Iran Builds Up The Shia Horn (Daniel 8:4)

Iran Seduces Children to Train Them for War

Published: 24 January 2017

 In an article by Majid Rafizadeh, political scientist and Harvard University scholar is president of the International American Council on the Middle East, published by the Gatestone Institute addresses the issue of Iran iusing new methods of recruiting and training children through its paramilitary militia group, Basij.  This group is one of the five branches of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Children, some as young as eight years old, are trained to hate the US and Israel, to attack their enemies in the West, and to oppose Western values.

One of Iran's is titled, "Martyrs who defend the sacred shrine.”

The translation of the video clip, according to the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), says:

"Let us rise up to save the sacred shrine.

I have joined [Imam] Hossein's army division.

... I have a warrant from the [Imam Ali] to defend the sacred shrine.

On my leader [Ali Khamenei's] orders I am ready to give my life.

The goal is not just to free Iraq and Syria;

My path is through the sacred shrine [in Syria], but my goal is to reach Jerusalem.

... I do not regret parting from my country;

In this just path I am wearing my martyrdom shroud.

... From Mashhad [north-east Iran], I will walk on foot to Damascus.

I am like the bird who flocks to the sacred shrine.”

The training and teachings inspire hatred in these young children, through rampant anti-Americanism and anti-Semitism, and focus on damaging the national security of the Unites States (‘the Great Satan’) and Israel (‘the Little Satan’).”

Rafizadeh writes,  “At Mashad's theme park, ‘City of Games for Revolutionary Children,’ children are trained to engage in wars against the US and Israel. They fire bullets through US and Israeli flags or at effigies such as that of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.”

According to Israel National News:  "After registering, children don military uniforms and split up into groups of 8-10. They are accompanied by a 'commander' whom they pledge to obey. They then go through 12 activity stations, which include simulations of the Iran-Iraq war, a 'Revolution chamber,' defending various holy shrines, and traversing a minefield with barbed wire. Along the way, they are told about the directives of the Imam (Ayatollah Ruhollah) Khomeini and Supreme Leader Khamenei.”

A "commander" teaches the children Islamist values. The Middle East Research Media Research Institute (MEMRI) quotes Hamid Sadeghi, director of Iran's Child and the Future Cultural Center, who run the theme park, "One of [our] cultural experts guides the children at the City of Games. First they are brought into the stations of the Ghadir [Shi'ite holiday honoring Imam 'Ali's succession to the Prophet Muhammad] and of the Lovers of Ahl Al-Bayt [the family of the Prophet Muhammad descended from 'Ali], and [the guide] explains to them about the Mahdi [the Shi'ite messiah]. Then they reach the station of the Rule of the Jurisprudent [Velayat-e Faqih], and then the station of the Revolution, where the guide explains about the Islamic Revolution ...An explanation is also provided about the directives of the Imam [Ayatollah Ruhollah] Khomeini and [Supreme] Leader Khamenei."

Training includes religious holy wars teachings. Sadeghi, pointed out,  "At the City of Games, we are trying to convey to the children messages about fighting, the Holy Defense and current global issues, through games, amusements, and group activities.”

Iran is seducing children, and has actually used children in wars, assigning them tasks such as clearing minefields.

Iran's actions are a direct violation of international humanitarian law that is defined as a war crime by the International Criminal Court. According to the United Nations, "Human rights law declares 18 as the minimum legal age for recruitment and use of children in hostilities. Recruiting and using children under the age of 15 as soldiers is prohibited under international humanitarian law – treaty and custom – and is defined as a war crime by the International Criminal Court. Parties to conflict that recruit and use children are listed by the Secretary-General in the annexes of his annual report on children and armed conflict.”

Iranian institutions such as the Office of the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Ministry of Intelligence (Etela'at), and the militia group Basij, all play a crucial role in this matter. Institutions who recruit children for war, in violation of the international humanitarian law, are the beneficiaries of the sanctions relief and billions of dollars being poured into the Islamic republic as a result of the nuclear deal.

Rafizadeh summarizes this issue:

• The children, as young as eight years old, are trained to hate the US and Israel and to attack their enemies in the West, as well as to oppose Western values.

• Iran's actions are a direct violation of international humanitarian law that is defined as a war crime by the International Criminal Court. According to the United Nations, "Human rights law declares 18 as the minimum legal age for recruitment and use of children in hostilities.

• Finally, these institutions that recruit children for war, in violation of the international humanitarian law, are the main beneficiaries of the sanctions relief and billions of dollars being poured into the Islamic republic as a result of the nuclear deal.

