THREE CHRISTIANS DIED IN ERITREAN PRISON
Asmara: Since October, three Christians imprisoned for their faith have died in Eritrean military prisons, according to reports.

Mehari Gebreneguse Asgedom died on January 16, 2009 from torture and diabetes while in solitary confinement at the Mitire Military Confinement Centre. Asgedom’s death followed the revelation in January that another Christian died in the same prison. Mogos Hagos Kiflom was said to have died as a result of torture he endured for refusing to recant his faith, but the exact date of his death was unknown.

In October, 2008, Teklesenbet Gebreab Kiflom died while imprisoned for his faith at the Wi’a Military Confinement Centre. He reportedly died after prison commanders refused to give him medical attention for malaria.

These latest deaths reflect the Eritrean government’s harsh treatment of believers. The Eritrean government targets Christians, often placing them in metal containers that are extremely hot during the day and cold during the night.

Nearly 1,800 Eritrean Christians are believed to be under arrest because of their religious beliefs, held in police stations, military camps and prisons in 12 known locations across Eritrea. It is believed more than 28 clergymen are being held.

Jailed Christians are routinely subjected to physical beatings and severe psychological pressure to deny their religious beliefs. Police and military authorities continue to demand the prisoners return to one of the three “official” Christian denominations recognized by the government. But even the legally recognized denominations — the nation’s historic Orthodox, Catholic and Lutheran churches — have come under government disfavour in recent years, incurring threats and even jailing by security police officials.

The Voice of the Martyrs, a Christian endeavour based in Canada provides assistance and encouragement to persecuted believers in Eritrea. The organisation supports the families of martyred believers through the Families of Martyrs fund.

Christian organisation have encouraged Christians around the world to pray for persecuted believers in Eritrea.
 

CHILD PUNISHED FOR MENTIONING 'JESUS'
London (England): A school secretary whose daughter mentioned Jesus to a classmate now is facing discipline, including the possibility of dismissal from her position, for having sent an e-mail to friends from her home computer asking for prayer about the issue.

The case is developing, according to reports, for Jennie Cain, a receptionist at Landscore Primary School in Crediton, Devon.

Her daughter, Jasmine, age 5, attends the school and recently was scolded by a teacher for talking about God and her faith, the report said. She was in tears after the discipline.

Cain, who has worked at the school part-time since 2006, said after her work shift was completed – as a parent – she went to talk with teacher Sharon Gottelier about the situation. She then was summoned to the office of Principal Gary Read the next morning, where she was told “how he wasn’t happy about her making statements about her faith,” Cain told the paper.

After meeting with Read, Cain went home and e-mailed a prayer request about the situation to some friends at her church, and soon she was notified of the pending discipline for her statements in the e-mail.

“I felt embarrassed that a private prayer e-mail was read by the school – it felt like someone had gone through my personal prayer diary,” she told the paper. “I feel my beliefs are so central to who I am, are such a part of my children’s life.

“I do feel our beliefs haven’t been respected and I don’t feel I have been treated fairly. I don’t know what I am supposed to have done wrong,’ she said with concern. She reported she doesn’t know how the school got a copy of her e-mail.

Christian Institute spokesman Mike Judge said children should be allowed to discuss religion without interference from teachers, the report said.

Cain said she now is being investigated for professional misconduct, and Read has confirmed the school’s board of governors is involved.

It is the second incident of Christians being disciplined or threatened by employers in the U.K. over issues of prayer in just the last few weeks.

It was just days ago WND reported a Christian nurse in Britain had been threatened with dismissal for offering to pray for her patients’ recovery. A report from the Christian Legal Centre said the nurse, Caroline Petrie, later was restored to her position.
 

BIBLE SCHOOL STUDENT BEATEN, THREATENED
Dhakka (Bangladesh): Rajen Murmo (20) was attacked by a mob of approximately 50 Muslims in the town of Uttara, Bangladesh, where approximately four million Muslims had gathered for an annual Islamic conference on February 1, 2009.

According to a reports, Murmo and some fellow students from Believers’ Church Bible College were distributing Christian literature when a man approached them and said that the Quran had superseded the Bible, rendering it outdated.

Some men then grabbed Murmo and demanded to know who gave him the Christian literature. They also demanded that he give them the addresses of religious leaders and of his school. When he refused, the attackers beat him and threatened to kill him unless he gave them the information.

Officials eventually arrived and were able to rescue Murmo. The mob pressured the officials into sending Murmo to a local police station where he was held until the principal of his school secured his release.
 

RELIGION LAW AMENDMENTS PROPOSED
Yerevan (Armenia): On February 5, 2009, the Government proposed amendments to Armenia’s Religion Law and Criminal Code began passage through the nation’s parliament, according to reports.

Under the amendments, leaders of religious communities involved in evangelism could face up to two years in prison. Those caught evangelizing could be imprisoned for up to one year or fined 500 times the minimum monthly wage. The amendments propose a five-fold increase in the number of members required to register as a religious organization.
 

CHRISTIANS THREATENED
Bhubaneshwar (Orissa): Despite government assurances of stability in Kandhamal district, the tension remains high for Christians returning from the relief camps to what remains of their homes, churches and livelihoods.

According to reports, approximately 17 people visited the village of Jhimangia in Kandhamal on February 2, 2009 to survey the damage before moving back. However, when they arrived, they were surrounded by Hindu villagers who warned them that they could not return unless they converted to Hinduism.

Other Christians who have moved back to the district are reportedly facing harassment and discrimination. Elsewhere in the district, a foundation for a Hindu temple has been laid on the site of a church that was burned to the ground in August 2008.

