Reporters Without Borders has condemned the Jihadi group ‘Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant’ (ISIS) who are attacking news media and journalists in both Iraq and what they call ‘liberated areas’ of Syria. This Jihadi group uses intimidation, abduction, torture and murder to further its goal of controlling news and media information. ISIS target all who do not share their ideology and rule nothing out in order to impose a reign of terror. The local media play a crucial role in Syria, where news gathering and dissemination is becoming increasingly dangerous. Nowadays ISIS are carrying out real crimes against freedom of information. Historically the name Isis was that of the ancient Egyptian goddess of fertility, now it’s a group of jihadist fighters engaged in extreme violence and instilling fear in the media and the towns by their bloody standards of Syria’s savage civil war. See als
Iraq INSIGHT: Al-Qaeda chief vows comeback
27 Jul 2012The first online statement from the new leader of al-Qaeda’s affiliate in Iraq claims the terrorist network is preparing operations to free prisoners and assassinate court officials. The audio identifies the speaker as Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who became head of the Islamic State of Iraq in 2010. It was posted on a website regularly used by al Qaeda to make statements. Al-Baghdadi invited Muslims to come to Iraq to join his movement and released the statement as Sunni insurgents, now thought to be dominated by the group, stepped up attacks against Shiites, government officials and other targets. ‘I bring you good news. We are starting a new phase in our struggle with a plan we named Breaking the Walls, and we remind you of your priority to free the Muslim prisoners,’ al-Baghdadi said. He urged tribal leaders to send their men to join al Qaeda as it returns to areas from which it withdrew. See: For INSIGHTS to aid intercession for Iraq click the 'Info' button
Pray: against the fear and panic caused by militants, and for the political parties to restore stability. (Ps.5:8)
Info: http://site.prayer-alert.net/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=395&Itemid=93
Iraq: 30 died in car bomb attacks against Shia Muslims celebrating Ashura in Baghdad and Hilla. The attacks follow violence against Christian shops and properties in the Kurdistan region. Also in Dahuk three shops and a community centre belonging to Chaldean Christians were burnt in a campaign that targets ‘all that is contrary to Sharia, by Islamists who want to radicalize Iraq. Unfortunately there is no ‘moderate movement’ capable of containing the fundamentalist drift against Christians in the north. The Christian community is an easy target in the game for the conquest of power. Afghanistan: 59 died in bombings against Shiite Muslims. An Afghan official said, ‘the bomber in Kabul was a Pakistani, affiliated to Pakistan's extremist Lashkar-i-Jhangvi group, which has killed thousands of Pakistani Shiites.’ The faction is linked to Al-Qaeda. See http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iuiDw_85Fc_czcRRDdjV3ooxsrIw?docId=CNG.8d286bd1dbe15a516592439618a32be0.3c1
Pray: in the midst of turmoil and terror, that God's purposes for the region would prevail. (Mt.6:10)
Iraq & Nigeria: Blasts near Churches
11 Aug 2011
On August 3rd a car bomb outside a Catholic church in Kirkuk, Iraq, left 13 wounded as police disarmed two more car bombs targeting churches in the city. Online video images of the attack against the Holy Family Church showed a wall blasted open and broken glass, rubble and dust throughout the building. The explosion occurred on the second day of the month-long Muslim fasting period of Ramadan. See:http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/iraq/article_115875.html In Nigeria a committee was investigating how to overcome rapidly spreading Islamic violence after two weekend bomb explosions near churches in mainly Muslim areas. The blasts rocked the city of Jos on Saturday near a Baptist Church. A second bomb exploded Sunday morning near a Church of Christ in Nigeria building and an Assemblies of God sanctuary in the Kwarrarafa Area. The explosions came a week after five were killed in violence between Muslims and Christians in Jos.
Pray: for peace and protection in churches and public gathering places and for authorities to have much wisdom and watchfulness. (Ja.3:17)
More: http://www.bosnewslife.com/17791-bomb-blasts-near-nigeria-churches
A Christian convert whom security authorities arrested in her home was sentenced to two years in prison by the Revolutionary Court in Tehran, reports Iranian Christian news agency, Mohabat News. According to reports sent by reporters of Iranian Christian news agency, Mohabat News, Ms. Leila Mohammadi, a Christian convert who resided east of Tehran, was sentenced to two years of imprisonment after enduring 5 months of uncertainty in notorious Evin prison. Her trial was held on 18 January in Revolutionary Court in Moalem street where she was charged with "collaboration with foreign-dependent groups, broad anti-Islamic propaganda, deceiving citizens by formation of what is called a house church, Insulting sacred figures and action against national security." However she was acquitted of collaboration with foreign-dependent groups because the judge believed she had done that unintentionally. For the other charges she was sentenced to two years in prison and the ruling was delivered to her.
Pray: for God to give Leila courage and strength and to watch over her during her imprisonment. (Dt.31:6)
Iran: Youcef Nadarkhani’s imprisonment ignored
07 Sep 2012Last week a Jewish advocacy group, the American Jewish Committee (AJC), urged Iran's Non-Alignment Movement summit to address the plight of Iranian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, who has been imprisoned for over 1,000 days due to his Christian faith. The summit served as a platform for Iran to gain international support during tough sanctions levied against it by many western countries and bolster its relationships with North Korea, Afghanistan, Venezuela, and Sudan. AJC implored United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to ‘emphatically speak out in support of Pastor Nadarkhani's freedom’ arguing that Iran is violating its own constitution, as well as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, by holding Nadarkhani for more than 1,000 days on charges of apostasy and attempting to evangelize Muslims.
Pray: against Iran’s harassment of Christians, religious minorities, human rights advocates and for the release of all prisoners of conscience. (Is.61:1b)
More: http://www.christianpost.com/news/youcef-nadarkhanis-imprisonment-ignored-at-irans-nam-summit-80740/
Iran: Warns those who remain defiant
22 Feb 2011On Wednesday Iran said it is planning to take action against opposition leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, who reject the presidency of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and who had called for a demonstration on Monday which turned deadly. MPs are demanding they be executed for their defiance by initiating public protests. Mohseni Ejeie said, ‘The heads of seditions are the people who should be punished for their criminal acts and God willing actions in this regard are being taken.’ Iranian officials accuse USA, Britain and Israel of influencing the thousands of anti-government protesters in the streets and the clashes with riot-police. The protest, initially held in solidarity with Arab uprisings, were the first anti-government demonstration since February 2010 when similar agitation was crushed by security forces and militiamen. Karroubi said in a website statement he was ready to 'pay any price.’
Pray: for Iranian leaders to listen to the voice of the people. (Pr.11:2)
More: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110216/wl_mideast_afp/iranpoliticsunrest_20110216110101
Iran: US to open joint chamber of commerce
06 Dec 2013‘Iran-US chamber of commerce will be launched in less than one month,’ Abolfazl Hejazi, a member of Iran's Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture, told the English-language Iran Daily. In the wake of the recent historic accord between Tehran and major powers on Iran's controversial nuclear programme, Hejazi also said his country was ready to start direct flights to the United States. After the 1979 revolution in Iran, Washington severed diplomatic relations with Tehran following the seizure of its embassy in Tehran, during which Islamist students held 52 US diplomats hostage for 444 days. According to Hejazi, the project which he said had already been registered in the United States would allow the two countries to work towards restoring ties, Iran’s government has authorized the private sector to launch joint activities for Iran to establish direct flights to the United States.
Pray: these negotiations and arrangements would enable mission agencies and the hundreds of thousands of Iranians living in the US to freely travel in and out of Iran. (2Ch.15:5)