim,” he said. The announcement was made in the media on Nazim’s request, Farooq added." Despite these claims of free will, it should be taken into consideration that the Islamic Foundation of the Maldives declared that if he did not repent he should be sentenced to death. There is a great chance that their statement influenced his decision, as well as the mob of people who were calling for his head.
In a different story from BBC News in 2010, we see the story end tragically for another young man. "Ismail Mohamed Didi, 25, had admitted being an atheist and had sought political asylum abroad. He was found on Tuesday hanging at his workplace - the air traffic control tower at the international airport in the capital, Male. He asked a foreign charity to help him seek asylum in Britain because, he said, "there is no place for non-Muslim Maldivians in this society". He said his colleagues had spread word of his apostasy and that his closest friends would no longer meet him. He was afraid for his life and knew no-one in the country who could help him. His employer at the airport had launched an investigation into his lack of belief and referred him to the Ministry of Islamic Affairs." Despite the severity of the consequences of living in Maldives, we know that God is stronger than any earthly power and He has a heart for all people. Let us pray this month for a crack to open in this society, and that God's Spirit would flow into this nation and bring about change for those who dare to question the norm.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maldives
Basic Info: Maldives is a group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India, about 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC. The 500 mile long string of 1,190 coral islands are grouped into 26 atolls (200 inhabited islands, plus 80 islands with tourist resorts). The archipelago has a strategic location astride and along major sea lanes in the Indian Ocean. The country is known for its white sandy beaches and is a famous tourist attraction. Its only natural resource is fish, and the country was dependent on its fishing industry until it switched to high end tourism. The population is only 394,451 (July 2012 est.) people, and tourists usually out number the local population by 2 to 1. About 40% of the population is urban, and while Dhivehi is the official language (a dialect of Sinhala, script derived from Arabic) English is spoken by most government officials. The US does not have an embassy in Maldives. The US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Ambassador Patricia A. Butenis, is accredited to Maldives and makes periodic visits.
Government: Maldives was ruled by a sultanate from the 12th century until it became a British protectorate in 1887. Three years after gaining its independence, the country became a republic in 1968. For 30 years, President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom held political control. He was elected to 6 successive terms by single-party referendums. After riots in 2003, he promised to enact democratic reforms, such as a more representative political system and more political freedoms. Change was slow to be seen, but political parties were finally legalized in 2005, and a new constitution was ratified by the president in 2008. The first ever multi-candidate, multi-party presidential elections were held in 2008 and Gayoom lost to Mohamed Nasheed, a political activist that was jailed several years earlier. Some of the challenges for Nasheed’s presidency were strengthening democracy and combating poverty and drug abuse. When Nasheed fired a top judge, several weeks of protests forced him to resign the presidency and Vice President Mohammed Waheed Hassan Maniku came to power. The country has an Islamic religious legal system with English common law influences, primarily in commercial matters. Maldives plays a significant role on the UN Human Rights Council in international climate change discussions because of the island’s low elevation and rising sea levels. The Maldives also encourages regional cooperation between India and Pakistan.
Economy: Maldives is dependent on tourism. Over 90% of government tax revenue comes from import duties and tourism-related taxes. The fishing industry has declined in recent years. Agriculture and manufacturing have dropped off as well because of the limited availability of cultivable land and the shortage of domestic labor. Most staple foods must be imported. The country saw declining revenue with a drop in tourism in 2005 after the Indian Ocean tsunami, and in 2009 after the global financial crisis. Falling tourist arrivals and fish exports, combined with high government spending on social needs, subsidies, and civil servant salaries contributed to a budget crisis. This crisis was eased in 2009 with a $79.3 million IMF standby agreement. However, after the first two disbursements, the IMF withheld subsequent disbursements due to concerns over Maldives' growing budget deficit. Maldives has had chronic budget deficits in recent years and the government's plans to cut expenditures have not happened. A new Goods and Services Tax on Tourism (GST) was introduced in January 2011 and a new Business Profit Tax is to be introduced during 2012. These taxes are expected to increase government revenue by about 25%. The government has privatized the main airport and is partially privatizing the energy sector. Tourism will remain the driving force of the economy. The Government of the Maldives has aggressively promoted building new island resorts. Due to increasing tourist arrivals, GDP growth climbed to 8% in 2010 and around 6% in 2011. Diversifying the economy beyond tourism and fishing, reforming public finance, and increasing employment opportunities are major challenges facing the government. Over the longer term Maldivian authorities worry about the impact of erosion and possible global warming on their low-lying country because 80% of the area is 1 meter or less above sea level. Despite the high end tourism, about 16% (2008) of the population is below the poverty line. The government exclusively controlled the radio and TV stations until recently. There are 2 state-owned TV channels and 2 privately-owned TV stations. The government owns Voice of Maldives and operates both an entertainment and a music-based radio station, and there are 5 privately-owned radio stations (2009). The Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF), with its small size and with little serviceable equipment, is inadequate to prevent external aggression and is primarily tasked to reinforce the Maldives Police Service (MPS) and ensure security in the exclusive economic zone (2008).
Religion: Sunni Muslim (official) 100% Islam? Islam is the only recognized religion, and the open practice of all other religions is forbidden. The country's 2008 Constitution is decidedly anti-Christian and states that a "non-Muslim may not become a citizen of the Maldives." Sunni Islam is strongly promoted for national unity and preservation of the government’s power, but a more fundamentalist brand of Islam has rapidly grown in size and influence in recent years. Almost all adherents of other religions are foreigners. Expatriates following other religions can practice their faith only individually and within their respective homes. In 1998, all known Christian foreigners were expelled from the country, and all known Maldivian Christians were arrested and released only after intense international pressure. Maldivians who become Christians abroad have been known to disappear when they return home, never to be heard from again. The country claims to be a 100% Muslim, but really Christians make up less than one-half of 1 percent of the population. In September 2011, police arrested and held Shijo Kokkattu, a 30-year-old teacher from India, for more than two weeks before deporting him for keeping a Bible in his home, according to a foreign source in the capital city. Shijo was arrested in a raid after prompting from his colleagues who found Christian materials on a school computer he had used and reported it to authorities. Last month, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs published new regulations to control propagation of non-Islamic religions in the country. Any violation is punishable by imprisonment of between two and five years, banishment or house arrest. Foreigners who are found proselytizing are to be deported.
Information compiled from CIAWorldFactBook “Maldives”, VOMC “Maldives” www.persecution.net
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maldives: Island Kingdom Under Siege
Maldives Under Threat Wave of Change - Maldives (2005)
Maldives, Paradise for visitors, hell for her people (2007)
Maldives reverses islamic ban on spas (Jan 2012)
PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS IN THE MALDIVES IS SYSTEMATIC (Feb 2012)
TEACHER DEPORTED FOR OWNING A BIBLE(MALDIVES Oct 2011)
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Yemen: A Place out of Time
"They say that time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself." -Andy Warhol
To look at Yemen, one might not know that we are living in the 21st century. This country deals with issues that many in the West would consider unbelievable, simply because we do not have a modern day reference for them. One of these issues is pirates. Yemen is plagued by real life pirates who plunder their cargo and kidnap and kill their crews. Another is a society that is entrenched in the drug trade of Qat. While legal in Yemen, the drug is still addictive and destructive and has been compared to using ecstacy. Even children participate in chewing Qat, as it is seen as a family activity. But perhaps the most disturbing out of time practice that still occurs in Yemen is child brides. This issue received world wide attention after an 8 year old girl boldly went by herself to a court room and demanded that a judge dissolve her marriage to a man in his 30's. She eventually won her divorce, but the man was never punished and was actually compensated for his lose. According to a 2009 report by the country's Ministry of Social Affairs, a quarter of all females in Yemen marry before the age of 15. Traditional families want younger brides because they are seen as being more obediant and are expected to have more children. Legislation to ban child brides has been stalled due to opposition from religious leaders. In 2009 a law setting the minimum age of marriage at 17 was repealed and sent back to committee after some law makers called it 'un-Islamic'. (Remember that Muhammad himself had a child bride that he consumated his relationship with when she was only 9). If these facts show us anything, it is that change does not just happen. People make things change. A society cannot be reformed only by laws and regulations. Instead it must be transformed by the changed hearts and minds of its people. We know that Jesus Christ alone has the power to transform people from the inside out. As we pray for Yemen this month and the small Christian community that is there, let us also not forget to remember this country that is full of suffering and pray for change. May the Christian community be an example for their country as they live out lives full of faith, self-control, and love.
---------------------------------------------------------
Yemen
Basic Info: Yemen is located in the Middle East between Oman and Saudi Arabia, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Red Sea. The country has a strategic location on the Bab el Mandeb, the strait linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, one of the world's most active shipping lanes. However, the International Maritime Bureau reports offshore waters in the Gulf of Aden are at high risk for piracy. Numerous vessels, including commercial shipping and pleasure craft, have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway. The crew, passengers, and cargo are held for ransom. In 2010, the presence of several naval task forces in the Gulf of Aden and additional anti-piracy measures on the part of ship operators reduced piracy by more than half. Yemen is slightly larger than twice the size of Wyoming and it is mostly desert. The country has limited natural freshwater resources, inadequate supplies of potable water, and it has problems with overgrazing, soil erosion, and desertification. Arabic is the official language and the country is predominately Arab, but also has some Afro-Arab, South Asians, and Europeans. Of the 24,771,809 (July 2012 est.) population, 32% is urban. Only half of the population is literate, and of that half, only 30% are women.
Government: For years, the Northern and Southern parts of Yemen were separated. In 1918, North Yemen became independent of the Ottoman Empire. It wasn’t until 1967, when the British withdrew from their protectorate area around the southern port of Aden, that South Yemen was formed. Three years later, the southern government adopted a Marxist orientation. This philosophy caused hundreds of thousands of Yemenis to flee from the south to the north, which created hostility between the two states for 20 years. In 1990, the two countries formally united and became the Republic of Yemen. In 1994, there was a southern led movement to secede, but it was quickly put down. The movement was revitalized however in 2008 when a popular socioeconomic protest movement initiated the prior year took on political goals, including secession. The country has also struggled with fighting in the northwest between the government and Huthi rebels, a group seeking a return to traditional Zaydi Islam. The fighting began in 2004 and has since resulted in six rounds of fighting - the last ended in early 2010 with a ceasefire that continues to hold. Public rallies in Sana'a against President Salih - inspired by similar demonstrations in Tunisia and Egypt - slowly built momentum starting in late January 2011 fueled by complaints over high unemployment, poor economic conditions, and corruption. By the following month, some protests had resulted in violence, and the demonstrations had spread to other major cities. By March the opposition had hardened its demands and was unifying behind calls for Salih's immediate ouster. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in late April 2011, in an attempt to mediate the crisis in Yemen, proposed an agreement in which the president would step down in exchange for immunity from prosecution. Salih's refusal to sign an agreement led to heavy street fighting and his injury in an explosion in June 2011. The UN Security Council passed Resolution 2014 in October 2011 calling on both sides to end the violence and complete a power transfer deal. In late November 2011, President Salih signed the GCC-brokered agreement to step down and to transfer some of his powers to Vice President Abd al-Rabuh Mansur Hadi. Following elections in February 2012, won by Hadi but he was the only candidate, Salih formally transferred his powers. The country has a mixture of Islamic law, English common law, and customary law.
Economy: Yemen is classified as a low income country. In 2003, 35% of the population was unemployed and 45.2% lived below the poverty level. Most people are employed in agriculture and herding, while services, construction, industry, and commerce account for less than one-fourth of the labor force. Yemen has been highly dependent on its oil for revenue, but that resource is declining. Petroleum accounts for roughly 25% of GDP and 70% of government revenue. Yemen is trying to diversify its economy through an economic reform program initiated in 2006 that is designed to bolster non-oil sectors of the economy and foreign investment. In October 2009, Yemen exported its first liquefied natural gas as part of this diversification effort. In January 2010, the international community established the Friends of Yemen group that aims to support Yemen's efforts toward economic and political reform, and in August 2010 the IMF approved a three-year $370 million program to further this effort. Despite these ambitious endeavors, Yemen continues to face difficult long term challenges, including declining water resources and a high population growth rate. Since unification in 1990, efforts have been made to create a national telecommunications network. In 2007 there were 2 state run TV stations, 2 state run national radio stations and 5 local stations, but stations from Oman and Saudi Arabia can be accessed.
