Birthplace of Arab Spring welcomes new constitution.
(Image courtesy Open Doors)

Tunisia (MNN) — The birthplace of the Arab Spring is taking another major step toward democracy. Tunisia has signed a new constitution, henceforth dividing executive authority and removing Sharia law as the main source of legislation.

Seen as a major step in Tunisia’s progress toward democracy, the new constitution was adopted by a majority vote. Along with dividing power between Tunisia’s Prime Minister and President, the new constitution gives equal rights to men and women.

Some concerns remain for Tunisian Christians, though, according to Open Doors USA. The ruling document declares Islam as the official religion of Tunisia, and ambiguous wording could lead to problems.

The new constitution separates Sharia law from the law of the land, but it also appoints the government as “the guardian of religion” and “protector of the sacred.” Some groups fear that this wording is too open to individual interpretation.

“We must remove the vagueness of this article…which can lead to threatening interpretations of citizenship and freedom,” states the Tunisian League of Human Rights.

Pray that unclear language in the constitution will be fixed.

Tunisia is #30 on the Open Doors World Watch List, a compilation of nations where persecution of Christians is most severe. Believers in Tunisia face persecution both from the moderately-Islamic government and from aggressive Salafist groups who operate with impunity in the country.

Tunisia is the birthplace of the 2011 Arab Spring.
(Photo credit: Wassim Ben Rhouma via Flickr)

While expatriate Christians experience a relative amount of freedom, Muslim-background believers face increasing pressure from family and the authorities. Tunisia holds between 25,000 and 30,000 Christ-followers consisting of a large group of expat believers and a smaller community of native-born citizens.

According to Open Doors, Islamic extremists pose the biggest threat to Tunisia’s believers. A number of militant groups have resurfaced in Tunisia since 2011. Groups tied to al-Qaeda are an increasing danger, notes Reuters.

Ask the Lord to protect His followers in Tunisia. Pray that just as the Arab Spring flowed from Tunisia in 2011, a spiritual revival will flood the Arab world in 2014.

In addition, national elections are due sometime in 2014. A caretaker government appointed by Ennahda, an Islamic party that formerly ruled Tunisia, will direct the country until parliamentary and presidential leaders are selected.

Ask the Lord to raise up a stable government that will rule with wisdom and justice.

"[There are] wonderful, good-hearted Tunisians that are tired, that are sick of hardline Islam that seeks to take over; that's a part of what this whole revolution was about," says Pat Flannigan of I Am Second.

In its current form, Tunisia's constitution is the first in the Arab world to leave Islamic law out of the picture. It's also the first ruling document written by elected officials.

"Only time will tell if this is going to work or not; I think it's a good step, though," Flannigan states.

While these first signs of democracy are encouraging, the challenge remains: will Tunisia be able to push back Islamists wanting Sharia law?

"And, will they be able to do it with an established government when the Islamists are not a part of it?" asks Flannigan.

"If [Islamists are] outside of the government…then they're going to be in the role of agitators," he explains. "They're going to try and get attention."

Flannigan says terrorists usually accomplish this "through blowing up mosques, killing people, suicide bombers, all of that."

"The people get tired of that over time, so they think, 'Well, maybe [Islamists] should have some kind of voice in the governmen,'" he says. "Once they get included, then they think to take it over again."

Although Tunisia is still in the process of writing a new chapter in their history, ripples of reform may already be starting.

"It is interesting to see this interim government in Egypt [is also] wanting to keep the Islamists out, and actually wanting to have some Christian presence in it," Flannigan notes.

Literally surrounded by "enemies," Israel sits amid neighbors full of anti-Christian sentiment: Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Iran, and Egypt. Could a new wave of reform mean new hope for Israel?

"It seems like no matter what happens in that region, it eventually turns sour for Israel and sour for the Church," says Flannigan.

"That's who the enemy goes after: he goes after the nation of Israel and he goes after the Body of Christ."

Visit the 8thirty8 Facebook page to see what believers in the Arab world are facing.

