Following news that an Evangelical church in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgystan, was robbed three weeks ago, comes news that six other churches in the city have since been attacked. Sending details of the original attack Jed Courley the church’s pastor said ‘At about 1am in the morning four men climbed over the fence and broke into the back door of the church. A parishioner called Valya was badly beaten, tied up with tape, and then beaten more when very little money was found. Rooms trashed, safe demolished. Some music equipment, a computer, and other things were taken. Since our church was robbed we have heard of six other churches who were robbed recently and a couple of other people also beaten in the process. The police are doing nothing. In one case, they never even arrived on the scene. Please pray against these obvious attacks of the enemy.’ Pray: this escalation of violence against Christians will end and for no retributions to be considered. (Ps.119:86)
Kyrgyzstan's opposition said on Thursday it had taken power and dissolved parliament after a bloody uprising forced President Kurmanbek Bakiyev to flee the capital. Roza Otunbayeva, leader of the interim government, demanded his resignation. She said Bakiyev was trying to rally supporters in his power base in the south. The uprising, which began in the northern town of Talas on Tuesday soon spread to the capital Bishkek. A missionary living in Jalalabad Bakiyev’s home town reports, ‘Bakiyev is reported to be in Osh - the second city of Kyrgyzstan located further west. It’s still peaceful here right now. Bishkek is a mess. There’s meant to be a new government led by a woman in the opposition party. Nothing has been signed officially so anything could still happen. There are differing reports on numbers dead maybe 1-200 casualties with hundreds more injured. Looting has been going on in Bishkek and even here shops are closed.’
Pray: for the situation in Kyrgyzstan that the problems will not escalate and there would be peace. (Pr.12:20)
Kyrgyzstan: Injustice may spark fresh violence
09 Jun 2011
Failure to deliver justice for last year's killings of civilians in ethnic clashes in Kyrgyzstan could spark more violence, Amnesty International warns. In a report released ahead of the first anniversary of the 10 June unrest. Amnesty urges Bishkek to ‘establish the truth about what happened’. 470 people died in four days of clashes between Kyrgyz and Uzbeks in the south of the country, hundreds were injured and thousands of houses destroyed. The violence followed weeks of turmoil after the ousting of then President Kurmanbek Bakiyev in April 2010’s uprising. Amnesty International urges the Kyrgyz government to punish the perpetrators of last year's violence. ‘Failure to bring those behind the violence to justice could provide fertile soil for future turmoil and human rights violations,' said Amnesty's Europe and Central Asia director. Ethnic bias and corruption are behind the pervading impunity in Kyrgyzstan. Pray: for a rebuilding of trust between the ethnic groups, and for justice to be seen to be done. (Ps.103:6)
Deposed Kyrgyzstan President Kurmanbek Bakiyev has left the country and flown to neighbouring Kazakhstan. His departure comes in the wake of a 7 April uprising that killed scores of people and forced him to flee the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek. He had been trying to muster support in his home region of Jalalabad in the south of the country. Kyrgyzstan's interim government said Mr Bakiyev had signed a letter of resignation. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) said Mr Bakiyev's departure had been agreed with the US, Russia and the EU. The Russian Interfax news agency said Mr Bakiyev may fly on to Turkey or Latvia. Gunfire had been heard earlier as Mr Bakiyev spoke in the southern city of Osh; an opposition rally was going on nearby. Mr Bakiyev was quickly bundled into his car and driven back to Jalalabad where a plane was seen taking off from the nearby airport. (See also Prayer Alert 1510)
Pray: for the people of Kyrgyzstan that there would now be peace leading to just and stable government. (Job.22:21)
More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8623021.stm
An alliance of Christian humanitarian groups is pressing the government of Kyrgyzstan to launch an investigation into the recent civil conflict that left over a half-million people in immediate need of food, water, shelter, and medical care. ‘The civil conflict in southern Kyrgyzstan, which erupted in the first half of June, was characterized by extreme violence, hatred and cruelty,’ stated leaders of the ACT Alliance, http://www.actalliance.org/ including the heads of DanChurchAid, Christian Aid,and ICCO en Kerkinactie. Though the situation now reportedly appears calm and more stable since the constitutional referendum on June 27, tensions continue and violent acts – including killings and kidnappings – are still reported from southern Kyrgyzstan, according to ACT. Furthermore, in its statement Thursday, the global network of churches and related aid organizations emphasized that ‘there will not be reconciliation without justice, and that justice is based on all facts, which give an objective picture of what has happened. (See Prayer Alert 2510) Pray: that justice will prevail bringing healing and reconciliation. (Ps.106:3)
Forum 18 reports that Kyrgyzstan’s government is devising new ‘punishments’ for those who exercise their rights of religious freedom. The proposed changes in the country’s religion law are purportedly being pushed by the national secret police. If adopted, the new measures would increase the number of activities that would be punishable, as well as increase already heavy fines. New ‘offences’ would include teaching religious beliefs without personal registration to do so and forcing children to participate in religious activity. The proposals were sent back to the Kyrgyz justice ministry for more work before they will be sent to the parliament. Our brothers and sisters in Kyrgyzstan are very concerned about these proposed changes. Please intercede in prayer, asking God to intervene for the sake of the Gospel.
Pray: for God's protection over those who know him. Ask Him to thwart the plans of those working against His purposes in Kyrgyzstan. (Ps.36:10-12)
More: http://www.sga.org/2013/07/kyrgyzstan-believers-face-more-government-pressure/
Kyrgyzstan: Authorities targeting Uzbeks
24 Jul 2010
First the violence, now the fear. Uzbeks in southern Kyrgyzstan report that Kyrgyz authorities are rounding up Uzbek men without probable cause. Many of the arrests are taking place during the pre-dawn hours. In some cases, Uzbeks say they are paying a ransom to secure their loved ones’ release. Several deaths in custody have been reported. Those living in predominantly Uzbek areas of Osh, Kyrgyzstan’s southern capital, say they now dread the onset of night. ‘We have decided to guard our streets at night between about 23:00 and 05:00 so we can somehow try to put a live shield against the Kyrgyz military and police, who rush into our neighborhoods at night and take away our sons, husbands and brothers,’ Minura, a 45-year-old Osh resident, told EurasiaNet.org. Like most sources discussing the ongoing ethnic tension in Osh, she asked her last name not be printed. 'They took away my husband about a week ago after searching our house’ she said. Pray: for a breakthrough to the healing of relationships that would bring lasting peace following the conflicts. (Ps.28:5)
Kwait: Pray for undergreound church
07 Oct 2011Kuwait was part of the ‘Arab Spring’ of 2011. Thousands of protesters took to the streets demanding the resignation of the Prime Minister. Unlike demonstrations in Egypt and Tunisia, this unrest slowly subsided with most of the government still intact. Sharing the Gospel is not permitted but expatriate Christians continue to witness with discretion. This has resulted in a growing underground Church. We can praise God for expatriate testimonies, satellite Christian television and internet ministries which are successfully proclaiming the Good News in a Muslim nation that forbids this activity. There is potential for a great harvest of souls in Kuwait. We are asked to pray for Christians to be protected as they tell friends, families, and neighbours about Jesus Christ.
Pray: that the Lord would open doors for Christians fearlessly to share the Gospel. (Ro.10:14; Eph.6:19)