Religion: Muslim (Islam - official) including Shaf'i (Sunni) and Zaydi (Shia) 99.92%, small numbers of Jewish, Christian (.08%), and Hindu The Constitution of Yemen declares that Islam is the state religion and that Shariah is the source of all legislation. Despite being a small percentage of the population, it is estimated that there are several thousand Christians throughout the country. Most of them are expatriates (Westerners, South and East Asians, Arabs) or refugees (mainly Ethiopian). There are however a few converts from Islam. In Aden, there are some churches, but in the north of the country no church buildings are allowed. As long as expatriates do not evangelize, the government doesn’t intervene when they live out their faith, but Yemeni citizens are not allowed to convert from Islam. Converts from an Islamic background may face the death penalty if their new faith is discovered. Converts from Islam also encounter opposition from extremist groups, who threaten “apostates” with death if they do not revert to Islam. Proselytizing of Muslims is prohibited. The Zaydi order of Shi'a Islam represents approximately 25 percent t of the total population. Yemen's north is the center of Zaydism. Zaydism is known for putting less importance on the position of the Imam, than among the Twelver (Iran), perhaps because the Zaydis have enjoyed far more political and religious freedom than the other. In the rugged mountains of northern Yemen live some four hundred Zaydi tribes with a total of some five million members. For over one thousand years they have been the dominant community in the Yemen, often fighting against the Sunni Shafi'i tribes and the smaller Isma'ili and Twelver Shi'a communities. Zaidi beliefs are moderate compared to other Shia sects. The Zaidis do not believe in the infallibility of the Imams, nor that they receive divine guidance. Zaidis also do not believe that the Imamate must pass from father to son, but believe it can be held by any descendant of Ali.
Information compiled from CIAWorldFactBook “Yemen”; VOMC “Yemen” www.persecution.net, “Zaydi Islam” http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/intro/islam-zaydi.htm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dispatch : Sana'a (April 2010)
YEMEN. CHRISTIANS FACE PERSECUTION FROM AUTHORITIES (Feb 2012)
A Nation On Drugs - Yemen (Jan 2008)
Yemen protests continue into 2012 (Jan 2012)
Growing divide emerges in Yemen's south (Feb 2012)
The Yemen Coastguard Fights Somalia Pirates (Dec 2008)
Yemen's 'untouchables' doubtful of change (April 2012)
Sharia-Child Marriage in Yemen (Sept 2011)
Yemen crisis worsens food shortages (April 2012)
To look at Yemen, one might not know that we are living in the 21st century. This country deals with issues that many in the West would consider unbelievable, simply because we do not have a modern day reference for them. One of these issues is pirates. Yemen is plagued by real life pirates who plunder their cargo and kidnap and kill their crews. Another is a society that is entrenched in the drug trade of Qat. While legal in Yemen, the drug is still addictive and destructive and has been compared to using ecstacy. Even children participate in chewing Qat, as it is seen as a family activity. But perhaps the most disturbing out of time practice that still occurs in Yemen is child brides. This issue received world wide attention after an 8 year old girl boldly went by herself to a court room and demanded that a judge dissolve her marriage to a man in his 30's. She eventually won her divorce, but the man was never punished and was actually compensated for his lose. According to a 2009 report by the country's Ministry of Social Affairs, a quarter of all females in Yemen marry before the age of 15. Traditional families want younger brides because they are seen as being more obediant and are expected to have more children. Legislation to ban child brides has been stalled due to opposition from religious leaders. In 2009 a law setting the minimum age of marriage at 17 was repealed and sent back to committee after some law makers called it 'un-Islamic'. (Remember that Muhammad himself had a child bride that he consumated his relationship with when she was only 9). If these facts show us anything, it is that change does not just happen. People make things change. A society cannot be reformed only by laws and regulations. Instead it must be transformed by the changed hearts and minds of its people. We know that Jesus Christ alone has the power to transform people from the inside out. As we pray for Yemen this month and the small Christian community that is there, let us also not forget to remember this country that is full of suffering and pray for change. May the Christian community be an example for their country as they live out lives full of faith, self-control, and love.
---------------------------------------------------------
Yemen
Basic Info: Yemen is located in the Middle East between Oman and Saudi Arabia, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Red Sea. The country has a strategic location on the Bab el Mandeb, the strait linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, one of the world's most active shipping lanes. However, the International Maritime Bureau reports offshore waters in the Gulf of Aden are at high risk for piracy. Numerous vessels, including commercial shipping and pleasure craft, have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway. The crew, passengers, and cargo are held for ransom. In 2010, the presence of several naval task forces in the Gulf of Aden and additional anti-piracy measures on the part of ship operators reduced piracy by more than half. Yemen is slightly larger than twice the size of Wyoming and it is mostly desert. The country has limited natural freshwater resources, inadequate supplies of potable water, and it has problems with overgrazing, soil erosion, and desertification. Arabic is the official language and the country is predominately Arab, but also has some Afro-Arab, South Asians, and Europeans. Of the 24,771,809 (July 2012 est.) population, 32% is urban. Only half of the population is literate, and of that half, only 30% are women.
Government: For years, the Northern and Southern parts of Yemen were separated. In 1918, North Yemen became independent of the Ottoman Empire. It wasn’t until 1967, when the British withdrew from their protectorate area around the southern port of Aden, that South Yemen was formed. Three years later, the southern government adopted a Marxist orientation. This philosophy caused hundreds of thousands of Yemenis to flee from the south to the north, which created hostility between the two states for 20 years. In 1990, the two countries formally united and became the Republic of Yemen. In 1994, there was a southern led movement to secede, but it was quickly put down. The movement was revitalized however in 2008 when a popular socioeconomic protest movement initiated the prior year took on political goals, including secession. The country has also struggled with fighting in the northwest between the government and Huthi rebels, a group seeking a return to traditional Zaydi Islam. The fighting began in 2004 and has since resulted in six rounds of fighting - the last ended in early 2010 with a ceasefire that continues to hold. Public rallies in Sana'a against President Salih - inspired by similar demonstrations in Tunisia and Egypt - slowly built momentum starting in late January 2011 fueled by complaints over high unemployment, poor economic conditions, and corruption. By the following month, some protests had resulted in violence, and the demonstrations had spread to other major cities. By March the opposition had hardened its demands and was unifying behind calls for Salih's immediate ouster. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in late April 2011, in an attempt to mediate the crisis in Yemen, proposed an agreement in which the president would step down in exchange for immunity from prosecution. Salih's refusal to sign an agreement led to heavy street fighting and his injury in an explosion in June 2011. The UN Security Council passed Resolution 2014 in October 2011 calling on both sides to end the violence and complete a power transfer deal. In late November 2011, President Salih signed the GCC-brokered agreement to step down and to transfer some of his powers to Vice President Abd al-Rabuh Mansur Hadi. Following elections in February 2012, won by Hadi but he was the only candidate, Salih formally transferred his powers. The country has a mixture of Islamic law, English common law, and customary law.
Economy: Yemen is classified as a low income country. In 2003, 35% of the population was unemployed and 45.2% lived below the poverty level. Most people are employed in agriculture and herding, while services, construction, industry, and commerce account for less than one-fourth of the labor force. Yemen has been highly dependent on its oil for revenue, but that resource is declining. Petroleum accounts for roughly 25% of GDP and 70% of government revenue. Yemen is trying to diversify its economy through an economic reform program initiated in 2006 that is designed to bolster non-oil sectors of the economy and foreign investment. In October 2009, Yemen exported its first liquefied natural gas as part of this diversification effort. In January 2010, the international community established the Friends of Yemen group that aims to support Yemen's efforts toward economic and political reform, and in August 2010 the IMF approved a three-year $370 million program to further this effort. Despite these ambitious endeavors, Yemen continues to face difficult long term challenges, including declining water resources and a high population growth rate. Since unification in 1990, efforts have been made to create a national telecommunications network. In 2007 there were 2 state run TV stations, 2 state run national radio stations and 5 local stations, but stations from Oman and Saudi Arabia can be accessed.
Religion: Muslim (Islam - official) including Shaf'i (Sunni) and Zaydi (Shia) 99.92%, small numbers of Jewish, Christian (.08%), and Hindu The Constitution of Yemen declares that Islam is the state religion and that Shariah is the source of all legislation. Despite being a small percentage of the population, it is estimated that there are several thousand Christians throughout the country. Most of them are expatriates (Westerners, South and East Asians, Arabs) or refugees (mainly Ethiopian). There are however a few converts from Islam. In Aden, there are some churches, but in the north of the country no church buildings are allowed. As long as expatriates do not evangelize, the government doesn’t intervene when they live out their faith, but Yemeni citizens are not allowed to convert from Islam. Converts from an Islamic background may face the death penalty if their new faith is discovered. Converts from Islam also encounter opposition from extremist groups, who threaten “apostates” with death if they do not revert to Islam. Proselytizing of Muslims is prohibited. The Zaydi order of Shi'a Islam represents approximately 25 percent t of the total population. Yemen's north is the center of Zaydism. Zaydism is known for putting less importance on the position of the Imam, than among the Twelver (Iran), perhaps because the Zaydis have enjoyed far more political and religious freedom than the other. In the rugged mountains of northern Yemen live some four hundred Zaydi tribes with a total of some five million members. For over one thousand years they have been the dominant community in the Yemen, often fighting against the Sunni Shafi'i tribes and the smaller Isma'ili and Twelver Shi'a communities. Zaidi beliefs are moderate compared to other Shia sects. The Zaidis do not believe in the infallibility of the Imams, nor that they receive divine guidance. Zaidis also do not believe that the Imamate must pass from father to son, but believe it can be held by any descendant of Ali.
Information compiled from CIAWorldFactBook “Yemen”; VOMC “Yemen” www.persecution.net, “Zaydi Islam” http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/intro/islam-zaydi.htm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dispatch : Sana'a (April 2010)
YEMEN. CHRISTIANS FACE PERSECUTION FROM AUTHORITIES (Feb 2012)
A Nation On Drugs - Yemen (Jan 2008)
Yemen protests continue into 2012 (Jan 2012)
Growing divide emerges in Yemen's south (Feb 2012)
The Yemen Coastguard Fights Somalia Pirates (Dec 2008)
Yemen's 'untouchables' doubtful of change (April 2012)
Sharia-Child Marriage in Yemen (Sept 2011)
Yemen crisis worsens food shortages (April 2012)
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Iraq: A Mass Exodus
"The most significant indicator that there is no disaster in Iraq is the fact that there is no exodus." -Bashar Al-Assad
If the world was waiting for a mass exodus before admitting that there is something wrong in Iraq, then it is finally here. It was estimated that in 1987 there were 1.4 million Christians in Iraq. After the invasion in 2003, that number dropped to a million. In 2008 there were about 700,000 and it is estimated that now there are only about 600,000 Christians left in Iraq. Why were there more Christians in Iraq under Saddam then there are now? In general, Saddam supported religious minorities in order to have them act as a buffer between him and the larger Shia population. Even though the country is now a democracy, the majority of the population do not want Christians to remain in Iraq. Threats against Christians escalate day after day. But we know that God is faithful and we thank Him for the remnant that remains behind in spite of the increasing danger. When we pray for the Christians of Iraq this month, let's not forget that there are two groups who need our prayers. The Christians who have remained in the country despite the danger and persecution, and those who have already had to flee their homeland and seek refuge else where. God is God no matter where we are; in the darkness of persecution or in the struggle to rebuild our lives, He walks with us all the way.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Iraq
Basic Info: Iraq is located in the Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iran and Kuwait. It is slightly more than twice the size of Idaho and it has a strategic location on the Shatt al Arab waterway and at the head of the Persian Gulf. The country is mostly desert. It has mild to cool winters with dry, hot, cloudless summers. The northern mountainous regions along the Iranian and Turkish borders experience cold winters with occasionally heavy snows that melt in early spring, sometimes causing extensive flooding in central and southern Iraq. The government water control projects have drained most of the inhabited marsh areas east of An Nasiriyah by drying up or diverting the feeder streams and rivers. A once sizable population of Marsh Arabs, who inhabited these areas for thousands of years, have been displaced. Also, the destruction of the natural habitat poses serious threats to the area's wildlife populations. Some problems the country faces are inadequate supplies of potable water, the development of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers system are contingent upon agreements with upstream riparian Turkey, air and water pollution, soil degradation and erosion, and desertification. Arabs make up 75%-80% of the population while Kurds are 15%-20%, and the remaining 5% are Turks, Assyrians, and some others. Arabic is the official language for the whole country and Kurdish is the official language in Kurdish regions. The urban population makes up 66% of the total population, and the literacy rate for the country is 74.1%.
Government: Iraq was previously part of the Ottoman Empire. During World War I it was occupied by the British, and in 1920 it was declared to be under their administration by the League of Nations. In progressive stages, Iraq finally regained its independence in 1932. It was proclaimed a “republic” in 1958, but in reality the country was ruled by a succession of strongmen until 2003, the last being Saddam Husayn. Iraq and Iran went to war for 8 years (1980-88) over territory disputes which was costly and ended up being inconclusive. In 1990 Iraq invaded Kuwait but was expelled by the US-led UN coalition forces (Gulf War). After liberating Kuwait, the UN required Iraq to destroy all weapons of mass destruction and long-range missiles and to allow UN verification inspections. After the attacks on US soil in 2001 and 12 years of noncompliance of UNSC resolutions, in 2003 the US led invasion of Iraq displaced Saddam Husayn’s regime. US forces remained in Iraq under a UNSC mandate through 2009 but they transferred sovereignty to the Iraqi Interim Government in 2004. They stayed to help provide security and to train and mentor Iraqi security forces. In 2005, Iraqis approved a constitution in a national referendum and elected a 275-member Council of Representatives, making the country a parliamentary democracy. The COR approved most cabinet ministers in 2006, marking the transition to Iraq's first constitutional government in nearly a half century. In January 2009, Iraq held elections for provincial councils in all governorates except for the three governorates comprising the Kurdistan Regional Government and Kirkuk Governorate. Iraq held a national legislative election in March 2010 - choosing 325 legislators in an expanded COR - and, after nine months of deadlock the COR approved the new government in December 2010. Nearly nine years after the start of the Second Gulf War in Iraq, US military operations there ended in mid-December 2011. The country retains a mixture of civil and Islamic law in their legal system.