Tunisia's transition comes during Ramadan, a time when your prayers are especially needed.

"Everything that's happening in the spiritual world is causing them to pull more into Islam, more into a literal reading of the Qur'an and more of a jihadist mentality against Christians," Flannigan says.

"Pray for believers that are in Muslim countries that are definitely under pressure. We're seeing that in Egypt, Jordan, Syria; every day, we're hearing reports."

The prayer guide, 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World, will help you know what to pray for during Ramadan.

"Many [Muslims] are having dreams and visions about Jesus during Ramadan," Flannigan states. "It's a time for the Body of Christ to really concentrate their prayer efforts on believers in Muslim countries and [pray for] Muslims to come to faith in Christ."

But the results of Saturday's vote could alter the face of Egypt. On December 15, Egyptians will head to the polls to vote on a constitution that's heavily influenced by Sharia law.

"The concerns about the constitution are many," says Todd Nettleton with Voice of the Martyrs USA. According to human rights experts, Muslim clerics could lawfully restrict freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and women's rights, if the new constitution stands as-is.

The new constitution is especially restrictive to Egyptian's Christians, comprising 10% of the country's total population. After Christian voices were "muted" in the composition of Egypt's draft constitution, believers turned to the newly-elected pope to speak up for their rights.

But so far, Pope Tawadros has taken the backseat on politics, a stark contrast to his predecessor's adamant advocacy of religious freedom, Nettleton notes.

"He has said, 'Listen, I am an official of the Church. I need to be more concerned about worshipping God. I need to be more concerned about what the Bible says than about what's going on in our government and how to respond to that,'" states Nettleton.

"As we head into the weekend, and as we head into the people voting on the new constitution, that's really the key thing so far: we don't know who's going to step forward."

Nettleton adds, "Even if that person was identified, do they have time to…make a difference in this process?"

Whatever Egypt's people decide on Saturday will not only change the fate of the populace: it'll trigger a ripple-effect in surrounding nations, Nettleton remarks.

"They talk about Saudi Arabia being the heart of Islam, and they talk about Egypt being the brain of Islam," he explains. "What happens in Egypt does have repercussions around the Islamic world."

In light of this important decision, what are groups opposing Morsi, like the National Salvation Front, urging their followers to do?

"There are many who are saying, 'We've got to vote this constitution down. Vote 'no.'  It does not represent our best interests.'" Nettleton continues, "There are some other parts of the opposition that are saying, 'Listen, this process is completely illegitimate. We should stay home and not vote at all.'

"Both sides are opposed to the constitution, but they're advocating a different response."

In spite of their differences, Nettleton says the entire constitutional process is having an interesting effect on these parties.

"Because of the way this is being handled and because President Morsi has overstepped some of the boundaries of his authority, that is really uniting the opposition parties," Nettleton explains. Prior to recent days, he says, the parties had been fractious. "In some ways, what [Morsi] has done has sort of united people that otherwise would have been divided."

Since late November, political turmoil has turned Egypt sideways and upside down. Pray.

"Particularly this week, as we head into the referendum on the new constitution, we just need to pray for wisdom for the Christians who are in Egypt," Nettleton urged. "Praying for God's protection over our Christian brothers and sisters is an important thing to pray for right now."

He also suggests praying for the new pope.

"We need to pray for him," states Nettleton. "We need to pray that he'll know how to respond and how to be a voice, when to be a voice, and when maybe to be quiet and not be a voice."

"The country's going through a huge amount of crisis," says Gospel for Asia founder and president KP Yohannan. "One of the major things we must pray for is: formulating the new constitution."

An interim constitution penned in 2007 still governs the country. That same year, Nepal's Constituent Assembly was allotted the task of drafting a new constitution by May 2010. It's a deadline they've pushed back time and time again.

Part of the constitutional rewrite includes a re-drafted penal code that looks an anti-conversion law. It could be part of an effort to block the Good News.

