Indonesia Islamic Militants Close New Churches
Islamic militants have launched fresh raids on churches on the Indonesian island of Java, human rights investigators said Wednesday, October 19.
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Turkey Orders Iranian Christians Deported
A family of Iranian converts to Christianity faces jail time, the death sentence and the forced marriage of their daughter if Turkish authorities forcibly deport them back to Iran next week after nearly three years of failed attempts to obtain U.N. refugee status.
Eritrea Detains Hundreds of Christians in Crackdown
Over 200 evangelical Christians and members of minority churches have been detained in Eritrea this week in unprecedented coordinated raids by the African nation’s security forces, BosNewsLife learned Thursday, October 6.
Major Islamic Crackdown on Churches in Indonesia Reported; Churches Closed, Pastors Threatened
A Christian human rights group urged Indonesia’s government Tuesday, October 4, to immediately halt the activities of known Islamic militants who it claims have closed dozens of churches, threaten pastors and other believers, and promote the abduction of Westerners “in cooperation” with local authorities.
House Church Pastor and Evangelist Arrested in Henan, China
Mr. Ma Shulei, a full time house church evangelist, was arrested in Mianchi County, Sanmenxia City, Henan Province, along with his 58-year-old father, Mr. Ma Yinzhou, who is a house church pastor.
Evangelicals To Be Expelled from Town in Hidalgo, Mexico
About 150 evangelicals – 40 families – will be expelled from their homes in San Nicolas, Hidalgo state, at the end of October, according to a town council vote on Saturday, October 1.
China Agents “Torture” Christian Businessman Amid Crackdown
A Christian businessman and friend of an evangelist in China’s Xinjiang province was rushed to hospital after being “tortured” by security agents amid an ongoing “comprehensive campaign” against Christians in the region, a US-based religious rights organization said Saturday, October 1.
Malaysian Court Says No to Change of Religious Status
Judges in Malaysia’s Court of Appeal announced on September 19 that Lina Joy, a former Muslim who converted to Christianity in the late 1980s, must apply to a sharia court for permission to legally renounce Islam.
Anglican Church Leadership “Killed” in Iraq
The entire lay leadership of Iraq’s main Anglican Church was presumed dead Thursday, September 29, amid reports they were attacked while returning from a conference in neighboring Jordan.
Pakistan Christian Woman “Raped” And Threatened with Death by Muslims, report
A Pakistani woman has charged three men with raping her earlier this month and threatening to kill her if she did not convert from Christianity to Islam, a Christian news agency reported Tuesday, September 27.
Zhang Yi-nan released from Chinese labor camp
Chinese Christian Zhang Yi-nan was released from the Ping Ding Shan City Bailou Labor Camp in Henan Province, China on Sunday morning. Zhang’s wife, Ding Guizhen, and their son, Zhang Kairi, were waiting for him at the steel gate of the prison camp, but were not immediately allowed to welcome him home.
Ethiopia Evangelist Killed For “Refusing To Deny Christ”
A human rights group has expressed concern about reports of wide spread persecution of Christians in rural Ethiopia where at least one evangelist has been killed “for refusing” to abandon his Christian faith, BosNewsLife monitored Thursday, September 22.
Messianic Jews Fight Public Slurs in Israel
The Israeli High Court on September 12 heard a petition by ultra-orthodox Jews to hold a 700-person demonstration in front of the house of a family of Messianic Jews. In the past, the group’s smaller protests consisted of shouting obscenities and slurs at the Christians.
Thousands of Congo Christians Mourn Murdered Italian Missionary
A period of mourning was expected to continue Saturday, September 17, among Christians in his native Italy and the African Republic of the Congo, where thousands attended the funeral of Italian Franciscan missionary Angelo Redaelli, 40, who was lynched earlier in the week, missionary and church sources said.
Muslim Mob Attacks Christian Homes in Pakistan
A mob of 200 Muslim protestors ransacked at least 16 homes of Christians in Lahore on Saturday, September 10, after a drug addict disrupted an Islamic service. Younis Masih, 35, was accused of insulting the Muslim prophet Mohammed.
Messianic Jews Harassed in Israel
Messianic Jews have called for international protests against violations of religious freedom in Israel. Orthodox Jews have harassed a congregation in the desert town of Arad in Southern Israel for more than 18 months.
Burma Military Closes Down Evangelical Church, Group Says
Burma’s military government has closed down a major evangelical church and movement in the capital Rangoon as part of a fresh crackdown on Christian congregations across the Asian nation, a well informed advocacy group said Wednesday, September 7.
Eritrea Police Raid Christian Wedding Party Detaining Couple and Guests
Police of the troubled African nation of Eritrea have arrested a Christian bridal couple and their 18 wedding guests and churches expressed concern about “widening” religious “persecution” in the country, news reports said Thursday, September 8.
Hindu Extremists Surround Christian Compound in Bihar, India
A mob of Hindu extremists surrounded a mission compound in India’s Bihar state on August 31 and kept it under siege for three days. The mob attempted to kill the Rev. Augustine Jebakumar, director of the mission, and demanded his arrest for allegedly desecrating a Hindu idol.
Mob Threatens Two Christians in Madhya Pradesh, India
Police picked up two Christians attending a worship service at the home of Jagdish and Grace Nayak in Indore, Madhya Pradesh state, on September 4 and detained them for four hours. A Hindu mob also threatened Atul David and Antar Singh with death if they worshiped with the Nayaks again.