Daily Archives: February 1, 2011

by | February 1, 2011 · 3:32 pm

Prayers during a Crisis in Egypt

Prayers during Crisis in Egypt

New York City, U.S.A. (SAT-7). The international CEO of satellite TV station SAT-7, Terence Ascott, has published an updated on the Crisis in Egypt. He is asking for prayers that G-d will give wisdom to President Mubarak and his advisors, that they will treat their citizens with dignity and respect and that greater loss of life will be avoided. Terence Ascott wrote: “Pray that Egypt will move into a more positive tomorrow, one that includes greater freedoms and justice for all its people – including the 8 to 10 million Egyptians who are disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.” More than 200 people have Egypt have been killed during clashes with citizens and State Security last week, according to Al Jazeera correspondents.

Update from Terence Ascott, SAT-7 CEO

As I write, the situation in Egypt is still in turmoil and no one on Earth knows the outcome. Here are some things we do know:

– Schools, most businesses, banks and newspapers, churches and even hospitals have been closed since Friday due to the violence and curfews.
– The SAT-7 Egypt TV studio/office has been closed for those same reasons.
– Ordinary citizens have been depending on their neighbours to patrol the streets and protect them from looters.
– SAT-7’s four security officers have been staying in the TV studio/

office day and night, sleeping in shifts to protect the building.

– People are hopeful for a change, but some are deeply concerned that extremist Muslim groups might gain control if there is a power vacuum.
– Ordinary Egyptians are beginning to worry that, if the crisis continues much longer, they may have trouble obtaining food and medicines because the shops are beginning to run low on supplies and people have no access to cash. Services such as electricity, transport and water are also under threat because many service workers are staying at home.

– Churches and Christians in Egypt are praying and asking Christians around the world to pray for a resolution to this crisis that will lead to new openness and equality for all members of Egyptian society.

It is difficult to contact our staff in Cairo, but we have talked with a number of them. Most are staying at home and only coming out when the curfew is lifted to buy food and other necessary supplies. They tell us that the city is rationing water so people are also being careful how they use that precious resource in their homes.

Our security staff report that a building near the SAT-7 TV studio/office was looted, but that the local “neighbourhood action committee” arrested the looters, beating them up in the process. The “committee” then turned the looters over to army officers who requested that the ad hoc security group refrain from hurting people when they make “citizen’s arrests.” The SAT-7 security personnel report that the neighbourhood has really gathered together in an atmosphere of solidarity and civic pride, which transcends religious affiliation. The neighbours say they truly appreciate that SAT-7 has 24-hour security officers. One neighbour said, “We are glad you are here because if we fall asleep we know you can warn us if something bad is about to happen.” The SAT-7 security officers report that the situation seems to have got somewhat better as of Monday, because there are now more army officers and police who have returned to the streets.

SAT-7 has encouraged the rest of its Egypt office staff to stay at home. And because the Internet has been down, we have not been able to transmit any live shows from within the country. But we are broadcasting (from Nicosia) a crawl that runs continually across the bottom of the screen urging prayer for the situation in Egypt. We are hoping to put together a series of special live programmes from Lebanon that will include calls with prominent Christian leaders living in Egypt to discuss the situation on-air.

A large march is taking place today, 1st February. Many people are concerned about what will happen, and they are also worried about the nature of any long-term solution – will their situation be better or could it perhaps get worse? While no one knows for certain, the vast majority of Egyptians are hopeful that positive change will result from the current unrest. Egyptians want change and want a government that is more responsive to their needs and aspirations.

Please join with us as we pray that God will give wisdom to President Mubarak and his advisors, that they will treat their citizens with dignity and respect (and that greater loss of life will be avoided). Pray that Egypt will move into a more positive tomorrow, one that includes greater freedoms and justice for all its people – including the 8 to 10 million Egyptians who are disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We intend to keep you informed of the latest information and how it is impacting our staff and the churches of Egypt, as the situation unfolds.

