News

India | Thursday April 12, 2007

Converted Christian was locked up in a cellar for 17 days

After baptism, a convert to Christianity from Islam is beaten and locked up

Malabar, India
Salem Voice Ministry News, April 11, 2007: Maheen Sathar, a Christian convert from Islam, was locked in a dark room for 17 days and released on April 9. He was locked up in a cellar by his brother-in-law (wife’s brother) with some other extremists on March 24.

Maheen Sathar has been a strong believer in Jesus Christ for four years. His wife, Muneera, did not believe in Jesus Christ. Maheen tried to convince her several times about the need of the salvation, and also the importance of reading and meditating the Bible, the Word of God. But Muneera did not even listen him because she was influenced by her brother Siddhiq Yasin, who is an extremist, working in Riyad, Saudi Arabia.

Last month Maheen Sathar was baptised. Actually, he was waiting for the baptism for a long time, because he wanted his wife Muneera to be baptized with him. At last he alone decided to take baptism.

Muneera told her this to her brother and immediately he came back from Saudi Arabia. He wanted Maheen to confess back to Islam. He tried to persuade him to go to Saudi Arabia by offering him a great position. He also offered him a big house and its property as Maheen’s own.

But Maheen thoroughly said, “Lord Jesus is far… and very far above than any of the offers of this world. I may be killed, but I will never deny Jesus, for He is my Lord and Saviour who granted me eternal life.”

This provoked Siddhiq Yasin and his gang. They brutally beaten him in front of his wife Muneera and locked him in a cellar. They did not provide him proper food and facilities. They did not even allow Muneera to see him at the cellar.

Everybody thought Maheen would come back to Islam, but they found he became stronger in the faith of Jesus day by day. So they took a decision to save Muneera from Maheen by killing him.

It was a shock for Muneera, for she never expected such a thought of killing would come from her brother and father. She personally prayed to God, the Almighty. While she was praying she saw Heaven and the Lord Jesus is sitting on the throne. Maheen was at the palm of His right hand, praising Him along with the angels and washing human souls by the blood which flows like a beautiful stream from the heart of Jesus Christ along with the Word comes out of His mouth.

In the vision, Muneera tried to reach Maheen, but she could not because there was a big gap in between Heaven and Muneera. In fact, she had seen a bridge in the shape of a Cross over the gap, but it was taken back to heaven when she attempted to enter in it. That’s why she could not go to heaven.

Muneera confessed with tears, accepted Lord Jesus as her Saviour and prayed for Maheen not to be harmed.

Then she called Rev. Paul Ciniraj Mohamed, the Director of the Salem Voice Ministries by telephone and told him all the details. He reached the place and met with the believers first. There were very few Christian believers and all of them were converted. They prayed together and approached a politician. By his help, they met a senior police officer and the police forcibly released Maheen from the cellar.

At the same evening a mob, under the leadership of Siddhiq Yasin, gathered with weapons to attack Pastor Paul Ciniraj. Immediately, some of the local people, who are secretly believed in Jesus Christ, hid him in another house. Ciniraj believes that he was protected by God because of the prayers of the children of God.

Maheen and Muneera started a new life in a separate house, under the special care of the Police Officer. But it is not good for them to continue their future life. Indeed they will have to move to another place of safety as soon as possible.

It is true that the politician and the police officer were somewhat useful for releasing Maheen from the cellar, but nobody can fully trust them for they themselves are afraid of some political or religious powers. They specially requested the SVM News Service not to mention their names anywhere regarding Maheen’s case.

Maheen and Muneera have not yet overcome the dangerous situation. God alone has to protect them in His mighty hands. We are asking for continuous prayers for them.

“Christian persecution is increasing widely throughout Asian and African countries. Many pastors, evangelists and believers are being murdered, beaten and jailed. Churches are vandalized. Authorities are often silent or protect the attackers. Hearing all these, many people are showing their sympathy and leave it. But we need prayers; continuous prayers from the dedicated prayer warriors; their prayers are our strength”, Rev. Paul Ciniraj Mohamed, who is also a converted Christian from Islam said.