Saudi Arabia: No Access for Imprisoned Christians
Saudi Arabian officials continue to refuse diplomatic access to at least twelve Christians imprisoned for their faith. Despite repeated attempts by consular officials from India, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Eritrea and the Philippines to visit or to obtain information regarding their nationals, the Saudi authorities have not permitted any access or given any details. Such actions are in clear breach of international rights. Some of the Christians detained have been reportedly beaten after their arrest during raids on private religious meetings. Under the repressive Saudi laws that violate fundamental religious freedoms and human rights, no religious practices other than Islam are permitted in the country.Pakistan: Christians Massacred
Fifteen Christians, including their pastor, were killed and others wounded in a massacre carried out on October 28 in Bahawalpur, Pakistan. The victims died in a hail of bullets during an attack by Muslim extremists on a Sunday morning protestant church service. A Muslim group calling itself Lashkar-e-Umar claimed responsibility for the terrorist attack, saying it was in revenge for the situation in Afghanistan. Just two days previously a local newspaper had printed a warning from an Al-Qaeda representative that if the bombings did not stop, then "we will devastate all the infidel's Christmas and Happy New Year celebrations throughout the world," according to a report from Compass Direct.
Indonesia: Attacks on Christians Continue
Christians in a number of areas in Indonesia continue to suffer violence and death at the hands of the Islamic group Laskar Jihad. On November 1, three villages in Central Sulawesi were attacked at night and over 300 homes and churches were burned down. The following day the village of Malitu was destroyed. Also on November 1 a force of 1,700 Jihad warriors attacked villages on Buru Island in eastern Indonesia killing two and forcing over 1,000 to flee. A church and 350 homes were destroyed. In the Tentena area of Poso, Muslim rebels have taken control from the police and are manning roadblocks. Christians are liable to summary execution. According to a report by International Christian Concern, these Islamic militants identify Osama bin Laden as "their leader" and posters with his picture affirm their support. More than 30 villages and 4,000 homes have been destroyed by the Laskar Jihad in the last three months.
Nigeria: Muslim-Christian Clashes Leave Hundreds Dead
Some 200 Christians are reported killed in the north Nigerian city of Kano as the result of anti-American riots that began on Friday, October 12, according to reports in Compass Direct. Five churches and property worth millions of dollars belonging to Christians were destroyed. The Muslim rioters also razed hundreds of houses and shops belonging to Christians. Persons believed to be Islamic fundamentalists burned three churches in Kaduna city of northern Nigeria on October 6. The gutted remains of the church buildings were adorned with the posters of Saudi millionaire Osama bin Laden. More than a thousand died in riots mid-September in the town of Jos, and the local university announced that two Christian lecturers and 22 Christian students were among the dead.
News reports prepared by Dr. Jonathan Gallagher, associate director