MidnightWatcher – Prophecy in Motion

Luke 21:16-17, “You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake.”

“NAIROBI, Kenya, September 5 (CDN) — On Tanzania’s semi-autonomous island of Zanzibar, Christians live in a climate of fear. It’s a place where a young man flees the island to escape death threats from his Muslim family, and a Christian who accidentally burned pages of the Quran opts for jail by entering a guilty plea rather than face certain death from a furious mob.

Yusuf Abdalla, 23, fled to Moshi, mainland Tanzania, after his family threatened to kill him in June. Having converted to Christianity in October 2010 after hearing the gospel on the radio, he was enrolled at a vocational school in Zanzibar city to learn tailoring when his family found out in March that he had left Islam.

The beating he then received from family members left him with injuries to his head, hand and torso, as well as a serious mouth wound and substantial loss of blood, said an area pastor who requested anonymity.

‘The family then took back the tailoring machine which they had bought him,’ the pastor said. ‘They also vowed not to support his training.’

As soon as he had recovered enough to leave, Abdalla found refuge on the premises of the pastor’s church before staying at his home on May 5. Within two months, reports had reached Abdalla’s family that he was staying at the pastor’s house, and on June 10 they threatened to kill him, the pastor said.” Read more.

“At least 11 people have been killed in spiralling violence between Christian and Muslim youths in central Nigeria’s volatile Plateau state since Sunday night, authorities and a Reuters reporter said on Monday.

The latest deaths bring the total number of people killed in the ethnically and religiously-mixed area in the past week to at least 50.

Plateau state spokesman Yiljap Abraham took journalists to see the bodies from two attacks, one in the village of Zakaleu, where seven people were killed, and the other in a village called Kuru. Several houses had also been burnt down.

‘At about 9 p.m. (2000 GMT) some people invaded the community while some of them were sleeping,’ said Timothy Buba, a government councillor from Jos, Plateau state’s capital, referring to the attack in Zakaleu.

‘Seven lives were lost. Some were burnt and three others are now in the hospital. The people and the houses were set on fire and even from the distance, you can see some smoke.’

Muslim youths hacked a Christian family of eight to death in Nigeria’s volatile Plateau state earlier on Sunday, local officials said, continuing a week of violence that has pitted gangs from the two faiths against each other and civilians.” Read more.

By ACHOR ABIMAJE – “For those who know Pastor G.C Shawari, a senior pastor with the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) on Haliru Street, Kwararafa in Jos North local government Area, of Plateau State, he was a personification of peace. He had devoted all his sermons in a religious crisis-riddled state to preaching religious tolerance among different religions and ethnic groups.

But, on Monday, Pastor Shawari and his son became victims of ‘highly intolerant’ hoodlums in Jos, during a bloody clash between supposed Christians and Muslims that claimed over 23 lives. They were butchered to death by some Muslim religious fanatics, who gained entry into their home within the church premises. But, the pastor’s wife escaped, even as the church building was also vandalised.

The bereaved assistant Pastor of the church, Emmanuel Adetula Oludare, who escaped death with machete wounds on his head, described the killing of Shawa and his son as horrific.

‘On the fateful day, Pastor was at home with his family members, when at about 1pm, some Muslim youths, on their way back from Eid-El-Fitr prayers, forced the gate of the church open and picked quarrel with the pastor,’ Emmanuel said. ‘There was nobody they could call for assistance and, within a twinkle of an eye, the youths emptied about three cans of petrol on the building, the church and vehicles within the compound before setting them ablaze.'” Read more.

“KADUNA, Nigeria, August 31 (CDN) — Armed Muslims from Niger entered Nigeria’s Kaduna state this month to help Islamists there invade Christian communities, where they killed two Christians, including a 10-year-old boy, area sources said.

In the early morning hours of Aug. 21, the Muslim extremists entered Fadiya Bakut village in Bajju district of the Zango-Kataf Local Government Area, and attacked the home of Andrew Allahmagani, the district head in Fadiya, Allahmagani told Compass by telephone.

Allahmagani said he was sleeping that morning when he suddenly heard gunshots near his residence.

‘They [the attackers] later moved around the house shooting into windows and doors, including that of my wife,’ he said. ‘Afterward, they moved to the quarters of my brother, where they shot and killed my nephew, Fidelis Ishaku, who was 10 years old, and shot and injured my mother, who is 70.’

A Christian security guard at the house, 52-year-old Zaman Kaki, was also killed in the attack by about 10 assailants armed with guns, cutlasses and other dangerous weapons, Allahmagani said. Kaki leaves behind a wife and four children.” Read more.

WorldNetDaily – “A rising leader in the radical Islamic movement in Egypt that has become a major political player since the demise of Hosni Mubarak’s regime says Christian churches may need to be blown up and Christians exterminated to allow the advance of Islamic law, or Shariah.