Economy: Iraq’s mostly state run economy is dependent on its oil wealth, which provides more than 90% of government revenue and 80% of foreign exchange earnings. Since mid-2009, oil export earnings have returned to levels seen before Operation Iraqi Freedom. As global oil prices remained high for much of 2011, government revenues increased also. However, Iraqi leaders remain hard pressed to translate macroeconomic gains into an improved standard of living for the Iraqi populace. In 2008, 25% of the population was below the poverty line. Unemployment remains a problem throughout the country at 15%. Iraq's contracts with major oil companies have the potential to further expand oil revenues, but Iraq will need to make significant upgrades to its oil processing, pipeline, and export infrastructure. Iraq is making slow progress enacting laws and developing the institutions needed to implement economic policy, and political reforms are still needed to assuage investors' concerns regarding the uncertain business climate. The government is eager to attract additional foreign direct investment, but it faces a number of obstacles including a tenuous political system and concerns about security and societal stability. Rampant corruption, outdated infrastructure, insufficient essential services, and antiquated commercial laws stifle investment and continue to constrain growth of private, non-oil sectors. Also, political and economic tensions between Baghdad and local governments have led some provincial councils to use their budgets to independently promote and facilitate investment at the local level. Encouraging private enterprise through deregulation would make it easier for both Iraqi citizens and foreign investors to start new businesses. The number of private radio and TV stations has increased rapidly since 2003. Private broadcast media are mostly linked to political, ethnic, or religious groups; satellite TV is available to an estimated 70% of viewers and many of the broadcasters are based abroad. In 2009 about 24 million people had cell phones.
Religion: Muslim (official) 97% (Shia 60%-65%, Sunni 32%-37%), Christian or other 3%
(note: while there has been voluntary relocation of many Christian families to northern Iraq, recent reporting indicates that the overall Christian population may have dropped by as much as 50 percent since the fall of the Saddam Hussein regime in 2003, with many fleeing to Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon) Despite being a present day minority in Iraq, the Christian population there pre-dates the Arabs by centuries. However, Christians suffer from the anti-Western attitude in the country and are seen as collaborators with Westerners. As Western influence in the country declines with the pulling out of many of their forces, extremists take their chance to terrorize Christians and force them out of the country. The recent constitution says that no law can be passed that contravenes Islam, so guarantees of religious freedom are not particularly trustworthy. Registration of new churches is difficult. Persecution has become particularly strong in recent years. Bomb attacks on churches in December 2009 caused as many as half of Mosul’s Christian population to flee. A terrorist attack on the Syrian Catholic Church in Baghdad at the end of October 2010 killed 58 Christians and injured at least 60. Suspected Islamist militants detonated 11 bombs in Christian suburbs across Baghdad in November, targeting shops and homes. At least five Christians were killed and 33 injured. Hundreds of thousands of Christians have fled Baghdad and other southern portions of the country, including the Biblical area known as Babylon that is dominated by Shi’a Muslims. About 334,000 Christians remain in Iraq, less than half of their number in 1991. The violence has caused about 2 million Iraqi people, both Muslim and Christian, to leave the country, and many more are displaced inside Iraq (2.4 million), particularly in Kurdistan. The majority of refugees have gone to Syria and Jordan, and a lesser number to Egypt, Lebanon, Iran, and Turkey. Turkey has expressed concern over the autonomous status of Kurds in Iraq.
Information compiled from CIAWorldFactBook “Iraq”; VOMC “Iraq”; VOM “Iraq”
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Christian Persecution in Iraq (Dec 2010)
Iraq Christians (Sept 2010)
Iraq-Refugees: Iraqi Christians (Nov 2010)
Inside Story: Forcing Christians out of Iraq? (Nov 2010) *
If the world was waiting for a mass exodus before admitting that there is something wrong in Iraq, then it is finally here. It was estimated that in 1987 there were 1.4 million Christians in Iraq. After the invasion in 2003, that number dropped to a million. In 2008 there were about 700,000 and it is estimated that now there are only about 600,000 Christians left in Iraq. Why were there more Christians in Iraq under Saddam then there are now? In general, Saddam supported religious minorities in order to have them act as a buffer between him and the larger Shia population. Even though the country is now a democracy, the majority of the population do not want Christians to remain in Iraq. Threats against Christians escalate day after day. But we know that God is faithful and we thank Him for the remnant that remains behind in spite of the increasing danger. When we pray for the Christians of Iraq this month, let's not forget that there are two groups who need our prayers. The Christians who have remained in the country despite the danger and persecution, and those who have already had to flee their homeland and seek refuge else where. God is God no matter where we are; in the darkness of persecution or in the struggle to rebuild our lives, He walks with us all the way.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Iraq
Basic Info: Iraq is located in the Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iran and Kuwait. It is slightly more than twice the size of Idaho and it has a strategic location on the Shatt al Arab waterway and at the head of the Persian Gulf. The country is mostly desert. It has mild to cool winters with dry, hot, cloudless summers. The northern mountainous regions along the Iranian and Turkish borders experience cold winters with occasionally heavy snows that melt in early spring, sometimes causing extensive flooding in central and southern Iraq. The government water control projects have drained most of the inhabited marsh areas east of An Nasiriyah by drying up or diverting the feeder streams and rivers. A once sizable population of Marsh Arabs, who inhabited these areas for thousands of years, have been displaced. Also, the destruction of the natural habitat poses serious threats to the area's wildlife populations. Some problems the country faces are inadequate supplies of potable water, the development of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers system are contingent upon agreements with upstream riparian Turkey, air and water pollution, soil degradation and erosion, and desertification. Arabs make up 75%-80% of the population while Kurds are 15%-20%, and the remaining 5% are Turks, Assyrians, and some others. Arabic is the official language for the whole country and Kurdish is the official language in Kurdish regions. The urban population makes up 66% of the total population, and the literacy rate for the country is 74.1%.
Government: Iraq was previously part of the Ottoman Empire. During World War I it was occupied by the British, and in 1920 it was declared to be under their administration by the League of Nations. In progressive stages, Iraq finally regained its independence in 1932. It was proclaimed a “republic” in 1958, but in reality the country was ruled by a succession of strongmen until 2003, the last being Saddam Husayn. Iraq and Iran went to war for 8 years (1980-88) over territory disputes which was costly and ended up being inconclusive. In 1990 Iraq invaded Kuwait but was expelled by the US-led UN coalition forces (Gulf War). After liberating Kuwait, the UN required Iraq to destroy all weapons of mass destruction and long-range missiles and to allow UN verification inspections. After the attacks on US soil in 2001 and 12 years of noncompliance of UNSC resolutions, in 2003 the US led invasion of Iraq displaced Saddam Husayn’s regime. US forces remained in Iraq under a UNSC mandate through 2009 but they transferred sovereignty to the Iraqi Interim Government in 2004. They stayed to help provide security and to train and mentor Iraqi security forces. In 2005, Iraqis approved a constitution in a national referendum and elected a 275-member Council of Representatives, making the country a parliamentary democracy. The COR approved most cabinet ministers in 2006, marking the transition to Iraq's first constitutional government in nearly a half century. In January 2009, Iraq held elections for provincial councils in all governorates except for the three governorates comprising the Kurdistan Regional Government and Kirkuk Governorate. Iraq held a national legislative election in March 2010 - choosing 325 legislators in an expanded COR - and, after nine months of deadlock the COR approved the new government in December 2010. Nearly nine years after the start of the Second Gulf War in Iraq, US military operations there ended in mid-December 2011. The country retains a mixture of civil and Islamic law in their legal system.
Economy: Iraq’s mostly state run economy is dependent on its oil wealth, which provides more than 90% of government revenue and 80% of foreign exchange earnings. Since mid-2009, oil export earnings have returned to levels seen before Operation Iraqi Freedom. As global oil prices remained high for much of 2011, government revenues increased also. However, Iraqi leaders remain hard pressed to translate macroeconomic gains into an improved standard of living for the Iraqi populace. In 2008, 25% of the population was below the poverty line. Unemployment remains a problem throughout the country at 15%. Iraq's contracts with major oil companies have the potential to further expand oil revenues, but Iraq will need to make significant upgrades to its oil processing, pipeline, and export infrastructure. Iraq is making slow progress enacting laws and developing the institutions needed to implement economic policy, and political reforms are still needed to assuage investors' concerns regarding the uncertain business climate. The government is eager to attract additional foreign direct investment, but it faces a number of obstacles including a tenuous political system and concerns about security and societal stability. Rampant corruption, outdated infrastructure, insufficient essential services, and antiquated commercial laws stifle investment and continue to constrain growth of private, non-oil sectors. Also, political and economic tensions between Baghdad and local governments have led some provincial councils to use their budgets to independently promote and facilitate investment at the local level. Encouraging private enterprise through deregulation would make it easier for both Iraqi citizens and foreign investors to start new businesses. The number of private radio and TV stations has increased rapidly since 2003. Private broadcast media are mostly linked to political, ethnic, or religious groups; satellite TV is available to an estimated 70% of viewers and many of the broadcasters are based abroad. In 2009 about 24 million people had cell phones.
Religion: Muslim (official) 97% (Shia 60%-65%, Sunni 32%-37%), Christian or other 3%
(note: while there has been voluntary relocation of many Christian families to northern Iraq, recent reporting indicates that the overall Christian population may have dropped by as much as 50 percent since the fall of the Saddam Hussein regime in 2003, with many fleeing to Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon) Despite being a present day minority in Iraq, the Christian population there pre-dates the Arabs by centuries. However, Christians suffer from the anti-Western attitude in the country and are seen as collaborators with Westerners. As Western influence in the country declines with the pulling out of many of their forces, extremists take their chance to terrorize Christians and force them out of the country. The recent constitution says that no law can be passed that contravenes Islam, so guarantees of religious freedom are not particularly trustworthy. Registration of new churches is difficult. Persecution has become particularly strong in recent years. Bomb attacks on churches in December 2009 caused as many as half of Mosul’s Christian population to flee. A terrorist attack on the Syrian Catholic Church in Baghdad at the end of October 2010 killed 58 Christians and injured at least 60. Suspected Islamist militants detonated 11 bombs in Christian suburbs across Baghdad in November, targeting shops and homes. At least five Christians were killed and 33 injured. Hundreds of thousands of Christians have fled Baghdad and other southern portions of the country, including the Biblical area known as Babylon that is dominated by Shi’a Muslims. About 334,000 Christians remain in Iraq, less than half of their number in 1991. The violence has caused about 2 million Iraqi people, both Muslim and Christian, to leave the country, and many more are displaced inside Iraq (2.4 million), particularly in Kurdistan. The majority of refugees have gone to Syria and Jordan, and a lesser number to Egypt, Lebanon, Iran, and Turkey. Turkey has expressed concern over the autonomous status of Kurds in Iraq.
Information compiled from CIAWorldFactBook “Iraq”; VOMC “Iraq”; VOM “Iraq”
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Christian Persecution in Iraq (Dec 2010)
Iraq Christians (Sept 2010)
Iraq-Refugees: Iraqi Christians (Nov 2010)
Inside Story: Forcing Christians out of Iraq? (Nov 2010) *
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Mauritania: The Yoke of Slavery
"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1
While slavery was abolished in America over a 100 years ago, we know that slavery still exists in some parts of the world. But those parts seem very remote and far away from us. They are faceless and nameless places; the exception to the rule, a rarity. Today, we will give some of them a name and a face, and we will see that unfortunately it is not as rare as we might believe. Mauritania was the last country in the world to abolish salvery in 1981, and there was no punishment for slave owners until 2007. The government's official position is that slavery no longer exists in their country. Since they turn a blind eye to the situation, there is little help for those who are trying to break free. In the same way, the government refuses to acknowledge the Christians in their country. The government claims that the country is 100% Muslim and there are no Christian churches. The Christians meet in house churches in secret, and Bibles must be smuggled into the country. As we pray for Mauritania this month, let's not only remember the Chrisitan's who are persecuted for their faith, but also those who are still trapped in slavery. Let's pray that they will not only find physical freedom for their lives, but that they would be introduced to Jesus, who can bring freedom to their souls.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Mauritania
Basic Info: Mauritania is located in Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara. It is slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico, and it is mostly a desert that is constantly hot, dry, and dusty. The country's desert is expanding due to overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion because of drought. There are limited natural fresh water resources away from the Senegal, which is the only constant river. The country also still deals with locust infestations. Most of the 3,281,634 population lives in the cities of Nouakchott (capital) and Nouadhibou, and along the Senegal River in the southern part of the country. Citizens have a conscript service obligation of 2 years, but the majority of servicemen are believed to be volunteers. Mauritania is also a source and destination country for children trafficked for forced labor and sexual exploitation. In isolated portions of the country, master-slave relationships still exist. Mauritanian boys called talibe are trafficked within the country by religious teachers for forced begging. Children are also trafficked by street gangs within the country that force them to steal, beg, and sell drugs. Girls are trafficked internally for domestic servitude and sexual exploitation. The government of Mauritania has not shown progress in their efforts to eliminate human trafficking, either by prosecuting and punishing trafficking offenders, protecting trafficking victims, or preventing new incidents of trafficking. Progress that the previous government demonstrated in 2007 through enactment of strengthened anti-slavery legislation and deepened political will to eliminate slavery and trafficking has stalled. Law enforcement efforts to address human trafficking, including traditional slavery practices, decreased in 2009.
