EGYPT CRACKS DOWN AGAINST CONVERTS TO CHRISTIANITY

Former Muslims Forbidden to Change Their Identity Papers (Compass)

In a harsh crackdown over the past 10 days, Egypt’s state security police have arrested and tortured a Christian couple from Muslim background, along with 11 other Egyptian citizens accused of forging Christian identity papers for former Muslims. At least 10 more Christians have since been detained and subjected to torture in the sweep, said to be headed by two security police officers known for illegal and cruel tactics against Christian converts. The convert couple, Mohammed Ahmed Imam Kordy and his wife Sahar El-Sayed Abdel Ghany, was arrested in Alexandria on October 18. The police action apparently came after the wife was implicated in a complaint extorted under police torture that she had helped another Egyptian woman secure false identity papers.

2:41:20 PM    

JAILED CHINESE DISSIDENT BEATEN BY CELLMATES (RFA)

A jailed Chinese dissident has been severely beaten by his cellmates, apparently under orders from prison guards, RFA’s Mandarin service reports. Wang Jinbo's medical condition is unknown. Sources who asked not to be named said prison officials have taken no measures against the assailants and appear to have ordered the beatings. Wang is serving a four-year sentence in a prison in Jinan City in Shandong Province.

2:28:07 PM    

PREGNANT WOMAN, CHILD DIE IN BURMA FIRES (RFA)

A pregnant woman and a child were among dozens of people who died in fires during riots in the central Burmese town of Kyaukse on Oct. 19, according to an eyewitness who gave an exclusive interview to Radio Free Asia (RFA).

2:21:40 PM    

Afghan Opium Production Increases, says UN (VOA)

The United Nations drug office says opium production in Afghanistan has increased this year and is threatening peace and security in the region. The figures from the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime confirm Afghanistan is the world's leading producer of opium, accounting for about three quarters of global output.

2:13:25 PM    

Todays Prayer Request from Pray For China

Guangzhou International Christian Fellowship (GICF) received their permit after procedural delay. In several larger cities, foreign Christians conduct their services in the meeting hall of the hotels, but local Chinese are forbidden to attend. Let us remember the ministry of these churches; some are large with 2000 people and fulltime pastoral staff.

2:00:14 PM    

Nepal/Bhutan: Bilateral Talks Fail to Solve Refugee Crisis (HRW)

The latest round of talks between the governments of Bhutan and Nepal to resolve the Bhutanese refugee crisis has failed to provide a solution, a coalition of five leading nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) said today. Donor countries should convene an international conference to devise a solution to the longstanding crisis.

12:58:14 PM    

PAKISTAN: THREAT TO SILENCE THE CHRISTIAN VOICE (ANS)

Mr. Shahbaz Bhatti is a prominent voice for the voiceless of Pakistan, and has been since 1985. He is the Founder & President of the Christian Liberation Front of Pakistan (CLF), the Chairman of the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA), and the Executive Director of the Pakistan Council for Human Rights. He is a Christian who works tirelessly and courageously, despite threats and dangers, for the Christians and other religious minorities of Pakistan. (For further details on CLF and APMA see footnote below.)

12:53:31 PM