EGYPT
Islam Against Women
Case part of Islamic crackdown on Christian girls, says organization
By Stefan J. Bos Special Correspondent, ASSIST News Service
CAIRO, EGYPT (ANS) -Summer 04 (Jun 29/04)- A Christian human rights organization asked its supporters Tuesday, June 29, to urgently pray for a 17-year old Christian woman in Egypt who it said has been kidnapped for a second time in two months by militants trying to force her to convert to Islam.
The independent Barnabas Fund said the latest incident was part of a development in Egypt where "police have overlooked and sometimes even aided Muslim men in stealing Christian girls from their families and abusing them in the name of Islam." It noted that the girl, whose name was not identified, had been abducted from a district in Cairo on June 2 and that local police are believed to have aided the Muslim abductors. Barnabas Fund's charge of alleged police involvement could not be confirmed independently. The human rights organization, which investigates the situation of persecuted Christians in mainly Islamic nations, described her family as "completely devastated," as they already "endured a horrific ordeal since she was abducted (the first time) in April," after leaving the house with her savings pass book and money.
CROSS TATTOO
"During her initial abduction (April 6) she reports that she was
sexually abused and drugged in order to manipulate her. A cross tattoo on her
hand was forcibly removed," Barnabas Fund said. Her abductors allegedly
tried "to force her to convert to Islam, and one now claims to be her
husband," the organization added. Egyptian law specifically forbids the
marriage of a girl under 21 without her parents' consent and also makes it
illegal to convert a Christian girl under the age of 18, Barnabas Fund said. A
Muslim man her parents suspected of involvement in the kidnapping admitted to
having her money, but told police she gave it to her. "Throughout the
ordeal, the local police were uncooperative with the family, if not abusive. On
Wednesday April 7 a number of local Muslim leaders, including a local Member of
Parliament, were seen at the police station showing their support for keeping
the girl away from her family." Barnabas Fund claimed.
Although later that day "police eventually told her parents they could collect her at 5 p.m..." the parents "were not permitted to take their daughter home until midnight: and "during these seven hours they were intimidated", the organization reported
CAR CRASH
Barnabas Fund said it has learned that when the family finally drove home, their car was struck apparently intentionally by another vehicle" forcing them to return to the police station, where officers kept the girl another night, ostensibly for her protection, and refused to document the traffic incident "In reality it appears, her captors wanted another opportunity to pressurize her into refusing to rejoin her family. The police made it difficult for them to reclaim her again the next day, April 8." Barnabas Fund said the Christian girl claimed she had been influenced by the suspects for two years and that they threatened that her family to harm her if she did not leave them. The suspects have never been charged, and the family took refuge.
SHOW CASE
This case shows an unbelievable disregard for the rights of children and the institution of the family. It also shows a complete disregard for law by some Egyptian police and the prejudice with which they treat minorities, particularly Christians," Barnabas Fund said in a statement send to ASSIST News Service. "Unfortunately, the forced conversion of young Christian girls in Egypt is a recurring theme. Besides kidnapping other methods of intimidation are used to force Christian girls to give up their faith in Christ, including a quick underage marriage as the 'honorable conclusion to a rape "for which no one is charged," Barnabas Fund stressed.
The organization asked supporters to "pray that this girl will be returned to her family as soon as possible" as "her abductors presumably want to force her to make an official declaration of conversion when she turns 18. Barnabas Fund added it was important to "pray that she will be preserved spiritually, physically and emotionally while she is imprisoned by these men."
It also urged supporters, who are often born-again Christians, to "pray for this Christian family who have lost their child. They need strength and peace from the Lord to endure this horrible ordeal." It was important to "pray for justice, that her abductors would be charged and sentenced," Barnabas Fund said.
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THERE IS NOT ONE CHRISTIAN NATION ON EARTH WHERE MUSLIMS ARE PERSECUTED.
Yet in most nations where the majority of the population are Muslims, there is systematic government persecution of Christians.
"Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance."
--Article 18 of the Universal
Declaration of
Human
Rights--
Christian Conversions - According to the Bible - Can NEVER be forced.
Any Conversion to Christianity which would be "Forced" would NOT be recognized by God. It is in
His True and KIND nature, that those who come to Him and choose to believe in Him, must come to Him OF
THEIR OWN FREE WILL.
Don't Let anyone tell you that Christians support Forced Conversions.
That is False. True Christianity is NEVER forced.
Core Universal Rights
The right to believe, to worship and witness
The right to change one's belief or religion
The right to join together and express one's belief