Mali: Christians vulnerable following attack
Gunmen shouting Islamic slogans attacked the Radisson Blue Hotel, frequented by foreigners, early last Friday. After Malian commandos stormed the hotel, a large number of hostages were freed. Although it is suspected that the attack was sparked by terror attacks on Paris last week, it is important to keep in mind that the attack happened within the context of insecurity that has been lingering since the 2013 Islamic rebellion. A fragile peace accord reached in June 2015 has so far not succeeded in brokering lasting stability. An Open Doors worker said, ‘Some of the Christians who were forced to flee the North during the 2013 rebellion have ventured back, but have found it very hard to cope with the destruction of their properties and the ongoing anxiety. However, as this attack clearly shows, Christians in the South also continue to face insecurity.’
Turkey: will anybody support the Turkmen?
Turkish-Russian relations, already tense due to Moscow’s military engagement in Syria to aid President Bashar al-Assad, took a dangerous turn when a Russian fighter jet was shot down by the Turkish military. Ankara said the plane had violated Turkey’s airspace, a claim that Russia is rejecting. The incident follows angry statements in recent days from Ankara aimed at Russia for hitting targets in an area where Turkmen fighters armed and supported by Turkey are fighting the Syrian army, which is supported by Russian fighter jets. A fuming Russian President, Vladimir Putin, warned Ankara after the downing of the jet that there would be ‘significant consequences,' signalling Turkish-Russian ties changing radically as Turkey faces Moscow’s increasing resolve to fight anti-Assad groups supported by Ankara. Ankara insists that there is no IS presence where Turkmen are located. The Turkmen are ethnic Turks who have lived in the region since the 11th century.
India: Nellore floods prayer request
Nellore is a city on the banks of the Penna River in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The city is the fourth most populous settlement of the state, well known for its agriculture and aquaculture. There have been horrendous floods in Nellore district for two weeks, with a calamitous impact on families and industry, destroying homes and farming equipment. A pastor living there writes, ‘Please pray for our state as there is lot of flooding. My family and many more relatives are stuck in this situation. My nephew is crying every day. I don't know how many people are crying like that; they are unable to come out of that place and we cannot reach them. Please watch and please pray for us. No power for three days, many lack food. As we help and support them please stretch your blessed hands towards these people who have lost everything due to floods.’
Israel: the battle against terror
During the first thirty days of the new Jewish year which began on 13 September, there were 778 terrorist attacks in Israel. Fourteen Jewish people were murdered in these attacks, 167 were seriously wounded, and twenty are fighting for their lives. Since the beginning of October stabbings, shootings and vehicle rammings have killed another 22. Over 80% of the perpetrators came from the West Bank. Neither Mahmoud Abbas nor the Palestinian Authority (PA) have condemned any of these hundreds of acts of terror against innocent Jewish civilians. Instead they have encouraged them with PA-produced videos such as ‘Nothing is as Sweet as Martyrdom’ which encourages Palestinians to murder Jews (see link below). This week new measures were introduced in the West Bank to tackle Palestinian terror attacks. IDF soldiers have set up checkpoints surrounding Hebron, Hawara, and Nablus, and around villages adjacent to the Etzion settlement bloc. See also: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/202514#.VlSULHbhCM8 and Palestinian video link: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/203522#.VlSR33bhCM9
