Christmas is a difficult time for the church in Muslim nations. It is often when authorities will clamp down on the churches, and when individuals will attack believers in their communities. Christmas 2011 has been no exception.
Since Mubarak was removed from power in Egypt the Christian community in Egypt have found themselves in an increasingly dangerous position, as Islamic fundamentalist groups seek to destroy the remnant of Christianity within Egypt (before the rise of Islam, Egypt was a Christian nation). At the end of the year in southern Egypt a young Christian man was arrest after a drawing of the prophet Muhammad was posted on his Facebook page. The 17 year old denies doing this, saying his friends posted the image. Whatever the truth may be, Muslims in his home town have reacted angrily retaliating by setting fire to the homes of other Christians in the town. Egypt like many other Muslim nations has strict Blasphemy laws; often used to detain Christians, or as justification for violence against Christians.
In Iran 2011 saw a crack down on church activity, in particular upon converts from Islam. The crack down was intensified over the Christmas period, when pastors were arrested, and churches raided. In one incident even the children were initially detained by police. One man, Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, has been sentenced to death for refusing to denounce his faith.
Christians detained in Iran can find themselves in the countries infamous Evin Prison, notorious for it’s brutality and harsh conditions. One woman lately released after nearly a year in detention, has been left unwell due to the harsh conditions she experienced- this is not uncommon.
However, the worst violence this Christmas against Christian’s in the region has been in the predominantly Muslim Northern Nigeria. Nigeria has seen churches destroyed and Christian’s killed, in an al-Qaeda lead offensive, with the objective of forcing all Christians to leave the region.
These places are spiritually dark. The devil delights in the spilling of innocent blood, and he has captured these people into the lie of thinking they are doing the will of God by attacking, and killing followers of Jesus. Many of these places were once Christian nations; Egypt was taken for Islam as Muslims settled in the region and had bigger families than the Christians, until they were the majority, since then the Christian minority have been oppressed.
When the mantle comes into Europe, we often see God moving in these Middle Eastern countries too; pray as Prophet TV comes into Europe that the small Middle Eastern church will be strengthened and that Sons of God will be raised up in these regions also.