Tags

Iraq

• Transitional Administrative Law Approved

  A few weeks ago, prayer was requested for the proposed Transitional Administrative Law set to govern Iraq until elections were held and a final constitution drafted. At the time, the law being proposed would have seen Islamic Sharia law instituted as the basis for the country's legal system.

  After extensive negotiations, an agreement has been reached making Islamic law one of the sources for Iraqi law, but not the sole basis. According to reports from BBC, there will also be a bill of rights guaranteeing freedom of religion in Iraq. A copy of the law was not available for final verification and study at press time. The Voice of the Martyrs will continue to monitor the situation and will update our readers as details become available.

  Pray that this transitional law will be enacted in such a way that those of all religions will be free to practice their faith without fear of persecution. Pray that Iraq will become a country respecting the rights of all of its citizens.

  For more information on the situation facing Christians in Iraq,click here.

• Transitional Law Lacks Essential Freedoms

  In Iraq, a draft of the Transitional Administrative Law scheduled to take effect on February 28 is raising questions about basic human rights, particularly freedom of religion. This transitional document is intended to be used as the framework for a new constitution for Iraq to be in effect by December 2005.

  Coalition Provisional Authority Administrator L. Paul Bremer

  While not instituting the strict version of Sharia law found in countries such as Saudi Arabia, the draft indicates that the country's legal system will be based on Islamic law. In early January, the Iraqi Governing Council ruled that civil family law must be based on Islamic Sharia law, rather than the secular courts set up under Saddam Hussein. According to the November 11 prayer bulletin from the World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Prayer List, under the proposed Transitional Administrative Law, non-Muslims will be limited in their freedom of religious practice and Muslims will not have the freedom to convert to another religion.

  Pray that this draft will be amended to include full religious freedom, including the freedom to change religion. Pray for peace and stability during the continuing upheaval in Iraq. Pray that U.S. President Bush will insist on religious liberty for all Iraqi citizens.

  We encourage you to express your concerns in a polite and reasoned way to President Bush and the American government. Contact information is available through our website at https://www.vomcanada.com/links.htm. The Iraqi Coalition Provisional Authority can be contacted through http://www.cpa-iraq.org/CPA_contact.html.

  For more information on persecution facing Christians in Iraq, go tohttps://www.vomcanada.com/iraq.htm.

• Christians Face Intimidation and Violence

  Christians in Mosul in northern Iraq are facing serious acts of intimidation and violence, according to a November 17 report by Zenit. It is believed that at least some of the violence comes from militant Wahabi Muslims, a very strict Islamic sect centered in Saudi Arabia.

  Last week a bomb, made up of a cluster of hand grenades, was found in front of a Catholic school in Mosul. Thankfully it was defused before it could explode, but the school was forced to close for at least a week. Also last week, the residence of the Syro-Antiochian bishop was shot at with an assault rifle. Again, no injuries were reported.

  It is unknown whether there is any connection between these attacks and the increasing violence against the occupying forces in Iraq, but these were clearly directed specifically against Iraqi Christians.

  Pray for peace in Iraq. Pray that an active and effective security force will be established to bring about stability in the country. Pray for protection for Christians in Iraq during these uncertain days.

• Regime Change Does Not Guarantee Religious Liberty Editorial by Glenn Penner (Communications Director)

  Over the last week, I have been reading a number of articles on the effects of the regime changes in Afghanistan and Iraq as it impacts religious liberty, especially for Christians. Before I proceed any further, let me make it clear that, in principle, I personally support the overthrow of the Taliban and the Baathist government of Saddam Hussein. Both regimes were brutal in their suppression of basic human rights and the world (to say nothing of their countries) is a safer place with them out of power.