With a grateful heart,

Terry Ascott
International CEO

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by | February 1, 2011 · 5:01 am

Friedensbewegungen fordern ein Ende der deutschen Rüstungs-Exporte nach Ägypten

Friedensbewegungen fordern ein Ende der deutschen Rüstungs-Exporte nach Ägypten

Deutsche Waffen gefährden friedliche Demonstranten in Ägypten – Friedensorganisationen kritisieren „aktuelle Verdoppelung der Waffenexporte an das diktatorische Regime in Ägypten“ – „Ägypten ist als Entwicklungsland bedeutendster Empfänger deutscher Waffen“ – Grässlin und Russmann fordern „sofortigen Rüstungsexport-Stopp für Ägypten und alle anderen menschenrechtsverletzenden Staaten“

Frankfurt / Freiburg / Stuttgart. 1. Februar 2011. (and). In einer gemeinsamen Presse-Erkärung fordern die Deutsche Friedensgesellschaft – Vereinigte KriegsdienstgegnerInnen
(DFG-VK), das RüstungsInformationsBüro (RIB e.V., Freiburg) und die Kampagne gegen Rüstungs-Export bei Ohne Rüstung Leben (ORL) ein sofortiges Ende der deutschen Rüstungs-Exporte nach Ägypten. Deutschland zählt zu einem der größten Rüstungs- und Waffen-Exporteuren, die die Nation Ägypten seit Jahren mit Waffen beliefern. Deutsche Waffen gefährden zur Zeit das Leben von friedlichen Demonstranten in Ägypten, die Menschenrechte, Meinungs- Informtions- und Kommunikations-Freiheit, soziale Gerechtigkeit und den Rücktritt von Präsident Hosni Mubarak fordern.

In Ägypten ist seit dem Jahr 1981 die Notstandsgesetzgebung ununterbrochen in Kraft. Die Menschenrechtslage sei katastrophal.[#1] .Mit der Waffengewalt staatlicher Sicherheitskräfte, die selbst massiv an Menschenrechtsverletzungen beteiligt waren und sind, konnte sich das diktatorische Regime in Kairo drei Jahrzehnte lang an der Macht halten. Derzeit riskieren Ägypterinnen und Ägyptern ihr Leben, indem sie ihren Protest gegen das diktatorische Regime unter Hosni Mubarak öffentlich artikulieren. Ägyptische Polizisten schießen auf weit überwiegend friedliche Demonstranten, mehr als hundert Menschen sind bereits ums Leben gekommen.

Bundesaußenminister Dr. Guido Westerwelle (FDP) erklärte, „der Weg zur Stabilität führt über die Wahrung der Menschen- und Bürgerrechte“.[#2] Erklärungen wie diese „wirken heuchlerisch angesichts der Tatsache, dass Deutschland zu den Hauptwaffenlieferanten der diktatorischen Machthaber in Ägypten zählt“, sagte Jürgen Grässlin, Bundessprecher der Deutschen Friedensgesellschaft – Vereinigte KriegsdienstgegnerInnen (DFG-VK) und Vorsitzender des RüstungsInformationsBüros (RIB e.V.). Der Freiburger Rüstungsexperte warf der Bundesregierung vor, dass sie 2009 gegenüber dem Vorjahr „mehr als eine Verdoppelung der Lieferungen von Waffen und Rüstungsgütern an Ägypten genehmigt“ habe. So sei der Genehmigungswert von 33,6 Millionen Euro (2008) auf 77,5 Millionen Euro (2009) „dramatisch gesteigert worden“.

„Die Einzelgenehmigungen für ‚Kleinwaffen’ sind aufgrund der hohen Opferzahlen besonders folgenschwer“, so Jürgen Grässlin. Die für ihre rücksichtslose Vorgehensweise bekannte ägyptische Polizei verfüge über Maschinenpistolen des Typs MP5, entwickelt von Heckler & Koch in Oberndorf. Allein im Jahr 2009 habe Ägypten weitere 884 Maschinenpistolen und Bestandteile im Wert von 866.037 Euro erhalten.[#3]

„Die Machthaber in Kairo erhielten Teile für Panzer, gepanzerte Fahrzeuge, militärische Landfahrzeuge und Kommunikationsausrüstung“, erklärte Paul Russmann, Sprecher der Kampagne gegen Rüstungsexport bei Ohne Rüstung Leben (ORL). Insgesamt sei „Ägypten mittlerweile sogar das bedeutendste Empfängerland in der Liste der aus Deutschland belieferten Entwicklungsländer“.

Die Gemeinsame Konferenz Kirche und Entwicklung (GKKE) stufte Ägypten in ihrem Rüstungsexportbericht 2009 als „problematisches“ Empfängerland ein. Die dortige Menschenrechtssituation sei laut Bericht der beiden großen christlichen Kirchen „sehr schlecht“, die Gefahr der Unverträglichkeit von Rüstung und Entwicklung sei „groß“.[#4] „Angesichts der katastrophalen Menschenrechtslage hätte Ägypten unter Diktator Mubarak niemals Waffen aus Deutschland und anderen Ländern erhalten dürfen“, erklärte ORL-Sprecher Paul Russmann.

