Taliban: ‘No Extension Of Evacuations, Afghans Don’t Go To Airport’
Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban group said Tuesday that Americans must leave by August 31 and warned Afghans not to go to the Kabul airport or try to leave the country.
Human Rights
Twitter Hosts Taliban, Other Sites Closed
While it has banned former U.S. President Donald J. Trump from its service, the social networking site Twitter continues to host accounts of high-profile officials linked to the Islamist Taliban group.
Russia Warns West Not To Intervene In Afghanistan
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned the West not to interfere in Afghanistan after the fall of Kabul, amid signs that China and Russia are increasing their footprint there. The authoritarian leader said Western nations “must stop the irresponsible policy of imposing foreign values from abroad.”
Iran’s Internet Restrictions Threaten Underground Church
Christians in Iran meeting mostly in secret house groups to avoid detection by police face new challenges as the Islamic government seeks more internet restrictions, according to sources familiar with the situation.
US President Biden Defends Leaving Afghanistan
U.S. President Joe Biden said Monday that the takeover of Afghanistan by the Islamist Taliban group went more quickly than anticipated. Still, he defended his decision to withdraw U.S. forces from the war-torn country. “American troops should not die in a war that Afghans are not willing to fight for themselves,” he told the nation in televised remarks from the White House.
Eritrea Detains Elderly Pastors
Three elderly “semi-retired pastors” have been arrested in Eritrea’s capital Asmara apparently, for their faith in Christ, an advocacy group said late Thursday.
Russia, China Holding Massive Military Drills
Russia and China are holding massive military exercises in north-central China involving more than 10,000 troops amid shared concerns over the instability in Afghanistan and tensions with the West, officials confirmed.
US officials condemn Vietnam raid on churches
Vietnam has come under fire from US government officials and international human rights advocates after Vietnamese authorities raided two churches and arrested over 20 Christians, almost all of whom belong to the persecuted Montagnard ethnic group, in May, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
Cuba report: At least 1,000 cases of arbitrary arrest and detention since outbreak of protests
The Cuban Observatory for Human Rights (OCDH) has reported that since the July 11 outbreak of nationwide protests in Cuba, the communist government has carried out at least 1,745 repressive actions against protestors, of which 1,103 were some type of arbitrary detention. The OCDH said the published figures are not definitive as the collection of data has been hindered by repressive government actions.
Leading Belarussian Activist Found Dead In Ukraine
The head of a group helping people fleeing Belarus has been found dead near his home in neighboring Ukraine, officials said Monday. Vitaly Shishov’s body was found hanged in a park in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv a day after he failed to return from a jog, according to police.
Iran persecution: Christians face increased persecution from judiciary
Iran’s judiciary has granted itself powers that will likely make life substantially more harsh for Christian converts who are already persecuted in this predominantly Islamic country, International Christian Concern reports.
EU Targets Christian Doctors Saying Abortion Is ‘Human Right’
Pro-Life doctors and Christian groups are under pressure after the European Parliament passed a resolution saying that abortion is a “human right” and condemned opponents.
White House raises concerns with Israel about possible NSO spyware controversy
Israel may be at the center of a diplomatic crisis after the White House raised concerns about reports that Pegasus spyware from Israeli firm NSO was illegally used to target journalists, human rights activists, and politicians, including French President Emmanuel Macron, Axios News reported on Wednesday.
China Jails Billionaire Who Criticized Leaders
A prominent Chinese billionaire who was outspoken on issues such as human rights has been sentenced to 18 years imprisonment in China.
Two Christian leaders released after being jailed for protesting human rights violations, “God help me”
Although numerous people remain in custody, two of the Christians who were jailed during the government crackdown on the recent nationwide protests in Cuba were released into house arrest on Saturday, Christian Today reports.
Belarus Detains Christian Missionary Amid Crackdown
Belarus has detained a Christian missionary as part of a massive crackdown on those deemed dangerous to the government, Christians told Worthy News.
U.S. charges Chinese covert police operatives for illegal dissident hunt
The Justice Department on Thursday indicted nine people, including Chinese nationals and an American private investigator, on charges they were part of a Chinese government covert operation called “Fox Hunt” that forcibly repatriated opponents of the Beijing regime.
Israel will “look into” NSO Pegasus spyware allegations
Israel’s National Security Council has announced it is “looking into” allegations that Israeli-made NSO Pegasus spyware has been used to illegally spy on a range of people including French President Emmanuel Macron, Ynet News reported Tuesday.
Indonesia Christians Charged For Burying COVID-19 Victims
Christians in Indonesia have been forced to pay for funerals of loved ones who died of COVID-19, sources say. At the same time, Muslims could bury coronavirus victims free of charge, Worthy News learned Wednesday.
Hungary, Other Nations, Spying On Journalists and Activists
Hungary’s government has denied wrongdoing after a worldwide investigation showed authorities infected cellphones to spy on critical journalists, politicians, and business figures.