MidnightWatcher – Prophecy in Motion

By Stoyan Zaimov, The Christian Post – “Two Christian pastors were murdered in separate attacks in Kenya on Sunday, officials shared, with one found with a Bible on his lap sitting in a chair, preparing for Sunday morning service.

‘We found him with blood oozing from the head,’ choir member Morris Ali said of Pastor Charles Matole, leader of Mombasa’s Vikwatani Redeemed Gospel Church, according to Sapa-AFP.

Ali added that Matole had received death threats by text message before the incident.

A police investigation has been launched into the case, with clues suggesting that the attackers were well-trained hit-men who could have followed the pastor from his home, AllAfrica.com reported. Matole was shot from behind, and a cartridge from a pistol was recovered from the scene, but nothing was reported to be stolen.

‘He had received threatening death messages from unknown people. It was reported to the police but it was later concluded that the threats were sent by fraudsters from inside prisons,’ added his wife, Claris Matole.

The other incident took place in the town of Kilifi, north of Mombasa, where pastor Ebrahim Kidata of the East African Pentecostal Churches was found murdered in a patch of bushes. Kilifi county deputy speaker Teddy Mwambire confirmed that the cleric, in his mid-fifties and appointed just a few weeks earlier, appeared to have been strangled. His motorcycle was also stolen.” Read more.

Flashback: ‘Rivers Of Blood Will Flow In Nairobi’: Islamists Vow To Turn Kenyan Cities Into Mass Graveyards – “Somalia’s Islamist group al-Shabaab threatened on Wednesday to increase militant action in Kenya, after the country refused to withdraw its troops from Somalia, reported Agence France-Presse… ‘We will strike Kenyans where it hurts the most, turn their cities into graveyards and rivers of blood will flow in Nairobi,’ al-Shabaab said in a recent statement.” Read more.

Flashback: Kenya: Al-Shabaab Claims Responsibility For Church Attacks, Will Continue To Kill Those Who Do Not Worship Allah – “Somalia militia group Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for Sunday’s twin attacks on two churches in Garissa County that left 17 people dead. The latest development came even as muslim leaders in Kenya agreed to form self-defence groups to protect churches following the deadly attacks. In a tweet on Wednesday morning, the insurgents said they carried out the attacks in retaliation for Kenya Defence Forces (KDF)’s incursion in Somalia. An Al-Shabaab loyalist Sheikh Hassan Takar said that the militia killed people who did not profess allegiance to Allah.” Read more.

Update: Death toll rises to four …

Qur’an: Sura 4:89, ”They wish you would disbelieve as they disbelieved so you would be alike. So do not take from among them allies … seize them and kill them wherever you find them …”

By Mary Abdelmassih, AINA – “Two unidentified gunmen riding motorcycles opened fire on guests exiting the Virgin Church, located in Warrag, Giza. The gunmen fired automatic weapons as the guests exited the church after attending a wedding ceremony. According to Reverend Justus, the pastor of the church, one man, one women and one 8 year old girl were killed, and 18 were injured.

Reverend Justus said the gunmen were masked and were able to flee despite traffic congestion.

The Director of Giza Security formed a task force to find the gunmen. The Corniche Road leading to the area was evacuated. The attack is yet to be classified as ‘criminal’ or ‘terrorist.’

A youtube video (Arabic) shows scenes from the church after the attack.” Source – AINA.

Flashback: Amnesty International: Egypt Is Failing To Stop Revenge Attacks On Coptic Christians – “Egyptian security forces failed to stop revenge attacks against Coptic Christians after a deadly crackdown on supporters of ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in August, Amnesty International said on Wednesday. The London-based rights group said attacks targeted Christian churches, schools and charity buildings after the August 14 dispersal by security forces of two pro-Morsi camps in Cairo that killed hundreds of people.” Read more.

Welcome to Pakistan, a promoter of Islamic terror and recipient of $1.6 billion in American tax-payer dollars …

Luke 17:1-2, “Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come. It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones [children] to sin.’”

AsiaNews – “The text-books of Pakistani schools pose the killing of Christians as ‘goal to be sought’ that would help the same members of the minority to seek martyrdom for the faith. This is shown by a report published in late September by the Middle East Media Research ( MEMRI ) .

According to research, the texts are common in most public primary schools and even Pakistani Christians and members of other minorities are forced to read and study them. The authors of the books led by the religious leaders have changed the meaning of the term ‘minority’, which is now perceived with negative meaning .

The problem of education in Pakistan emerged strongly in 2011, the year that the government dedicated to the promotion of this issue. In one year, several studies were published which showed that thousands of non-Muslim students are ‘forced’ to study Islam and elements of the Muslim religion, for fear of discrimination. In 2012 the Catholic Church National Commission for Justice and Peace published a report denouncing the law passed by the Punjab Parliament that makes study of the Koran mandatory.

