Release International

Christians in Kashmir have appealed for government officials to intervene in the case of a church pastor facing a summons from a local Sharia court.

Pastor Chander Mani Khanna from Srinagar in Indian Kashmir has been summoned by a local Muslim mufti (religious leader) to appear before his Sharia or Islamic law court – and answer allegations of converting Muslim children by offering bribes.

Pastor Khanna denies the claims – and does not recognise the authority of local Muslims to 'put him on trial' in an Islamic court. His supporters are concerned that if Pastor Khanna resists calls for him to appear, a fatwa may be issued against him.

The Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC), which is supported by a Release associate ministry, claims that the charges against Pastor Khanna arose because the pastor failed to get a local Muslim's son into the Christian school of his choice.

The GCIC has written to the Government of Jammu and Kashmir to intervene on behalf of Pastor Khanna, who leads All Saints Church (part of the Church of North India). It also reports that police have questioned and beaten seven new Christians recently baptised by Pastor Khanna, who are from a Muslim background.

The GCIC reports that tensions between Muslims and Christians in Kashmir have been rising since last year when a US pastor burnt copies of the Koran in public.

Meanwhile, in Hassan district of Karnataka state, two groups of Christians were attacked by Hindu nationalist extremists at the weekend and arrested by police on suspicion of 'forcible conversion', reports GCIC. On Saturday, six members of the Ministry of Bethel Church, including a four-year-old boy, were detained by police – although four, including the child, were later released. And on Sunday, a pastor and three Christians in Arkalgud were arrested by police after extremists raided their church.

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NEWS UPDATE:
Iranian pastor Yousef Nadarkhani is said to be in 'deteriorating health' as he awaits a final ruling on his death sentence for 'apostasy'. Sources close to the church leader from Rasht say he has suffered ill-treatment, including ongoing pressure to recant his faith, reports Compass Direct news agency. Last month, prison officials reportedly gave Pastor Yousef Islamic literature aimed at discrediting the Bible. Pastor Yousef is still waiting on Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, to rule on whether or not he should be executed. He was given the death sentence in September 2010 – a ruling that judges upheld in September 2011, citing the pastor's 'Muslim ancestry' to substantiate the apostasy charge (Prayer Alert, September 28, 2011).

(Sources: AsiaNews, Compass Direct, Global Council of Indian Christians)

• Ask God to protect Pastor Khanna and his family in Indian Kashmir. Pray that local Muslims and Christians in Srinagar will recommit themselves to living together in peace, respecting each other's religious rights.
• Continue to pray God's peace and comfort over Pastor Yousef, his wife and two young sons in Iran. Pray that Ayatollah Khamenei will grant Pastor Yousef clemency and authorise his release from jail immediately.

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