Gazan Christian Martyred

SANTA ANA, Calif. (Oct. 8, 2007) – The small Christian community of Gaza is shocked and in mourning. Rami Ayyad, 30, the manager of the Bible Society Bookshop in Gaza, was found dead Sunday morning.

On Friday, Oct. 5, Ayyad noticed that he was being followed by a car without license plates.

Saturday afternoon he went missing and it became clear he was kidnapped. Ayyad's mother, Anisa, said her son had telephoned his family after he was seized.

“He said he was going to be with the ‘people’ for another two hours and that if he was not back (by then), he would not be returning for a long, long time,” she said.

Sunday morning his dead body was found. He was tortured. His body bore a visible gunshot wound to the head, and an official at Gaza’s Shifa Hospital said he was also stabbed numerous times.

The identity of the murderers is unknown. Ayyad regularly received anonymous death threats from angry people. He was worried about the possible consequences for the bookshop. The shop was firebombed in April.

Rami was a beloved worker of the Bible Society. Simon Azazian, spokesman of the Bible Society, said, “Rami was the most gentle member on the team; the ever smiling one. He was the face of our Bible shop, always receiving visitors and serving them as Jesus would.”

He left behind a wife, Pauline and two little children. Pauline is also five months pregnant. Pauline fell unconscious during the funeral and is suffering greatly.

The bookshop will remain closed for the next few days at least. The management is considering what to do. Their highest priority is the safety and well-being, both physical and emotional, of their staff.

Prayer Points: 

• Pray for the family – Pauline, who is five months pregnant, and two young sons.
• Pray for the staff of the Bible Society.
• Pray for the small Christian community which is shocked and afraid by the murder.

Additional video footage of Rami Ayyad's funeral can be viewed here.

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