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Egypt

• Mourners Assaulted by Muslim Rioters

  Pray for those injured in the attacks. Photo: Morning Star News

  Hundreds of people gathered at St. Mark's Cathedral in Abbassia, Cairo, on April 7th for the funeral of four Christians who were killed during an uprising of inter-religious violence in the nearby community of Khosous two days earlier. (Two Muslim men had also died in the conflict.) As the mourners were leaving the service, they were pelted with stones by a growing number of angry Muslim rioters. This quickly escalated into a massive attack on the cathedral involving firearms, petrol bombs and tear gas. Two other Christians died and over 80 people were injured during the riot which lasted five hours. According to reports, some Christians had retaliated in the mounting conflict. As a result, Egyptian officials have arrested four Christian men.

  Tensions leading up to the assault ignited Friday when youth spray-painted inflammatory symbols, including a swastika, on an Islamic institution. This led to a quarrel with onlookers in Shubra el-Kheima, located just north of Cairo. The argument spiralled into a street fight involving automatic weapons. Meanwhile, a local imam called on Muslims who owned weapons to "Kill the Christians and cleanse el-Kheima (of) infidels" during Friday prayers. The mob then attacked a Baptist church and damaged a nursery run by St. George Coptic Church, in addition to destroying and looting several Christian-owned businesses. To learn more about what Christians in Egypt are facing, go to the Egypt Country Report.

  Please pray for God's peace to infiltrate these areas of conflict, as well as the hearts of the people involved. Ask Him to comfort all who are grieving the loss of loved ones and minister healing to the injured. Also pray that the believers would keep their eyes on Jesus, persevere in their faith, and not grow weary or lose heart (Hebrews 10:32-39; 12:1-3). On behalf of all Egypt's citizens, may the Lord guide the leaders of this nation to promote true justice and equality by honouring Him.

• Hostility Against Christians Escalates

  More than one year after the country's 2012 revolution, violence against Christians in Egypt has escalated. One of the recent attacks occurred on February 15th, when a mob of a few hundred Islamic militants threw stones and set fire to St. Georgas Coptic Church, located in the poor village of Sarsena (about 100 km. southwest of Cairo). The church, which was built about 20 years ago, provided ministry to approximately 200 Christian families. Reportedly, the extremists felt justified in their actions, stating that the church was illegal because of its close proximity to their Muslim neighbourhood.

  Unfortunately, attacks against Christians in Egypt have become too frequent. During a recently aired radio interview, Father Rafic Greiche, a spokesperson for the Greek Melkite Church, explains the serious ramifications of the country's increasing persecution. "Christians don't feel secure at all -- especially now," he states. "We have a lack of security, and the people are demoralized." He then mentions another great concern: "The people who are emigrating are the people who have money and are the most educated," thus alluding to the possibility that the poorer members of Egypt's Christian communities may be left with no one to speak up for them and guide them in times of difficulty. For an historical overview on this country and past reports/video clips, check the Egypt Country Report.

  Pray that the Christians living in the village of Sarsena and throughout Egypt will be strengthened and encouraged as they face this season of persecution. May God protect and bless all who have chosen to follow Him and become part of His beloved family. Pray, too, for the forgiveness and salvation of those who are essentially serving as pawns of the enemy -- the real culprit behind the ploy to harm God's people. According to 1 John 4:4, "He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." May our Almighty God arise, proving His great faithfulness and bringing glory to His wonderful name!

• Two Youngsters Convicted For Allegedly Tearing Quran

  Concerned Christians in Egypt have requested prayer regarding a legal case in which two young boys were accused of defacing pages of a Quran. The incident was reported to have taken place last September in the Beni Suef province of Egypt. A local imam from their home village of Ezbet Marko by the name of Ibrahim Mohamed Ali has accused the children of tearing the pages of a Quran. Nine-year-old Mina Nady Farag and ten-year-old Nabil Nagy Rizk explained that they came across the pages of the Quran in some rubbish while playing and were unaware of what it was as they couldn't read it.

  After an October 2012 meeting, involving local Christians and an outcry from the international community, President Morsi granted the boys pardon. However, as of January 2013, it was announced that the case was to continue under Article 160 of the penal code which criminalizes damage to or violation of religious "buildings, symbols or other objects."

  Despite the prosecution presenting evidence to the contrary during a January 28th hearing, the court ruled on February 4th that the boys were to be released to their parents without an acquittal. This means they are considered legally guilty but are too young to face punishment. Although the families appealed the decision, an appeal court has ruled that there are no grounds for an appeal, confirming the indictment. To read more about Iran's political stance, see our Egypt Country Report. For a brief video report featuring other testimonies, click here.

  Through the compassion and healing of Jesus, may these two boys and their families overcome this painful ordeal and be filled with a renewed hope for the future. Pray that the Lord's peace and presence will strengthen all who have been unjustly convicted of blasphemy while they patiently await His vindication. Also pray that the Christians and Muslims of this community will reside harmoniously together with mutual respect and understanding, and that the laws of their land be altered to adequately reflect these important principles.

