House Church in Baiyin, Gansu Province raided; Five people placed under Administrative Detention

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By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service

GANSU, CHINA ANS — Sl police officials meeting site house church Honghui Coal Pingchuan District, Baiyin City, Gansu Province afternoon June 24, 2008. detained Mr. Wang Fayun, co-worker charge gathering site female practicing piano.

China Aid Association CAA tt news day tt Brother Wang placed ur 10 days administrative detention sisters we placed ur days administrative detention.

On afternoon June 25, officials detained members, Chen wife, gathering site. detainees, Chen wife we sentenced 10 days administrative detention fined 1,000 Yuan $145 USD. contacted, Gansu authorities issued following statement concerning case:

“These people suspected engaging cult activities undermining public security. According information, ts church house church based pure belief public gatherings te local area.”

China Aid says: “Across China, authorities continue defy law similar label victims groundless charges. implore brothers sisters pray innocent Christians ours.”

China Aid Association appeals se time relevant authorities Gansu release innocent Christians immediately assume responsibility se compensation losses ty suffered.

Women Bible College Students Attacked

GFA - June 17, women students Gospel Asia Bible college faced humiliation persecution distributed Gospel tracts Andhra Pradesh, India. Anti-Christian extremists interrogated women, attack eventually escalated physical abuse bus station.

As women—all third-year Bible college students—passed tracts, confronted radicals. Harshly interrogating women, snatched tracts fm hand, tore tm pieces threw tm face. threatened women berated vulgar insults.

Finally, students told radicals leave station go. instead, extremists called me people fm organization ce harass women.

Now, 10 people surrounding them, students we forced endure insults. Tn extremist tk dirty sandal beat women it—not oy hurting women physically, deeply humiliating tm public.

As continued beat students, Christian fm local church ce tr rescue. extremists dispersed, believer helped women bk house.

The team staying village help Gospel Asia native missionary Ednit Sadhil family evangelism literature. internship pt women’s final training beginning full-time ministries.

The women request prayer safety continue serving ts grace ty choose we minister graduate. prayer tt te persecuted tm ce fl knowledge love Christ.

Pastor attacked in Andhra Pradesh state, India

By James Varghese
Special ASSIST News Service

ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA (ANS) — pastor attacked beaten near Siddipet Medak district Andhra Pradesh Sunday, June 22 8pm. According news reported www.christiancouncil.in, Pastor Kinnera Kanankaiah.

The site reports incident pastor wife, wh or women believers (members church), returning home birthday party pe called Rangadam Palli.

A Hindu activists (radicals) belonging Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS National Volunteer servants) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP, Indian Peoples Party) attacked them. site reported that, Hindu radicals manhandled pastor, wife woman poured alcohol tm fun them.

The news source happened outside village, people invited tm birthday party ag at incident.

According website, pastor or victims immediately nearest police station (Siddipet Rural) ge written complaint, appealing police enquire incident action culprits. ty wt hospital treatment.

All India Christian Council (aicc) condemned attack pastor team demanded action culprits. Council sought protection Christian community light growing incidence violence at minority Christian community.

Convert Couple Arrested and Tortured in Iran

Compass Direct News Reports that:

Security police officials Tehran month tortured newly converted couple threatened tr 4-year-old daughter institution arresting holding Bible studies attending house church.

A Christian source Iran sd 28-year-old Tina Rad charged “activities holy religion Islam” reading Bible Muslims home east Tehran trying convert them. Officials charged husband, 31-year-old Makan Arya, “activities at national security” ar seizing couple fm home June 3, forcing tm leave 4-year-old daughter ill unattended.

Authorities kept unknown jail days, wh left tm badly bruised fm beatings, Rad “very ill” unable walk, source. Rad released bail US$30,000 bail, husband freed payment US$20,000.

“The time ao apostasy charge, don’t stop yr Jesus,” female security police officer told Rad dg interrogation, according source. Ur Iran’s strict Islamic laws, Muslims convert Islam religion executed.

A draft law Iranian parliament death penalty mandatory “apostates” leave Islam.

Read me Compass Direct News.

Record Fine for Baptists in Belarus for Talking About Religion

BELARUS (ANS) — Belarus imposed fine me months average wages Baptist organized choral singing talked religious issues outside Ushachi public market.

Belarus located Eastern Europe, east Poland.

A story Geraldine Fagan writing Forum 18 News Service reported plain clothes policeman told Baptists outside stop, Vladimir Burshtyn replied disturbing public order. cited religious freedom guarantees Belarus’ Constitution, Universal Declaration Human Rights.

The fine is, Forum 18’s knowledge, ht imposed Baptists unregistered religious activity. Hr fines levied or communities.