Various incidents of Government apathy towards the plight of these Christians in the state have been received regularly.
 

BELIEVER'S HOUSE BURNED IN KARNATAKA
Bangalore: Hindu extremists on February 3, 2009 burned a believer’s house and threatened to build a Hindu temple on his land in Tumpur, Tiptur area.
According to reports, the extremists demanded Dasappa’s land for a Hindu temple and urged him to give the land since three months back. On the night of February 1, 2009, Hindu extremists went to the believer’s house and demanded his site for building a Rama Temple once again.
The extremists also verbally abused the believers claiming that there is no place for Christians in the village.
Dasappa refused the demand of the extremists and informed them that the land was allotted in his son’s name and ratified with a court order.
On February 3, about 15 extremists armed with weapons barged into the house. They splashed petrol and burned the house to ashes.
The local Christian leaders lodged a police complaint but the police refused to register a case.
It is believed that Hindu extremists are bent on creating division in the society on communal lines in order to polarise the electorate. As the Lok Sabha elections are due in a few months this appears to be true.
 

BROTHERS JAILED IN EGYPT
Cairo: Six Egyptian brothers were sentenced to three years in prison with hard labour on Jan. 22, after police attacked them for opening their cafe during Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting.

According to reports, the Ghatas brothers’ cafe in the city of Port Sa’id was attacked on September 8, 2008 by 13 police officers who overturned tables, broke chairs and dishes, and severely beat the brothers with sticks.

When the Christians tried to protect their cafe, they were detained for allegedly resisting arrest and assaulting authorities. One of the brothers required 11 stitches in his head after the attack while another two suffered broken arms. At the January 22, 2009 trial, the defense showed a video that an onlooker recorded as evidence of police brutality but the judge was not swayed and ruled against the brothers.

Local Christians believe religious discrimination is the true motive behind the conviction since it is not illegal for a cafe to be open during Ramadan even if many Muslims in the country observe the fast.
 

PASTOR THREATENED
Riyadh (Saudi Arabia): On January 28, 2009, a well-known Eritrean pastor, Yemane Gebriel, fled Riyadh, Saudi Arabia after being threatened with death multiple times, according reports.

Pastor Gebriel, who has lived and worked in Saudi Arabia as a private driver for 25 years, found a note on his van on January 10 that stated he would be killed if he did not leave the country.

Three days later, Saudi officials forced him from his van and threatened to kill him if he did not flee. Gebriel was again accosted in his van two days later, this time by four masked men who threatened him with death. At last report, Gebriel was residing in an undisclosed city in Saudi Arabia.

Pastor Gebriel previously came under fire for his faith in 2005, when religious police arrested him along with 16 other foreign Christian leaders. Due to diplomatic pressure, all of the believers were released within weeks.
 

PASTOR ATTACKED WHILE DISTRIBUTING TRACTS
Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala): At approximately 11:15 a.m. on January 22, 2009, Pastor T. T. Abraham (52) was distributing Bible tracts in Vaithiry, when he was beaten and kicked by three Hindu militants.

The assailants fled when they saw a rickshaw driving by. Pastor Abraham sustained injuries to his neck, stomach and back. He is under treatment. Further details are awaited.

Though the state has a sizable Christian population, and has been tolerant to minorities, activities of Sangh Pariwar elements have resulted in sporadic violence on Christians and attack on churches and Christian institutions recently.
 

BAPTISM SERVICE ATTACKED
Mumbai (Maharashtra): On January 26, 2009, members of the Navjivan Fellowship Church were conducting a baptism in the city of Gangapur, Maharashtra state when a group of Hindu militants armed with cricket stumps, iron rods and sticks arrived.

Shouting “Jai Shri Ram” (hail to Lord Ram), the militants beat those present, including women and children. They also damaged the car of one Christian.

One believer was injured in the head and others sustained broken limbs. Further details of the attack are awaited.
 

TEN MEN CHARGED WITH RAPING NUN IN ORISSA
Bhubaneshwar: The police charged ten men on January 29, 2009 for the rape of a Catholic nun that occurred during anti-Christian violence that erupted in the state in August, 2009.

On August 25, a mob of Hindu militants attacked the prayer hall in the village of K. Nuagaon, Kandha-mal district where Sister Meena (29) worked. She was grabbed by several men who tore off her clothes and held her down while one man raped her.

Sister Meena was then paraded naked through the streets along with a priest. Although police were present, they did nothing to stop the assault.

The ten have been charged with gang rape since assisting rape carries the same charge as actually committing the crime according to Indian law. At last report, the rapist had not yet been found.

GOOGLE BLOCKS ACCOUNT OF CHRISTIAN BLOGGER IN SAUDI ARABIA
A Saudi national who has been writing openly on the Internet about his decision to follow Jesus Christ has been arrested, and his blog has been blocked by Google ever since.

Hamoud Bin Saleh, 28, was arrested on Jan. 13, because of his “opinions and his testimony that he had converted from Islam to Christianity,” according to the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information.

Serious concerns have been expressed about how the authorities may treat him, including fears that he may be executed for “apostasy.” This is the third time that Hamoud has been detained, having been held for nine months in 2004, and for one month in 2008. Arab Vision’s international director said the response by Saudi authorities is not surprising as “this so called ‘mode-rate Arab state’ is one of the worst abusers of basic rights and freedoms for Christians.” But he is baffled that Google blocked Hamoud’s site, replacing it with the explanation, ‘Vio-lation of Blogger Terms of Service.” Arab Vision is protesting what it calls “Google’s collaboration in and endo-rsement of censorship and human rights violation in Saudi Arabia.”