Government: The Islamic Republic of Mauritania is known as a military junta. The country became independent from France in 1960. Mauritania annexed the southern third of the former Spanish Sahara (now Western Sahara) in 1976, but relinquished it after three years of raids by the Polisario guerrilla front seeking independence for the territory. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed Taya seized power in a coup in 1984 and ruled for more than two decades. A series of presidential elections that he held were widely seen as flawed. A bloodless coup in August 2005 deposed President Taya and ushered in a military council that oversaw a transition to democratic rule. Independent candidate Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi was inaugurated in April 2007 as Mauritania's first freely and fairly elected president. His term ended prematurely in August 2008 when a military junta led by General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz deposed him and ushered in a military council government. Following the Dakar Accords, which brought Mauritania back to constitutional rule, Aziz retired from the military and stepped down from the presidency in April 2009 to run for president. Aziz was elected president in July and sworn in the following month. The president is elected for a five-year term. The country continues to experience ethnic tensions among its black population (Afro-Mauritanians) and white and black Moor (Arab-Berber) communities, and is having to confront a growing terrorism threat by al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). The country has a combination of Islamic law and French civil law.
Economy: Due to severe droughts in the 1970s and 1980s, many of Mauritania's nomads and subsistence farmers were forced to move into cities. However, half the population still works with livestock and agriculture. Also, about 40% of the population is below the poverty line and 30% is unemployed. Mauritania's main export is iron ore, totaling about 40%. The coast contains some of the richest fishing areas in the world, but it is being overexploited by foreigners and is now considered threatened. The country was heavily indebted due to economic mismanagement and severe droughts. In 2000, Mauritania qualified for debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative and nearly all of its foreign debt was expunged. In 2006, Mauritania and the IMF agreed to a three year Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility. It was making good progress, but after the coup in 2008 the assistance and investment stopped. Since the election in 2009, the assistance has resumed. Besides reducing poverty, the government is also putting an emphasis on improving health and education, and privatizing the economy.
Religion: Muslim 100%
Islam has dominated Mauritania for over one thousand years. Any citizen who confesses Christ can be charged with apostasy and subject to the death penalty unless they repent and embrace Islam. Mauritanian citizens are not allowed to attend non-Muslim religious ceremonies. People have been tortured and imprisoned for showing interest in the Gospel. There are no specific laws against converting Muslims in Mauritania. The former government prohibited evangelism of Muslims through the use of Article 11 of the Press Act. However, in April 2006 this Act was effectively suspended by the transitional government as part of its effort to liberalize the press. Despite this, the government in practice prohibits involvement in converting Muslims to Christianity, viewing such activity as a method of undermining society. The distribution of materials against Islam or that contradicts the teachings of Islam is also prohibited. Bibles are not publicly available, though some can be found among the 0.25% of the population who are Christians. The government upholds a combination of several legal traditions, including Shariah law. The Constitution officially states that Islam is the religion of the people and the state. The vast majority practices moderate Sunni Islam permeated by folk magic, and the vast majority of Mauritanian peoples essentially remain unreached. Believers in Mauritania have at times been imprisoned, beaten for their faith or endured ostracism by family or tribe. Expatriate Christians suspected of proselytizing Mauritanians are subject to harassment, interrogation, brief imprisonment, expulsion and even murder. The murder of a foreign Christian by Islamic terrorists in 2009, as well as extremist activities, has led to many expatriate believers leaving the country. Many Christians were attacked and beaten in July 2011 by an Islamic group led by a Muslim leader.
Info compiled from CIAWorldFactBook “Mauritania”; VOMC and VOM www.persecution.net www.persecution.com “Mauritania”
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Persecuted Church in Mauritania (2010)
Persecution News (2009)
Mauritania: Slavery's Last Stronghold (2012)
Born Slave (2008)
Mauritania: Help in the Desert (2012)
Mauritania: Scramble for Water (April 2012)
While slavery was abolished in America over a 100 years ago, we know that slavery still exists in some parts of the world. But those parts seem very remote and far away from us. They are faceless and nameless places; the exception to the rule, a rarity. Today, we will give some of them a name and a face, and we will see that unfortunately it is not as rare as we might believe. Mauritania was the last country in the world to abolish salvery in 1981, and there was no punishment for slave owners until 2007. The government's official position is that slavery no longer exists in their country. Since they turn a blind eye to the situation, there is little help for those who are trying to break free. In the same way, the government refuses to acknowledge the Christians in their country. The government claims that the country is 100% Muslim and there are no Christian churches. The Christians meet in house churches in secret, and Bibles must be smuggled into the country. As we pray for Mauritania this month, let's not only remember the Chrisitan's who are persecuted for their faith, but also those who are still trapped in slavery. Let's pray that they will not only find physical freedom for their lives, but that they would be introduced to Jesus, who can bring freedom to their souls.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Mauritania
Basic Info: Mauritania is located in Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara. It is slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico, and it is mostly a desert that is constantly hot, dry, and dusty. The country's desert is expanding due to overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion because of drought. There are limited natural fresh water resources away from the Senegal, which is the only constant river. The country also still deals with locust infestations. Most of the 3,281,634 population lives in the cities of Nouakchott (capital) and Nouadhibou, and along the Senegal River in the southern part of the country. Citizens have a conscript service obligation of 2 years, but the majority of servicemen are believed to be volunteers. Mauritania is also a source and destination country for children trafficked for forced labor and sexual exploitation. In isolated portions of the country, master-slave relationships still exist. Mauritanian boys called talibe are trafficked within the country by religious teachers for forced begging. Children are also trafficked by street gangs within the country that force them to steal, beg, and sell drugs. Girls are trafficked internally for domestic servitude and sexual exploitation. The government of Mauritania has not shown progress in their efforts to eliminate human trafficking, either by prosecuting and punishing trafficking offenders, protecting trafficking victims, or preventing new incidents of trafficking. Progress that the previous government demonstrated in 2007 through enactment of strengthened anti-slavery legislation and deepened political will to eliminate slavery and trafficking has stalled. Law enforcement efforts to address human trafficking, including traditional slavery practices, decreased in 2009.
Government: The Islamic Republic of Mauritania is known as a military junta. The country became independent from France in 1960. Mauritania annexed the southern third of the former Spanish Sahara (now Western Sahara) in 1976, but relinquished it after three years of raids by the Polisario guerrilla front seeking independence for the territory. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed Taya seized power in a coup in 1984 and ruled for more than two decades. A series of presidential elections that he held were widely seen as flawed. A bloodless coup in August 2005 deposed President Taya and ushered in a military council that oversaw a transition to democratic rule. Independent candidate Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi was inaugurated in April 2007 as Mauritania's first freely and fairly elected president. His term ended prematurely in August 2008 when a military junta led by General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz deposed him and ushered in a military council government. Following the Dakar Accords, which brought Mauritania back to constitutional rule, Aziz retired from the military and stepped down from the presidency in April 2009 to run for president. Aziz was elected president in July and sworn in the following month. The president is elected for a five-year term. The country continues to experience ethnic tensions among its black population (Afro-Mauritanians) and white and black Moor (Arab-Berber) communities, and is having to confront a growing terrorism threat by al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). The country has a combination of Islamic law and French civil law.
Economy: Due to severe droughts in the 1970s and 1980s, many of Mauritania's nomads and subsistence farmers were forced to move into cities. However, half the population still works with livestock and agriculture. Also, about 40% of the population is below the poverty line and 30% is unemployed. Mauritania's main export is iron ore, totaling about 40%. The coast contains some of the richest fishing areas in the world, but it is being overexploited by foreigners and is now considered threatened. The country was heavily indebted due to economic mismanagement and severe droughts. In 2000, Mauritania qualified for debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative and nearly all of its foreign debt was expunged. In 2006, Mauritania and the IMF agreed to a three year Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility. It was making good progress, but after the coup in 2008 the assistance and investment stopped. Since the election in 2009, the assistance has resumed. Besides reducing poverty, the government is also putting an emphasis on improving health and education, and privatizing the economy.
Religion: Muslim 100%
Islam has dominated Mauritania for over one thousand years. Any citizen who confesses Christ can be charged with apostasy and subject to the death penalty unless they repent and embrace Islam. Mauritanian citizens are not allowed to attend non-Muslim religious ceremonies. People have been tortured and imprisoned for showing interest in the Gospel. There are no specific laws against converting Muslims in Mauritania. The former government prohibited evangelism of Muslims through the use of Article 11 of the Press Act. However, in April 2006 this Act was effectively suspended by the transitional government as part of its effort to liberalize the press. Despite this, the government in practice prohibits involvement in converting Muslims to Christianity, viewing such activity as a method of undermining society. The distribution of materials against Islam or that contradicts the teachings of Islam is also prohibited. Bibles are not publicly available, though some can be found among the 0.25% of the population who are Christians. The government upholds a combination of several legal traditions, including Shariah law. The Constitution officially states that Islam is the religion of the people and the state. The vast majority practices moderate Sunni Islam permeated by folk magic, and the vast majority of Mauritanian peoples essentially remain unreached. Believers in Mauritania have at times been imprisoned, beaten for their faith or endured ostracism by family or tribe. Expatriate Christians suspected of proselytizing Mauritanians are subject to harassment, interrogation, brief imprisonment, expulsion and even murder. The murder of a foreign Christian by Islamic terrorists in 2009, as well as extremist activities, has led to many expatriate believers leaving the country. Many Christians were attacked and beaten in July 2011 by an Islamic group led by a Muslim leader.
Info compiled from CIAWorldFactBook “Mauritania”; VOMC and VOM www.persecution.net www.persecution.com “Mauritania”
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Persecuted Church in Mauritania (2010)
Persecution News (2009)
Mauritania: Slavery's Last Stronghold (2012)
Born Slave (2008)
Mauritania: Help in the Desert (2012)
Mauritania: Scramble for Water (April 2012)
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Egypt: Sons of Ishmael
"It is time for the scattered sons of Abraham to be gathered together in unity. Who can unify the scattered? Who can change the hearts and renew the spirits? Who can bring about peace, mercy, and love? Who can reconcile heaven with earth? Reconcile one with oneself? Reconcile man with his fellow man? Who is that great man who can do all this?" -Into the Den of Infidels
Egypt has long been known as an ancient land of wonder and mystery. The land of the Nile and the pyramids; we think of Moses and the Israelites and their great exodus after God sent the ten plagues upon the land. While all these things are known and familiar to us, the lives of the persecuted Christians in Egypt may be unfamiliar to us. Their stories may be less well known, but these Christians are sacrificing much for their faith. In the library, we have a DVD that shares some of the testimonies of the believers, many of them converts from a Muslim background. We also have the book "Into the Den of Infidels" which is a collection of testimonies from Muslim converts in Egypt to Christianity and their search for the truth. I would recommend borrowing both items and losing yourself in the sometimes heartwrenching, but always compeling testiment of these Christians' lives. Despite centuries of persecution, the church has survived in Egypt. Now the time has come again when the church is facing extreme persecution and the believers there have said that they believe a time of testing has come for them and will remain for several years. May they stay strong in their faith against the hatred and fury that is being thrown their way. And while it saddens us to hear about their struggles, may it also embolden us to make the most of every opportunity as we proclaim our faith in our Creator and all He has done to reconcile us to Himself.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Egypt
Basic Info: Egypt is located in Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Libya and the Gaza Strip, and the Red Sea north of Sudan. It is slightly more than three times the size of New Mexico, and the country controls the Sinai Peninsula, which is the only land bridge between Africa and the rest of the Eastern Hemisphere. Egypt also controls the Suez Canal, a sea link between the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Due to its size and proximity to Israel, Egypt plays a major role in Middle Eastern geopolitics and the country has influxes of refugees from Sudan and the Palestinian territories. The population is 82,079,636 (July 2011 est.) and while Arabic is the official language, English and French are widely understood by educated classes. About 43% of the population is urban. Some problems for Egypt are that agricultural land is being lost to urbanization and windblown sands. The desert is getting larger; oil pollution is threatening coral reefs, beaches, and marine habitats; other water pollution is coming from agricultural pesticides, raw sewage, and industrial effluents; there are limited natural fresh water resources away from the Nile, which is the only perennial water source; rapid growth in population is overstraining the Nile and natural resources. Egypt is a transit point for cannabis, heroin, and opium moving to Europe, Israel, and North Africa. It is a stop for Nigerian drug couriers, and there is concern about money laundering due to lax enforcement of financial regulations. By 2007, Egypt had taken in 60,000-80,000 refugees from Iraq; 70,198 from the Palestinian Territories; and 12,157 from the Sudan.