In an interview published by AsiaNews in 2011, Msgr . Lawrence John Saldanha , archbishop emeritus of Lahore ( Punjab ) , said that Pakistan has become a state for ‘only Muslims.’ Non-Muslims do not enjoy equal rights.” Source – AsiaNews.

Flashback: Saudis Export Anti-Christian And Anti-Jewish Textbooks That Continue To Fuel Intolerance And Violence Around The Globe – “Textbooks used in Saudi Arabia’s schools contain virulent forms of anti-Christian and anti-Jewish bigotry that continue to fuel intolerance and violence around the globe, says a new report. The problem is far greater than the five million students in Saudi Arabia who use these texts every day, said Nina Shea, director of the Washington-based Hudson Institute’s Center for Religious Freedom. ‘Because of the Saudis’ great oil wealth, it is able to disseminate its textbooks far and wide’ …” Read more.

Flashback: ‘Fight The Jews And Kill Them’: Major American Publishers Protest Hate-Filled, Toxic Islamic Textbook Content – “Muslims in many countries have reported that over the past 20 to 30 years, local Islamic traditions have been transformed and radicalized under the growing influence of Saudi Salafist Islam, known as Wahhabism… Examples from the Saudi textbooks… ‘The Jews and the Christians are enemies of the believers’ … ‘The Apes are the people of the Sabbath, the Jews; and the Swine are the infidels of the communion of Jesus, the Christians’ …” Read more.

Flashback: Turkey: Muslims Subjecting More Christians to Discrimination and Attacks, Followers of Christ Vilified in Media, Textbooks – “The only way to remove the root of intolerance in Turkey is to remove Islam, but this isn’t humanly possible with a population that is at least 96% Muslim.  Fortunately, there is Someone who can make a difference. And He’s coming soon …” Read more.

Qur’an Sura 9:29-30, “Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of [Islam], even if they are of the People of the Book [Christians] … the Christians say: The Messiah is the son of Allah; these are the words of their mouths; they imitate the saying of those who disbelieved before; may Allah destroy them; how they are turned away!”

Qur’an Sura 2:191-193, “And slay them wherever ye find them, and drive them out of the places whence they drove you out, for persecution [of Muslims] is worse than slaughter [of non-Muslims] … and fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is for Allah.”

allAfrica – “The Adamawa government said at least 3,000 persons have arrived the state, fleeing recent Boko Haram attacks in neighbouring Borno state.

The government said it was worried with the daily influx of people from Borno state where violence has continued and locals are often targeted by Islamist Boko Haram.

The state commissioner for Border Integration, Hamza Bello, made the government’s position known during a condolence visit to Bitiku-Valti Village in Madagali Local Government Area to sympathise with victims taking refuge in the area.

Mr Bello said the Adamawa government was worried about the frequent influx of displaced persons now taking refuge in Madagali area of the state.

He said the Adamawa state governor, Murtala Nyako, had inaugurated a committee to take care of the displaced persons.

Part of the committee’s mandate is to register the refugees, ascertain their numbers, and to establish camps where the displaced can receive immediate assistance.

‘So far, no fewer than 3,000 people from Bama and Gwoza local government areas of Borno have been confirmed to have fled to Adamawa due to the fear of terrorists’ attacks,’ the commission said.

Also sympathising with the victims, the Speaker of the Adamawa State House of Assembly, Ahmadu Umaru, made a personal donation of an undisclosed amount of money to the displaced persons.” Read more.

Flashback: Nigeria: Islamists Massacre At Least 161 During Attack On Travellers In Borno State – “Environmental officers yesterday recovered 87 more corpses of travelers killed by suspected Boko Haram gunmen during an attack on Maiduguri-Damaturu road near Benisheik town in Borno State on Tuesday. This was in addition to 55 bodies earlier picked up on Wednesday… Apart from the 142 travellers, also killed in the attack were 2 soldiers, 3 policemen and 14 villagers, Sbringing the total death toll to 161.” Read more.

Flashback: Nigeria: Suspected Islamists Target Christians For Slaughter In Borno State, Burn Down Their Homes, Churches – “Suspected Islamist fighters went on the rampage in northeast Nigeria overnight, killing 10 Christians with guns and machetes and burning down their houses, witnesses said on Sunday. The attack happened in a village called Chibok, in a remote part of northeastern Borno state, at the heart of an insurgency led by Islamist sect Boko Haram.” Read more.

Flashback: Nigeria: Islamists Pull Over Bus Near Maiduguri, Kill All Christian Passengers, Embark On Door-To-Door ‘Islamisation Campaign’ At Gunpoint – “Release partners are reporting targeted violence against Christians in the northern state of Borno this weekend. Stefanos Foundation says that gunmen pulled over a bus near Maiduguri on Saturday, demanded passengers declare their faith and then killed the six people who said they were Christian. Meanwhile, in Gwoza, also in Borno state, Islamists are reported to have embarked upon an ‘Islamisation campaign’.” Read more.

