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2016-12-15

• Christians Devastated by Mob Attack

  Christians in the Upper Egypt village of Al-Nagameesh have been left devastated after a mob armed with petrol bombs went on a rampage, destroying homes and businesses. The attack on November 25th was apparently triggered by suspicions that local Christians had turned a community centre into a church.

  The community centre, which was also destroyed by fire, had become the focal point for Al-Nagameesh's Christian minority that gathered there for funerals, weddings and sometimes prayer. There is no church facility in the village where these believers can gather.

  Three days before the attack, a local pastor held a ceremony at the centre to mark the first anniversary of his father's death. The next day, extremists handed out leaflets claiming Christians had turned the centre into a church and urging other militant Muslims to attack it. They cut off the village water supply in advance and blocked the firefighters' routes so the fires could not be controlled.

  Tensions have been worsened by the country's new legislation, which passed in August, imposing further restrictions on the building of churches in Egypt. For more information on the persecution of believers residing in this nation, please visit the country profile.

  Pray that God will provide for all those whose homes and livelihoods have been destroyed or damaged in this recent attack. May local officials take firm action by clamping down on extremism, ensuring that such attacks do not go without reasonable consequences. Continue to intercede for members of the government, in hopes that they will uphold the religious rights of minorities throughout Egypt. Of course, we also need to intercede for the perpetrators who are desperately in need of God's life-changing ministry and salvation.

  Important Note: Since the compilation of this week's Persecution & Prayer Alert, we have received news that additional bombings have taken place in Egypt -- one of them targeting a church in Cairo. Please join us by upholding the numerous injured victims, as well as the families and friends of those who did not survive the attacks. (More information will be provided in a future report.) Such incidents of persecution serve as ongoing reminders of the need to uphold our Christian brothers and sisters during these perilous times.

• Prolonged State of Emergency

  
  Many churches in Turkey have seen a drop in attendance due to a prolonged state of emergency.

  The Turkish government has extended its state of emergency for an additional period of time, raising concerns of citizens throughout the country. The state of emergency was ordered in July, after 270 people were killed in a failed coup attempt.

  Police officers have been commissioned to stand on guard during church services for the protection of worshippers. Yet, as believers feel intimidated by their presence, church attendance has dropped. The state of emergency also prevents church leaders from reaching out to people in the streets as they had formally done. To review other reports on persecution in Turkey, visit our online country profile.

  Ask the Lord to strengthen the faith of the Christians in Turkey, also granting their church leaders wisdom so that effective ministry can continue to take place within their communities. May the police officers standing on guard during the various church services be stirred in both heart and spirit as they witness the believers' sincere expressions of praise and worship, and hear the timely messages preached by their pastors. Pray that God will quench any feelings of intimidation or fear by giving His people a renewed sense of assurance, peace and joy -- enabling them to unite together in celebration of His faithfulness and ongoing ministry in each of their lives.

• Imprisoned Christian's Unexpected Release

  
  Tohar Haydarov

  Uzbek authorities have released a Christian convert nearly seven years into his ten-year jail sentence. Tohar Haydarov, 33, was released on parole on November 8th after serving six years and ten months of his prison term. The previous day, a judge had ruled that he was eligible for parole.

  "God heard the prayers of many Christians," fellow Uzbek believers told the Christian news service Forum 18. "We are thankful to everybody who prayed for him and sent letters to him while (he was) in prison."

  Though the former Soviet republic is officially secular, human rights organizations say the state severely restricts religious freedom and freedom of expression, especially members of religious organizations not affiliated with state-controlled Islamic or Russian Orthodox institutions.

  Tohar was found guilty in March 2010 of drug charges, which his fellow believers insist were fabricated. According to Release International, his arrest followed a request made by some of his relatives that local police help them force Tohar to return to Islam.

  A spokesperson for Open Doors stated that his release was surprising because he had been denied amnesty while many other prisoners were granted it in May: "We are very grateful Tohar has been granted parole. We have prayed for him for years, and we need to continue our prayers. After six years in such difficult circumstances, he needs to be restored and re-establish his relationship with his loved ones. We know from other ex-prisoners that the process can be hard."