India: Dubious ‘Reconversion’ Movement Expands
Hindu extremists have extended to the northern state of Himachal Pradesh a movement to bring Christian converts back to the Hindu fold through dubious “reconversion†events.
Islam
Uzbekistan Sentences Prominent Protestant Pastor Shestakov To Four Years In Exile
Prominent Protestant pastor Dmitry Shestakov was sentenced Friday, March 9, to four years’ exile within Uzbekistan for his evangelistic activities, Christian rights watchers observing the trial said.
Nigeria: Muslim Students Set Fire to High School Chapel
Muslim students twice have set fire to a high school chapel here since it was rebuilt last August, after Islamists burned it down three years ago.
Iranian Imam Receives Christ Via Satellite TV, Escapes Country
One of the top Islamic leaders in Iran accepted Christ and left the country after facing death threats and imprisonment, according to an Iranian pastor living in the U.S.
Benin Islamic Militants Destroy Church And Training Center
Islamic militants in Benin destroyed a church established by Christ Power Ministries (CPM) in the latest attack against the indigenous evangelical mission group in the African nation, missionaries told BosNewsLife Friday, March 2.
Uzbekistan: Police Seek Missing Pastors of ‘Unregistered’ Churches
Salavat Serikbayev, 32, and Makset Djabbarbergenov, 26, did not make their court date on Monday (February 26) in the regional capital of Nukus to face charges of leading an unregistered religious meeting. The pastors declined to make public the reason for their absence from court.
Fire Damages Christian Training Center in Southern Sudan
A significant section of a Christian training center in volatile southern Sudan has been destroyed by fire, the group that runs the center confirmed Wednesday, February 28.
Eritrea: Authorities Arrest Founder of Full Gospel Church
Just days after Eritrean security police arrested one of the founders of the Full Gospel Church last month, two Protestant pastors and another church leader jailed months ago have been released on bail without explanation.
Uzbekistan: Officials Admit Arrest of Protestant Pastor
Uzbekista’s religious authorities admitted publicly for the first time this week that an Uzbek Christian pastor was arrested last month in the eastern city of Andijan and now faces criminal charges.
Pakistan Evangelists Beaten at Muslim Festival
A team of Pakistani Christian evangelists was attacked and beaten after distributing over 13,000 Christian publications at a Muslim festival, the group supporting them said Wednesday, February 7.
Uzbekistan “Harshening Crackdown” On Religious Freedom And Media, groups say
A major Christian rights group expressed concern Wednesday, February 7, about Uzbekistan’s “harshening crackdown on religious freedom.”
Iraq Militants Kill Christian Official
A high profile official from Iraq’s Assyrian Christian community and former deputy director of Iraqi Airways has been shot and killed by militants near his home, BosNewsLife monitored Thursday, February 8.
Uzbekistan Pastor Remains Jailed; Family in Hiding
An evangelical pastor remained behind bars in Uzbekistan Monday, February 5, more than two weeks after he was detained by secret police on charges of “incitement to hatred on national, racial or religious grounds.”
Persection North Korean Christians “Worse” Than Ever, Document Shows
Persecution of Christians in North Korea “is worse than ever”, amid fresh reports of torture and executions, Christian investigators said Friday, February 2.
Azerbaijan Launches Crackdown On Growing Church Movement Of Ex-Muslims
Authorities in Azerbaijan have launched a crackdown on a church movement of ex-Muslims which grew from 40 to 18,000 members since the former Soviet republic gained independence in 1991, an organization supporting the reportedly persecuted Christian converts said Thursday, February 1.
Uzbekistan: Secret Police Arrest Andijan Pastor
Uzbek secret police arrested a Protestant pastor from his church in Andijan last weekend, seven months after a regional prosecutor had accused him of committing high treason.
Somalia Capital Rocked By Violence After Church Attack
Christians in Somalia remained on edge Friday, January 26, after a church attack and fresh reports that five people were killed in clashes in the Somali capital, Mogadishu.
Uzbekistan Secret Police Detains Protestant Pastor
Uzbekistan’s secret police detained Protestant Pastor Dmitry Shestakov at his church in the city of Andijan last weekend, after a regional prosecutor had accused him of “committing high treason,” a Christian news agency reported Thursday, January 25.
Pakistan Detains Christian Woman For “Insulting” Islam
A Christian married mother with six children remained detained in a Pakistani jail Thursday, January 25, and could face the death penalty for allegedly insulting Islam, her supporters told BosNewsLife.
Muslim Gunman Attacks Somali House Church, Injuring Leader
A Muslim gunman opened fire on a Somali house church where Christians were worshipping on January 2, seriously injuring the church leader.