Government: Egypt has a long history of great civilizations, partly due to the Nile River and because deserts to the east and west of the country allowed for it to be semi-isolated. A unified kingdom arose around 3200 B.C., and a series of dynasties ruled for the next three millennia. The last native dynasty fell to the Persians in 341 B.C., who in turn were replaced by the Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines. The Arabs took over in the 7th century and ruled for the next six centuries. A local military caste, the Mamluks took control about 1250 and continued to govern after the conquest of Egypt by the Ottoman Turks in 1517. Following the completion of the Suez Canal in 1869, Egypt became an important world transportation hub, but also fell heavily into debt. To protect its investments, Britain seized control of Egypt's government in 1882, but allegiance to the Ottoman Empire in name only continued until 1914. Partially independent from the UK in 1922, Egypt acquired full sovereignty with the overthrow of the British-backed monarchy in 1952. However, they would soon trade one form of oppression for another. Muhammad Mubarak was appointed Vice President of Egypt in 1975, and assumed the presidency in 1981, following the assassination of President Anwar El Sadat. He served as the fourth President of Egypt for 30 years. During this time, Emergency Law was in place (and was renewed every 3 years) which meant police powers are extended, constitutional rights are suspended, and censorship is legalized. The law does not allow any non-governmental political activity, street demonstrations, non-approved political organizations, and unregistered financial donations are formally banned. Some 17,000 people have been detained under the law, and estimates of political prisoners run as high as 30,000. Egyptian youth and opposition groups were inspired by the Jasmine Revolution to organize a “Day of Rage” campaign on January 25, 2011. This campaign included non-violent demonstrations, marches, and labor strikes in Cairo and other cities which focused on police brutality, state emergency laws, lack of free speech and elections, high unemployment, rising food prices, inflation, and low minimum wages. Within several days of the onset of the protests, President Mubarak addressed the nation pledging a new form of government, and he offered to repeal the Emergency Law. However, this failed to satisfy protesters, which is not surprising considering that in 2006 Mubarak promised to end Emergency Law and then renewed it. On February 11th Mubarak resigned and leadership was assumed by a Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF). The SCAF dissolved the Egyptian Parliament, suspended the nation’s constitution, and formed a committee to recommend constitutional changes. Elections for a new Parliament and the Presidency have taken place. Mohamed Morsi, chairman of the Freedom and Justice Party, and Ahmed Shafik, a former Prime Minister of Egypt, received the most votes for the Presidency and will contest a runoff election on June 16-17. Mubarak is now awaiting the verdict from his trial on his complicity in killing protesters during the revolution.
Economy: Most economic activity takes place around the Nile River. Egypt’s economy was very centralized under former President Nasser, but opened up during President El-Sadat and President Mubarak’s rule. From 2004-2008 the Egyptian government pursued economic reforms in order to attract foreign investments. A rapidly growing population (the largest in the Arab world), limited arable land, and dependence on the Nile all continue to overtax resources and stress society. The government has struggled to meet the demands of Egypt's growing population through economic reform and massive investment in communications and physical infrastructure. Despite economic growth in recent years, the average person did not see an improvement in his/her living conditions and remained poor. In 2005, about 20% of the population was below the poverty line. All of this contributed to the public discontent which was sparked by the Jasmine Revolution. In January 2011, the government drastically increased social spending due to the public’s outrage, but political instability caused economic growth to slow which reduced the government’s revenue. Tourism, manufacturing, and construction suffered the worst setbacks and growth is likely to stay slow for at least the rest of the year. The government is utilizing foreign exchange reserves to support the Egyptian pound and the country may have to get a loan from the International Monetary Fund. Media is a mixture of state-run and private broadcast. State-run TV has 2 national and 6 regional networks, as well as a few satellite channels. There are about 20 private satellite channels and a large number of Arabic satellite channels are available for purchase.
Religion: Muslim (mostly Sunni) 90%, Coptic 9%, other Christian 1% In the early centuries after Christ, Egypt was predominantly Christian and a major centre for Christian scholarship. However, from the initial Islamic invasion in 639 AD, Muslim rule and religion have dominated this ancient land. In 969, the country was conquered by Jawhar al-Siqilli and Cairo was founded as the new capital. Egypt's Coptic Christian church never disappeared despite centuries of persecution and discrimination. Today, Egypt has the Middle East's largest Christian community. Some government figures have suggested that Christians make up twelve percent of the country’s population, with Christians claiming up to twenty percent. Despite the prominent Christian community, the country's constitution gives preference to Muslims and Christians are treated as second-class citizens, denied political representation, and often discriminated against in education and employment. While the constitution allows for freedom of conversion, Muslims converting to Christianity have often been unable to change their religion or their name on their identification cards. This means Christian women remain designated as Muslims and are unable to marry Christian men. Children of those designated Muslim (even if they are, in fact, Christian) are educated as Muslims and those with Islamic names are routinely turned away from entering churches by police. Consequently, Christians have frequently had false ID cards produced, only to face prosecution for falsifying government documents. However, Christians who convert to Islam face no difficulty in changing their ID cards. Egyptian Christians face ongoing challenges in building and repairing church buildings. The government requires permits for such construction but frequently refuses to grant them to churches. When applications are approved, they are often delayed by local authorities or security officials. Another serious problem facing Christians in Egypt is the kidnapping, and often the rape, of Christian girls who are often then forced to marry a Muslim (even their attacker). There have been a few hopeful decisions made by the Egyptian government. Some educational materials are now recognizing the Coptic contribution to Egyptian society. As well, the Coptic Christmas was officially recognized as an official national holiday in January 2003 (the Orthodox Christmas is celebrated on January 7).
Info compiled from CIAWorldFactBook "Egypt"; VOMC "Egypt"; Reuters news
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Egypt treatment of Christians part 1 (2008) Egypt treatment of christians part 2 (2008) Treatment of Christians in Egypt By Religion of Peace! (2009) Egypt: the uncertain future for Coptic Christians (2011) Inside Story - Egypt's Coptic Christians (2011)
Egypt has long been known as an ancient land of wonder and mystery. The land of the Nile and the pyramids; we think of Moses and the Israelites and their great exodus after God sent the ten plagues upon the land. While all these things are known and familiar to us, the lives of the persecuted Christians in Egypt may be unfamiliar to us. Their stories may be less well known, but these Christians are sacrificing much for their faith. In the library, we have a DVD that shares some of the testimonies of the believers, many of them converts from a Muslim background. We also have the book "Into the Den of Infidels" which is a collection of testimonies from Muslim converts in Egypt to Christianity and their search for the truth. I would recommend borrowing both items and losing yourself in the sometimes heartwrenching, but always compeling testiment of these Christians' lives. Despite centuries of persecution, the church has survived in Egypt. Now the time has come again when the church is facing extreme persecution and the believers there have said that they believe a time of testing has come for them and will remain for several years. May they stay strong in their faith against the hatred and fury that is being thrown their way. And while it saddens us to hear about their struggles, may it also embolden us to make the most of every opportunity as we proclaim our faith in our Creator and all He has done to reconcile us to Himself.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Egypt
Basic Info: Egypt is located in Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Libya and the Gaza Strip, and the Red Sea north of Sudan. It is slightly more than three times the size of New Mexico, and the country controls the Sinai Peninsula, which is the only land bridge between Africa and the rest of the Eastern Hemisphere. Egypt also controls the Suez Canal, a sea link between the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Due to its size and proximity to Israel, Egypt plays a major role in Middle Eastern geopolitics and the country has influxes of refugees from Sudan and the Palestinian territories. The population is 82,079,636 (July 2011 est.) and while Arabic is the official language, English and French are widely understood by educated classes. About 43% of the population is urban. Some problems for Egypt are that agricultural land is being lost to urbanization and windblown sands. The desert is getting larger; oil pollution is threatening coral reefs, beaches, and marine habitats; other water pollution is coming from agricultural pesticides, raw sewage, and industrial effluents; there are limited natural fresh water resources away from the Nile, which is the only perennial water source; rapid growth in population is overstraining the Nile and natural resources. Egypt is a transit point for cannabis, heroin, and opium moving to Europe, Israel, and North Africa. It is a stop for Nigerian drug couriers, and there is concern about money laundering due to lax enforcement of financial regulations. By 2007, Egypt had taken in 60,000-80,000 refugees from Iraq; 70,198 from the Palestinian Territories; and 12,157 from the Sudan.
Government: Egypt has a long history of great civilizations, partly due to the Nile River and because deserts to the east and west of the country allowed for it to be semi-isolated. A unified kingdom arose around 3200 B.C., and a series of dynasties ruled for the next three millennia. The last native dynasty fell to the Persians in 341 B.C., who in turn were replaced by the Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines. The Arabs took over in the 7th century and ruled for the next six centuries. A local military caste, the Mamluks took control about 1250 and continued to govern after the conquest of Egypt by the Ottoman Turks in 1517. Following the completion of the Suez Canal in 1869, Egypt became an important world transportation hub, but also fell heavily into debt. To protect its investments, Britain seized control of Egypt's government in 1882, but allegiance to the Ottoman Empire in name only continued until 1914. Partially independent from the UK in 1922, Egypt acquired full sovereignty with the overthrow of the British-backed monarchy in 1952. However, they would soon trade one form of oppression for another. Muhammad Mubarak was appointed Vice President of Egypt in 1975, and assumed the presidency in 1981, following the assassination of President Anwar El Sadat. He served as the fourth President of Egypt for 30 years. During this time, Emergency Law was in place (and was renewed every 3 years) which meant police powers are extended, constitutional rights are suspended, and censorship is legalized. The law does not allow any non-governmental political activity, street demonstrations, non-approved political organizations, and unregistered financial donations are formally banned. Some 17,000 people have been detained under the law, and estimates of political prisoners run as high as 30,000. Egyptian youth and opposition groups were inspired by the Jasmine Revolution to organize a “Day of Rage” campaign on January 25, 2011. This campaign included non-violent demonstrations, marches, and labor strikes in Cairo and other cities which focused on police brutality, state emergency laws, lack of free speech and elections, high unemployment, rising food prices, inflation, and low minimum wages. Within several days of the onset of the protests, President Mubarak addressed the nation pledging a new form of government, and he offered to repeal the Emergency Law. However, this failed to satisfy protesters, which is not surprising considering that in 2006 Mubarak promised to end Emergency Law and then renewed it. On February 11th Mubarak resigned and leadership was assumed by a Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF). The SCAF dissolved the Egyptian Parliament, suspended the nation’s constitution, and formed a committee to recommend constitutional changes. Elections for a new Parliament and the Presidency have taken place. Mohamed Morsi, chairman of the Freedom and Justice Party, and Ahmed Shafik, a former Prime Minister of Egypt, received the most votes for the Presidency and will contest a runoff election on June 16-17. Mubarak is now awaiting the verdict from his trial on his complicity in killing protesters during the revolution.
Economy: Most economic activity takes place around the Nile River. Egypt’s economy was very centralized under former President Nasser, but opened up during President El-Sadat and President Mubarak’s rule. From 2004-2008 the Egyptian government pursued economic reforms in order to attract foreign investments. A rapidly growing population (the largest in the Arab world), limited arable land, and dependence on the Nile all continue to overtax resources and stress society. The government has struggled to meet the demands of Egypt's growing population through economic reform and massive investment in communications and physical infrastructure. Despite economic growth in recent years, the average person did not see an improvement in his/her living conditions and remained poor. In 2005, about 20% of the population was below the poverty line. All of this contributed to the public discontent which was sparked by the Jasmine Revolution. In January 2011, the government drastically increased social spending due to the public’s outrage, but political instability caused economic growth to slow which reduced the government’s revenue. Tourism, manufacturing, and construction suffered the worst setbacks and growth is likely to stay slow for at least the rest of the year. The government is utilizing foreign exchange reserves to support the Egyptian pound and the country may have to get a loan from the International Monetary Fund. Media is a mixture of state-run and private broadcast. State-run TV has 2 national and 6 regional networks, as well as a few satellite channels. There are about 20 private satellite channels and a large number of Arabic satellite channels are available for purchase.
