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Hungary's National Radio and Television Council (ORTT) has suspended the license of a radio station after a Christmas Eve program called for the extermination of Christians. ORTT officials banned Budapest-based Tilos Radio from the airwaves for 30 days while excluding the network from applying for funds for half a year as a "final warning" after one presenter suggested on Dec. 24 it was time to "wipe out all Christians." Tilos Radio, which means "Forbidden Radio" in reference to its former status as a pirate station, already fired the host who it claimed had been talking under the influence of alcohol. It also apologized for insulting people in this mainly Catholic nation. Hungarian media described the ORTT decision as a compromise since right-wing delegates want to see the station closed permanently while liberal officials suggested a 24-hour cessation of broadcasting would have been sufficient. Tilos Radio Chairman Gabor Csabai called the penalty an "exaggerated reaction" to the remarks and will consider an appeal after the station receives official, written confirmation of the ruling. The punishment came less than two weeks after a controversial demonstration in Budapest where thousands of right-wing protesters linked the radio's anti-Christian comments to Israel. (Assist News Service)

ATTACKERS SET FIRE TO CHURCH IN SRI LANKA AS VIOLENCE ESCALATES

Christians suffered further violence in the Buddhist-majority country of Sri Lanka Tuesday, Jan. 20, when a Catholic church was attacked near the capital, Colombo. Attackers set fire to the door of St. Anthony's church and vandalized a cross outside the building. A week earlier, Buddhist protesters set fire to another Catholic church on the outskirts of Colombo. A police spokesman said an investigation was underway, and a man had been arrested in connection with the arson. These incidents were the latest in a series of at least 65 attacks on churches in the past year. Attacks increased after the death of Gangodavila Soma, a Buddhist monk who had led a campaign against religious conversions. Since his death in December 2003, Buddhist monks have stepped up their campaign for nationwide anti-conversion laws, urging the government to ban what they call "unethical conversions." (Compass)

RURAL MEXICAN CHRISTIANS FACE CONTINUED RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE

While Florencio Salazar Adame, the Mexican government official responsible for agrarian reform, denies the existence of religious conflicts in rural areas, reports indicate the opposite. Catholics and evangelicals appear to be using religion as a pretext to promote their land interests, resulting in tensions and clashes in the Tzotzil community in Mitzitón, Chiapas, reported the Infodemex news agency. "In the name of their beliefs, the Catholic traditionalists have expelled dozens of Protestants, burned or destroyed church buildings and private properties and banned the cutting of wood for domestic use. All of this has led to clashes, resulting in injuries to both sides and illegal imprisonments." José María Morales, state sub-secretary for religious affairs, says some groups are using religion as a pretext to provoke clashes. Felipe Arizmendi, the Catholic bishop of San Cristóbal de las Casas, agrees. "The main reason for the conflict is not religion, but this is used or mixed with political and economic interests." Esdras Alonso, a local evangelical pastor, says aggression against Protestants in the area began in 1982 when 50 families were violently thrown out of their homes because of their religious beliefs. Religious intolerance has seen 30,000 Mexican evangelicals forced out of their homes in the past 30 years, as well as dozens of murders and injuries perpetrated against their community. (Assist News Service)

'ANTI-CONVERSION' LAWS IN 5 INDIAN STATES FAIL TO STOP EVANGELISM

"Anti-conversion" laws implemented in five Indian states are prejudiced against Christians, say church leaders. One such law, passed in Tamil Nadu state in October 2002, came after Seventh-day Adventist missionaries conducted a fake baptism to raise funds from American sponsors, said Mr. V. Williams, public relations officer at a leading theological college. Nonetheless, indigenous churches and evangelists have found ways to work around the new restrictions. Some churches challenge potential converts to defy the law while others baptize new believers in secret. The most common strategy is to take baptismal candidates to neighboring states that don't yet have anti-conversion laws. Hindu activists have cited this practice to fuel their argument that anti-conversion laws should be adopted nationwide. Meanwhile, at least one leading mission organization has advised missionaries to take the legal route. "The process takes a long time," admits Timothy Austin of the Indian Evangelical Mission. "Police are sent to verify different aspects of each case. However, permission is normally granted." (Compass)

PEOPLE IN TURKEY DISPLAY SURPRISING OPENNESS TO GOSPEL MESSAGE

While reports of persecution against believers in Turkey continue to surface, it doesn't appear to be a deterrent to the gospel. The country wants to be admitted into the European Union, so authorities are keeping a sharp eye out for human rights violations, says Peter Kaya of Hope Builders International. As a result, Christians are experiencing a greater degree of religious freedom. Despite the heavy Islamic presence, Kaya and his team discovered an entire village last fall that had rejected Islam. They acknowledged God, but knew little else. Team members laid the groundwork in an introduction to Christ. Then they rented 38 buses and transported everyone in the village for a gospel presentation. Following a fellowship meal and preaching sessions, Kaya says what happened next was beyond words. "I asked the nearly 700 people, 'Who wants Jesus Christ?' Almost the whole crowd raised their hand. It was awesome! The Lord showed me that the time is right for His name to spread through Turkey." Since returning to the U.S., Kaya continues to hear reports of people in Turkey openly confessing their faith in Jesus Christ. "In March we're going back to Turkey where we will have a big baptism celebration," he said. (Mission Network News)

* RADIO MINISTRY IN LOJA, ECUADOR, EXPANDS WITH PURCHASE OF FM OUTLET

Radio Hope, a joint broadcasting ministry in southern Ecuador since July 2001, until now has been limited to broadcasting on low-power (12-kw) AM, scarcely covering the city of Loja with Christian Spanish programs. With the purchase of FM station Radio Fantasía in Loja, the ministry immediately began reaching a much larger area, going on the air Thursday, Jan. 15.

As repeater stations are added in the future, programs will be accessible throughout Loja province, the area of Ecuador that is least reached with the gospel, reported SIM. The purchase of the FM station came after months of praying that the owner of Radio Fantasía would be willing to sell the facility to the evangelical ministry.

Radio Hope was started as a joint ministry of HCJB World Radio, SIM, the International Missionary Board (Southern Baptists), World Mission Prayer League and local believers. HCJB World Radio put up the $25,000 needed to buy the AM station, and engineers from Quito traveled from Quito to put it on the air.

"We had tried for decades to get a station started in that area, but fanatical anti-evangelical elements forces blocked it every time we tried," says recently retired missionary Tom Fulghum who served as director of HCJB World Radio's Latin America region. "When we worked with SIM to start a clinic in the area, it opened the doors to begin a radio ministry."

The AM station was officially inaugurated on Aug. 15, 2001, highlighting Fulghum's last day on the job in Ecuador before transferring to the ministry's international headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colo., together with his wife, Lois. "It was one of those things you dreamed about happening your whole life," he said. (HCJB World Radio/SIM)

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