Iran Continues To Persecute Christians

Pakistan Christian Post

Tehran: January 12, 2017. Iranian Christians request further prayer for Christian converts in Rasht facing various charges. These converts have also reportedly been threatened by Revolutionary Guards, a branch of the Iranian armed forces effectively under the direct control of the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Since the arrest of Yousef Nadarkhani, Yaser Mosibzadeh, Saheb Fadayee and Mohammed Reza Omidi on 13th May 2016, they have had two court hearings facing charges of action against national security - a common charge levelled against Christian converts in Iran - and a verdict is still pending.

Recently the Revolutionary Guard contacted the men and warned them against meeting together and sharing the Gospel with others. They were threatened with immediate arrest and yet more charges.

In addition Yaser, Saheb and Mohammed Reza were charged with consumption of alcohol for drinking wine during a communion service*. After a court hearing on 10th September they were found guilty and sentenced to 80 lashes each. They have an appeal hearing scheduled for 9th February 2017.

The 2016 Christmas period was notably calm for Christians in Iran and no raids on house groups or churches have been reported. This is a positive development compared to previous years when there were frequent arrests. The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) also reported that Christian prisoner Maryam Naghash Zargaran was allowed out of prison on 27th December 2016 for a five-day furlough.

Although Iranian Christians are thankful for a quiet Christmas, they point out that harassment of Christians, especially converts, is continuing.

Source: Middle East Concern

Pakistan Continues To Martyr Christians (Daniel 8:8)

Pakistan Teen Killed In ‘Terror’ Campaign Against Christian Women, GirlsFebruary 19, 2016

By BosNewsLife Asia Service with reporting by BosNewsLife’s Stefan J. Bos

LAHORE, PAKISTAN (BosNewsLife)– Rights activists say Christian women and girls in Pakistan are facing a wave of terror that has already claimed at least one life and injured two others this year alone.
The British Pakistani Christian Association (BPCA) says the terror has included a January 13 deadly incident in the city of Lahore where three young Christian girls, identified as Kiran, 17, Shamroza, 18, and Sumble, 20, were approached at night while walking home by four allegedly drunk Muslim men in a car.
Because the girls refused their sexual advances the men became enraged to the point that the driver targeted them with the car, according to investigators. Kiran died after she landed on the hood of the car, which had increased in speed before coming to an abrupt halt. Christians said the teen was catapulted through the air before falling to the ground.
The two other women received severe injuries and broken bones, rights activists said.
“Women have a low status in Pakistan, but none more so than Christian women who find themselves under the grip or terror, especially after this attack.” added Wilson Chowdhry, chairman of the BPCA. “Evidence exists that some rogue imams declare that such acts of conversion through violence are rewarded in heaven, what a terrifying thought.”
MORE INCIDENTS
This isn’t an isolated incident. Last year in November, American Center for Law and Justice affiliated group Organization for Legal Aid in Pakistan, reportedly prepared charges in the case of an 8-year-old Christian girl who was beaten and left naked on the streets by a Muslim family that wanted to punish her uncle for an interreligious relationship.
BPCA says it has started a petition for victims like Kiran, and set up a donations fund where people can financially contribute to the work that goes into helping Christian families.
“This act of violence should be met with the strong arm of the law. In any other nation the perpetrators would be arrested, convicted for murder and sentenced for a long term. In Pakistan, however, the poor go to prison and the wealthy commit whatever crime they wish with impunity. Violence against Christians is rarely investigated and highly unlikely to be met with justice,” Chowdhry complained.
Additionally the BCPA says it has written to the British Embassy and the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR, both in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad, urging them to give a persecuted Christian mother of three a humanitarian visa and “allow her safety in the West”.
Fouzia Sadiq, 30, was allegedly abducted by a Muslim man who forced her to marry him and “convert” to Islam following an impromptu request for cleaning services at his home on July 23 2015. “Two days ago Fouzia Sadiq with the help of her brother Paris, was able to escape the clutches of Muhammed Nazir, 60, who had tortured, raped and subjected her to a life of personal servitude.”
CHRISTIANS ABDUCTED
BosNewsLife published the names of the victim and suspect as they were already publicly identified.
At least 700 Christian women and girls in Pakistan are abducted, raped and forced into Islamic marriage every year – almost two a day, according to Christian rights groups.
Some of them have been accused of blasphemy against Islam, including Asia Bibi, a Christian mother of five who has been on death row for nearly six years and faces execution by hanging under the country’s controversial blasphemy legislation.
Advocacy and aid group Open Doors says these and other incidents contributed to its decision to place the Asian nation number 8 on its annual World Watch List of 50 countries where it says Christians face severe persecution.