Christian Farmer Murdered in Pakistan (Worthy News Exclusive)
Christians in Pakistan’s Punjab province are mourning Suleman Masih, a 25-year-old Christian farmer, who they say was “brutally murdered” by “Muslim landlords” on New Year’s Day.
Christian Persecution – Asia
Pastors Shot In Vietnam Amid Crackdown
A pastor in Vietnam’s Central Highlands was recovering from his injuries Thursday after being shot in his left knee with a rubber bullet while riding a motorbike home, Worthy News learned.
India: Hindu Nationalists Attack Christians Across India During Christmas Season
Amid an ongoing surge in the persecution of Christians in India by Hindu nationalists, Hindu extremists carried out violent assaults against believers celebrating Christmas in many states across the country last month, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
India: Christian Group Calls For Government Inquiry Into Unprecedented Level of Persecution Against Believers
The United Christian Forum (UCF) has called on India’s Hindu nationalist-led government to open a national inquiry into the exponential surge in incidents of violence against Christians in the country, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
Sri Lanka: Evangelicals Warn Government Proposal May Restrict Religious Freedom
A national evangelical association in Buddhist-majority Sri Lanka has raised concerns that a new government proposal may restrict freedom of religion or belief for minority faith groups in the country if enacted, Christian Daily International (CDI) reports.
Pakistan: Middle-Aged Christian Woman Jailed for Blasphemy
A 50-year-old Christian woman in Punjab Province, Pakistan has been jailed after being charged with committing blasphemy by allegedly burning books containing Islamic scripture, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.
Pakistan: Hope for Christian Youth Jailed on Blasphemy Charges
A 17-year-old Christian youth who is incarcerated in Punjab Province, Pakistan has been granted bail in one of three cases against him of blasphemy – although he will remain in prison over Christmas because of the remaining two cases, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.
Vietnam: Christians Arrested Ahead of Christmas, “Following Jesus Can Bring Intense Hostility”
Multiple ethnic Montagnard Christian leaders in Vietnam’s Central Highlands region were arrested on December 21 after they began preparing to celebrate Christmas and led congregations in unauthorized worship services, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
Hundreds of Christians Flee Papua Violence
Hundreds of displaced Christian residents will likely celebrate Christmas outside their homes in an area of Indonesia’s conflict-stricken easternmost Papua province unless Indonesian security forces withdraw there, a bishop says.
Pakistan: Young Christian Girl Escapes From Man Who Forced Her to Marry Him
A Christian family in Pakistan’s Sindh Province is rejoicing over the return of their 15-year-old daughter after she escaped from the Islamist who abducted her and forced her to marry him earlier this year, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.
Vietnam: Two House Church Pastors Wounded in Separate Shooting Incidents
Two house church pastors in Vietnam have been wounded in separate shooting incidents they each believe are connected to their congregations not not being registered with the Vietnamese communist government, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
India: Rajasthan Set to Pass Anti-Conversion Law, “Formidable and Controversial”
In a move that appears to violate India’s constitutionally protected right to freedom of religion, the Hindu-nationalist-led state of Rajasthan has approved an anti-conversion law that provides prison terms for anyone who “unduly influences” a person to change their religion and requires citizens who want to change their faith to inform authorities 60 days in advance, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
Nepal Experiences Growing Interest in Christianity
While converts to Christianity in Nepal are vulnerable to persecution from radical Hindu groups and from within their own indigenous communities, positive reports are emerging of the Gospel’s advancement in the isolated mountainous country. There are now 1.3 million Christians in Nepal, 4.4% of a population of 30.5 million, and that number is reportedly growing.
Indonesia Muslim Villagers Ban Christmas Choir Practice
A Christian choir in Indonesia’s South Sulawesi province pondered Monday how to perform this Christmas after local Muslims objected to their rehearsal.
India: Christians Banned From Eight Villages in Chhattisgarh State
As part of an intensifying intolerance of Christianity in India, eight village councils in the Sukma District of India’s Chhattisgarh State passed a joint resolution earlier this month to ban Christians from staying in their communities, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) reports.
100 Christian Families Freed From Slavery In Pakistan; Thousands Still Held (Worthy News In-Depth)
There was hope Tuesday for at least some of the thousands of Christians held as “bonded labors” in Islamic-ruled Pakistan, with Christian aid workers telling Worthy News they freed 100 Christian families ahead of Christmas.
Indonesia: Authorities Allow 2 Years’ Worth of Garbage to Pile Up Beside Church Building
Authorities in Islamic-ruled Indonesia have allowed two years’ worth of putrid garbage to pile up next to a church building and Catholic university in Yogyakarta city, capital of the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Central Java Province, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.
Christians Are Persecuted in Most Indian States, Report
A new study shows that Christians in India face persecution at the hands of Hindu nationalists in no fewer than 23 of the country’s 28 states, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
Pakistan: Pastor Takes Family Into Hiding Following Rape of 14-Year-Old Daughter
A pastor in Punjab Province, Pakistan has taken his family into hiding after police failed to arrest an Islamic neighbor who raped his 14-year-old daughter and then threatened them all, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.
Police Refuse to Arrest Islamist Who Raped Their 18-Year-Old Girl at Gunpoint, Her Christian Family Says
Police in Punjab Province, Pakistan, have refused to arrest an Islamic man who is accused of raping a young Christian woman at gunpoint earlier this month, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.