  But we would be mistaken to think that simple regime change will automatically result in better conditions for Christian minorities in these states. In Afghanistan, for example, the Afghan Minister of Justice, Asharaf Rasooli stated categorically to CBN journalist, George Thomas last year, "No Muslim is allowed to convert to another religion. But if a person wants to convert to Islam, there is no problem with that." Mullah Fazul Shinwari, Afghanistan's Supreme Court Chief Justice, has warned that those found guilty in his courtroom of sharing the Gospel, could face the death penalty. While there have been no reports of actual public executions of converts to Christianity to date, VOM sources indicate that there have been converts killed in remote areas of the country. Yes, there is greater freedom in Afghanistan today than there was a couple of years ago, but the verdict is still out whether Afghanistan will be able to do what no other Islamic state has been capable of; allowing freedom of religion, including the right to convert from the majority religion. Frankly, I am doubtful.

  My pessimism extends to the new Iraq emerging from the ruins of Saddam Hussein's former regime. Shiite Muslims are rightfully rejoicing over their newfound religious freedom, having been suppressed by Hussein during his rule. Speaking to a group of business reporters earlier this week, President Bush enthused, "I love the stories about people saying, 'Isn't it wonderful to be able to express our religion, the Shia religion, on a pilgrimage this weekend.' It made my day to read that." Unfortunately, this newfound freedom has been accompanied by calls for the establishment of an Islamic state by a number of Iraqi Shiites. This would most certainly bode ill for religious minorities like Christians. One need only look across the border to Shiite-dominated Iran to see how Bahais, Christians and other religious minorities fare under such a regime. Freedom House's Paul Marshall in an article in the National Review early last month stated quite correctly, "Unless the U.S. realizes the danger extreme sharia law would pose to Iraq, America could preside over a process of radical Islamization like that currently threatening Afghanistan's reconstruction. Instead of aiding Muslims who want genuine religious freedom and equality, we will help build reactionary regimes that, as recent experience shows, are likely to become our enemies" (http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/comment-marshall030703.asp).

  It is incumbent on those of us who live in liberal democracies to insist to our political leaders that, in their desire to help rebuild Iraq and Afghanistan, they not ignore the dangers that come with allowing these new regimes to integrate sharia law into their new constitutions. We have already imposed our will upon these countries by changing their regimes (either actively through military intervention, or passively by welcoming the overthrow of these regimes even if not actively involved). The time is past for our leaders to say that we must allow Iraqis free reign to now decide for themselves what kind of government to set up. If our governments allow sharia law to be constitutionally enshrined in Iraq and Afghanistan, we will likely be right back to where we started from in only a few years. In fact, in the case of Iraq, the Christian population (and other religious minorities) may very well be worse off than they were with Saddam as their leader. We face a unique opportunity in Iraq and Afghanistan today; the opportunity to assist in building societies that genuinely permit religious freedom. If we are going to help Iraq and Afghanistan to build more civil societies, we must recognize that sharia law is part of the original problem; it cannot be made part of the solution.

• Convert to Christ Gunned Down

  A Kurdish Christian taxi driver, Ziwar Mohamad Ismaeel, was shot dead February 17 in the city of Zakho in the Kurdistan region of Iraq when he refused to deny Christ.

  Ziwar came to faith in Christ seven years ago and was very open about his faith. Several times he had received threats on his life. "With Jesus on my side, I have nothing to fear," he told friends. "Even when they kill me, I will never deny Christ." After his conversion, the local Muslim mullah advised his family that he should be killed as an apostate. He was taken captive by relatives who threatened to kill him if he did not recant. He refused and was rescued by friends. He had been arrested twice in recent years in connection with his faith but was never charged. Last June, after having been arrested again for two weeks, he lost his job and started working as a cab driver.

  Apparently, on Monday, he received a call from a client. Sitting down with a cup of tea, the client asked him to renounce his faith and return to Islam. When Ziwar refused, the man shot him 28 times with a machine gun shouting, "Allah u Akbar!" Other taxi drivers reportedly apprehended his assassin after the shooting. Ziwar was married with five children. According to a report from Open Doors on February 20, his family had refused to claim his body and bury him.

  Pray for Ziwar's wife and children during this time of grief. Pray for the family members who have opposed him. Pray that he will continue to be a testimony, both through his life and now his death.