• Single-Parent Family Sentenced To 15 Years in Jail

  President Mohamed Morsi Photo: Flickr / European Union

  The criminal court of Beni Suef (south of Cairo) has sentenced an entire single-parent family to prison for converting to Christianity. Nadia Mohamed Ali, who was born into a Christian family, converted to Islam when she married Mustafa Mohamed Abdel-Wahab 23 years ago. When Mustafa died in 1991, Nadia decided to return to Christianity, bringing her seven children with her.

  In 2004, the family decided to take Christian names and have their identity cards amended. Seven Registry Office officials facilitated this. Now Nadia and her seven children have been convicted and sentenced to 15 years in jail, while the seven Registry Office officials have each received 5-year sentences.

  Samuel Tadros, a research fellow at Hudson Institute's Centre for Religious Freedom, said conversions like Nadia's have been common in the past, but that Egypt's new Sharia-based constitution "is a real disaster in terms of religious freedom."

  President Mohamed Morsi, who was elected last June and succeeded the secular reign of Hosni Mubarak (who is now in prison), pushed the new constitution through last year. The constitution limits the practice of Christianity because "religious freedom has to be understood within the boundaries of Sharia." He prescribes that the highest Sunni authority should be referred to as an interpreter of the religion clause contained in the constitution. To review past reports, please go to the Egypt Country Report.

  Please pray that the Lord will mightily intervene in this situation, and that the family and Registry Office officials involved will be released. In fact, may this particular case serve to highlight the true nature of Islam and the injustices that can result from a Sharia-based constitution, bringing about the restoration of genuine religious freedom in this nation. Despite the present challenges facing the persecuted Church in Egypt, may it continue to grow in strength, faithfulness and number.

• Update: Young Teen Becomes Latest Kidnapping Victim

  (Source: VOM-USA)

  Sarah Ishaq Abdelmalek Photo: AINA

  A 14-year-old girl in Egypt has been kidnapped and reportedly forced to marry her Muslim captor. Sarah Abdelmalek is the latest victim of a common practice of kidnapping Coptic Christian girls and forcing them to marry as part of a strategy to limit and intimidate the country's Christian population.

  Sarah was last seen entering a paper shop near her school in September. After Sarah's father filed a missing persons report, he received a phone call telling him he would never see his daughter again.

  A school friend of Sarah's says the 27-year-old paper shop owner, a member of an extremist Sunni Muslim group called the Salafists, had been pursuing Sarah. About a month after she was reported missing, a Salafist organization issued a statement saying that Sarah converted to Islam freely and married a Muslim man. Even if Sarah wanted to marry voluntarily, under Egyptian law, she would have to wait until she turned 18.

  A VOM worker states that at least 24 girls have been kidnapped recently, ranging in age from 14 to 21 years old (for previous report, click here).

  Please pray for strength on behalf of Sarah's family as they endure this heartbreaking separation. Also remember young Sarah, asking for the Lord to protect her spiritually, emotionally and physically. Throughout the ordeal, may she remain steadfast in her faith and eventually find her way safely back to her family. Let's stand in agreement together that such incidences of kidnapping and forced marriages would entirely cease.

  To learn more about the suffering of believers in this part of the world, go to Egypt's Country Report.

• Massive Christian rally brings estimated 25,000 to Christ

  Thousands gather to pray and worship in Egypt. Photo: Open Doors USA

  During the first weekend in October, 10,000 young people gathered in the desert 100 kilometres north of Cairo to sing and pray and to worship the Lord. The youth gathering was followed up on October 25-28 with an even larger event at the same location -- a Christian rally which drew approximately 45,000 people. The focus of the event was to present the message of salvation and call people to give their lives to Jesus. The rally was especially timely as Christians in Egypt are facing increased persecution since the June election of Muslim Brotherhood President Mohammed Morsi.

  An estimated 25,000 people gave their lives to Jesus, with 8,000 cards filled out by people who requested follow-up visits by churches. Two to three million people followed the rally on two Christian satellite channels broadcasted live each day to North America, Australia and the Middle East.

  A Christian leader wrote that Egyptian Christians "want to thank all our Christian brothers and sisters worldwide who have faithfully been praying with us and for us as we stood back and watched what mighty things God has done in the lives of many people. We are grateful to Him for His great work among us and for you as our partners in the Kingdom of God."

  Praise the Lord for the work He is doing in Egypt. Pray for the thousands who heard the message and responded. Pray that they will have the opportunity to receive effective discipleship. Pray these new believers will never be ashamed of the gospel because God's power brings salvation through it (Romans 1:16).

  To learn more about the difficult reality for our Christian family in Egypt, go to the Egypt Country Report.

• Christians arrested for defiling Qur'an, blasphemy

  Pray for those in Egypt detained for allegedly desecrating the Qur’an and other charges.