Qur’an Sura 9:29, “[Mohammed said] Fight those who believe not in Allah … (even if they are) of the People of the Book [Christians], until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.”

Hadith Bukhari 2996, “… [Mohammed] said, ‘Become Muslim and you will be safe. Know that the earth belongs to Allah and His Messenger. I want to expel you from this land. Whoever of you has some property should sell it. However, the earth belongs to Allah and His Messenger.’”

By Raymond Ibrahim, Jihad Watch – “The plight of Egypt’s Christian Copts, especially in Upper Egypt, continues unabated. According to a new Arabic report, during the last few days in Asyut, ‘criminal groups and gangs managed to acquire guns and weapons and, as usual, have attacked and abused the Christians to control their sources of income, including to finance their [the ‘gangsters’] activities. They forced Copts to pay large amounts of money as tax [jizya] in order not to steal and/or plunder their lands.

The El Fagr report points out that no one has done a thing to oppose these gangs: ‘they simply kill Christians and their families as happened in the village of Shameiya when two Copts refused to pay the tax: the gang killed them and this was repeated in many other villages belonging to the governorate of Asyut. It is becoming so normal now to watch as these crimes against Christians occur day by day and nothing is done.’

According to Hanna Grees Sorial, who has owned a piece of land for over 25 years now, with all the proper documents, members of these gangs recently seized his property and even built a fence around it, telling Sorial that he had to pay 100,000 Egyptian pounds (approximately $16,700 USD) if he wanted his land back.

Amazingly, the piece of land in question is just a few meters away from the police station. And Sorial did report the men, who were arrested only to be released quickly, as often happens in Muslim majority nations whenever Christians register a grievance.

Most recently, and by way of retaliation, the gang called him saying that, since he went to police, they are now demanding 800,000 Egyptian pounds to return his land; they also threatened to kill him and his family if he tried to report on them again.

In the words of Sorial: ‘the gangs abuse Christians because we are a peaceful minority; we hate violence and they use that against us, seizing our money to buy weapons and to finance their atrocities against the poor and innocent ones.'” Source – Jihad Watch.

Flashback: Egypt: Muslims Murder Christians For Refusing To Pay ‘Jizya’ Tax – “Two Coptic Christians government employees were shot dead yesterday for refusing to pay Jizya, the Muslim poll tax on Christians. Emad Damian, 50, and his cousin Medhat Damian, 37, from the village of Sahel Selim in Assuit Province, were contacted two days before their murder by the leader of a Muslim gang, who was identified by Watany Coptic Newspaper as Ashraf Ahmed Mohammed Khalajah, a registered criminal from the village.” Read more.

ENCA – “Egyptian security forces failed to stop revenge attacks against Coptic Christians after a deadly crackdown on supporters of ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in August, Amnesty International said on Wednesday.

The London-based rights group said attacks targeted Christian churches, schools and charity buildings after the August 14 dispersal by security forces of two pro-Morsi camps in Cairo that killed hundreds of people.

In a report, Amnesty said more than 200 Christian-owned properties were attacked and 43 churches seriously damaged, adding that at least four people were killed.

‘It is deeply disturbing that the Christian community across Egypt was singled out for revenge attacks over the events in Cairo by some supporters of the deposed president, Mohamed Morsi,’ said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Amnesty’s Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa.

‘In light of previous attacks, particularly since Morsi’s ousting on 3 July, a backlash against Coptic Christians should have been anticipated, yet security forces failed to prevent attacks or intervene to put an end to the violence.’

Morsi was Egypt’s first democratically elected president, but his divisive single year in office ended abruptly when the army overthrew him with the support of millions of Egyptians.

Islamists accuse Coptic Christians of backing the military that toppled Morsi, who belongs to the Muslim Brotherhood.

This perception was fuelled by the appearance on television of Coptic Pope Tawadros II alongside army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi when he announced Morsi’s dismissal.

Copts make up six to 10% of Egypt’s 85-million-strong population, and have long complained of discrimination and marginalisation, particularly under Morsi.

Amnesty said that in several cases men armed with guns, metal bars and knives ransacked churches and Christian properties, many chanting slogans such as “God is Great! and using derogatory terms like ‘Christian dogs’.

It said historical and religious relics were desecrated, and graffiti scrawled on walls included slogans such as ‘Morsi is my president’ and ‘They killed our brothers during prayer’.

‘Given the fact that these attacks were in retaliation for the crackdown on pro-Morsi sit-ins, the leadership of the Muslim Brotherhood said too little too late, and laid the blame on ‘thugs’ distancing their supporters from the attacks,’ Hadj Sahraoui said.

Amnesty also said the body of a 60-year-old Coptic Christian shot dead at his home in the central town of Delga was dragged through the streets behind a tractor, and that after he had been buried his grave was dug up twice.

Attacks by Islamists on three churches and a monastery in Delga have shattered its Christian community, a reporter who visited the town said.” Read more.