"The extreme radical Hindu fundamentalists are actually having huge influence into the country of Nepal, trying to cause problems and put any roadblock and hindrance for the Gospel and preaching the Gospel," Yohannan stated.

Despite resistance, GFA has seen the establishment of 500 congregations in Nepal. By consistently showing the love of Christ through their Bridge of Hope centers, GFA has earned favor in the eyes of once-resistant Nepalese.

"The very people who opposed us began to become our people to protect us," said Yohannan. "My hope is that we'll start two dozen Bridge of Hope centers.

"Children who would never have the possibility to get an education will find hope."

Yohannan says the door is open for the Gospel. Pray that GFA can keep helping the poor and sharing the Good News.

Learn more about GFA's Bridge of Hope centers and child sponsorship by clicking here.

"Depending on who wins this battle, they certainly will gain more power in moving the country: either toward a more secular, European/Western country," Rody Rodeheaver with IN Network explains, "or into a closed, Islamic fundamentalist country like their neighbor, Iran."

What would this decision mean for Turkish believers?

"There is great danger here, and in the midst of this are the Christians," he said.

One point of controversy in the freedom of religion proposals is education: namely, the Religious Culture and Knowledge of Ethnics (RCKE) courses required at all public schools. In this class, kids have to memorize parts of the Koran, the history of Mohammed, and various teachings from the Koran. They're also expected to participate in various Muslim celebrations and holidays.

The RCKE course puts children of believers on the front-lines of persecution. Rodeheaver explains that a common Turkish view is: "If you're a Turk, you're Muslim." This can be very difficult for kids trying to fit in at school because the RCKE course requires them to reveal their faith, making them stick out like a sore thumb.

"Our director and his children have experienced some very hurtful things," Rodeheaver said. "The children were selected for ridicule: 'You Christians, you're just all Americans in disguise.'"

Pray for Christian children who face persecution from their peers.

Another area impacted by this decision is Turkey's membership in the European Union (EU). Turks are primarily divided into two groups; some Turks want their nation to join the European Union and adopt policies with a secular lean, while others want Turkey to become a fundamental, Islamic nation. With Turkey's interest in becoming a part of the EU comes freedom for believers.

"If this changes, [believers] will lose a lot of ground and it could become very dangerous for them."

However, a recent survey by the Turkey-Europe Educational and Scientific Research Foundation (TAVAK) shows a significant drop in Turks' desire to join the EU. The study attributes this drop in support to the economic crises in EU member states and self-assurance among Turks that "they can do without the EU."

As the government continues to drag its feet toward change, there is a desperate need for prayer. Pray for the safety of believers in Turkey.

If there is to be a provision protecting freedom of religion in Turkey's new constitution, members of the Constitutional Reconciliation Commission (AUK) must all agree upon its terms. Religious groups throughout Turkey hope to see protections for a few key things, namely the right to establish schools where religious training can be provided, the right for religious organizations to acquire legal status, the right to establish places of worship, and the right to appoint religious leaders in accordance with their respective traditions.

Forum 18 says conflict mainly lies between proposals from two groups: the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Republican People's Party (CHP).

The AKP's proposal provides freedom of religion for every citizen and broadens protection of this freedom to include religious practices, clothing and symbols. Controversy lies in the Education and Conscientious Objection sections of this proposal, which both reflect the government's political will. Under this proposal, divisive Religious Culture and Knowledge of Ethics (RCKE) courses would still be required, and citizens would not have the right of conscientious objection to military service.

This right is protected under the CHP's proposal. The CHP also proposed a provision that would cause Turkey to respect social pluralism and observe an equal distance toward all religions.

The AKP's refusal to accept proposals from the CHP could signal the ruling party's future policies concerning religious freedom. Forum 18 says that refusing to take two specific actions–abolishing compulsory RCKE lessons and changing the Diyanet–aligns the AKP with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's intentions "to raise an [Islamic] religious generation."

A new constitution was hoped for by year's end, but now that seems unlikely. Read more about the drafting of Turkey's new constitution.