  Mina Nady Farag and Nabil Nagy Rizk, ages nine and 10, were detained on September 30 when Ibrahim Mohamed Ali, a local imam from their home village of Ezbet Marco in the Beni Suef province of Egypt, accused the children of tearing pages of a Qur'an. The children denied the incident and said they found the pages on a street. The charges were dropped and the boys released on October 10 after a deal was reached between the Christians, Muslims and security officials.

  On September 13, Alber Saber, an Egyptian Christian blogger, was arrested after being accused by neighbours of posting the anti-Islam film, "Innocence of Muslims," on his Facebook page. Saber has been imprisoned for more than three weeks on charges of disdaining religion and ridiculing religious beliefs and rituals.

  In another case, Nevine al-Sayed, a Christian school teacher in the Upper Egypt town of Assiut, was accused by one of her students of insulting the Muslim prophet Muhammad in class. Al-Sayed allegedly used the word "unfortunate," which is very close to the word "poor" in Arabic, when describing Mohammad's upbringing, according to an interrogation report. She has since been released.

  Please pray that the Lord will intervene in these cases and bring about just and favourable outcomes. Pray that the Lord will protect his people from further accusations. Pray that He will give all believers in Egypt the strength to remain faithful and the grace to act as witnesses for the gospel. Pray that many more in Egypt will come to faith in Jesus.

  Go to the Egypt Country Report to learn more about the struggles Christians face in Egypt.

• Christian vulnerability grows as security declines

  An accidental singeing of a shirt led to an Islamic pogrom.

  On August 1, a massive Islamic pogrom occurred on the outskirts of Cairo. A Muslim took offence when a Coptic launderer accidentally singed his shirt. Rejecting the Copt's offer of compensation, the Muslim returned with a large mob and attacked his business. The Copt threw a Molotov cocktail, unintentionally hitting a young Muslim bystander. When the youth died a few days later, Islamic clerics incited the pogrom as collective punishment of the Copts. The violence and death threats forced virtually the entire local Christian community of approximately 120 families to flee.

  Pray the Lord will protect and provide for the families who have left the area. Pray the Lord will bring rest and peace to this nation. Pray the Lord will give His people the grace and strength to act as witnesses to the Gospel even when tested.

  Go to the Egypt Country Report to learn more about the opposition our brothers and sisters face in Egypt.

• Judge upholds Christian's prison sentence

  A judge in Upper Egypt has upheld a six-year sentence of a Christian man convicted of blasphemy against Islam.

  The charges resulted from an argument between 49-year-old Makarem Diab and a co-worker about differences between Jesus and Muhammad. Diab was sentenced on February 29 in a 10-minute hearing during which he had no defense attorney.

  At his first appeals hearing on March 16, Diab's co-worker instigated a riot by Muslim attorneys outside the courthouse. The angry lawyers interrupted Diab's hearing, assaulted his attorneys and blocked access to the courtroom. Diab's lawyer, who said the judge upheld the sentence out of fear, is attempting to appeal the sentence again. Diab is being held in Assiut General Prison.

  Pray that Diab will get a fair hearing and that he will remain strong during his imprisonment. Pray that he will exemplify the love of God through consistent love and prayer for those who persecute him (Matthew 5:43-48).

  Please visit the Egypt Country Report for more on Egypt's persecuted Church.

• Christian teen given jail term for insulting Islam

  On April 4, Gamal Abdou Massoud, 17, was convicted in an Egyptian court for posting cartoons on Facebook deemed offensive to Muslims and distributing them to friends at school in the Upper Egypt province of Assiut. The cartoons, published in December, led to violent Muslim protests in neighbouring villages that lasted for two days. Several Christian houses were burned and several Christians were injured during the protests.

  "Assiut child's court ordered the jailing of Gamal Abdou Massoud... for three years after he insulted Islam and published and distributed pictures that insulted Islam and its Prophet," the court said in a statement seen by Reuters. Human rights lawyer Negad al-Borai said the jail sentence was the maximum penalty under Egyptian law for such a crime.

  Christians, who make up about 10 per cent of the country's 80 million population, have long had a difficult relationship with Egypt's overwhelmingly Muslim majority. Tension between Muslims and Christians has simmered for years but has gotten worse since the revolt that toppled Hosni Mubarak. Christians have become increasingly worried by a surge in attacks on churches, which they blame on hardline Islamists, though experts say local disputes are often to blame as well.

  Pray for Gamal's release. Ask the Lord to minister to him while in prison. Pray Gamal's faith will grow stronger during this trial. Pray for all Christians in Egypt, that they will exemplify the love of God through consistent love and prayer for those who persecute them (Matthew 5:43-48). Pray that God will grant wisdom and grace to Christians during this time of increased tension in Egypt.

  To learn more about Egypt's persecuted Church, please visit the Egypt Country Report.