Hindu Nationalists Storm India Church
Indian Christians have urged prayers after Hindu nationalists stormed a church in Delhi during Sunday prayers, vandalized it, and attacked believers.
Christian Persecution – Asia
Pakistani authorities to compensate Christians whose homes/churches were destroyed by Muslim rioters
Pakistani government officials announced Monday that Christians whose homes were destroyed by Muslim rioters last week will receive compensation of 2 million rupees ($6,800), DW reports. The announcement is a rare act of consideration toward Christians by Pakistani authorities.
India: Five Christians criminally charged under anti-conversion law
Five Christians in India’s Uttar Pradesh state were arrested and charged last week for allegedly trying to convert Hindus to Christianity in violation of the state’s anti-conversion law, Christian Today reports.
Indonesia: Muslim man sentenced to 3 months imprisonment for disrupting Christian church service
A Muslim man in Indonesia’s Sumatra island has been sentenced to three months imprisonment for overstepping his authority as head of a Lampung Province neighborhood and disrupting a Christian worship service being held there, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.
Pakistan Detains Over 100 Muslims Over Anti-Christian Violence (Worthy News Investigation)
More than 100 were arrested, and criminal investigations were launched against hundreds of others in east Pakistan city after thousands of Muslims burned churches and vandalized homes, Christians and officials said Thursday.
Muslims Burn Churches In Pakistan
Angry Muslim crowds have torched two churches in Pakistan’s Punjab province, forcing Christians to flee their homes after blasphemy allegations, footage sent to Worthy News early Wednesday shows.
Indonesia: Muslims demonstrators damage, disrupt two churches
Muslim protestors blocked worship services from taking place at two separate churches in northern Indonesia earlier this month, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. While Christianity is legal under the Indonesian Constitution, the Muslim-majority country ranks 33rd on the US Open Doors World Watch List 2023 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted.
Christians concerned as Pakistan passes even harsher laws against non-Muslims
Christian leaders and civil rights advocates have expressed alarm at Pakistan’s recent passing of the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Act 2023, which increases already-harsh punishment for blasphemy offenses against Islam, and the National Commission for Minorities Bill 2023, which places minority rights at risk, the Christian Post (CP) reports.
India: Christian teacher charged with human trafficking for escorting students to Bible institute
A Christian teacher in central India has been violently attacked by police and charged with human trafficking for escorting a small group of tribal Christian students by bus from their home state of Chhattisgarh to a Bible institute in Kerala state, with their parents’ consent, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.
Indonesia: East Jakarta church threatened with closure by Islamic authorities
Although Indonesia’s Constitution specifically protects religious freedom, a church in East Jakarta has come under pressure to close, after Islamic government authorities threatened to permanently deny the congregation a permit to meet and worship in their own building, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
India: Chhattisgarh Christians attacked for refusing to renounce Christ
A mob of Hindu nationalists violently attacked four Christians in central India’s Chhattisgarh state because they refused to renounce Christ and return to Hinduism, International Christian Concern (ICC) reported last week.
India: Manipur Christians continue to suffer violence amid unrest, government criticized for silence
While India’s central government remains largely silent, Christians in the north-east Indian state of Manipur are continuing to suffer deadly upheaval amid protracted violence between the powerful Hindu majority Meitei community and the Tribal Christian Kuki minority, Global Christian Relief (GCR) reports.
Philippines Crackdown On Missionaries, Churches Accused Of ‘Communism’ (Worthy News In-Depth)
Church groups say Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte are silencing Christian missionaries, priests, and bishops through “red-tagging tactics” for allegedly criticizing the government.
India: 57 Uttar Pradesh Christians in jail on conversion charges, “the situation is very dangerous for Christians”
A Christian leader in India’s Uttar Pradesh state has reported to the International Christian Concern aid organization that at least 57 Christians have now been imprisoned in the state on false charges of forcibly converting Hindus to Christianity.
India: Seven Christians brutally attacked by Hindu extremists
Seven Christians in India’s Chhattisgarh state have suffered severe injuries following a brutal attack on them by Hindu nationalists earlier this month, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
India Premier Condemns Sexual Assault Of Christian Women (Worthy News-Investigation)
India’s prime minister on Thursday condemned the reported sexual assault of two Christian women by Hindu men in northeast India and vowed to protect the “daughters of Manipur” state.
Pakistan Christians Fleeing After Blasphemy Allegations
Christian families are fleeing their homes in Pakistan’s Punjab province after Muslims threatened to attack them, and several believers were reportedly detained for alleged blasphemy against Islam, a senior rights official told Worthy News.
India: New Karnataka state government is actively helping Christians, “there is evident change”
While the first half of 2023 saw a surge in violence against Christians in India, believers in the southern state of Karnataka are rejoicing as a newly elected state government has vowed to repeal harsh anti-conversion legislation and invest in projects that will benefit them and other religious minorities, Christianity Today (CT) reports.
Indonesia Christians: ‘Muslim Crackdown On Congregations’ (Worthy News In-Depth)
Indonesian Christians said Tuesday that several church congregations have been “disbanded” by angry Muslim protesters and local authorities. “In one of them, my children worship,” a concerned Christian told Worthy News.
Indonesia: North Sumatra Christian worship service again disrupted by Muslims
A Christian congregation in North Sumatra Province, Indonesia, had its worship service disrupted by Muslim protestors for the second time in two months on July 2, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.