Detainment and Denial

India – Pastor Murugan, traveling home with two other Christians from a prayer meeting in Moodalpalya, Karnataka, on June 24, was ambushed and beaten by Hindu militants. The militants accused Pastor Murugan of converting people forcibly and “spoiling the minds of the children.” After beating him, the militants took the pastor to the local police station where he was detained. The pair traveling with the pastor managed to escape. Two days later, in an unrelated incident, Hindu militants forced their way into a home in Hubli, Karnataka, where Christians were gathered for a prayer meeting. The pastor, Vinod Talakere, was beaten by the militants and then dragged with another Christian to the local police station. The two were accused of forcible conversion.

Uzbekistan – Police officers raided the home of Jandos Kuandikov in Nukus, Karakalpakstan, on June 14. The eight officers, who did not have a warrant, claimed to be conducting an identity check. Those inside the home were Christians gathered for a wedding preparation. Police accused Kuandikov of being a Wahhabi terrorist and took several of the Christians to the police station for further interrogation. All were released except for Aimurat Khayburahmanov.

Iran – A Christian couple who converted recently from Islam, Makan Arya and Tina Rad, were arrested on June 3 in their home on charges of sponsoring Bible studies with Muslims and for attending a house church. Their four-year-old daughter, who was ill at the time, was left unattended. One of Makan Arya’s relatives informed security police of the couple’s spiritual activity. The two were beaten severely at the local jail and interrogated for four days. Makan was accused of “activities against national security” while Tina was charged with “activities against the holy religion of Islam.” Authorities threatened to send their daughter to an Islamic institution. The couple was also threatened with imprisonment on charges of apostasy if they continued their Christian practices. They were pressured eventually into signing a statement they were still Islamic and they would no longer attend the house church or meet with other Christians. Makan was freed on bail charges equaling $19,634 and Tina was released upon payment equaling $29,451. Upon her release, Tina was unable to walk as a result of the treatment she received. The glass window of the couple’s shop was shattered while they were in jail and Makan received a letter on June 23 warning of further attacks if he did not display evidence of holding to the Islamic faith. Makan responded by hanging pictures of Islamic leaders in the window.

China – Officers from the Public Security Bureau (PSB) evicted prominent house church leader Hua Huiqi and his family from their home in Beijing on July 2. Pastor Huiqi’s brother was beaten by the officers and suffered severe eye damage. The entire family was forced out to the street with their furniture. A Christian family in Beijing has taken them in until they are able to find a new home. Authorities have expressed their intention to either detain Pastor Hua until September 30, long after the completion of the Olympics, or to remove the family out of Beijing completely while the Olympics are being held. The government has branded Pastor Hua and other human rights / religious activists as “troublemakers” and is doing everything to prevent them from attending the Olympic events in August.

Egypt – A mob of local Muslims attacked homes and businesses belonging to Coptic Christians in Al Nazla on June 19.

Indonesia – Muslims closed a church building in Jatimula, Bekasi, West Java, recently and prevented Christians from entering the facility and holding services. The pastor led services outside the church building in the alley. Local authorities have placed a sign outside the building declaring, “This church building is sealed.” This is the second time Muslims have closed the church building. The first time occurred on September 10, 2005, when 100 Muslims barred Christians from entering the facility and boarded up the doors and windows.

Azerbaijan – Pastor Hamid Shavanov was arrested on June 20 after police claimed to find an illegal weapon in his home in Aliabad. The 51-year-old pastor’s family and Baptist congregation insist the police planted a gun in the home in order to charge him. He is due to be transferred from the investigation prison in Gyanja to Zakatala on July 10. His trial is scheduled to take place after the transfer. He faces up to three years in prison. Pastor Zaur Balaev, another local pastor, was arrested in May 2007 on fabricated charges and just released this past March. Ilya Zenchenko of the Baptist Union complains Pastor Shavanov’s arrest is part of the the government’s activity focused against Baptists and other religious groups across the nation.

HT: Voice of the Martyrs / Forum 18 News / Compass Direct News / China Aid Association

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