Islamic Extremists Kill Somali Christian as Fifth Believer Martyred in Somalia in the Last Nine Months

By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service

SOMALIA ANS — Islamic extremists shot and killed a Muslim convert to Christianity on July 10, 2008 in Afgyoye, a town 18 miles away from Mogadishu, Somalias capital. The victims name was Sayid Ali Sheik Luqman Hussein, and he was 28 years old.

ICC International Christian Concern www.persecution.org says that on Tuesday, July 8, two Muslim men approached Mr. Hussein and asked him if he faces Mecca when he prays Mohammed instructed his followers to face the city of Mecca when they pray. Hussein told them that as a Christian, he does not have to face a specific direction to pray because God is omnipresent.

The two Muslim men returned on July 10th armed with an AK-47 assault rifle and a semi-automatic handgun and shot Hussein to death.

ICC says Husseins wife went into premature labor and delivered a stillborn baby upon hearing of her husbands murder.

According to ICC, Hussein came to Christ from Islam in 2004. He grew in his faith and started to evangelize in the community in which he was working as a teacher. Husseins pastor described him as the most effective evangelist in his area. One of Husseins students described him as the godliest man he has ever met.

Recently, Islamic extremists have intensified their attacks against Christians in Somalia. In the past nine months alone, five Christians, including Hussein, have been martyred for their faith. The other four martyrs are: David Abdulwahab Mohamed Ali, Daud Ali, Mohamed Yusuf and Hassan Moalim.

ICCs regional manger for Africa, Jonathan Racho, stated, “Somali Christians are paying the ultimate price for their faith in Jesus Christ. Despite the spike in persecution they face, they have chosen to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ to the point of death. Christians should continue to pray and support their brothers and sisters in Somalia.”

To learn more about the needs of Somali Christians and how you can help them, please contact ICC.

ICC is a Washington-DC based human rights organization that exists to help persecuted Christians worldwide. ICC delivers humanitarian aid, trains and supports persecuted pastors, raises awareness in the US regarding the problem of persecution, and is an advocate for the persecuted on Capitol Hill and the State Department.

Attack on Christian Gospel meeting by Hindu Radicals in Karnataka, India

By James Varghese
Special to ASSIST News Service

KARNATAKA, INDIA ANS — A group of 40 Hindu radicals barged into a worship service and gospel meeting and attacked the pastor and believers in Bagalkot in Karnataka state, India on July 27.

According to a news reported by www.persecution.in, which is run by the Global Council of Indian Christians GCIC, this incident took place as Pastor Basappa was conducting a two day Gospel meeting in a private hotel called Anugraha.

The site said that on the second day of the meeting, as the people were still gathering and the meeting was about to begin and at around 11.30 am a mob of nearly 40 Hindu radicals barged into the assembly, shouting filthy abuses slapped the musician named Sampath Kumar and, as Pastor Basappa who saw this happening, tried to stop them and the radicals pushed him away and his spectacles broke off leaving him with a found on his face.

Speaking about the Incident Pastor Basappa told ANS, “As soon as blood start to flow from my face, the radicals got scared and suddenly the police arrived to the scene and started to yell at me and our musician and told us to get into the police vehicle. Along with myself, my wife, and two daughters Krupa and Manjusha, we were taken to the Police station for interrogation.”

The website reported that, after attacking the pastor, the radicals did not leave the place but waited and grabbed Bibles and hymnbooks from the congregation and tore them to shreds and proceeded to beat up a few other believers. The site reported that nearly 100 Bibles were destroyed by the radicals.

Speaking about the attack and the injuries Pastor Basappa told ANS, “ No one was severely hurt, but a small child got a wound on his head and had to have 10 stitches. The child got hurt as the radicals threw a plastic chair in the air. The child is said to doing fine and okay and nothing serious.”

GCIC president Dr. Sajan George contacted Mr. G. Ramesh, Superintendent of Police and is closely monitoring the situation in the hospital and police station.

GCIC told that in the true spirit of Christ and for harmony and in the background of serial bomb blasts in Bangalore and Ahmedabad, they have informed the officials to withdraw criminal charges against the perpetrators and also demanded safety and right of and freedom to worship true God.