Grässlin und Russmann forderten die Bundesregierung auf, „mit sofortiger Wirkung einen Rüstungsexportstopp gegenüber Ägypten und allen anderen Menschenrechts-verletzenden Staaten zu verhängen“.

Medien- und Presse-Kontakt:
Jürgen Grässlin, Freiburg, Tel.: 0761-76 78 208, j.graesslin@gmx.de
Paul Russmann, Stuttgart, Tel.: 0176-28 04 45 23, orl-russmann@gaia.de

Websites:
Informationen über Rüstungsexporte siehe http://www.rib-ev.de (alle
Rüstungsexportberichte), http://www.dfg-vk.de, http://www.juergengraesslin.com;
Rüstungsexporte an Ägypten siehe auch

Click to access 2010_aegypten.pdf

Quellen:
#1 AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL REPORT 2010, Ägypten, S. 67 ff.
#2 Focus Online vom 26.01.2011
#3 Bericht der Bundesregierung über ihre Exportpolitik für
konventionelle Rüstungsgüter im Jahre 2008 (Rüstungsexportbericht 2008),
S. 106
und Rüstungsexportbericht 2009, S. 15, 24, 34, 110
#4 GKKE-Rüstungsexportbericht 2009, Fachgruppe Rüstungsexporte, S. 40

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by | February 1, 2011 · 4:29 am

SAT-7 Calls for Prayer for Egypt

SAT-7 Calls for Prayer for Egypt

Ministry has 65 employees or co-workers in country and is monitoring the situation carefully

Cairo (Egypt) / London (United Kingdom). February 1, 2011. SAT-7 is in a unique position in times of crisis to be able to offer support, wise counsel and encouragement to its viewers. Following the recent bomb attack on a church in Alexandria SAT-7 interrupted its normal programming to broadcast special live programmes giving local Church leaders a chance to respond and minister to people. Although all of SAT-7’s five channels remain on air, the current unrest in Egypt has affected SAT-7’s scheduled live programming from the Egypt studios which have been cancelled due to the unavailability of communication services. Please pray that these services become available once again so that we can continue this aspect of our ministry to the Egypt Church.

Statement from SAT-7 International CEO Terence Ascott:

“We, like many others, are very concerned about the situation in Egypt. We have many staff there and of course we are anxious to ensure that they all remain safe during this time of turmoil. On a personal level, I was also distressed to hear this morning that my son, who is a teacher in Cairo, was among the 2,000 injured in yesterday’s demonstrations – hit in the face by a rubber bullet as he passed out water bottles to both demonstrators and the security forces alike.

Mobile phone lines have been periodically disconnected in the country so it is generally difficult to contact people living there – because most rely exclusively on their mobile phones. The Internet has also been down. But landlines seem to be functioning and we have heard that most of our team is staying out of harm’s way.

The anger being vented on the streets against the Egyptian authorities is based on years of pent-up frustration. The country has experienced decades of stagnation – economic, educational and political. The lack of freedoms and opportunity has left an entire generation feeling hopeless.

Our prayer is that the current unrest will eventually result in positive change leading to greater justice, security and political openness in the country – for all Egyptians including the Christian minority which, historically, has often been neglected and marginalized. But this is not a religious revolt, it is a political one, and SAT-7 is not a political entity. So we encourage Christians everywhere to pray that President Mubarak and his advisors will have wisdom in how best to respond to the justifiable frustrations of the Egyptian people, and that the violence will not lead to an even greater loss of life.

Our Egypt office has asked specifically for prayer for the following:

· For safety for the staff as they face the same issues as all other Egyptians – uncertainty, danger, and fear.
· For freedom of movement without worry of violence.
· For protection for the Egypt office and equipment.
· For unity amongst Christians and an outpouring of love by the Church.
· For the ability to once again produce live programmes to support the local Church.

I and the SAT-7 leadership will continue to monitor the situation in Egypt carefully. SAT-7 is also joining with the 10 million or more Christians of Egypt in calling on believers around the world to pray for a peaceful, just, and positive outcome to result from the political storm raging across the country at this time.

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