Religion: Muslim (mostly Sunni) 90%, Coptic 9%, other Christian 1% In the early centuries after Christ, Egypt was predominantly Christian and a major centre for Christian scholarship. However, from the initial Islamic invasion in 639 AD, Muslim rule and religion have dominated this ancient land. In 969, the country was conquered by Jawhar al-Siqilli and Cairo was founded as the new capital. Egypt's Coptic Christian church never disappeared despite centuries of persecution and discrimination. Today, Egypt has the Middle East's largest Christian community. Some government figures have suggested that Christians make up twelve percent of the country’s population, with Christians claiming up to twenty percent. Despite the prominent Christian community, the country's constitution gives preference to Muslims and Christians are treated as second-class citizens, denied political representation, and often discriminated against in education and employment. While the constitution allows for freedom of conversion, Muslims converting to Christianity have often been unable to change their religion or their name on their identification cards. This means Christian women remain designated as Muslims and are unable to marry Christian men. Children of those designated Muslim (even if they are, in fact, Christian) are educated as Muslims and those with Islamic names are routinely turned away from entering churches by police. Consequently, Christians have frequently had false ID cards produced, only to face prosecution for falsifying government documents. However, Christians who convert to Islam face no difficulty in changing their ID cards. Egyptian Christians face ongoing challenges in building and repairing church buildings. The government requires permits for such construction but frequently refuses to grant them to churches. When applications are approved, they are often delayed by local authorities or security officials. Another serious problem facing Christians in Egypt is the kidnapping, and often the rape, of Christian girls who are often then forced to marry a Muslim (even their attacker). There have been a few hopeful decisions made by the Egyptian government. Some educational materials are now recognizing the Coptic contribution to Egyptian society. As well, the Coptic Christmas was officially recognized as an official national holiday in January 2003 (the Orthodox Christmas is celebrated on January 7).
Info compiled from CIAWorldFactBook "Egypt"; VOMC "Egypt"; Reuters news
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Egypt treatment of Christians part 1 (2008) Egypt treatment of christians part 2 (2008) Treatment of Christians in Egypt By Religion of Peace! (2009) Egypt: the uncertain future for Coptic Christians (2011) Inside Story - Egypt's Coptic Christians (2011)
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Pakistan: Faith of Gold
“Live your beliefs and you can turn the world around.”- Henry David Thoreau"Do you really believe that what you believe is really real?" Because if you do, then you should be living in a way that turns the world around and upside down. This is what happened when Asia Bibi took a stand for her faith. While she was working on a farm in Pakistan, many of the Muslim women working with her began to pressure Asia to renounce Christianity and accept Islam. There was an intense discission among the women about their faith. The Muslim women told Asia about Islam. Asia responded by telling them about her faith in Christ. Asia told the Muslim women Christ had died on the cross for sins, then asked them what Mohammad had done for them, according to VOM sources. She told them Jesus is alice, but Mohammad is dead. "Our Christ is the true prophet of God," she reportedly told them, "and yours is not true." Since that statement her life has not been the same. She was arrested and blasphemy charges were filed against her due to pressure from the local Muslim authorities. Swventeen months after Asia's arrest, she was convicted of violating subsection C of Pakistan's 295 blasphemy law-blasphemy against the prophet Mohammad-and was sentenced to death. No Christian in Pakistan has ever been executed under the blasphemy law, but in several cases, extremists have murdered Christians after their release from prison and Asia does have a price on her head. Asia's conviction and death sentence have brought international attention to the country's blasphemy laws. Christians have called for Asia's release from prison and a repeal of the blasphemy laws, while extremists in Pakistan continue to demand that she be executed. Even those who have spoken out on her behalf have put their lives at risk. In early 2011, Salman Taseer, governor of Punjab province, and Shahbaz Bhatti, Minister of Minority Affairs, were assassinated, allegedy for speaking out against the controversial blasphemy law, and Asia's case in particular. Through all this Asia has kept her faith and she says, "I am praying every day. I am strong in my faith. I know that this is the testing of my faith and I know to make gold, it must be purifies...in the fire. I am strong in my faith, and I know that God will release me. I pray that God forgives the people who blamed me." May we be so accepting of our trials, knowing that the testing of our faith refines it to pure gold, making it of great worth in God's sight. If anyone would like to send Asia a letter of encouragement to let her know that she is not forgotten, this link will take you to her page.
http://www.prisoneralert.com/pprofiles/vp_prisoner_197_profile.html?_nc=123231181272541571a9eca54049df2d
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pakistan
Basic Info: Pakistan is located in Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea, between India on the east and Iran and Afghanistan on the west and China in the north. Slightly less than twice the size of California, Pakistan has a varied climate. It is mostly hot, dry desert, but it is temperate in the northwest and arctic in the north. The country suffers from frequent earthquakes, which occasionally are severe, especially in the north and west. Other problems include water pollution from raw sewage, industrial wastes, and agricultural runoff. There are limited natural freshwater resources and most of the population does not have access to clean water. The population break down is: Punjabi 44.68%, Pashtun (Pathan) 15.42%, Sindhi 14.1%, Sariaki 8.38%, Muhajirs 7.57%, Balochi 3.57%, other 6.28%. Of the 190,291,129 population 36% is urban and only 49.9% are literate. From the half of the population that is literate 63% are male and only 36% are female. The region of Kashmir has been one of contention for many decades, and Kashmir remains the world's largest and most militarized territorial dispute with portions under the de facto administration of China, India, and Pakistan. The UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan has maintained a small group of peacekeepers since 1949. By 2005, Pakistan, with UN assistance, repatriated 2.3 million Afghan refugees leaving slightly more than a million, many of whom are choosing to remain. Pakistan has sent troops across and built fences along some remote tribal areas of its treaty-defined Durand Line border with Afghanistan, which serve as bases for foreign terrorists and other illegal activities. Afghan, Coalition, and Pakistan military meet periodically to clarify the alignment of the boundary on the ground and on maps. Pakistan is a significant transit area for Afghan drugs, including heroin, opium, morphine, and hashish, which are bound for Iran, Western markets, the Gulf States, Africa, and Asia. The country also struggles with financial crimes related to drug trafficking, terrorism, corruption, and smuggling
Government: The Indus Valley civilization which is spread over much of what is presently Pakistan is one of the oldest in the world and dates back at least 5,000 years. The area has undergone successive invasions from the Persians, Greeks, Scythians, Arabs (who brought Islam), Afghans, and Turks. The Mughal Empire flourished in the 16th and 17th centuries; the British came to dominate the region in the 18th century. The separation in 1947 of British India into the Muslim state of Pakistan (with West and East sections) and largely Hindu India was never satisfactorily resolved, and India and Pakistan fought two wars - in 1947-48 and 1965 - over the disputed Kashmir territory. A third war between these countries in 1971 resulted in East Pakistan becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh. In response to Indian nuclear weapons testing, Pakistan conducted its own tests in 1998. India-Pakistan relations have been rocky since the November 2008 Mumbai attacks, but both countries are taking small steps to put relations back on track. Pakistan is a federal republic. In February 2008, Pakistan held parliamentary elections and in September 2008, after the resignation of former President Musharraf, elected Asif Ali Zardari to the presidency. Pakistani government and military leaders are struggling to control domestic insurgents, many of whom are located in the tribal areas adjacent to the border with Afghanistan. In January 2012, Pakistan assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2012-13 term. The country has a bicameral parliament, and the National Assembly has 342 seats, 60 which are reserved for women and 10 seats are reserved for non-Muslims. Pakistan has common law with Islamic law influence. The Pakistani Air Force and Pakistani Navy inducted their first female pilots and sailors in 2009.
Economy: Decades of internal political disputes and low levels of foreign investment have led to slow growth and underdevelopment in Pakistan. Agriculture accounts for more than one-fifth of output and two-fifths of employment. Textiles account for most of Pakistan's export earnings, which means the country is vulnerable to shifts in world demand. Official unemployment is 6%, but since much of the economy is informal and underemployment remains high, this gives a false impression. Over the past few years, low growth and high inflation, led by a spurt in food prices, have increased the amount of poverty - the UN Human Development Report estimated poverty in 2011 at almost 50% of the population. Also the Pakistani rupee has depreciated more than 40% since 2007. Foreign investment has not returned, due to investor concerns related to governance, energy, security, and a slow-down in the global economy. Remittances from overseas workers, averaging about $1 billion a month since March 2011, greatly helps, but Pakistan must figure out its revenues and energy production in order to spur the amount of economic growth that will be necessary to employ its growing population. Other long term challenges include expanding investment in education and healthcare, and reducing dependence on foreign donors. The telecommunications infrastructure has improving dramatically with foreign and domestic investments in fixed-line and mobile-cellular networks. Subscription to mobile/cellular devices has skyrocketed, exceeding 110 million by the end of 2011, up from only about 300,000 in 2000. More than 90 percent of Pakistanis live within areas that have cell phone coverage and more than half of all Pakistanis have access to a cell phone, but there are still difficulties getting fixed-line service to rural areas. The media is government regulated with 1 dominant state-owned TV broadcaster which operates 5 channels. Private TV broadcasters are permitted and to date 69 foreign satellite channels are operational.
Religion: Muslim (official) 95% (Sunni 75%, Shia 20%), other (includes Christian and Hindu) 5% Pakistan is an Islamic republic with a Sunni majority. Previous governments pursued Islamization of the legal system, taxation and public life as well as discrimination against all religious minorities. Despite its infringement of the constitution, Shariah law is increasingly applied -- even to Christians and Hindus -- especially in areas where Islamist groups have control or influence. While there is a notable degree of religious freedom promised to minorities by law, non-Muslims and non-Sunnis must practice their faith cautiously and under varying degrees of threat from Islamists. Christians face severe opposition from militant Islamic groups, including imprisonment, torture and even death. Many Christians have been falsely accused under the Blasphemy Law, or Law 295. Law 295a, blaspheming Islam, and Law 295b, blaspheming the Qur’an, are criminal offenses. Law 295c makes blaspheming Mohammed a crime punishable by death. Courtrooms packed with militants have often pressured judges into returning a guilty verdict or continuing trials indefinitely. Christians are regularly barred from jobs or face troubles from their employers and co-workers. Christian merchants are often harassed. In November 2010, a Christian woman, Asia Bibi, was sentenced to death on charges of blasphemy. She is the first Pakistani woman ever to receive a death sentence for blasphemy. Her life has been threatened by many, with a Muslim cleric putting a price on her head. In early 2011, Salman Taseer, governor of Punjab province, and Shahbaz Bhatti, Minister of Minority Affairs, were assassinated, allegedly for speaking out against the controversial blasphemy law.
Information compiled from CIAWorldFactBook “Pakistan”, VOMC “Pakistan” www.persecution.net
-----------------------------------------------------------------
http://persecution.tv/video?task=videodirectlink&id=185 Multiple Pakistan Videos
Pakistan: Cry Justice!
Blasphemy law targets Christians (released in 2009)
Pakistan: Pakistan's sole Christian minister assassinated
The return of the church in the northern area
Evangelists Risk Their Lives for the Gospel in Afghanistan and Pakistan
People and Power
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Comoros: A Question of Identity
“The value of identity of course is that so often with it comes purpose.” -Richard R Grant
How we identify ourselves so often shapes who we are and gives us direction. The way we think about ourselves affects the decisions we make, and how others think about us affects how they interact with us. Who are the people of Comoros? Are they African because of geography, or Arab because of their religion, or European because of their history? Where is their allegiance and to whom do they want to be identified with? Well, the answer depends on which island you live on. The island of Mayotte choose to stay associated with France when the other three islands broke away. Now Mayotte is better developed and more affluent, and that is where all of the people try to flock to. Anjouan tried later on to reunite itself with France, but they wouldn't take them back. Now different people in the UN think it is their business to force the people of Mayotte to rejoin with the rest of Comoros despite their objections. Some of the people of Comoros don't even care that Mayotte is not officially part of their country and they think they should be able to travel between the islands as they please, ignoring customs and passports. However the people on these islands choose to align themselves, we know that a person's true identity comes through Christ. When we know whose we are, who we are tends not to matter so much. This month lets pray for the people of Comoros to find true purpose in life, not by who they are or what they have, but by discovering the life changing person of Jesus Christ.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Comoros
Basic Info: Comoros (its name derived from the Arabic word القمر qamar meaning "moon") is an archipelago near Southern Africa that is slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC making it the third-smallest African nation by area. It consists of three volcanic islands and is between Madagascar and Mozambique with an important location at the northern end of the Mozambique Channel. The main ethnic groups are Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, and Sakalava. Arabic and French are the official languages, but Shikomoro (a blend of Swahili and Arabic) is also widely spoken. The population is only 737,284 people making it the sixth-smallest African nation by population—although it has one of the highest population densities in Africa. The population is 28% urban and 56.5% are literate. Comoros is also a source country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking. Children are subjected to forced labor within the country for domestic service, roadside and market vending, baking, and agriculture. While Comoros does not fully comply with the minimum standards for eliminating trafficking, it is making significant efforts to do so. The government, in partnership with international organizations, began implementing a National Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration Plan, through which 40 former child soldiers, some of whom were trafficking victims, received protective services. It also started a national action plan to address the worst forms of child labor. However, minor efforts were made to prevent the use of forced child labor or to investigate suspected cases.