The comments come from Sheik ‘Adel Shehato, a senior leader with the Egyptian Islamic Jihad terrorist group…

The sheik, a senior jihadist leader, responded to a question about using violence against Christians, who make up a substantial minority in Egypt.

‘Are you against blowing up churches?’ the newspaper interviewer asked Shehato.

‘Yes and no,’ he replied. ‘The Christian is free to worship his God in his church, but if the Christians make problems for the Muslims, I will exterminate them. I am guided by the Shariah, and it stipulates that they must pay the jizya tax while in a state of humiliation.’

‘These positions of yours frighten us, as Egyptians,’ the interviewer said.

‘I will not act [in ways] that contradict my faith just in order to please the people. … We say to the Christians, convert to Islam or pay the jizya, otherwise we will fight you. The Shariah is not based on logic but on divine law. That is why we oppose universal, manmade constitutions.’ …

Among the many assertions made by the senior Islamic leader was that the Egyptian pyramids need to be closed down to tourists.

‘There will be tourism for purposes of [medical] treatment, but the tourism sites of the pyramids, the Sphinx, and Sharm Al-Sheikh will be shut down, because my task is to get people to serve Allah rather than people. No proud Muslim will ever be willing to live off tourism profits, because the tourists come to drink alcohol and fornicate. [If they] want to come, they must comply with the conditions and laws of Islam. We will explain to them that, according to the Shariah, the pyramids are [from] a pagan and polytheistic age.’

He continued with a description of the new state of arts and culture in Egypt, should he be in power.

‘In Islam, there is no such thing as art. Painting, singing, and dancing are forbidden. Therefore, in the state there will be nothing but Islamic culture, for I cannot teach the infidel culture. … We will return to the decent culture of the Muslims and the Muslim forefathers, and to Islamic history,’ he said.

The far-reaching interview included his plans for worldwide government.” Read more.

By Patrick Goodenough – “A Shi’ite cleric affiliated with the Iranian regime has warned about the ‘danger’ of Christianity spreading in the Islamic republic. This come amid reports of an anti-Christianity propaganda campaign and the seizure of thousands of Bibles.

According to Mohabat News, an independent Iranian Christian news agency, Ayatollah Hadi Jahangosha expressed concern about ‘the spread of Christianity among our youth,’ citing the availability of Christian satellite television programs, books and objects.

‘Everyone in society should feel responsibility in this matter and play his or her role in spreading of pure Islam and fight false and distorted cultures,’ Mohabat quoted him as saying during a presentation on Mahdism – the belief in the so-called ‘hidden’ or 12th imam, prophesied to emerge at a time of future chaos.

Last week, Mohabat reported that authorities had seized 6,500 pocket-sized Bibles in northwestern Iran. It quoted a parliamentary advisor, Majid Abhari, as telling the Mehr news agency that Christian missionaries were out to deceive Iranians, particularly the youth.

‘They have begun a huge campaign by spending huge sums and false propaganda for deviating the public,’ Abhari said. ‘The important point in this issue that should be considered by intelligence, judicial and religious agencies is that all religions are strengthening their power to confront Islam, otherwise what does this huge number of Bibles mean?’

Mohabat recalled previous incidents of Bibles being seized, including one last February, when Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and security officials in a routine inspection of a bus near the Iran-Turkey border found 600 New Testaments, which they destroyed along with confiscated alcohol in a public burning.

A similar incident in the same area last October also saw officials seize and burn Bibles, it said.” Read more.

By Jennifer Pak – “Muslim women without headscarves are a common sight on the streets of the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur.

But engaging them in a discussion about the hijab is difficult.

Norhayati Kaprawi is a Malaysian activist whose recent documentary Aku Siapa (Who Am I) deals with the issue of how women in Malaysia should dress. She found some women unwilling to show their faces in her film – not on religious grounds, but becasue they feared reprisals.

This is a damning reflection on Malaysia’s Muslim society, says Ms Norhayati.

‘It’s full of fear. If you don’t follow the mainstream you will be lynched.’

According to the activist, the pressure to wear the hijab grew after the Iranian revolution in 1979, and it is now the most visible sign of Malaysia’s rising Islamic fundmentalism.

Muslims account for over half the population of 28 million people and are mainly ethnic Malays. Malaysia often prides itself on being a moderate Muslim nation, which allows other religions freedom of worship.

And while there are no laws forcing women to wear the hijab, Ms Norhayati says many Muslims feel compelled.” Read more.

Flashback: Muslim Group in Malaysia Declares Jihad Against Christians Who … Disagree With Them – “An umbrella coalition of Muslim groups held a protest today and declared bloodshed against ‘extremist’ Christians that insult and ridicule the position of Islam in the country. The Muslim Organisations in Defence of Islam (Pembela), comprising 20 groups, protested after Friday prayers at the National Mosque against Putrajaya’s release of Malay-language bibles and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s promise to never impound the Alkitab again.” Read more.