Forum 18 sd tt Olga Karchevskaya, official witnessed incident, defended state’s response Religion Law’s restrictions. said, “We kw who’s coming - ty destructive acting at people’s interests.”

After arrival Karchevskaya, vice-chair Ushachi’s District Executive Committee, Burshtyn escorted local police station charged ur Administrative Violations Code (violation regulations holding demonstrations or mass events).

Forum 18 reported local court fined day.

Olga Plisko, nearest Baptist Council Churches congregation Ushachi, 20 miles south-east Lepel, told Forum 18 tt Baptists involved we local. However, kw ty we preparing appeal at fine.

Religious activity permission on bn punished wh fines. 2006, example, administrator charismatic Life Church capital Minsk fined 3,825,000 Belarusian Roubles, (1,780 U.S. Dollars).

Forum 18 ts time fined unregistered religious activity Similarly, 2005, Pastor Pentecostal church fined 4,650,000 Belarusian Roubles (2,171 U.S. Dollars), baptizing 70 people lake.

Forum 18 Baptist Council Churches broke fm Soviet government-recognized Baptist Union 1961, protest regulations preventing missionary activity religious instruction children.

Refusing principle register wh authorities post-Soviet countries, Forum 18 tt Council congregations regularly fe prosecution Belarus ss registration mandatory. violation international human rights standards

Forum 18 Karchevskaya insistent tt preaching Bible, saying “We’re believers nowadays.” specific reference Baptists, Forum 18 reported said, “We Baptists here, regard tm positively.”

However, Forum 18 insisted tt approximately 20 Baptist adults children singing preaching Ushachi violated Belarus’ 2002 Religion Law.

In addition breaking Law’s territorial restrictions religious activity traveling 400 miles Brest Region, Forum 18 reported obtained prior permission Ushachi District Executive Committee.

Karchevskaya added, “If shown registration documents, proving ty he legal hold mass meeting, problem. didn’t.”

Karchevskaya told Forum 18 tt preaching wn law, “As Norway, Germany ae else.”

But Baptists visited Ushachi refuse abide Belarusian law, said. “They don’t recognize secular law, oy tr own.”

The 2002 Law’s territorial restrictions requirement permission necessary, Forum 18 reported Karchevskaya said, be “We nd who’s coming - ty cd destructive acting people’s interests.”

“It’s common courtesy introduce wt visit someone’s home,” Forum 18 reported Karchevskaya continued. Baptists preached sang using amplification, however, occasion, “no ry listening ty didn’t were,” told Forum 18.

Forum 18 sd 2004, fines unregistered religious activity we usually relatively low - equivalent days’ average wages - mt pt encountered congregations Baptist Council Churches. or unregistered independent Protestant churches reported 17 te fines 2003 2004.

While comparative figure 2005 2006 12, Forum 18 fines we occasions significantly higher. Ty ranged equivalent weeks months average wages.

Seven fines reported Baptist Council Churches 2007 2008, annulled, ranged approximately weeks average wages month’s average wages.

For background information, Forum 18’s Belarus religious freedom survey www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=888.  er, Forum 18 insisted tt approximately 20 Baptist adults children singing preaching Ushachi violated Belarus’ 2002 Religion Law.

In addition breaking Law’s territorial restrictions religious activity traveling 400 miles fm Brest Region, Forum 18 reported sd ty sd obtained prior permission fm Ushachi District Executive Committee.

Karchevskaya added, “If shown registration documents, proving legal rt hold sh mass meeting, wd he bn problem. didn’t.”

Karchevskaya told Forum 18 preaching wn law, “As Norway, Germany else.”

But Baptists visited Ushachi refuse abide Belarusian law, said. “They ty don’t recognize secular law, own.”

The 2002 Law’s territorial restrictions requirement permission necessary, Forum 18 reported Karchevskaya said, be “We who’s coming - ty destructive acting at people’s interests.”

“It’s common courtesy introduce visit someone’s home,” Forum 18 reported Karchevskaya continued. We Baptists preached sang using amplification, however, occasion, “no listening didn’t kw were,” told Forum 18.

Forum 18 2004, fines unregistered religious activity usually relatively low - equivalent days’ average wages - pt encountered congregations Baptist Council Churches. unregistered independent Protestant churches reported 17 fines 2003 2004.

While comparative figure 2005 2006 12, Forum 18 sd te fines sl occasions significantly higher. Ty ranged equivalent weeks months average wages.

Seven fines reported Baptist Council Churches 2007 2008, lr annulled, ranged approximately weeks average wages month’s average wages.

For background information, Forum 18’s Belarus religious freedom survey www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=888.