The Parliament of Kuwait
Posted on 01/17/2012 2:02:37 PM PST by NYer
The Parliament of Kuwait
Marco Tosatti
Rome
According to reports, a Kuwaiti royal prince has become a follower of Jesus Christ. In an audio file posted with his name, he affirms that if he is killed because of a recording he made where he talks about his conversion, he firmly believes that he will meet Jesus Christ face-to-face. The news comes from Middle Eastern sources which state that al-Haqiqa – a Christian satellite TV channel in Arabic that transmits Christian religious programmes – broadcast an audio file attributed to the Kuwaiti prince, identified as Abdullah al-Sabah. The al-Sabahs are the royal family of Kuwait, a country rich in oil. The name Abdullah (servant of God) frequently appears in the Emir’s family tree.
In his audio file, Abdullah declared: “First of all, I fully agree with the distribution of this audio file and I now declare that if they kill me because of it, then I will appear before Jesus Christ and be with him for all eternity.” In this statement, the prince demonstrates his awareness of the fate in store for a martyr of the faith, according to Christian doctrine. The television channel stated that Abdullah is a member of the royal family, and that he recently renounced his faith in Islam and became a Christian, without specifying which particular branch of Christianity he had chosen. After stating his full name, the prince declared: “I will accept whatever they do to me, because the truth in the Bible has guided me towards the right path.”
In the audio file, Abdullah talks about the Islamic groups that are winning the elections in Egypt and declares: “Islamic communities have always wanted to attack in different parts of the world but God has preserved the world and still protects it. This is why we have recently seen disagreements appearing among Islamic groups who are now fighting with each other. They are about to divide further into different groups.”
Mohabat News, a Christian Iranian website which has been following the fate of Christian minorities in the Middle East closely and which has monitored Abdullah’s statement, confirms that this news was published briefly by Arabic news agencies and also by the Iranian state news agency. Some independent websites with Shiite leanings denied the reports and quoted another Kuwaiti prince, Azbi al-Sabah, who said: “There’s no one by that name in the Kuwaiti royal family.” In actual fact, the name Abdullah does not appear on the list of the 15 members of the royal family who rule this small, extremely wealthy country in different capacities: from the Sheikh down to Princess Nijirah al-Sabah, who testified in the US Congress under the assumed name of "Nurse Nayirah" on the humanitarian situation in the country after the invasion by Saddam Hussein’s Iraq and just before the Gulf War. That isn’t to say that this high-profile convert is not hidden somewhere within the extended family, under a different name.
In Kuwait the overwhelming majority of the population is Muslim (only 4% is Christian) and the country’s Constitution states: “Islam is the official religion of the country and Sharia is the main source for legislation.”
As is well known, the problem of conversions from Islam to other religions is a recurring problem in relationships between followers of the Prophet and other faiths and it is a very serious problem in all countries where the majority of the population is Muslim, even those that at first sight would seem socially progressive. The problem has always been there, but in the last few years the majority religion has become more sensitive in towards the increased evangelical activity being carried out, not so much by “traditional” Christian religions who have always been used to the insurmountable limits of living alongside Muslims, but rather by Protestant faiths.
These seem to be enjoying enormous success – not just in Kuwait; it’s likely that the mysterious prince could be one of their followers – but also in countries that are definitely more mistrustful, such as the theocratic Iran of the ayatollahs.
After Heidar Moslehi, the Iranian intelligence minister, asked Muslim seminaries to become proactive in stopping the spread of Christianity, a high-ranking cleric declared that Evangelical Christianity is the most horrifying intelligence and security organisation in the world. This statement seems to have appeared on press agencies close to the Revolutionary Guard.
In a conference on “New Age cults” held in Varamin, a district south of Teheran, Akhond Mohsen Alizadeh declared: “We should not allow these cults to question Islamic jurisprudence under the cover of mysticism.” He went on to add: “They tell the youth that God is wrathful and horrible in Islam but is love in Christianity. Also, Christian preachers answer the questions and doubts of youth in their own interest and try to attract them.” Nevertheless a whole series of signs seem to indicate that non-traditional Christianity – there are Catholics and Orthodox Christians in Iran as well as a large Armenian community – is spreading. The regime’s press recently spoke of them with concern and the number of cases of repression and condemnation following conversions is growing.
May our Lord bless and protect him!
He needs to be covered with prayer! God protect and provide for him and his family. Give them peace, joy, wisdom and courage. Send your angels to surround and guard him in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Dear Lord, in your precious and holy name, we pray for this man, the Prince of Kuwait. We pray for his protection from harm and we pray for the protection of his family and those who support him. We also pray for the souls of those who are lost and without your salvation. I pray for your guidance in my life and thank you for the gifts you have given. May I be worthy of your presence in my life Amen.
Wise choice that will be rewarded one way or the other.
This is why we pray for our enemies to see the light.
God be praised if this is true! (Of course, God be praised if this isn’t true...)
But I’m trying to nail down who this prince is. His name is the same as the emir’s, but the emir has no such son.
Can we swap him for Obama and make both sides happy?
4% are christians in Kuwait includes foreigners there are 27 Kuwaiti Catholics and 300,000 plus Catholics of Mainly Indian and Filipino nationalities a good Chunk have lived there 20 plus years. there are many sects of the Catholic Church founded by Apostles Caldean Maronites Syro Malabans and Malabans plus eastern Rite Like Coptics.. The 27 Catholics will never get larger. The sister of the Emir is on Good Terms with Bishop Camillo Ballin she helped get the lease to the Cathedral renewed last year.there are 3 catholic churches in Kuwait.
Well, this is refreshing news!
I am praying for him! Amen!!
According to Wikipedia, the sons of Sabah I are Salman, Mohammad, Mubarak, Malik and Abdullah.
Since becoming a member of a Maronite Catholic parish, I have learned the traditions of the Middle East. These include naming children but attributing the child's second name to the father. It plays out like this. Suppose your name is John Paul Smith and your wife gives birth to a son. You decide to name him Peter. In the tradition of the Middle East, you give him your first name as his second name - Peter John Smith - IOW, Peter, son of John Smith.
This methodology stems from history as reflected in the Gospel of Matthew 1:1-17. That gospel is read in every Maronite Catholic Church on Genealogy Sunday, the final gospel of Advent, before the birth of our Lord. This tradition dates back to ancient times, long before the birth of Christ. Family heritage is so important in that part of the world that orphaned children are rarely adopted because they do not belong to the heritage. While that may sound heartless, consider the gospel of Matthew. Were it not for that proof of heritage, Jesus might never have been recognized as a descendant of the House of David.
1 Peter 2
5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;
10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
Sounds like he's a member of a real royal family...
This is the trend I try to follow ... POSITIVE and "refreshing" news articles.
Do you suppose they could have just disown him, & wiped his name from the line? Sounds like something they would do, to keep from being embarrassed.
Do you suppose they could have just disown him, & wiped his name from the line?
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The practice of damnatio memoriae is very common in that part of the world and has been for the past 4000 plus years. It would not surprise me in the least if he was disowned or if he is part of the extended family.
Further proof that ANYONE can be saved - his former life has passed away, he is a new creation in Jesus Christ. The crap fed into his head by Satan and his religion didn’t keep him from the truth. Lord please let this be the start of a movement of people currently in darkness to the light.
I love his testimony of if he dies, he will be with Jesus Christ. God Bless him and keep him safe.
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