Flashback: Non-Muslims in Malaysia Who Recite Quranic Verses ‘Insincerely’ Can Be Charged With Blasphemy – “The government can take action against people who abuse Quranic verses for certain interests and dispute all forms of worship by Muslims in this country. Minister in the Prime Minister”s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom said this followed the special conference of the National Fatwa Council on Dec 3 last year to discuss issues including abuse of Quranic verses. ‘The muzakarah agreed that non-Muslims who cite Quranic verses according to their own understanding without sincerity is an affront to the sanctity of al-Quran and can cause doubt and slander in society,’ he told Dewan Rakyat today.” Read more.

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

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

‘Nothing has been done for the burned church building; so far it has not been rebuilt,’ he told Compass.

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

According to Rev Hamad, another church leader who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: ‘The increased challenges now faced by many Christians in North Sudan are something for which we need to pray very hard for the Lord to intervene.'” Read more.

“Mogadishu— Somali Islamist rebels have beheaded at least 11 civilians in the capital in the past two weeks, a campaign of terror that residents said Friday is designed to show the insurgency can still act in Mogadishu after withdrawing from their bases there earlier this month.

‘We wake up with beheaded bodies on the streets every day,’ said Abdinur Marwan, who lives in a district of Mogadishu called Hewila. ‘They call themselves Muslims while doing what Allah banned! Everyone is trying to leave here because people are being killed like goats.’

The Islamist al-Shabab militia withdrew from their bases in the Somali capital after being steadily pushed back by more heavily armed African Union forces supporting the U.N.-backed Somali government. The Islamists described the withdrawal as a ‘tactical retreat’ and said they would still carry out operations in the capital.” Read more.

Flashback: 4 Christian Orphanage Workers Beheaded in Somalia – “Somali Islamic extremists beheaded four Christians recently after kidnapping them last month, according to eyewitness accounts reported to International Christian Concern (ICC). Members of the Islamic extremist organization Al-Shabaab had kidnapped Fatima Sultan, Ali Ma’ow, Sheik Mohammed Abdi, and Maaddey Diil on July 27 from their coastal town of Merca, 56 miles from Mogadishu, and eventually beheaded the Christians after they refused to renounce their faith in Jesus Christ.” Read more.

Flashback: Somali Rebels ‘Behead Spies And Christians’ – “Somalia’s hard-line Islamist rebels beheaded seven people for being ‘Christians’ and ‘spies’, witnesses have said. The al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab group, which controls large tracts of south Somalia and parts of the capital Mogadishu, has carried out similar executions before. But the beheadings in the south central town of Baidoa were believed to be the largest number of killings at one time, Somalis said. ‘Al Shabaab told us that they were beheaded for reasons they described as being Christian followers and spies’…” Read more.

Flashback: Christian Aid Workers in Somalia Beheaded for Converting from Islam – “Muslim extremists from the al Shabab group fighting the transitional government on Sept. 23 sliced the head off of Mansuur Mohammed, 25, a World Food Program (WFP) worker, before horrified onlookers of Manyafulka village, 10 kilometers (six miles) from Baidoa. The militants had intercepted Mohammed and a WFP driver, who managed to escape, earlier in the morning. Sources close to Mohammed’s family said he converted from Islam to Christianity in 2005.” Read more.

“Christians in Iran are facing increasing hostility from authorities in the officially Islamic country.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) has received reports that a pastor has been arrested for a second time on August 17.

Abdolreza ‘Matthias’ Haghnejad, a pastor in the evangelical Church of Iran denomination, was reportedly re-arrested by Iranian authorities in Rasht whilst making a pastoral visit.

His family are in the dark about why he has been arrested and his whereabouts.

There are also concerns that he does not have access to an attorney.

Pastor Haghnejad was arrested previously in 2006. Earlier this year, he was charged with activities against the order and rounded up by authorities along with 10 other members of his denomination. He was released when the authorities dropped the charges.

Last month, a Christian man and woman were detained in Iran. The man was released but the woman, Leila Mohammadi, was arrested and is believed to be behind bars in Evin prison.” Read more.

Iranians seize 6,500 Bibles, burn 300, claim they are protecting youth – “Iranian authorities have seized 6,500 copies of the Bible in northwest of Iran. In another incident, officials burned 300 Bibles. A spokesman said the Bibles were confiscated to block missionaries who ‘are trying to deviate our youth.’ Dr. Majid Abhari, adviser to the social issues committee of the parliament in Iran, told the official Iranian news agency, Mehr, ‘With regard to the activities of these Christian missionaries to deceive people specially youngsters, they have begun a huge campaign by spending huge sums and false propaganda for deviating the public. These books were made with the best paper in the world in pocket size.'” Read more.