Mexico: Protestants imprisoned and displaced
26 Mar 2015
Two Protestant cousins, Casto Hernández and Juan Placido Hernández, were imprisoned and then expelled from their community with their families after refusing to renounce their religious beliefs. Christian Solidarity Worldwide said they were imprisoned for 30 hours by village officials and the efforts to expel the men were led by local leaders. A campaign targeting the Protestant minority in this region of Mexico began in April 2014 when village authorities attempted to force Protestants to sign a document prohibiting them from belonging to any non-Roman Catholic religion. They refused, but village leaders signed the document and claimed it was binding on the community. Religious freedom violations are common in Hidalgo state where local leaders often try to force conformity to the majority religion. State officials tasked with upholding the law, including human rights protections enshrined in the Mexican constitution, rarely intervene to protect religious freedom.
Global: Unrest inside IS
26 Mar 2015
Eleven medical students and doctors of Sudanese origin went to Syria to provide medical assistance to IS. Members of the group sent text messages saying they were treating hospital patients. An estimated 20,000 foreign fighters and supporters have flocked to Syria and Iraq to prop up IS. The Washington Post reported special treatment and better pay for the foreign recruits have made local fighters resentful. Foreign fighters live in cities where there’s less chance of airstrikes while Syrian fighters serve in more vulnerable rural outposts. IS is paying foreign fighters $800 a month, but Syrians half that amount causing mounting unrest in IS. Meanwhile nine members of IS were killed during infighting after they tried to flee over the Turkish border. It is not the first time that IS has killed its own members. They killed 120+ of their own fighters in two months, mostly foreigners trying to return home.
Syrians feel ‘increasingly abandoned by the world’ as global attention focuses on IS militants while violence and government bureaucracy hinder delivery of aid and medical supplies to 12 million people. UN chief Ban Ki-moon said a lack of accountability during the four-year civil war has also led to a rise in allegations of war crimes, crimes against humanity and other human rights abuses. While aid is reaching several million people, the situation for 4.8 million people in hard-to-reach areas (especially 212,000 people in besieged areas) was of ‘grave concern. Hospitals and schools are being attacked and international aid funding has failed to keep pace with needs. The UN is seeking $8.4 billion to meet humanitarian needs in 2015, after only securing half the funding it asked for in 2014. Mr Ban ki-moon said at a pledging conference in Kuwait on 31 March is crucial.
Muhammad Buhari wants to replace the current Christian President of Nigeria. Buhari has said in the past, ‘Sharia should be introduced across Nigeria. I will continue to show openly and inside me total commitment to the Sharia movement. God willing, we will not stop agitating for total implementation of the Sharia in Nigeria. God has given us a legal responsibility to continue to uphold the practice of Sharia wholeheartedly and educate non-Muslims that they have nothing to fear. What remains for Muslims in Nigeria is for them to redouble their efforts, educate Muslims on the need to promote the full implementation of Sharia law.’ Buhari’s comments were interpreted as a call for the imposition of Sharia even in the mainly Christian south. Also in the run-up to federal elections Nigerian journalists have been attacked and beaten at political rallies, and fear attack from militants. See:
Four years ago this week a group of young teenagers with a can of paint sprayed messages on a wall in Daraa city. They couldn’t have known it but, over the next nine days, their graffiti started the Syrian civil war, which reaches its fourth anniversary on 15 March. The sprayed messages said ‘the people want to topple the regime’- echoed in other countries during the Arab Spring. The Syrian government was quick to act. It arrested the 15 boys, aged 10 to 15, interrogated and tortured them. Thousands turned out on the streets and the boys were released. The protests continued and spread to cities across Syria before turning violent and developing into full-scale civil war. The first protestors to die were killed on 18 March, - by security forces trying to stop a rally. At least 220,000 have lost their lives according to the most recent UN figures, including over 10,000 children.
Israel: Victorious Netanyahu – next steps
23 Mar 2015
The next step following the Israeli election is to form a coalition government. The final results of the ballot boxes will be known by Friday as the soldiers’ and diplomats’ votes need to be counted. After that the country will be faced with a period of uncertainty, during which the president will choose the candidate whom he believes has the highest prospect of setting up a coalition. Then this candidate will negotiate with his prospective coalition partners. Once a deal is reached the new government will be formed and the various ministerial portfolios will be distributed according to the agreement. That could take some time. Benjamin Netanyahu has not made himself beloved of his people, many leaders in the free world hoped and he would be pushed off Israel’s stage. Following weeks of tension between the White House and the Prime Minister’s Office, there is now a need to push the reset button.
Libya: IS kidnaps 20 medical workers
23 Mar 2015
A group of 30+ gunmen attacked the Ibn Sina Hospital in Sirte and abducted 20 workers. The hospital workers had decided to leave the city because of the poor security situation there and the Islamic State wanted them to stay because they were the only people able to treat its wounded fighters. IS murdered 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians in Libya last month and took control of Sirte last year. Libya's security situation has disintegrated. Warring tribes and interest groups provide fertile ground for IS success. IS kidnapped nine foreign oil workers and reportedly beheaded eight guards earlier this month; they also killed oil workers and took hostages in February. They are causing Libya to become more dangerous by the day. These latest attacks don’t bear the hallmarks of militias driven by local grievances or political rivalry, as seen in the past. Their aim is to instil fear, mark territory and wreak havoc.
Nigeria: Christ in the midst of war
23 Mar 2015
As Boko Haram brings death and destruction to Nigeria, a radio ministry is reporting miraculous testimonies of salvation and protection in the midst of terror. The Tide radio talks about Jesus in the language they were born to speak. One Muslim listener heard a programme in the Hausa language, the official language of Islam in Nigeria. Although a believer in Jihad, he was challenged by the message of hope and peace that only Christ can offer. He responded to the Gospel message, called the number at the end of the programme and is now a follower of Christ. Another listener said, ‘I’m a Nigerian soldier with the 15th armoured brigade in the war against Boko Haram and listen to your radio programme. Thanks for your prayers. God has kept me alive. By God’s grace Boko Haram will be defeated and the northeast border will witness the flushing out of the terrorists.’