Weaponzied misinformation and anti-Israel propaganda are deploying the same tactics that are common with Holocaust denialism. Variations of “they deserved it,” to “they are exaggerating or fabricating how bad it actually was,” to “they did it themselves to justify war” are shockingly mainstream.
History teaches us that left unchecked, this form of denialism fuels hatred and dehumanizes Jewish people around the world. In the extreme, it leads to violence or worse.
Dear Hamas, thank you for showing your true colours. You have revealed to the world how hateful your ideology is. Thank you for uniting Jewish people around the world and revealing how important it is for Israel to exist as the lone Jewish state.
What a year. In the face of so much hurt and struggle in the world right now, we are so fortunate to have you in our corner fighting for human rights and justice in the world’s darkest corners. Your efforts are making a difference!
It is with deep sadness we share the news that Anna-Lee Chiprout has died.
The mother of One Free World International, Anna-Lee gave her heart to all she met.
Update: Operation Horizon of Hope In the meantime, we recently sent an alert highlighting Rev. El Shafie’s upcoming return mission to Afghanistan. Rev. El Shafie will be leaving soon on this mission to encourage our troops, but also to meet with Afghan government officials in order to challenge the government about human rights issues in the country.
This mission is rapidly approaching and so we are re-sending the alert to encourage you that now is the time to send your letters and donations in order to make this mission a success. We must receive your cards and letters of support by June 15th in order to ensure that Rev. El Shafie can deliver them. Please stand with us and with our troops through your notes and letters, as well as your prayers and financial support for this important mission.
Afghan people. He presented the troops with several cards signed by over 2000 of our friends and partners, including several members of parliament and the prime minister. The visit and your messages of support clearly meant a lot to the troops so before he left, Rev. El Shafie promised to return. He is now preparing to fulfill that promise by travelling back to Afghanistan where he will be visiting Canadian, American, and NATO soldiers.This is a critical time in the mission for Canadian troops. As they prepare to come home next year in accordance with the government’s decision, they will face great dangers. At the same time, questions over Canada’s role in the treatment of detainees by Afghan authorities have grown into a full-blown controversy. OFWI supports any necessary, legitimate, and democratic investigation into the detainee issue in accordance with Canadian law; however, we must not let this controversy overshadow the sacrifices our troops continue to make. After all, those who are demanding information and documents from the government are only able to do so because our soldiers once fought to defend our freedoms here in Canada as they are doing today in Afghanistan. The purpose of OFWI’s mission is not to get involved in the political debate, but to show our troops that we have not forgotten them and that we support and pray for them regardless of what happens on Parliament Hill.
Rev. El Shafie is inviting a delegation of Members of Parliament from both major parties to join him in this mission. In addition to encouraging the troops, Rev. El Shafie and his delegation will meet with Afghan officials to discuss their progress in the area of human rights and to stress the importance of ensuring equality and the human rights of all Afghan people both now and after Canadian troops leave.
OFWI would like to give you the opportunity to participate in this mission. Once again, we are asking our friends and partners across the country to sign one of six cards of support and appreciation for the troops that are currently circulating. Also, some of you may not have the chance to sign the large cards, so we would like to give you the opportunity to send personal cards or letters of support which Rev. El Shafie will deliver to the troops together with the joint cards. Simply prepare your card or letter and send it to One Free World International marked “Operation Horizon of Hope”, making sure we receive it by June 15th.
Finally, as you know, OFWI is fully supported through the voluntary donations of our friends and members without whose support none of our work would be possible. Please join us by participating financially in this important mission so that we can make it a reality. Your donations are important and will have a lasting impact on the Afghan people by encouraging our troops and through the contacts Rev. El Shafie will be able to make. Please note that your donations are not tax deductible because OFWI has chosen not to seek charitable status so that we can pursue our goals freely, without the limits placed by law on charities.
Canadians can disagree about whether we should be in Afghanistan and OFWI does not take a position on this question. However, the reality is that Canadian soldiers are on the ground risking their lives daily on behalf of peace and freedom for the Afghan people and for Canadians. These brave men and women are doing their jobs and need and deserve our support.
• for the government and leadership of Afghanistan, that they would commit wholeheartedly to human rights, democracy, and equality and that they would have the strength of will and political leadership to implement these goals effectively for the benefit of all Afghan people;
• that the troops would be encouraged and uplifted by Rev. El Shafie’s visit; and,
• for the continued safety and protection of the troops who will then stay behind on the battlefield while Rev. El Shafie returns home to the safety of Canada. Pray particularly that the troops would have unusual wisdom and compassion in dealing with the Afghan people whom they are trying to help and that they would have supernatural discernment and intuition in order to prevent attacks by the Taliban that could harm them and ordinary Afghan people.
