Tensions remain high in Ambon, Maluku, a scene of fighting between Christians and Muslims since last September 11. Yesterday, police discovered three pipe bombs inside the Maranatha Protestant Cthurch and near the local bus station.
According to authorities, the current tensions are the work of Islamic groups from outside the region. Since the suicide attack last September against the Bethel Christian Church in Kepunton, police have deployed thousands of agents across the country and increased controls to protect churches from further attacks. Full Story
9/28/11 North Korea (DI) Large Campaign Underway to Free Christian Mother and Daughters Imprisoned in North Korea -
The campaign to rescue South Korean Shin Sook-ja and her daughters who have been detained in North Korea for 35 years is spreading across South Korea. Since the Dong-A Ilbo introduced their plight on August 3, the campaign for their rescue has gained the spotlight. Hyundai Church in Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province, is leading the campaign. The church said Tuesday, "A combined 75,000 people joined a signature drive in just four months, and we expect the number to top 100,000 by next month."Rev. Bang said, "The rescue campaign for Shin and her daughters is part of a campaign for the human rights of North Koreans and reunification plans. The government and lawmakers should pay interest to this issue." Full Story
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9/28/11 Iran (CDN) Iranian Pastor Stands Firm in Faith, Faces Execution - Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani refused to recant his Christian faith today at the fourth and final court hearing in Iran to appeal his death sentence for apostasy (leaving Islam). The court house in Rasht, northwest of Tehran, has swarmed with security forces for four consecutive days since Sunday, Sept 25. Applying Sharia (Islamic) law, the court ruled that Youcef should be executed as an apostate for refusing to recant his faith in Christ and "return" to Islam, the religion of his parents. Please continue to pray for him. News of his case has caught on in the mainstream media as well in the White House and international governments, but all continue to wait for news of the final verdict. Full Story
 9/27/11 Nigeria (CDN) Muslim Extremists in Nigeria Kill Christians in Two States -
Muslim extremists bent on ridding Nigeria's volatile middle region of Christianity killed five Christians in Niger state on Thursday, September 22. In addition, three other Christians were killed the previous week in the north-central state of Kaduna, including a 13-year-old-girl, sources said. Suspected militants from the Boko Haram sect in the Niger state town of Madala went to shops owned by Christians at a market at about 8 p.m. The militants ordered them to recite verses from the Quran, and if the Christians were unable to recite the verses, they were shot. Sunday Emmanual, John Kalu, Uche Nguweze, and Oliver Ezemah were killed in the Madala market attacks. The identity of the fifth Christian was not immediately known as witnesses could not identify him. Full Story
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 9/27/11 Pakistan (ICC) Three Muslim Relatives Rape Pakistani Christian Girl -
Rifkha (named changed for security reasons) worked at a Muslim farm in the village of Muphat Pura, in Kasur district of Pakistan. On September 16 at 5 pm, Rifka was working alone on the farm when three relatives of her Muslim employer came and repeatedly raped her. Warned not to report the rape to anyone, Rifka told ICC, "I am very sad about what happened to me. If I report this case, it will be difficult for me and my family to live in the area. The Muslims have threatened to kill me and my brothers if I report this case to the police. We are Christians and we are very poor, that is why we are targeted by the Muslims."
Unfortunately, Rifkah's experience is not an isolated one. Many Christian girls are raped at the hands of Muslims in Pakistan. According to Compass Direct News, a Christian mother of five said that she was raped by two Pakistani Muslims on September 15th. In January, Muhammad Aftab was arrested after raping six Christian girls at different times. Incidents of rape and forced conversion of Christian women to Islam is rising every year. 99.9% of rape cases go unreported in Pakistan" said Dr. Nazir Bhatti in a statement to ICC. Full Story
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9/28/11 Indonesia (AsiaNews) Three New Pipe Bombs Discovered in Indonesia Church -
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