Government: Comoros has had a turbulent history since its independence from France in 1975. The nation has endured more than 20 coups since then and the two smaller islands, Moheli and Anjouan, constantly protest for autonomy or independence. In 1997, the islands of Anjouan and Moheli declared independence from Comoros. In 1999, military chief Col. Azali seized power in a bloodless coup, and helped negotiate the 2000 Fomboni Accords power-sharing agreement in which the federal presidency rotates among the three islands (every 4 years), and each island maintains its own local government. The new constitution granted each island greater autonomy, but has not prevented rebellions, secession attempts and further intervention from the African Union. Azali won the 2002 presidential election, and each island in the archipelago elected its own president. Azali stepped down in 2006 and President Sambi was elected to office. In 2007, Mohamed Bacar effected Anjouan's de-facto secession from the Union, refusing to step down in favor of fresh Anjouanais elections when Comoros' other islands held legitimate elections in July. The African Union (AU) initially attempted to resolve the political crisis by applying sanctions and a naval blockade on Anjouan, but in March 2008, AU and Comoran soldiers seized the island. The move was generally welcomed by the island's inhabitants. As of May 2011, the President is Ikililou Dhoinine. The legal system is a mixture of Islamic religious law, the French civil code of 1975, and customary law. The Supreme Court or Cour Supremes is made up of two members appointed by the president, two members elected by the Federal Assembly, one elected by the Council of each island, and others are former presidents of the republic.
Economy: Comoros is considered one of the world’s poorest countries because it is underdeveloped, poor, and overpopulated. The three islands are not satisfactorily linked by transportation, they have few natural resources, and they have a mostly young and rapidly increasing population. The low educational level of the labor force contributes to a subsistence level of economic activity (60% of the population is below poverty level), high unemployment (20% is unemployed), and a heavy dependence on foreign grants and technical assistance. Agriculture, including fishing, hunting, and forestry, contributes 40% to GDP, employs 80% of the labor force, and provides most of the exports. Export income is heavily reliant on the three main crops of vanilla, cloves, and ylang-ylang (perfume essence) and Comoros' export earnings are easily disrupted by disasters such as fires. The country is not self-sufficient in producing its own food. Rice, the main staple, accounts for the bulk of imports. The government - which is hindered by internal political disputes - lacks a comprehensive strategy to attract foreign investment and is struggling to upgrade education and technical training, privatize commercial and industrial enterprises, improve health services, diversify exports, promote tourism, and reduce the high population growth rate. Remittances from 150,000 Comorans abroad help supplement GDP. In September 2009 the IMF approved Comoros for a three-year $21 million loan, but the government has struggled to meet program targets, such as restricting spending on wages, strengthening domestic revenue collection, and moving forward on structural reforms. Only about 3 in 100 people have a landline phone, and about 20 in 100 people have cellular service. There is a national state-owned TV station and a TV station run by the Anjouan regional government. There is a national state-owned radio, and regional governments on the islands of Grande Comore and Anjouan each operate a radio station. A few independent and small community radio stations operate on the islands of Grande Comore and Moheli, and these two islands have access to Mayotte Radio and French TV.
Religion: Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2% (mostly on the island of Mayotte)
Until 1973, Comoros was almost completely unevangelized. The vast majority of the population is Muslim, and Islamic fundamentalism is on the rise. However, most are involved in occult practices through witchcraft, curses and spirit possession. Many young people—disillusioned with life in this society that offers so little hope—attempt to find solace in drugs, sex or the opportunity to leave the islands. There are severe restrictions on Christians. Evangelism is forbidden, and those who convert to Christianity can expect severe reprisals from the community and from their own family. Harassment and persecution have risen in frequency and intensity in recent years.
Information compiled from CIAWorldFactBook “Comoros” ; VOMC “Comoros” www.persecution.net
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Comoros
The Comoros Islands - The Union of the Comoros
Anjouan: a historical perspective (March 26, 2008)
Anjouan: The fall of Colonel Bacar (April 7, 2008) (Warning: intense fighting scenes)
Controversy Island (April 7, 2011)
How we identify ourselves so often shapes who we are and gives us direction. The way we think about ourselves affects the decisions we make, and how others think about us affects how they interact with us. Who are the people of Comoros? Are they African because of geography, or Arab because of their religion, or European because of their history? Where is their allegiance and to whom do they want to be identified with? Well, the answer depends on which island you live on. The island of Mayotte choose to stay associated with France when the other three islands broke away. Now Mayotte is better developed and more affluent, and that is where all of the people try to flock to. Anjouan tried later on to reunite itself with France, but they wouldn't take them back. Now different people in the UN think it is their business to force the people of Mayotte to rejoin with the rest of Comoros despite their objections. Some of the people of Comoros don't even care that Mayotte is not officially part of their country and they think they should be able to travel between the islands as they please, ignoring customs and passports. However the people on these islands choose to align themselves, we know that a person's true identity comes through Christ. When we know whose we are, who we are tends not to matter so much. This month lets pray for the people of Comoros to find true purpose in life, not by who they are or what they have, but by discovering the life changing person of Jesus Christ.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Comoros
Basic Info: Comoros (its name derived from the Arabic word القمر qamar meaning "moon") is an archipelago near Southern Africa that is slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC making it the third-smallest African nation by area. It consists of three volcanic islands and is between Madagascar and Mozambique with an important location at the northern end of the Mozambique Channel. The main ethnic groups are Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, and Sakalava. Arabic and French are the official languages, but Shikomoro (a blend of Swahili and Arabic) is also widely spoken. The population is only 737,284 people making it the sixth-smallest African nation by population—although it has one of the highest population densities in Africa. The population is 28% urban and 56.5% are literate. Comoros is also a source country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking. Children are subjected to forced labor within the country for domestic service, roadside and market vending, baking, and agriculture. While Comoros does not fully comply with the minimum standards for eliminating trafficking, it is making significant efforts to do so. The government, in partnership with international organizations, began implementing a National Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration Plan, through which 40 former child soldiers, some of whom were trafficking victims, received protective services. It also started a national action plan to address the worst forms of child labor. However, minor efforts were made to prevent the use of forced child labor or to investigate suspected cases.
Government: Comoros has had a turbulent history since its independence from France in 1975. The nation has endured more than 20 coups since then and the two smaller islands, Moheli and Anjouan, constantly protest for autonomy or independence. In 1997, the islands of Anjouan and Moheli declared independence from Comoros. In 1999, military chief Col. Azali seized power in a bloodless coup, and helped negotiate the 2000 Fomboni Accords power-sharing agreement in which the federal presidency rotates among the three islands (every 4 years), and each island maintains its own local government. The new constitution granted each island greater autonomy, but has not prevented rebellions, secession attempts and further intervention from the African Union. Azali won the 2002 presidential election, and each island in the archipelago elected its own president. Azali stepped down in 2006 and President Sambi was elected to office. In 2007, Mohamed Bacar effected Anjouan's de-facto secession from the Union, refusing to step down in favor of fresh Anjouanais elections when Comoros' other islands held legitimate elections in July. The African Union (AU) initially attempted to resolve the political crisis by applying sanctions and a naval blockade on Anjouan, but in March 2008, AU and Comoran soldiers seized the island. The move was generally welcomed by the island's inhabitants. As of May 2011, the President is Ikililou Dhoinine. The legal system is a mixture of Islamic religious law, the French civil code of 1975, and customary law. The Supreme Court or Cour Supremes is made up of two members appointed by the president, two members elected by the Federal Assembly, one elected by the Council of each island, and others are former presidents of the republic.
Economy: Comoros is considered one of the world’s poorest countries because it is underdeveloped, poor, and overpopulated. The three islands are not satisfactorily linked by transportation, they have few natural resources, and they have a mostly young and rapidly increasing population. The low educational level of the labor force contributes to a subsistence level of economic activity (60% of the population is below poverty level), high unemployment (20% is unemployed), and a heavy dependence on foreign grants and technical assistance. Agriculture, including fishing, hunting, and forestry, contributes 40% to GDP, employs 80% of the labor force, and provides most of the exports. Export income is heavily reliant on the three main crops of vanilla, cloves, and ylang-ylang (perfume essence) and Comoros' export earnings are easily disrupted by disasters such as fires. The country is not self-sufficient in producing its own food. Rice, the main staple, accounts for the bulk of imports. The government - which is hindered by internal political disputes - lacks a comprehensive strategy to attract foreign investment and is struggling to upgrade education and technical training, privatize commercial and industrial enterprises, improve health services, diversify exports, promote tourism, and reduce the high population growth rate. Remittances from 150,000 Comorans abroad help supplement GDP. In September 2009 the IMF approved Comoros for a three-year $21 million loan, but the government has struggled to meet program targets, such as restricting spending on wages, strengthening domestic revenue collection, and moving forward on structural reforms. Only about 3 in 100 people have a landline phone, and about 20 in 100 people have cellular service. There is a national state-owned TV station and a TV station run by the Anjouan regional government. There is a national state-owned radio, and regional governments on the islands of Grande Comore and Anjouan each operate a radio station. A few independent and small community radio stations operate on the islands of Grande Comore and Moheli, and these two islands have access to Mayotte Radio and French TV.
Religion: Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2% (mostly on the island of Mayotte)
Until 1973, Comoros was almost completely unevangelized. The vast majority of the population is Muslim, and Islamic fundamentalism is on the rise. However, most are involved in occult practices through witchcraft, curses and spirit possession. Many young people—disillusioned with life in this society that offers so little hope—attempt to find solace in drugs, sex or the opportunity to leave the islands. There are severe restrictions on Christians. Evangelism is forbidden, and those who convert to Christianity can expect severe reprisals from the community and from their own family. Harassment and persecution have risen in frequency and intensity in recent years.
Information compiled from CIAWorldFactBook “Comoros” ; VOMC “Comoros” www.persecution.net
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Comoros
The Comoros Islands - The Union of the Comoros
Anjouan: a historical perspective (March 26, 2008)
Anjouan: The fall of Colonel Bacar (April 7, 2008) (Warning: intense fighting scenes)
Controversy Island (April 7, 2011)
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Azerbaijan: Area of Conflict
“The greatest conflicts are not between two people but between one person and himself.” -Garth Brooks
Azerbaijan has a long history of conflict and that has not changed to the present day. Currently, the country is at odds with itself geographically and ethnically over the Nagorno-Karabakh region and the Azerbaijani and Armenian dispute to the territory. The country's citizens are at conflict with the ruling family over freedom of speech, democracy, and where all the nation's wealth is going. Add to all this the fact that most of the Christian population is non-Azerbaijani and it would seem that the greatest hindrance to the Gospel is the struggle between these two groups. While the bad history between Armenians and Azerbaijanis can not be overlooked, let's not forget to pray for the struggle of the individual. When presented with Christ we have two choices, to reject Him or to deny ourselves and follow Him. That process of daily denying ourselves and our wants and desires to follow Christ's will is one of the greatest struggles we will ever have to face. We are called to walk a narrow road and too often we feel that we are walking that path alone. The church in Azerbaijan may be small, but they are not forgotten. As we lift Azerbaijan up in prayer this month, lets remember to pray for the Holy Spirit to strengthen the church so that when they are faced with hard choices they will be strong enough to stand firm in their faith, and after they have done everything, they stand.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Azerbaijan
Basic Info: Azerbaijan is a country slightly smaller than Maine and it is in Southwestern Asia. It borders the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Russia, with a small European portion north of the Caucasus range. Local scientists consider the Apsheron Peninsula and the Caspian Sea to be the most ecologically devastated area in the world because of severe air, soil, and water pollution. Soil pollution is from oil spills, from the use of DDT pesticide, and from toxic defoliants used in the production of cotton. Of the 8,372,373 (July 2011 est.) population, 52% is urban. Azeri 90.6%, Dagestani 2.2%, Russian 1.8%, Armenian 1.5%, other 3.9% (almost all Armenians live in the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region). Azerbaijani (Azeri) is the official language and it is spoken by 90.3%, but Lezgi is 2.2%, Russian is 1.8%, Armenian is 1.5%, and some others are 3.3%. Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia have ratified Caspian seabed delimitation treaties based on equidistance, but Iran continues to insist on a one-fifth slice of the lake. Bilateral talks are also continuing with Turkmenistan on dividing the seabed and contested oilfields in the middle of the Caspian. Most instability in the region however is due to the dispute over the break-away Nagorno-Karabakh region and the Armenian military occupation of surrounding lands. There are 580,000-690,000 internally displaced persons in Azerbaijan because of the conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh. Residents have evacuated the former Soviet-era small ethnic enclaves in Armenia and Azerbaijan. Local border forces struggle to control the illegal transit of goods and people across the Armenian, Azerbaijani, and Georgian borders. Azerbaijan is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor, and women and children subjected to sex trafficking. Women and some children from Azerbaijan are trafficked to Turkey, the UAE, Russia, and Iran for the purpose of sexual exploitation, while men and boys are trafficked to Russia and Moldova for the purpose of forced labor. Azerbaijan serves as a transit country for victims from Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan trafficked to Turkey and the UAE for sexual exploitation. Azerbaijan is also a destination country for men from Turkey and Afghanistan, and Chinese men and women for forced labor. Azerbaijan is on the Tier 2 Watch List for not fully complying with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and the government has not made sufficient progress in investigating, prosecuting, or convicting labor trafficking offenses or in identifying victims of forced labor (2011).
