India Police Detain 4,000 Christians
Indian police detained at least 4,000 Christians from across the country in the largest such operation in a decade, a major human rights group and Indian Christian leaders said Wednesday, May 30.
Christian Persecution – Asia
Pakistan Sentences Christian To Death For “Blasphemy” Against Islam
A Pakistani court has sentenced a Christian man, Younis Masih, to death on charges of blasphemy against Islam and its Prophet Muhammad, an official involved in the case confirmed to BosNewsLife Thursday, May 31.
Pakistan Releases Elderly Christian On Bail In Blasphemy Trial
An 84-year-old Pakistani Christian who faced the death penalty on charges of blasphemy was released on bail Tuesday, May 29, and rushed to a secret location, officials defending him told BosNewsLife.
Malaysia Court To Make Historic Religious Rights Ruling
Malaysia’s highest court was due to hand down on Wednesday, May 30, a historic ruling that observers said could have ramifications for Muslims who want to renounce their faith.
Malaysia’s Christian Joy Loses Islam Conversion Case
Malaysia’s best known Christian convert, Lina Joy, on Wednesday, May 30, lost her six-year battle to be recognized as a Christian in a landmark case that tested the limits of religious freedom in this mainly Muslim nation.
Vietnam Police Kill Christian Prisoners And Relatives, Investigators Say
Vietnamese security forces have tortured and killed at least two Christian Degar Montagnards in Vietnam’s Central Highlands in recent months and allegedly murdered relatives of religious prisoners, representatives said Monday, May 28.
Pastor attacked in Karnataka, India
Anti-Christian activists from two Hindu radical groups — Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Bajrang Dal — attacked a Pastor and an elder of a church in Bangarpet in Kolar district of Karnataka on May 21 2007 for distributing gifts at a VBS (Vacation Bible School).
Elderly Christian Faces Execution In Pakistan; Trial Underway
The trial of an 84-year old Christian accused of blasphemy was to start Saturday, May 26, amid fears he could face the death penalty, the group defending him told BosNewsLife.
India: Dalit Christians Hopeful of Winning Rights
A report of an advisory panel favoring affirmative action benefits for Dalit converts to Christianity has raised the hopes of India’s 16 million lowest-caste believers as they await a Supreme Court hearing in July.
Vietnam Detains And “Tortures” Four Montagnard Christians, Group Says
Four Degar Montagnard Christians remained imprisoned in Vietnam’s Central Highlands Tuesday, May 15, after they were arrested for collecting names for a statement which denies the growing house church movement of Degar Montagnards seeks independence from Vietnam, fellow believers told BosNewsLife.
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.
Pakistan Christian Converts Could Face Death Penalty For Leaving Islam
A key human rights group in Pakistan has expressed “grave concern” over government plans to introduce an anti-apostasy law under which those leaving Islam, including Christian coverts, could face the death penalty or life imprisonment.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.