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In a repeat of an earlier verdict, the Sohag Criminal Court in Egypt, Thursday, Feb. 27, acquitted nearly all 96 suspects charged with atrocities in connection with violence that broke out in the village of El Kosheh more than three years ago, leaving 21 Coptic Christians and a Muslim dead. As in the previous February 2001 ruling, only four men received sentences. Mayez Amin Abdel Rahim was sentenced to 15 years for killing the sole Muslim victim (an increase of five years from the previous verdict) while three other Muslim men got one- and two-year sentences for setting a truck on fire. The rest of the suspects were acquitted, disappointing Egypt's Christian minority that had hoped for justice at the retrial. Coptic Bishop Wissa said he was dismayed at the judgment. "If those accused are really innocent, where are the real killers?" he asked. "If the perpetrators of the murders are allowed to walk free, it will be seen as a green light to kill Christians." The three days of violence which began in El Kosheh Dec. 31, 1999, stemmed from a dispute between a Muslim trader and a Christian shop owner. In addition to the deaths, 33 Christians were wounded, and 260 Christian homes and business were destroyed. (Christian Solidarity Worldwide)

INDONESIAN MUSLIM EXTREMIST GROUP REMAINS ACTIVE IN PAPUA

While the Laskar Jihad, a Muslim extremist group, was disbanded in eastern Indonesia's Moluccan Islands last October, it's still active in Papua, reported The South China Morning Post Feb. 19. The article paints a picture of escalating levels of cooperation between the Indonesian military and the Laskar Jihad. "The rhetoric of the Laskar Jihad fits comfortably with the aims of the Indonesian military in Papua," said Johannes Bonay, head of ELSHAM, a group that monitors human rights abuses in Papua. "One of their objectives is to protect the unity of Indonesia in Papua. They are using Islam to claim they are fighting against the Kaffir in Papua." More than 90 percent of Papua's indigenous population is officially Christian -- mostly Protestant. "The Indonesian military is using the issue of separatism (which in Eastern Indonesia is very non-threatening) as their reason for pursuing increased powers," Bonay said. "In Papua both the military and the Islamists are motivated by their humiliation and anger over the loss of East Timor. Clearly, predominantly Christian Papua is a conflict-in-waiting." (World Evangelical Alliance).

MUSLIM YOUTHS ATTACK CHRISTIAN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN NIGERIAN CITY

Muslim youths went on the rampage in Ibadan, Nigeria, Feb. 19, beating up teachers and staff at several Christian secondary schools in the city. The attacks were triggered by the alleged refusal of some staff to allow female Muslim students to wear the hijab (headscarf) in school. Believers are urged to pray that Muslim activists seeking to enforce sharia (Islamic law) be prevented from taking the law into their own hands. (Barnabas Fund)

* HCJB World Radio, together with partners In Touch Ministries, SIM and the Evangelical Church of West Africa, began airing weekly half-hour programs in the Igbo language in 2000. The programs air via shortwave to Nigeria's 15 million Igbo speakers.

QATAR AUTHORIZES CONSTRUCTION OF CHURCHES FOR FIRST TIME

The government of Arab Gulf state of Qatar has authorized the construction of churches in the country, something unprecedented in this country, reported Zenit Feb. 25. A government representative said this is part of "Qatar's conviction in favor of freedom of worship." Although Islam is the dominant religion in Qatar, thousands of Christians live in the country, many of them immigrant workers. (Voice of the Martyrs)

* HCJB World Radio reaches across North Africa, the Middle East and Europe with Christian Arabic programming aired via shortwave, satellite and local stations. The Radio Al Mahabba (Radio Love) Arabic satellite network, operated with partner Arab World Ministries, airs 24 hours a day. This region has the world's highest concentration of personal satellite dishes.

CONSERVATIVE PRESBYTERIAN DENOMINATION LAUNCHES IN NEW ZEALAND

A new denomination called a Grace Presbyterian Church of New Zealand was officially launched earlier today. Seven congregations scattered between Auckland in the north and Gore in the south met at the Christchurch Branch of the Bible College of New Zealand this morning to establish the denomination. Some of the participating churches had withdrawn from the Presbyterian Church of Aoteaora New Zealand. Others were independent but wanted to join a denomination, and the remainder are new church plants. "The new denomination is committed to the authority and inerrancy of the Bible which will distinguish it from the current position of the Presbyterian Church of Aoteaora New Zealand," said pastor Peter Boyd. "What we are finding is that many people are hungry for biblical teaching. Churches that preach God's Word faithfully appear to he the ones that are growing and are relevant. We hope that this denomination will be faithful to God and will fill the spiritual vacuum left by liberalism." The seven founding congregations have a total membership of about 600, but Boyd expects this number to multiply. "We're eager to establish and grow more congregations throughout New Zealand," he says. "We hope the new denomination will become a vital part of New Zealand society and that many will enjoy biblical teaching in an environment of genuine friendship." (Religious Media Agency)

INNER-CITY MINISTRY URGES MORE BELIEVERS TO HELP REACH THE POOR

As U.S. President George W. Bush pushes for federal funding of faith-based relief initiatives for the poor, at least one evangelical organization is pushing for more church involvement. "Churches have a biblical obligation to get involved," says Life Inner City's Ted Gandy. "Many people want to do something, but they don't know what to do." In response, the ministry has initiated a program called Compassion by Command. "This is an innovative, video-based Bible study designed to motivate and train Christians to reach out to the poor in their communities." Gandy says there's much which people can do such a teaching English as a second language, leading job training, teaching life skills and helping with childcare. "All those things are not ends in themselves, but because they're caring in a compassionate way for people, it's a tremendous opportunity to share Christ and lead people to the Lord," he says. (Mission Network News)

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