The website said that legal aid has been extended by GCIC to the pastor and believers.

Pastor Severely Beaten in Karnataka, India

By James Varghese
Special to ASSIST News Service

KARNATAKA, INDIA (ANS) — A pastor was recently assaulted by about 20 members of a radical Hindu group in front of his horrified congregation and family.

According to a news report by www.persecution.in, the attack on Pastor K. Abraham occurred on July 20 during a worship service at Friends Mission Prayer Band Church in Konvallichawla Village.

The Hindus entered the church at about 12.30 p.m., beat the pastor and destroyed all the Christian literature, as well as the Bibles, that were there in the church.

The story stated that the alleged perpetrators took Abraham to an area police station to have him arrested. Due to the intensity of the attack, Abraham collapsed at the police station. He was taken to a local government hospital where he is being treated for trauma.

According to www.persecution.in, Abraham has served the church as pastor for seven years. He is married with two children.

The story pointed out that Christian believers living in the area are under constant fear of attack, and this is the third incident in the last two months.

The Global Council of Indian Christians said that local police are very sympathetic to the radical Hindu cause. According to the web site, law enforcement refused to accept a complaint from the pastor’s wife that her husband had been attacked. They went as far as to say that the family would be thrown out of the district if a complaint was filed with authorities.

Pastor and Church Attendees Beaten and Jailed in India

By James Varghese
Special to ASSIST News Service

KARNATAKA, INDIA (ANS) — A pastor and members of his church were attacked by Hindu radicals recently.

The incident, another in a series of attacks on Christians by Hindu radicals, occurred on July 20 in Davangere, Karnataka.

According to a story by www.persecution.in, the alleged assault occurred as Pastor Lakshman Naik was holding a regular worship service at Gypsy Prayer Hall. Suddenly a group of 40 Hindu radicals stormed the church at about 12:30 pm.

The story reported that the attackers were led by Mahesh Salimada, and were members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Ram Sena (Army of Ram) and Rashtriya Swayam Sevaks (RSS, National Volunteer Servants).

The web site reported that after their initial attack, the alleged perpetrators began shouting and insulting the pastor and forced him and two other believers outside the church, where they began to beat them. During the attack, the mob took Bibles and hymn books outside the church and burned them.

According to the story, Naik and the two other church attendees were taken to the local police station after the attack, and charged with forced conversion and being unpatriotic. They were also reportedly abused by an investigating officer, and their injuries were ignored.

According to www.persecution.in, Naik’s wife and their three children came to the police station and pleaded for the three men to be released. However, the story reported, they were prohibited by the attackers from entering the police station and warned that they also faced being attacked and put in prison.

The Global Council of Indian Christians was notified of the attack two hours after it occurred, and began working to secure the release of the men. That occurred at about midnight on July 20.

Two Bible College Students Beaten

On July 19, two Gospel for Asia Bible college students endured beatings and ridicule for handing out evangelistic tracts in Maharashtra, India. They were on their weekend outreach when the incident occurred.

The trouble began when Mohan, a third-year student, came across an automobile driver who questioned his authority to distribute tracts about Jesus. The automobile driver then slapped Mohan on his face.

Simson, another third-year student, was distributing Gospel tracts nearby and rushed to protect Mohan. The scene drew a crowd of people and they, too, began to interrogate the students.

They shouted at Mohan and Simson, using vulgarities to speak out against them. Their attackers shoved the two students around and beat them until they were severely bruised. One of the attackers pushed Simson down and kicked him.

At first, no one came to the students’ aid. Finally, a few people from among the crowd told the assailants to stop beating them. The attackers grabbed their Christian literature, telling them, “We don’t want any Jesus.” Then they let Mohan and Simson go, warning them not to return.

A GFA field leader in the area reports that both men remain at the Bible college—and have expressed joy that they had the privilege to suffer for Christ. He asks for prayer that the Lord will grant both men a good recovery and much strength to continue their ministry with renewed vigor. He also requests prayer for the salvation of those who attacked Mohan and Simson. GFA has 120 students enrolled in the Maharashtra Bible college.