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Afghan Christian prisoners in grave danger

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Published: Wednesday 26 January 2011

Afghan Christian prisoners in grave danger

Country: Afghanistan

Urgent prayer is needed for two Afghan converts from Islam to Christianity who are being held in prison because of their faith.

Barnabas Aid has previously reported the plight of Shoaib Assadullah (23) and Said Musa (45), and this week we received worrying updates on both of their cases.

Shoaib, who has been threatened with the death penalty for apostasy, was offered his freedom if he would deny Christ - but he refused. He was then taken barefoot and in chains by police to hospital, where a doctor said that Shoaib was talking nonsense and needed treatment. His supporters fear that the doctors may be co-operating with the court and providing mind-altering drugs for him.

Shoaib was arrested in October 2010 for giving a New Testament in the national Dari language to another Afghan. He was due to appear in court on 3 January, but the hearing was postponed while the attorney general looked into the case.

Said Musa, a father of six, was arrested in May 2010 as part of a crackdown against Afghan converts to Christianity. He is still being held in Kabul prison after repeated delays to his case.

Said's lawyer was blocked from representing him in court and, in the latest development, another Afghan lawyer provided by the US embassy refused to defend him when Said said he would not return to Islam. The lawyer said it was impossible to fight such a case in Afghanistan and that if Said faced a judge he would be given three days "and after that he will execute you".

Please Pray:

Give thanks for both Shoaib and Said’s steadfast faith in the face of such danger, and pray that the Lord will continue to strengthen and sustain them.
Shoaib has requested prayer for his family's salvation, and Said asks us to pray that he will be a bold witness for Christ.
Pray that both of these brothers will come to no harm while they are incarcerated and that the authorities will be moved to release them promptly.

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