The seven-week offensive against Iranian-allied Houthis and units loyal to ex-President Saleh continues to take its toll. More than 1400 civilians have died in Saudi-led attacks that pit Sunni Muslim allies against Shia Houthis and their Shia Iranian backers. Saudi bombing has created a disaster zone. People are afraid to leave their homes. Lack of food, water, fuel, and healthcare has created a humanitarian crisis. Complicating the situation is the addiction of many to khat, a narcotic that dulls the senses. Yemen's constitution declares Islam the state religion and Sharia Law the source legislation; Yemenis who leave Islam for Christianity face death. Yemeni Christians face double threats: civil unrest and persecution for their faith. UN-brokered peace talks for war-torn Yemen were postponed just four days before they were due to begin in Geneva. See also
Iraqi forces have suffered a number of defeats at the hands of IS over the past year. Last week Iraqis chose to withdraw from Ramadi despite the fact that they vastly outnumbered IS forces. That defeat exposes the Iraqi army's continuing failure to become an effective fighting force. Religious fault-lines in Iraq's conflict (Sunni vs. Shiite vs. Kurd, with most Kurds being Sunnis) has created an ethnic element that leaves international partners with few options in their campaign against IS. Meanwhile Christians who have not fled Iraq stand and endure. Canon Andrew White, Bishop of Baghdad, recently posted on his blog, ‘People ask me, are you not terrified doing such dangerous work? I have to be honest and say not at all because perfect love casts out all fear. I have been shown the perfect love of God.’ See also
Pakistan: Believers’ prayer requests
27 May 2015
'... as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favour granted to us in answer to the prayers of many.’ (2 Cor.1:11) A ladies’ ministry team whose accommodation is very close to two churches that were bombed are busy ministering in the aftermath. There have been multiple funerals, visits to injured in the hospitals, and traumatised families dealing with loss and grief. Pray for the peace, comfort and the grace of God to meet His people during this time. The presence of the evil one has noticeably increased in the general population and, sad to say, in the Christian population; particularly the ‘caste that calls themselves Christian.’ Fear has also increased within the general population. Pray against false religion. Please also pray for the courses we are running, ‘How to pray and hear from God’. We hope this will lead to an increase in 24/7 prayer groups for our nation.'
Scarred from civil war, people in Burundi need to recover from years of tribal wars and loss. 70-80% live below the poverty line. Last weekend the army attempted to overthrow President Nkurunziza ahead of an election which has now been postponed. Opposition and human rights groups say that Nkurunziza's bid for a third five-year term in power is against the constitution. Former rebel leader Nkurunziza, who claims to be a born-again Christian, believes he has divine backing to lead the country, arguing his first term in power did not count as he was elected by parliament, not directly by the people. Burundi has a Hutu/Tutsi divided population. Hutu rebels are loyal to the government, while the army is dominated by Tutsi, who are sympathetic to the opposition. Weapons and military training have been given to the ruling party's youth wing. Disagreement over a third presidential term could descend into conflict either along ethnic lines or the new military divisions. See also
Iran: Sending aid to Yemen
21 May 2015
Last month the USA sent a guided-missile cruiser towards the Arabian Sea to block a convoy of eight Iranian ships believed to be carrying arms for the rebel Houthis in Yemen (many believe Houthis receive arms from Iran). Prayer-Alert readers prayed for vital shipping lanes in the region to remain open and safe. Today an Iranian aid ship, the Shahed, heading for Yemen, is due to enter the Bab al-Mandeb strait linking the Gulf of Aden with the Red Sea. The Shahed is carrying aid and foreign activists to the port of Hodaida. Saudi Arabia is worried about the increasing influence of Iran in the Middle East. Iran wields great influence in Lebanon, Syria and Iraq with the help of proxies such as Hezbollah. On Tuesday the Times of Israel reported, ‘Defying US objections, two Iranian warships joined an Iranian cargo ship carrying supplies to Yemen.’ See also
Sudan: Pastors on trial
21 May 2015
Two South Sudanese pastors, Michael Yat and Peter Yen Reith, are on trial in Khartoum. They were detained by Sudan's National Intelligence and Security Service in December 2014 and January 2015 respectively and were charged with a range of criminal offences, including crimes against the State which are punishable by death, a life sentence or lesser detention and confiscation of property. A court hearing began on 19 May, but the prosecutor did not finish and will continue to present his evidence on 31 May. After this the defence lawyer will have an opportunity to present his case. He believes there is no real evidence against the two pastors for any of the charges. He also believes that the sole reason for the court case is the two pastors' exercise of their Christian faith. Christians in Sudan ask us to pray for God to protect the pastors and their families.
Iraq's government has called for volunteers to fight against Islamic State and help retake the city of Ramadi. A voluntary recruitment drive was necessary to fill shortages in squads. Thousands have fled from Ramadi since its capture by IS on Sunday. Officials inside the city reported, ‘burned bodies can be seen littering the streets’. More than 250 civilians and security forces have been killed in the past two days. A security analyst affirmed that a grim fate awaits the residents of Ramadi who are now in IS's grasp. ‘Anybody who supported the government will probably be executed. It will be a bloodbath in coming days.’ IS claim that ancient Christian religious relics and other faith groups promote idolatry that violates their interpretation of Islamic law. They have been destroying churches and minorities for some time in a systematic campaign to rid the region of any vestiges of other faiths. The jihadists are committing 'genocide'. See also
Danger from IS terrorists posing as refugees
21 May 2015
Islamic State (IS) terrorists are being smuggled into Europe by posing as refugees trying to cross the Mediterranean. Intelligence analysts fear that would-be jihadists are exploiting the growing crisis of desperate migrants fleeing war-torn North African countries by joining them on risky boat crossings. Once ashore in countries such as Italy and Greece, there are fears that militants could evade detection by the authorities – and try to plot violent attacks. It is reported that IS commanders are also profiting from the trade in refugees making the perilous voyage by demanding half of the money taken by the traffickers. Meanwhile, British Special Forces divers are poised to launch a series of daring operations along the Libyan coastline to destroy the ships used by traffickers. The claims that IS terrorists are posing as refugees were made by a Libyan security adviser, Abdul Basit Haroun, who used to live in Britain.