VOM Reports Increasing Persecution Against Sri Lankan Christians
by Allie Martin
July 8, 2005
(AgapePress) - A spokesman for the Voice of the Martyrs says persecution of Christians continues to be on the increase in Sri Lanka. Recently, an Assembly of God church in the Sri Lankan town of Ambalangoda was attacked by a crowd of more than 100 people.The church was vandalized and two parishioners, along with the pastor, were severely beaten. Police believe a group of Buddhist monks is responsible for the attack in Ambalangoda, but Todd Nettleton of Voice of the Martyrs, an international ministry to the persecuted Church, says such incidents are increasingly common in this part of the world.
"This is just one of many attacks in the nation of Sri Lanka in the past few months and in the past few years," Nettleton notes. "The reports are that in the last two years, at least 170 churches have been attacked, and 140 churches have been closed down due to this type of violent attack."
The VOM spokesman says a proposed anti-conversion law in Sri Lanka could mean even more persecution for Christians there. The law against inducing anyone to convert to another religion was proposed last year; however, many uncertainties remain about how the legislation should be interpreted.
"The problem with the law," Nettleton explains, "is it doesn't really clarify what inducing someone is -- if that's offering them money or if that's simply telling them that you know a better way or you know a better Savior. So that law, obviously, is a concern for Christian workers in the country."
The pending anti-conversion law is also a concern for foreign workers who are considering or who are actively doing mission work in Sri Lanka, the VOM representative adds. So, he says, "That's another item that American Christians can pray about." Nettleton says it is not clear at present when Sri Lanka's Parliament may vote on the anti-conversion legislation.
Allie Martin, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
