TANZANIA – 17-year old Christian girl jailed for blasphemy

A very interesting post from www.releaseinternational.org about churches being attacked in the African nation of Tanzania. This follows this post  about a Pakistani Down's Syndrome girl. This follows this article about American energy independence and preventing money from going to hostile countries such as Iran . For more that you can do to get involved click HERE and read this very interesting book HERE.

TANZANIA – 17-year old Christian girl jailed for blasphemy




A 17-year-old Tanzanian girl has been sentenced to two years in prison after being accused of desecrating the Koran.



Eva Abdullah converted to Christianity three years ago. Her parents disowned her and a group of radicals in her hometown, Bagamoyo, tried to persuade her to renounce her Christian faith and return to Islam. When she refused, Release sources say they falsely accused her of desecrating a Koran. She was sentenced on July 26 to two years in prison by a judge who, it's claimed, was bribed by the militants. Christian leaders have been reluctant to defend Eva because of the Muslim dominance in the district.



There have been signs of growing unrest in Tanzania against Christians. In May this year a 200-strong Islamist mob demolished three churches on the Tanzanian island of Zanzibar. A Christian leader said they were shouting, 'Allahu Akbar' (Allah is greater) as they destroyed the churches.



Church leaders claim Muslim government officials are refusing to bring the attackers to justice or to help the victims rebuild their churches. The latest attack brings the number of churches destroyed in the past 10 years to 25. Previously, militants had targeted small village churches, but Christian leaders say the attackers are becoming bolder.



There have also been incidents of land seizure by Muslims who are claiming ownership of sites belonging to Christians. Tanzania's president has condemned the attacks against churches in Zanzibar, which have been linked with a separatist movement.



Tanzania's Zanzibar archipelago is almost wholly Muslim and only 60 Christian congregations are said to meet on the islands.



(Sources: Voice of the Martyrs Australia)



For more news on Tanzania, click here



• Please pray that the Lord will protect and strengthen Eva in prison and that she will in grow in faith despite the circumstances.

• Pray that the militants who are targeting churches and trying to inflame unrest will be unsuccessful.

• Pray that the Lord would strengthen the faith and witness of Christians in Tanzania, especially in minority areas.

TANZANIA – Pressure mounts on Zanzibar's Christian minority

A very interesting post from www.releaseinternational.com about Christians being persecuted in the African nation of Tanzania. This follows this post about Christians in the African country of Sudan. This follows this article about the recent news about the former ban on offshore drilling which would encourage American energy independence and prevent money from going to hostile countries such as Iran   and Venezuela. For more that you can do to get involved click HERE and read this very interesting book HERE!

TANZANIA – Pressure mounts on Zanzibar's Christian minority




Two churches serving the tiny Christian minority on Zanzibar island were burnt down in a week, amid mounting opposition to Christians on the archipelago.



In fact, Islamist extremists reportedly burned down two churches on Zanzibar island, which is part of Tanzania, within a four-day period. The Evangelical Assemblies of God Tanzania Church in Fuoni was destroyed on July 30 and the Free Evangelical Pentecostal Church in Africa, in the village of Kianga, was destroyed on July 27.



The congregations of both churches are said to be fearful and unsure now about where to meet. Tanzania's Zanzibar archipelago is 99.9 per cent Muslim and only 60 Christian congregations are said to meet on the islands.



The persecution is not confined to Zanzibar. In June, a Seventh Day Adventist Church was destroyed in Konde on Pemba, the second largest island in the cluster.



Pemba pastors interviewed by Compass Direct news agency report that for several years now the authorities have obstructed their attempts to build churches, even on land they own. One reported that he had been threatened by local Muslims.



Compass Direct also reports that influential Muslims are building what appears to be a hotel on a 100-year-old burial site owned by the Anglican church on Zanzibar. Officials have failed to respond to a complaint issued by the church about construction work on land it owns about two miles from Zanzibar's city airport.



A similar land seizure is reported in Wete city on Pemba island, where the Anglican church bought a burial site in Finya village in 2007, only to learn last November that a Muslim was claiming ownership of the site. The church says its appeals for help to the authorities, including the Tanzanian President, have so far fallen on deaf ears.



NEWS UPDATE:

Two more Christians are reported to have died in custody in Eritrea. Religious rights charity Open Doors reports that the two women, 23-year-old Hiwet Tesfu and Zemame Mehari, 27, both died at the Alla military camp where they had been detained since being arrested at a prayer meeting in Dekemhare in April 2009. Both women had been in poor health but had been denied medical treatment, Open Doors reports. Both had also suffered torture. They were reportedly buried within the camp. Prayer Alert reported on July 28 that Eritrean officials had arrested at least 90 Christians since May and that 12 Christians were known to have died in custody since 2002. That figure now stands at 14, according to Release sources.



(Sources: Compass Direct, Mission Network News, Open Doors USA, Operation World)



• Pray for the Christian minority on Zanzibar who are experiencing mounting opposition from local hardline Muslims. Pray that the rights of Christians – including freedom of worship – will be respected and upheld by officials and local people alike.

• Please pray for the families of Hiwet Tesfu and Zemame Mehari. Ask God to comfort them and pray that they will stand firm in their faith.