Release International

The recent kidnapping of two church leaders is one of several incidents causing concern for Christians in Sudan.

Attackers seized Rev Joseph Makwey and Rev Sylvester Mogga at gunpoint on January 15 after ram-raiding their church compound in Rabak, south of Khartoum, with a truck. A ransom demand has since been issued by suspected South Sudanese militia loyal to Sudan's Islamic Government. Local Christians are reported to be badly shaken by the attack.

But this militia threat is not the only worry for Christians in this mainly Arab and Muslim nation where Christianity is now widely regarded as a 'foreign' religion since the secession of South Sudan last July. 

Police in Khartoum beat and arrested church leader and evangelist James Kat of the Evangelical Church of Sudan on January 17, apparently because he was using the church site as his home. He was released on bail the same day. Also, security agencies in the city have ordered Christians not to organise Bible exhibitions – an annual tradition for some churches.

Meanwhile, a letter from government officials to the Sudanese Presbyterian Evangelical Church threatened to arrest pastors carrying out evangelism or refusing to provide church leaders' names and contact details.

In front of cheering crowds on January 3, Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir renewed a promise to impose stricter Sharia or Islamic law through the country's constitution.

For more news and a country profile of Sudan, click here

NEWS UPDATE:
Fresh reports from Release partner Stefanos Foundation say that eight Christians were killed on Sunday when Boko Haram Islamist extremists launched attacks in Bauchi state, northern Nigeria (Prayer Alert, January 24, 2012). Stefanos is supporting those hospitalised after the attack on Tafawa Balewa, which also left two soldiers and a policeman dead and two churches badly damaged. All church services in the town were cancelled on Sunday. Among those being supported by Stefanos is a six-year-old boy whose sister died in the attack.

(Sources: Compass Direct, Stefanos Foundation)

Pray
• Pray that God will strengthen and sustain Christians in Sudan coming under increasing pressure to rein in or stop their church activities. Pray for the release of the two kidnapped pastors.
• Pray for survivors of Sunday's attack on Tafawa Balewa – and for all those affected by recent extremist attacks across northern Nigeria. Pray for courage for the Government in tackling this threat – and peace for communities living in fear of further violence.

Act
• Please ask your MP to support an Early Day Motion calling on the UK Government to apply diplomatic pressure to ensure sufficient aid and support are made available for survivors of the recent violence in Nigeria. Motion 2589 also calls on the Nigerian Government to take firm action to prevent further violence. To read the motion, go to: http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2010-12/2589 To contact your MP, visit www.writetothem.com

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