‘Afghanistan Replaces North Korea As 1st Persecution Nation For Christians’
Christian advocacy group Open Doors said Wednesday that Afghanistan had replaced North Korea as the worst country for Christians on its annual World Watch List (WWL).
Christian Persecution – Asia
India: Christians under attack in Karnataka state
Christians in India’s Karnataka state came under a surge of violent attacks by Hindu extremists during the Christmas period last month, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. Joining other Indian states, Karnataka has passed a new anti-conversion law that has reportedly encouraged Hindu nationalists to attack believers they falsely accuse of forcing Hindus to convert to Christianity.
Indonesia: Christian politician in custody for allegedly insulting Islam in a tweet
A Christian politician in Indonesia is in custody after being arrested for a January 4 Twitter post that was deemed offensive to Islam, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. Ferdinand Hutahaean, a Democrat Party politician, could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted of hate speech.
India: Nine Christians imprisoned on false charges of forced conversion
Nine Christians in India’s Madhya Pradesh state are in prison awaiting trial on false charges of forcing Hindus to convert to Christianity, International Christian Concern (ICC) reported on January 15. Persecution against Christians in India has steadily increased since the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party came to power in 2014.
India: Mob of Hindu extremists attack house church in Chhattisgarh state
As the persecution of Christians continues to intensify across India, a house church in Chhattisgarh state was violently attacked by a mob of 200 Hindu nationalists on January 9, International Chrisitan Concern (ICC) reports.
Pastor:’Christian Ex-Prisoner Hiding In Pakistan’
A Christian man who spent some 11 years in a Pakistani prison for “blasphemy” against Islam is hiding with his family in Pakistan after his acquittal and release, a friend told Worthy News.
Pakistan Frees Christian Accused Of Blasphemy On Bail
A Christian man who spent four years in a Pakistani jail “without a fair trial” was freed on bail, raising hope for other inmates in a similar situation, activists told Worthy News Thursday.
Nepal: Christian couple reunited with baby son after being thrown out of Hindu relatives’ home
A young Christian couple in Nepal have been reunited with their infant son after radical Hindu family members took him and ordered them to leave their home, Morning Star News reports. Nepal ranks 34 on the US Open Doors Watch List 2022 of top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted.
Pakistan: Judge changes Christian man’s life sentence to death penalty for alleged blasphemous text messages
A Christian in Pakistan who was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment for allegedly sending blasphemous text messages had his prison term changed to the death penalty last week, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. Rawalpindi Additional Sessions Judge Sahibzada Naqeeb sentenced Christian Zafar Bhatti to death after his new lawyer contested his conviction instead of applying for post-conviction bail.
Kidnapped Christian Teenager Returns To Parents
A Pakistani Christian teenager abducted and forced to convert to Islam and marry her kidnapper has returned to her parents, Christians confirmed.
India Charges Five Over Attacks At Christian School
Indian authorities have charged five suspects over the vandalism near a Christian school in central India during protests against the alleged conversion of Hindus to Christianity, rights activists confirmed Friday.
Pakistan Sentences Pastor To Death For Blasphemy
Pakistan’s longest jailed pastor accused of blasphemy against Islam has been sentenced to death, Christians involved in the case told Worthy News.
Myanmar: Burmese Army continues to burn churches and homes in Christian state
Myanmar’s Burmese Army (Tatmadaw) is continuing to burn down homes and churches in Thantlang in the Christian majority state of Chin, even though the military has already killed or driven out the town’s Christian residents, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
Afghan Christian refugees speak of their fear and anxiety
A family of Christian refugees who escaped Afghanistan after the Taliban took over last August has been speaking about their fear of being murdered before they could flee, and of anxiety about their uncertain future, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. The family’s full name cannot be given for security reasons.
Pakistan: Court returns Christian girl to parents after her abduction and forced marriage to Muslim man
A High Court in Pakistan has finally returned a 14-year-old Christian girl to the custody of her family after she was abducted and forced to marry a Muslim man in 2020, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
India persecution: Spate of Hindu attacks against Christianity over Christmas period
The intensifying persecution of believers by Hindu nationalists in India has now even caught the attention of mainstream international media, with the Guardian UK joining Christian organizations in reporting on a spate of attacks against Christianity in the country over the Christmas period.
Myanmar: Save the Children aid group says two members missing since Christmas Eve massacre
The international Save the Children aid organization reported Saturday that two of its members were missing in Myanmar after the Burmese Army (Tatmadaw) murdered 35 civilians on Friday and burned the bodies beyond recognition, the Washington Times reports. The slaughter on Christmas Eve was the latest atrocity committed by the Tatmadaw in seeking to control Myanmar and impose Buddhism as the national religion.
Myanmar atrocity: Burmese Army burns 35 civilians alive on Christmas Eve
Myanmar’s Burmese Army (Tatmadaw) burned alive at least 35 civilians, including elderly people and children, in Karenni state on Christmas Eve, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) reports. The Tatmadaw rogue army has been slaughtering and displacing non-Buddhists since it overthrew Myanmar’s democratically elected government in a February 1 coup.
India’s Southern Christians Fear Sad Christmas With Anti-Conversion Law
Christians in India’s southern state of Karnataka anticipated a sad Christmas as details emerged of a perceived “draconian” law proposal against religious conversions.
Myanmar: Christian pastor dies during interrogation by Burmese Army
A Christian pastor in Myanmar died during a brutal interrogation by the Burmese Army (Tatmadaw) earlier this month, Myanmar Now reports. Following the February 1 military coup, the Tatmadaw is trying to violently impose Buddhism on the whole of Myanmar; Christians currently make up around 8.2 percent of the country’s population.