Indonesia: Islamists try to Destroy Church Buildings
Local authorities accompanied by an Islamist mob attempted to demolish two buildings in a church compound used by three congregations in Jatimulya village, West Java province on June 14.
Year: 2008
Taliban Kidnaps 16 Christians
The Washington-DC based human rights group, International Christian Concern (ICC) www.persecution.org has just learned that 16 Christians were kidnapped at gunpoint in Peshawar, Pakistan on June 21, 2008, and have since been released.
China Cancels Court Hearing Of Frail House Church Leader
A frail prominent Chinese house church leader and Christian bookstore owner already detained for three months remained in a Chinese prison Sunday, June 22, after a court hearing was unexpectedly cancelled, Chinese Christians said.
Muslims Fight to Keep Church Out of Village
Muslim fundamentalists in a village 192 kilometers (119 miles) north of the capital have threatened to kill a pastor as part of an effort to keep his church from constructing a church building, according to the head of the Isha-e-Jamat Bangladesh (Jesus’ Church) denomination.
Sri Lanka: Large Anti-Christian Rally Planned
Buddhist extremists have invited residents of Middeniya, a town in Hambanthota district, southern Sri Lanka, to attend a huge anti-Christian rally this Sunday (June 22), where they have promised to "expose the great [Christian] conspiracy."
China: Bookstore Owner Due to Appear in Court
Christian bookstore owner Shi Weihan, detained in a Chinese prison without his medication for diabetes, is due in court Thursday (June 19) to face as yet unspecified charges.
China Detains Church Leader Due To Meet EU Official
The president of the Chinese House Church Alliance, a major umbrella group of underground churches, has been detained along with his interpreter while on his way to meet a senior European Union official, fellow Christian workers said.
Turkish Pastor Facing Jail On “False” Charges
An evangelical pastor in Turkey faced a possible jail term Wednesday, June 18, just days after a prosecutor began investigating him on charges that included to blasphemy against Islam, Christian rights investigators said.
Algeria: Christian Charged with Evangelism — Again
Convicted of blasphemy and evangelism in two separate cases this year, an Algerian Christian goes on trial in west Algeria for a third time tomorrow, again for evangelism.
Turkey Church Facing Closure
A Protestant church in the Turkish capital Ankara faced an uncertain future Monday, June 16, after authorities ordered it to close down, rights investigators familiar with the situation said.
Third Christian School Opened In Iraq
Amid reported death threats and violence against Iraq’s Christian minority, a mission group has managed to open a third Christian school in Iraq as part of government-backed reconciliation efforts, BosNewsLife monitored Saturday, June 14.
“Fall” Lebanon “Horrendous” Implications For Christians And Middle East
A key official of the World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission (WEA-RLC) has warned that Iran-sponsored Hezbollah’s veto over government decisions means "the fall of Lebanon" with "horrendous implications" for religious liberty and security in the Middle East.
India: Christians in Orissa Still Targeted After Attacks
Still struggling to rebuild their homes and lives after suffering large-scale attacks last Christmas season, Christians in Orissa state’s Kandhamal district continue to face ostracism and threats from Hindu nationalists.
Iran: Christian Arrested Without Charges
Iran continued a wave of arrests against Christians in recent weeks, detaining a Tehran house church leader who was previously held and tortured for religious activity.
Gaza Strip: Unknown Assailants Attack Christian School
An attack on a Christian school in Gaza last weekend has created fear among the strip’s tiny religious minority, a Palestinian Christian said.
Algeria: Christians Found Guilty of Proselytizing Muslims
An Algerian court gave four Christians suspended sentences and fines today for seeking to convert Muslims to Christianity, a Protestant church leader said.
Iran Releases Two More Christian Converts
Two Iranian converts to Christianity jailed for the past few weeks have been released by authorities, who demanded valuable property deeds as bail collateral, a Christian news agency reported Tuesday, June 3.
Eritrea: Authorities Jail 34 More Christians in House Church Raid
Eritrean security police cracked down on more Christians again last week, arresting 34 evangelicals gathered for prayer and fellowship in a local home in Keren.
Eritrea Pastors Face Execution For “Treason”; Prayer Group Detained
At least four prominent Protestant pastors in Eritrea faced another day of uncertainty Saturday, May 31, after government officials said the church leaders may receive the death penalty for "treason", while dozens of other believers were detained in recent days, a well-informed advocacy group reported.
Algeria: Prosecutor Demands 2-Year Sentence for Converts from Islam
A state prosecutor in western Algeria demanded two-year jail sentences and large fines for six Muslim converts to Christianity yesterday in one of two trials against Christians that have caught the north African nation’s attention in the past week.