Father and son attacked for their faith in Bangladesh
Believers from a Muslim background are often persecuted by their extended family members because of their faith. Their Muslim families rarely take the conversion easily and they seek a chance to take revenge or harm the converted. The opportunity arises during religious festivals as the believers are mocked for not taking part in the festivities, and then they are forced to return to their previous faith.
Emotional abuse is usually the first point of attack, but when that doesn’t work, believers are often physically attacked. When Ataur converted, he didn’t even have a chance to fend for himself when his uncle hit the back of his head with an iron rod, which wounded him severely.
Twenty-three-year-old, Ataur and his father, live in the northern part of Bangladesh. Their decision to follow Jesus made the extended family despise them. On July 11th, as Ataur was coming home from his job as an auto-rickshaw driver, he saw his father being harassed by his uncle and a few other men.
Ataur approached the situation quickly and firmly saying, “Our choice to be Christians is our own,” referring to himself and his father, “Please stop harassing us about our faith.”
Unfortunately, this statement only made Ataur’s uncle angrier, and Ataur was hit with an iron rod to the head. This strike was enough for Ataur to fall face flat on the ground, but it didn’t stop the mob of men from beating him continuously. They kicked him and beat him more with every wince. Even after he was covered in blood, they didn’t show him mercy until they had had enough.
Ataur was rushed to the hospital where he was taken into emergency care. He received several stitches on his head injury, and even after nearly a week of getting hospital care, he was not recovering. He could barely speak, as it hurt to open his mouth.
Having to take care of his elderly father has made Ataur the only income-generator, and as an auto-rickshaw driver, he earns a daily wage. Times have been difficult with Ataur unable to work.
Because of your support Open Doors’ local partners in Bangladesh are not only praying for his recovery and the safety of the family but they have been able to send food items for the family to support their physical needs.
Please Pray
1. Pray for brother Ataur’s recovery. Pray that his wound will be healed soon, and he will be able to go to work for his family.
2. Pray for the safety of the family. Since the extended family share the same home yard, they will see and face one another every day. Pray that Ataru’s family will be able to forgive them and build a good relationship so that they will see the good behaviour of the Christian people and praise the Lord.
3. Pray for God to open the eyes of the persecutors’ hearts so that they will realize their wrongdoing toward their relatives and repent so that they will receive forgiveness from the Lord Jesus Christ.
