India: Anti-Conversion Bill Expected in Eighth State
The Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is expected to enact an anti-conversion law in the northern state of Uttarakhand, as it promised during its election campaign in February.
Year: 2007
Militants Target “Christian missionaries” in Gaza
Christians in the Gaza Strip faced new tensions Sunday, May 13, amid reports that a Palestinian Islamic group’s armed wing is targeting “Christian missionary activity” in the Gaza Strip.
Uzbekistan Protestant sentenced for “teaching religion”
A Pentecostal Christian in Uzbekistan faced a difficult Sunday, May 13, after receiving a two-year suspended prison sentence in Nukus, the capital of the Karakalpakstan autonomous republic in north-western Uzbekistan, on charges of teaching religion illegally, human rights watchers and local Christians confirmed.
Pakistan Militants Force Christians To Convert To Islam And Shut Churches
Christians in northwest Pakistan on Sunday, May 13, worshiped amid heightened tensions after they received threatening letters warning them to shut their churches and convert to Islam within the next few days as anti-Christian violence spreads across Pakistan, officials confirmed to BosNewsLife.
China “Returns” Confiscated Church Properties After International Pressure “And Prayers”
Amid international pressure Chinese security forces have returned confiscated items to two house churches in the city of Kunshan in China’s Jiangsu province, BosNewsLife established Saturday, May 12.
China House Church Christians Sue Authorities Amid Police Crackdown
Chinese Christians are suing authorities to regain items confiscated during a recent police raid on their congregation in China’s Jiangsu Province amid reports of an ongoing police crackdown on unregistered house churches, religious rights investigators said Wednesday, May 9.
India Hindu Militants Attack Missionaries; Key Suspect Detained
Several arrested missionaries and church leaders were recovering from injuries in Western India late Tuesday, May 8, after they were attacked by Hindu militants and dragged to local police, the latest in a series of violent incidents against Indian Christians.
Vietnam Releases “Tortured” House Church Christian From Jail
A Degar Montagnard who worshipped in a house church in Vietnam’s Central Highlands was free Monday, May 7, after weeks of imprisonment and torture in March and April, fellow believers said.
Six Injured As Hindu Militants Attack Evangelical Church In Karnataka
A tense calm returned to a small town in the southern Indian state of Karnataka after at least six people were injured Sunday, May 6, when suspected Hindu militants demanding the closure of a new church attacked evangelical Christians following a worship service, investigators told BosNewsLife.
Burma Christian Villagers Flee After Execution Humanitarian Aid Worker
The whereabouts of several predominantly Christian Karenni villagers in Burma were unknown Saturday, May 5, after government backed forces reportedly executed a humanitarian aid worker in Burma’s Karenni State.
Pakistan Christian Accused Of Blasphemy Released On Bail
A Christian woman accused of blasphemy against Islam has been released on bail but concerns remain over her safety amid death threats, a human rights official involved in the trial confirmed to BosNewsLife Friday, May 4.
Eritrea Detains 80 Evangelicals Including Americans
There was international concern late Friday, May 4, about the plight of a key Christian leader and about 80 other evangelicals, including foreign nationals, who were reportedly detained in Eritrea’s capital Asmara where government security forces raided the Presbyterian Mehret Yesus Church.
Uzbekistan Pastor “Forced” To Withdraw Appeal Against Labor Camp Sentence
Authorities in Uzbekistan have forced evangelical Pastor Dmitri (David) Shestakov to withdraw an appeal against his sentence to four years labor camp, Protestant and other sources following the case said Thursday, May 3.
China Releases Detained Americans And Interpreter Amid International Pressure
Chinese authorities have released four American Christian workers and their interpreter from detention amid international pressure, but at least six other Chinese pastors arrested with them remained behind bars Thursday, May 3, BosNewsLife monitored.
Vietnam Security Forces “Torturing” Detained Montagnard Christians
Two Degar Montagnard Christians have been detained and tortured in Vietnam’s Central Highlands after security forces discovered they had been collecting names of the most impoverished people apparently to better target aid, fellow believers told BosNewsLife Thursday, May 3.
Sudan: Evangelists Killed in Nuba Mountains
An Egyptian and three Sudanese Christians were killed last week when their truck came under gunfire after holding an evangelistic meeting in Sudan’s Nuba Mountains region.
Concerns Grow After India Supreme Court Postpones Dalits’ Equal Rights Case
There was increased concern Wednesday, May 2, about the plight of Christian Dalits after India’s Supreme Court again postponed action in a landmark equal rights case, Christian rights workers said.
Uzbekistan Pastor Appeals Against Labor Camp Sentence; Journalist Jailed
A court in Uzbekistan on Tuesday, May 1, began hearing evangelical Pastor Dmitri (David) Shestakov’s appeal against his sentence to four-years in one of Uzbekistan’s open labor camps on controversial “religious extremism charges,” Christians close to the case said.
Turkey Arrests Street Evangelists For “Insulting Islam”
Turkish police reportedly released an American Christian from prison late Friday, April 27, after he and three other evangelists were detained in Istanbul this week for charges that included “missionary activity” and “insulting Islam.”
India State Bans Promoting Christianity In Several Areas
One of India’s main advocacy organizations representing churches and mission groups expressed shock Saturday, April 28, that the Hindu-led government of Andhra Pradesh “banned Christianity” in several parts of the volatile state.