The Bible teaches that faith without action is dead, so please take action urgently and:
• send your card or letter of support to the Canadian troops by June 15th to:
One Free World International c/o Operation Horizon of Hope 20 Bloor Street East, Box 75129 Toronto, ON M4W 3T3
• send your financial contribution by cheque to the above address or deposit it directly to:
Bank: Royal Bank of Canada Institution Code: 003 Transit Number: 5452 Account Number: 1008507 (Canadian deposits); 4003232 (U.S. dollar deposits) Swift: ROYCCAT2
Remember, that the persecuted Christians are dying every day, but they are still smiling. They are in a very deep dark night, but they have the candle of the Lord. The enemy can have a very strong weapon and a very strong army, but we have the Lord Almighty.
"They can kill the dreamer, but they cannot kill the dream" in the Lord’s name.
Be with God and may God be with you.
One Free World International El Shafie Ministries
Victory Report – Maryam and Marzieh Freed
Dear Friends and Partners,
Two Iranian women, Maryam and Marzieh, were freed without bail last week from the Iranian prison where they have been held for almost 9 months. You may recall our alert dated September 20, 2009 in which we told you of the amazing courage and fortitude exhibited by these two young converts from Islam during a court hearing in August. When the prosecutor attempted to pressure them into renouncing their Christian faith, they refused steadfastly and boldly testified about their relationship with God.
After the hearing Maryam and Marzieh were sent back to Evin prison, an Iranian prison notorious for its abuses, and told to return when they were ready to comply with the court’s demands to renounce their faith. The women suffered numerous health problems without adequate medical treatment and reportedly lost a lot of weight while in prison, but they are grateful to be free.In October, the women were acquitted of the charge of “anti-state activities” but charges of “taking part in illegal gatherings” and apostasy remain outstanding.
While the government recently decided not to pass a threatened apostasy law, torture and extrajudicial killings are common in Iran. Maryam and Marzieh are expected to face further court hearings and, if found guilty, could still face abusive punishments or death. They are also expected to be subject to heavy surveillance which will greatly restrict their freedoms.Maryam and Marzieh are just two of many Christians in Iran who are either in prison or out on bail facing similar charges. Other minorities, such as the Bahá’í’s, also face varying degrees of persecution. In the midst of growing repression, Maryam and Marzieh and the entire Christian community as well as other minority communities in Iran need our continued prayers and support.
Please pray:
• for Maryam and Marzieh’s continued recovery from their ordeal and their safety as well as for victory in the outstanding charges against them. Pray that they would be able to use their experiences to encourage other Christians and to glorify God;
• for the numerous others in prison for their faith in Iran, that they would be protected from harm and be released and able to seek and worship God freely;
• that all charges and laws criminalizing religious beliefs and activity would be dropped or repealed without delay and that Iranian authorities would stop targeting minority religious communities and focus on governing their people with fairness and justice for the benefit of the entire country; and,
• for the Iranian people, that they would be able to live and worship freely and that they would find true peace and freedom in the Prince of Peace.
ACTION:
The Bible teaches that faith without action is dead, so please take action urgently and write (contact details are included below):
• the representative of Iran in your country, demanding that Iranian authorities respect international human rights standards with respect to religious freedom and their own constitution and that they drop the charges against Maryam and Marzieh as well as all others who are facing charges based on their religious beliefs or activity; assure them that an Iran where all Iranians, regardless of their beliefs, would be able to live, work, and worship in freedom will be a strong and prosperous Iran; and,
• to the Minister for Foreign Affairs or Secretary of State in your country, urging them to continue using every means at their disposal to make treatment of religious minorities in Iran a primary focus of foreign policy in the region.
Please remember to send us a copy of your correspondence at: info@onefreeworldinternational.org
Remember, that the persecuted Christians are dying every day, but they are still smiling. They are in a very deep dark night, but they have the candle of the Lord. The enemy can have a very strong weapon and a very strong army, but we have the Lord Almighty.
"They can kill the dreamer, but they cannot kill the dream" in the Lord’s name.
Be with God and may God be with you.
Rev. Majed El Shafie President and Founder One Free World International El Shafie Ministries
Source: Compass Direct
CONTACT: In Canada:
Mr. Bahram Ghasemi, Chargé d'Affaires, a.i. Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran 245 Metcalfe St. Ottawa, Ontario K2P 2K2 Tel.: (613) 235-4726; Fax: (613) 232-5712 Email: executive@salamiran.org
The Honourable Lawrence Cannon Minister for Foreign Affairs Foreign Affairs Canada 125 Sussex Drive Ottawa, ON K1A 0G2 Tel.: (613) 992-5516; Fax: (613) 992-6802 Email: Cannon.L@parl.gc.ca
In the United States:
Interests Section of the Islamic Republic of Iran Embassy of Pakistan 2209 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20007 Tel.: (202) 965-4990; Fax: (202) 965-1073 Email: requests@daftar.org
Secretary Hillary Clinton U.S. Department of State 2201 C Street NW Washington, DC 20520 Tel.: (202) 647-4000 (Main switchboard) Webform:http://contact-us.state.gov/cgi-bin/state.cfg/php/enduser/ask.php?p_sid=F5OZZa6i&p_lva=&p_sp=&p_li