Government: Azerbaijan has a long history of suppression at the hands of Arabs, Mongols, Persians, Turks and Russians. It was briefly independent from 1918 to 1920, and it regained its independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. The first decade was plagued by internal coups and war with Armenia. Nearly 1 million Azerbaijanis were displaced by this conflict. Despite a 1994 cease-fire, Azerbaijan has yet to resolve its conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh, a primarily Armenian-populated region that Moscow recognized as part of Soviet Azerbaijan in the 1920s after Armenia and Azerbaijan disputed the status of the territory. Armenia and Azerbaijan began fighting over the area in 1988, and that struggle escalated after both countries attained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. By May 1994, when a cease-fire took hold, ethnic Armenian forces held not only Nagorno-Karabakh but also seven surrounding provinces in the territory of Azerbaijan. Corruption in the country is ubiquitous, and the government, which eliminated presidential term limits in a 2009 referendum, has been accused of authoritarianism, but it is technically a republic. The president, re-elected in what some call a “shady election” (several political parties boycotted the election due to unfair conditions and OSCE observers concluded that the election did not meet international standards), is the son of the previous president. They have overseen a political shift away from Russia toward Turkey and the West.
Economy: Azerbaijan's high economic growth during 2006-08 was attributable to large and growing oil exports, but some non-export sectors also featured double-digit growth, spurred by growth in the construction, banking, and real estate sectors. In 2009, economic growth remained above 9% even as oil prices moderated and growth in the construction sector slowed. The current global economic slowdown presents some challenges for the Azerbaijani economy as oil prices remain below their mid-2008 highs, highlighting Azerbaijan's reliance on energy exports and unenthusiastic attempts to diversify its economy. Azerbaijan's oil production increased dramatically in 1997, when Azerbaijan signed the first production-sharing arrangement (PSA) with the Azerbaijan International Operating Company. Oil exports through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline remain the main economic driver while efforts to boost Azerbaijan's gas production are underway. However, Azerbaijan has made only limited progress on instituting market-based economic reforms. Pervasive public and private sector corruption and structural economic inefficiencies remain a drag on long-term growth, particularly in non-energy sectors. Several other obstacles impede Azerbaijan's economic progress: the need for stepped up foreign investment in the non-energy sector and the continuing conflict with Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Trade with Russia and the other former Soviet republics is declining in importance, while trade is building with Turkey and the nations of Europe. Long-term prospects will depend on world oil prices, the location of new oil and gas pipelines in the region, and Azerbaijan's ability to manage its energy wealth to promote sustainable growth in non-energy sectors of the economy and spur employment. Although the poverty rate has been reduced in recent years due to revenue from oil production, the promise of widespread wealth resulting from the continued development of Azerbaijan's energy sector remains largely unfulfilled.
Religion: Muslim 93.4%, Russian Orthodox 2.5%, Armenian Orthodox 2.3%, other 1.8% (1995 est.) note: religious affiliation is still nominal in Azerbaijan; percentages for actual practicing adherents are much lower
Official religious freedom is tempered by reactions against “foreign” religions and fears of Islamist extremism. Christian work is increasingly opposed, especially through obstruction and intimidation, if not outright persecution. Most Azerbaijani Muslims are Shi’a, a trait shared with neighboring Iran. Racial discrimination also affects religious freedom because the Christian population is almost entirely ethnic Armenian and Russian while the Muslim population is largely ethnic Azeri. A 1992 religious law that initially granted more freedoms has been amended several times with restrictions. The State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations was formed in 2001. It demands the registration of religious communities and censors religious literature. Christian groups that do not register are considered illegal and often face discrimination. In December 2007, five church members and three visitors were imprisoned and fined for “meeting without state registration” following a police raid. Police officers also confiscated their books and other religious materials. In June 2008, police arrested Pastor Hamid Shabanov on allegations of possessing an illegal weapon, despite the insistence of his family and congregation that authorities planted the gun they claimed to find while searching his home in Aliabad. The arrest was viewed by local believers as a direct attack on the pastor's Baptist church and an attempt to halt Christian activity in the area.
Info compiled from CIAWorldFactBook “Azerbaijan” and VOMC “Azerbaijan” www.persecution.net
Azerbaijan has a long history of conflict and that has not changed to the present day. Currently, the country is at odds with itself geographically and ethnically over the Nagorno-Karabakh region and the Azerbaijani and Armenian dispute to the territory. The country's citizens are at conflict with the ruling family over freedom of speech, democracy, and where all the nation's wealth is going. Add to all this the fact that most of the Christian population is non-Azerbaijani and it would seem that the greatest hindrance to the Gospel is the struggle between these two groups. While the bad history between Armenians and Azerbaijanis can not be overlooked, let's not forget to pray for the struggle of the individual. When presented with Christ we have two choices, to reject Him or to deny ourselves and follow Him. That process of daily denying ourselves and our wants and desires to follow Christ's will is one of the greatest struggles we will ever have to face. We are called to walk a narrow road and too often we feel that we are walking that path alone. The church in Azerbaijan may be small, but they are not forgotten. As we lift Azerbaijan up in prayer this month, lets remember to pray for the Holy Spirit to strengthen the church so that when they are faced with hard choices they will be strong enough to stand firm in their faith, and after they have done everything, they stand.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Azerbaijan
Basic Info: Azerbaijan is a country slightly smaller than Maine and it is in Southwestern Asia. It borders the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Russia, with a small European portion north of the Caucasus range. Local scientists consider the Apsheron Peninsula and the Caspian Sea to be the most ecologically devastated area in the world because of severe air, soil, and water pollution. Soil pollution is from oil spills, from the use of DDT pesticide, and from toxic defoliants used in the production of cotton. Of the 8,372,373 (July 2011 est.) population, 52% is urban. Azeri 90.6%, Dagestani 2.2%, Russian 1.8%, Armenian 1.5%, other 3.9% (almost all Armenians live in the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region). Azerbaijani (Azeri) is the official language and it is spoken by 90.3%, but Lezgi is 2.2%, Russian is 1.8%, Armenian is 1.5%, and some others are 3.3%. Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia have ratified Caspian seabed delimitation treaties based on equidistance, but Iran continues to insist on a one-fifth slice of the lake. Bilateral talks are also continuing with Turkmenistan on dividing the seabed and contested oilfields in the middle of the Caspian. Most instability in the region however is due to the dispute over the break-away Nagorno-Karabakh region and the Armenian military occupation of surrounding lands. There are 580,000-690,000 internally displaced persons in Azerbaijan because of the conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh. Residents have evacuated the former Soviet-era small ethnic enclaves in Armenia and Azerbaijan. Local border forces struggle to control the illegal transit of goods and people across the Armenian, Azerbaijani, and Georgian borders. Azerbaijan is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor, and women and children subjected to sex trafficking. Women and some children from Azerbaijan are trafficked to Turkey, the UAE, Russia, and Iran for the purpose of sexual exploitation, while men and boys are trafficked to Russia and Moldova for the purpose of forced labor. Azerbaijan serves as a transit country for victims from Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan trafficked to Turkey and the UAE for sexual exploitation. Azerbaijan is also a destination country for men from Turkey and Afghanistan, and Chinese men and women for forced labor. Azerbaijan is on the Tier 2 Watch List for not fully complying with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and the government has not made sufficient progress in investigating, prosecuting, or convicting labor trafficking offenses or in identifying victims of forced labor (2011).
Government: Azerbaijan has a long history of suppression at the hands of Arabs, Mongols, Persians, Turks and Russians. It was briefly independent from 1918 to 1920, and it regained its independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. The first decade was plagued by internal coups and war with Armenia. Nearly 1 million Azerbaijanis were displaced by this conflict. Despite a 1994 cease-fire, Azerbaijan has yet to resolve its conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh, a primarily Armenian-populated region that Moscow recognized as part of Soviet Azerbaijan in the 1920s after Armenia and Azerbaijan disputed the status of the territory. Armenia and Azerbaijan began fighting over the area in 1988, and that struggle escalated after both countries attained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. By May 1994, when a cease-fire took hold, ethnic Armenian forces held not only Nagorno-Karabakh but also seven surrounding provinces in the territory of Azerbaijan. Corruption in the country is ubiquitous, and the government, which eliminated presidential term limits in a 2009 referendum, has been accused of authoritarianism, but it is technically a republic. The president, re-elected in what some call a “shady election” (several political parties boycotted the election due to unfair conditions and OSCE observers concluded that the election did not meet international standards), is the son of the previous president. They have overseen a political shift away from Russia toward Turkey and the West.
Economy: Azerbaijan's high economic growth during 2006-08 was attributable to large and growing oil exports, but some non-export sectors also featured double-digit growth, spurred by growth in the construction, banking, and real estate sectors. In 2009, economic growth remained above 9% even as oil prices moderated and growth in the construction sector slowed. The current global economic slowdown presents some challenges for the Azerbaijani economy as oil prices remain below their mid-2008 highs, highlighting Azerbaijan's reliance on energy exports and unenthusiastic attempts to diversify its economy. Azerbaijan's oil production increased dramatically in 1997, when Azerbaijan signed the first production-sharing arrangement (PSA) with the Azerbaijan International Operating Company. Oil exports through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline remain the main economic driver while efforts to boost Azerbaijan's gas production are underway. However, Azerbaijan has made only limited progress on instituting market-based economic reforms. Pervasive public and private sector corruption and structural economic inefficiencies remain a drag on long-term growth, particularly in non-energy sectors. Several other obstacles impede Azerbaijan's economic progress: the need for stepped up foreign investment in the non-energy sector and the continuing conflict with Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Trade with Russia and the other former Soviet republics is declining in importance, while trade is building with Turkey and the nations of Europe. Long-term prospects will depend on world oil prices, the location of new oil and gas pipelines in the region, and Azerbaijan's ability to manage its energy wealth to promote sustainable growth in non-energy sectors of the economy and spur employment. Although the poverty rate has been reduced in recent years due to revenue from oil production, the promise of widespread wealth resulting from the continued development of Azerbaijan's energy sector remains largely unfulfilled.
Religion: Muslim 93.4%, Russian Orthodox 2.5%, Armenian Orthodox 2.3%, other 1.8% (1995 est.) note: religious affiliation is still nominal in Azerbaijan; percentages for actual practicing adherents are much lower
Official religious freedom is tempered by reactions against “foreign” religions and fears of Islamist extremism. Christian work is increasingly opposed, especially through obstruction and intimidation, if not outright persecution. Most Azerbaijani Muslims are Shi’a, a trait shared with neighboring Iran. Racial discrimination also affects religious freedom because the Christian population is almost entirely ethnic Armenian and Russian while the Muslim population is largely ethnic Azeri. A 1992 religious law that initially granted more freedoms has been amended several times with restrictions. The State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations was formed in 2001. It demands the registration of religious communities and censors religious literature. Christian groups that do not register are considered illegal and often face discrimination. In December 2007, five church members and three visitors were imprisoned and fined for “meeting without state registration” following a police raid. Police officers also confiscated their books and other religious materials. In June 2008, police arrested Pastor Hamid Shabanov on allegations of possessing an illegal weapon, despite the insistence of his family and congregation that authorities planted the gun they claimed to find while searching his home in Aliabad. The arrest was viewed by local believers as a direct attack on the pastor's Baptist church and an attempt to halt Christian activity in the area.
Info compiled from CIAWorldFactBook “Azerbaijan” and VOMC “Azerbaijan” www.persecution.net
-------------------------------------------------------
CNBC Video. Aliyev Family of Azerbaijan (Ruling Family) (Feb 23, 2012)
Azerbaijan Human Rights and Freedoms
Human Rights in Azerbaijan 2011 (Jan 28, 2012)
CNN Azerbaijan economy (Mar 21, 2011)
CNBC Video. Aliyev Family of Azerbaijan (Ruling Family) (Feb 23, 2012)
Azerbaijan Human Rights and Freedoms
Human Rights in Azerbaijan 2011 (Jan 28, 2012)
CNN Azerbaijan economy (Mar 21, 2011)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
