New Vietnamese Christian Killed After Pressure From Authorities
A Vietnamese man who recently became a Christian has been killed after local authorities objected to his conversion, Worthy News learned Saturday.
Christian Persecution
Hungary condemns Ukraine’s Church Ban (Worthy News Focus)
Hungary has condemned Ukraine for banning the Ukrainian Orthodox Church over its alleged complicity in Russia’s full-scale invasion of the country.
Pakistan’s Longest Jailed ‘Blasphemy’ Pastor Still Facing Execution
Concerns mounted Friday about the plight of Pakistani Christian Zafar Bhatti, a pastor listed as Pakistan’s longest-serving blasphemy prisoner, who is facing execution.
Chinese Government Replaces Images of Jesus Christ With Pictures of Xi Jinping in Churches
The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) reveals in a new report that China’s ruling Chinese Communist Party is continuing its program of Sinicization and crackdown on believers in Christ by removing Christian images and art, including depictions of Jesus, from churches and replacing them with pictures of President Xi Jinping.
Indonesia Detains Influencer For ‘Blasphemy Against Jesus’
Indonesian police have detained a social media influencer for blasphemy against Jesus while Christians face growing pressure in the world’s largest Muslim nation, sources told Worthy News.
Afghanis Are Tiring of Islam and Turning to Christ, Report
Just over three years since the Islamic extremist Taliban took over Afghanistan in August 2021, the Open Doors UK international advocacy organization spoke to three Christian widows who confirmed that, amid intense oppression and danger, Afghanis have been turning from Islam to Christ.
Nigeria: Fulani Herdsmen Slaughter Seven Christians in Benue State, “The Nigerian Government Must Take Action”
With a new Islamist president who is seen to have no respect for believers in Christ, Nigeria continues to be the world’s deadliest country for Christians: Fulani jihadist herdsmen continued their slaughter of Christians by murdering seven people in Egwuma village, Agatu County, Benue state last week, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. The attack was the fourth to be carried out in the region over the previous four weeks.
Prayers Urged For Kidnapped Christian Girls In Pakistan
Christians have urged “prayers for the safety of girls” in Pakistan after a Christian girl who was kidnapped last month, forced to convert to Islam, and marry one of her Muslim captors came to symbolize their suffering.
Canada Church Burning Raising Concerns (Worthy News In-Depth)
A historic Catholic Church in the Canadian city of Trois-Rivières in Quebec province has been destroyed in a fire amid ongoing attacks against churches across Canada, local authorities confirmed Friday.
Islamic Faluni Kill Christians In Nigeria
Christians in Nigeria’s northern Kaduna state say Islamic Faluni herdsmen killed two believers on Sunday, the latest victims in relentless attacks against believers in Christ.
Study Shows Correlation Between Government Corruption and Christian Persecution
There is a correlation between governmental corruption and Christian persecution, a study published this month by International Christian Concern (ICC) shows. Titled “Corruption and Christian Persecution,” the ICC study concludes that persecution against Christians will subside in countries where corruption is minimized.
India: Pastor Sentenced to Five Years Imprisonment for Alleged Forced Conversion of Hindus
A pastor in India’s Madhya Pradesh state has been found guilty on false charges of forcing Hindus to convert to Christianity and has been sentenced to five years imprisonment, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. Ruled by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party since 2014, India ranks 11 on the Open Doors World Watch List of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted.
Displaced Christians Face Starvation In Sudan (Worthy News In-Depth)
Displaced Christians in wartorn Sudan are among millions of people “facing starvation”, Christian aid workers said Thursday.
China is Advancing Sinicization of Religious Expression, USIRF Warns
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has warned that China’s ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is seeking to elevate China over God through its ongoing policy of Sinicization, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. Sinicization aims to impose Chinese nationalism on religious expression and institutions.
Uganda: Street Evangelist Severely Beaten for the Gospel
A street evangelist in eastern Uganda was hospitalized with head injuries and a broken hand after a mob of Islamists attacked him for sharing the Gospel earlier this month, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. Christianity is legal in Uganda, although Islamic extremists in the country present a severe threat to believers.
Mali: Christians Are Given an Ultimatum to Join Islamic Insurgents or Leave Their Homes, “Nothing Has Happened on This Scale Before”
Islamic insurgent terrorists in central Mali have given the region’s Christian community the options of converting to Islam and helping their insurgency or leaving their homes and communities, the Open Doors international Christian advocacy organization reports.
Pakistan: Young Christian Girl Abducted and Forced into Islamic Marriage
A 16-year-old Christian girl has been kidnapped from her home in Punjab Province, Pakistan, and forced into marriage with the Islamic man who abducted her, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. With an increasing number of young non-Muslim girls being abducted and forced into Islamic marriages, Pakistan ranks 7 on the Open Doors World Watch List 2024 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted.
Burkina Faso: Al-Qaeda-Affiliated Insurgents Slit Throats of 26 Christians at Church Service
Amid intensifying attacks on civilians in Burkina Faso, al-Qaeda-affiliated jihadist insurgents last month stormed a Christian Alliance Evangelical church service in the town of Sanaba and murdered 26 worshippers by tying them up and slitting their throats, the Christian Post (CP) reports.
Syria: Church is Flourishing Despite Devastation of War, Report
The International Christian Concern (ICC) humanitarian organization has reported that a small community of Christians in Syria is flourishing even amid the devastation of a civil war, which, despite giving way to fresh disasters in world news headlines, has been raging with extreme violence since 2011.
Indian Christians Fear No End To Manipur Conflict
Indian Christian leaders are skeptical about the federal government’s “road map” for peace in India’s conflict-torn Manipur state, where scores of Christians were killed and hundreds of churches and other properties were destroyed.