freedom of RELIGION
Police raided a large wedding ceremony in the Eritrean capital of Asmara, on Saturday, May 28th, arresting at least 250 guests, including Benyam Gezae, his bride and the wedding party. Police reportedly contacted the families of all the imprisoned Christians. After detaining the wedding party overnight at the Expo police station, police released most of the prisoners who were found to be members of legally sanctioned churches. However, 70 individuals belonging to the outlawed Protestant churches still remain under arrest. The authorities have pressured these evangelical Christians to abandon their beliefs and return to one of the "legal" churches. "The word on the street in Asmara is that these arrests were direct retaliation for the protest vigil held three days earlier in front of the Eritrean Embassy in Washington, D.C.," one informed source told Compass. The vigil marked the third anniversary of a harsh government crackdown launched in May 2002, against Eritrea's evangelical Christians and other religious minorities.
Two bombs exploded in a busy market in a refugee village for Christians in Tentena, Indonesia, on Saturday, killing 21 people and injuring 49. The timing of the attack was calculated to inflict the greatest possible damage. One source reported that phone communication was cut off immediately after the explosions and that only two ambulances were available to attend to the wounded. Observers believe the attack could stir up renewed fighting between Christians and Muslims in the troubled province. The bombing may be linked to an earlier raid on a Christian village in Mamasa regency on April 24th. A young man arrested in connection with that incident was carrying documents that revealed a wider terrorist plot to carry out bombings and attacks throughout Indonesia.
There have been 46 confirmed arrests of Christians in Saudi Arabia, with some sources citing in excess of 100 Christians arrested, according to International Christian Concern. During the last week of May, there were many arrests made by a joint combination of both regular and "Muttawa" religious police. It was the largest crackdown in several decades in this religiously oppressive country. Saudi authorities ransacked houses and destroyed any Bibles they found. Chittirical John Thomas, an Indian national, was dragged from work by Muttawa authorities, taken to his home, and beaten in front of his maid and 5-year-old son. Thomas' wife, who is five months pregnant, has not heard from her husband since.
I AM BLESSED. SOMETIMES I FORGET THAT I LIVE IN AMERICA AND THERE IS STILL A WHOLE OTHER WORLD OUT THERE.
Two bombs exploded in a busy market in a refugee village for Christians in Tentena, Indonesia, on Saturday, killing 21 people and injuring 49. The timing of the attack was calculated to inflict the greatest possible damage. One source reported that phone communication was cut off immediately after the explosions and that only two ambulances were available to attend to the wounded. Observers believe the attack could stir up renewed fighting between Christians and Muslims in the troubled province. The bombing may be linked to an earlier raid on a Christian village in Mamasa regency on April 24th. A young man arrested in connection with that incident was carrying documents that revealed a wider terrorist plot to carry out bombings and attacks throughout Indonesia.
There have been 46 confirmed arrests of Christians in Saudi Arabia, with some sources citing in excess of 100 Christians arrested, according to International Christian Concern. During the last week of May, there were many arrests made by a joint combination of both regular and "Muttawa" religious police. It was the largest crackdown in several decades in this religiously oppressive country. Saudi authorities ransacked houses and destroyed any Bibles they found. Chittirical John Thomas, an Indian national, was dragged from work by Muttawa authorities, taken to his home, and beaten in front of his maid and 5-year-old son. Thomas' wife, who is five months pregnant, has not heard from her husband since.
I AM BLESSED. SOMETIMES I FORGET THAT I LIVE IN AMERICA AND THERE IS STILL A WHOLE OTHER WORLD OUT THERE.