News from the Muslim World (July 1998)

Ban on female circumcision. Following a campaign by human rights activists, Egypt’s High Administrative Court have reinstated a ban on female circumcision. Although Muslim scholars debate whether the practice is a requirement for loyal Muslims, a leading conservative has vowed to campaign against the New Year ruling. Most Egyptian women are circumcised as girls.(Barnabas Spring 1998)

Carey plea rejected. Religious leaders in Pakistan have rejected a petition by the Archbishop of Canterbury to end the death penalty for blasphemy. Dr Carey made the request in private discussions with top Muslim personalities during his visit in December, but in turn, was publicly accused of unacceptable interference in Pakistan’s internal affairs. (Barnabas Spring 1998)

Kazakh Bibles. 50,000 Bibles have been distributed in all schools of one Kazakh province as a text for reading lessons. Over 40% of the population in Kazakhstan are Muslim but Christians have been active in evangelism and literature distribution and churches are growing. (ISIC Bulletin October/November 1997)

Leaving Islam in Malaysia. When Nor’aish Bokhari, 25, planned to marry a Chinese Christian and convert from Islam, her family imprisoned her for 40 days. The couple have since escaped into hiding, but strong passions have been aroused. Apostasy is forbidden by Islamic law and in inter-religious marriage, a non-Muslim marrying a Muslim should embrace Islam. However, Malaysian leaders have confirmed citizens can choose their religion and it is not illegal to leave Islam.(ISIC Bulletin April/May 1998)

Indonesian rampage. Mobs enraged at the faltering Indonesian economy have damaged churches and Chinese businesses. They linked Chinese prosperity in the recession to the fact that many Chinese are Christian. The timely message at a recent Christian conference was for believers to do good to those who hate them. (ISIC Bulletin April/May 1998)

Iranian persecution continues. Persecution of Iranian Muslim converts to Christianity and evangelicals has escalated since the election of a moderate president in May 1997. 30 members of an underground church in Shiraz were beaten and interrogated, while church members in Tehran were forced to sign a commitment not to evangelise Muslims. Several Muslim converts were allegedly injected with radioactivity to ‘induce death’. Churches are under surveillance and members show identity cards. (ISIC Bulletin April/May 1998)

Muslim schools. British Muslims have won a decade-long battle to have their own state schools. Two primary schools, Islamia in Brent and Al Furqan in Birmingham were granted funding by the Education Secretary. Muslims saw the emotive issue as a test of the Government’s promise of equal treatment with other faiths; while Church traditionalists feared ‘a foot in the door’ compromising Christian supremacy in schools. Islamia has a waiting list of 1,000 for 180 places. (The Times Jan 10 1998)

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