Iraq: Detention facilities
Hundreds of Iraqi Yezidi men, women and children are in IS detention facilities in Iraq and Syria. Young women and teenage girls are separated from their families and some have been forced to marry (or be concubines for) IS fighters, according to relatives of the detainees, escaped hostages, and two detained women interviewed by phone. They said the group has taken away boys and forced captives to convert to Islam. IS's litany of horrific crimes against the Yezidis in Iraq only keeps growing. Human Rights Watch heard shocking stories of forced religious conversions, forced marriage, sexual assault and slavery – and some of the victims are children. The prisoners were caught during IS’s offensive in northwest Iraq in August. IS separated captives into categories: 1) women and mothers with younger children and older men or husbands; 2 )women in their early 20s and adolescent girls; 3) younger men and older boys
Turkey: Deaths in Kurdish protests across Turkey
People were killed in demonstrations across Turkey as Kurds demanded that the government do more to protect the town of Kobane from terrorist fighters. On Tuesday night police fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse protesters who burnt cars and tyres as they took to the streets mainly in Turkey's predominantly Kurdish eastern and south-eastern provinces. Clashes also erupted in Ankara and Istanbul where almost one hundred people were detained and thirty were injured. Five died in Diyarbakir. A 25-year-old man died in Varto and at least half a dozen people were wounded there in clashes between police and protesters. Two people died in Siirt province and another died in neighbouring Batman. A curfew exists in Kurdish populated districts of Diyarbakir, Siirt and Van where thousands of protesters rallied against IS's advance on Kobane.
Syria: Jihadist rebels abduct Franciscan friar
Father Hanna Jallouf and about twenty of his parishioners were taken from the convent in the village of Knayeh by the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra Front on Sunday. Nuns at the convent have taken refuge in nearby homes. Many nuns, monks and priests have been kidnapped or killed in Syria since 2011. A senior Franciscan official said Fr Hanna and the other Christians had been accused of being ‘collaborators’ with the government. ‘We don't know what to do. We don't know with whom to talk, we're totally unable to get in touch with anyone.’ he said. Christians have tried to avoid taking sides. However, they are gradually being drawn into the conflict. Many fear that if the secular government is overthrown they will be targeted by groups calling for an Islamic state and Christian communities will be destroyed
Iran: Answered prayers, further arrests and hunger strike
In September believers from Muslim backgrounds were arrested. In October, Moluk Ruhani, Hamidreza Borhani and Zainab Akbari were released though Mohammad Taslimi and Parsa Dadkhah remain in Dastgerd prison. Sepideh Morshedi’s whereabouts is unknown. On 27 September security officers entered the house of Shahram Ghaedi and arrested him, Heshmat Shafiei, and Emad Haghi. Shahram Ghaedi is the actor portraying Jesus in the Iranian version of the Jesus Film. Meanwhile a British Law student, Ghoncheh Ghavami, currently in Evin Prison for ‘propaganda against the regime’ has gone on hunger strike. She was visiting family and working for a charity in June when she was arrested for attempting to attend a men-only volleyball match. Her brother has over 500,000 signatures on a petition urging the British government to help bring Ghavami home. The government said they are unable to do much because of limited diplomatic relationship with Iran. See also:
West Africa: Companies fill gaps in Ebola response
Uzbekistan: Police raid Christian homes
It can be costly to own religious literature in Uzbekistan. On 5 September, Artur Alpayev was fined 50 times the minimum monthly wage for storing religious literature at his home. The literature was seized when his home was raided during a prayer meeting. When sentencing Artur the judge said, ‘We will continue fining you unless you stop storing religious literature in your home.’ Local Christians complained that Artur’s right to ‘search, receive and spread any information, except that which is aimed against the Constitutional order’ under Uzbekistan’s constitution, is not being respected. Police also recently raided the homes of two other Christian couples in search of religious literature. In Uzbekistan all religious literature is subject to compulsory censorship before it can be owned. However, there is no law banning individuals from owning religious literature unless it encourages people to change their beliefs.
USA: 'Non-discrimination' Bill and Christians
Bishop James Johnston says Missouri State’s non-discrimination bill discriminates against people of faith and forcing believers to recognise same-sex relationships violates their religious freedoms and essentially makes Christians criminals. The leader in the Springfield-Cape Girardeau Catholic Diocese issued a letter opposing the measure. ‘Does the government have a compelling interest in forcing every member of our society to participate in the celebration of same-sex relationships?’ Meanwhile a new study revealed that 1/3 of American workers say they have seen or experienced religious discrimination at their workplace according to a new study that asked more than 2,000 Americans about religious freedom at work. 32% of white evangelicals said others look down on them because of their beliefs, while 31% of non-religious workers said the same. See
Ukraine: 'What truce? say residents of Donetsk where battles continue
A ceasefire may still be officially in place in eastern Ukraine, but try telling that to the owners of burning homes in Donetsk. Battles are raging unabated between Ukrainian forces and separatist fighters, mainly around the city’s airport and nearby neighbourhoods are often caught in the crossfire. Resident Valentina Kovaleva told reporters: ‘All the balconies were damaged by shrapnel, everything burning. Can you imagine, if we hadn’t sent away the children, they would be dead now. Every day there is shooting. More than 3,500 people have been killed since fighting began between pro-Russian separatists and government troops’. Raisa Kozlova, a 75-year-old Donetsk resident injured by shelling, said: ‘What truce? You call that a truce? They might make agreements and talks, but it changes nothing. We’re still being bombed.’
Ukraine: 'What truce? say residents of Donetsk where battles continue
A ceasefire may still be officially in place in eastern Ukraine, but try telling that to the owners of burning homes in Donetsk. Battles are raging unabated between Ukrainian forces and separatist fighters, mainly around the city’s airport and nearby neighbourhoods are often caught in the crossfire. Resident Valentina Kovaleva told reporters: ‘All the balconies were damaged by shrapnel, everything burning. Can you imagine, if we hadn’t sent away the children, they would be dead now. Every day there is shooting. More than 3,500 people have been killed since fighting began between pro-Russian separatists and government troops’. Raisa Kozlova, a 75-year-old Donetsk resident injured by shelling, said: ‘What truce? You call that a truce? They might make agreements and talks, but it changes nothing. We’re still being bombed.’
British hostage David Bolam freed in Libya
British teacher David Bolam has been released after being held hostage by militants in Libya since May. The Foreign Office said Mr Bolam, who taught at the now-closed International School in Benghazi, was ‘safe and well’ and had been reunited with his family. Mr Bolam's MP in Craven Arms in Shropshire said he was ‘delighted’ that the 63-year-old was back home safely. It is thought the teacher's release was secured by local political factions and that money changed hands. Mr Bolam's kidnapping had not been reported at the request of the Foreign Office and his family. BBC world affairs correspondent Caroline Hawley said she understood demands for a ransom had been made to the school and that money was handed over to secure his release. She said it was ‘unclear’ how much money was paid and who paid it, but the Foreign Office was not involved in the negotiations. (Ps.105:1)