Iran Convert Jailed For Evangelism
Iranian Christians requested prayers Monday for a Christian convert after he turned himself in to start serving a nine-month prison term in Iran for evangelism and leaving Islam, sources told Worthy News.
Middle East
‘Somaliland Christian Couple Need Prayers As Execution Draws Near’
A detained Christian couple facing potential execution in Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland for leaving Islam and spreading Christianity need prayers as their court hearing was postponed, supporters told Worthy News.
Algeria Returns Church Amid Worries About Detained Pastor And Assistant
Algerian Christians are pleased that authorities returned a church building but remain concerned about a pastor and fellow Christian sentenced to two years in jail for “shaking the faith of Muslims.”
US to move sole aircraft carrier in Asia-Pacific to the Middle East
In a rare move intended to facilitate the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier is expected to be redeployed from the Asia-Pacific region to the Middle East, Voice of America reports.
Turkey Christian persecution: Report submitted to Human Rights Committee
A report has been submitted to the UN Human Rights Committee about the persecution of Protestant Christians in Turkey, and about restrictions imposed against foreign Christians in the country, International Christian Concern reported Sunday.
Israel Continues Airstrikes Despite US Calls For Ceasefire
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that he is “determined to continue this operation until its aim is met,” despite U.S. President Joe Biden’s effective call for a ceasefire.
UN Warns Of Regional Conflict as Israeli-Palestinian War Rages On
The United Nations suggested Sunday that the Israeli-Palestinian was escalating into a broader Middle East conflict after Palestinian medics said Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City flattened three buildings killing at least 42 people.
UN Fears “Full-Scale War” Over Jerusalem
The United Nations says it fears a “full-scale war” amid ongoing deadly exchanges between Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip and the Israeli military.
Blinken calls Hezbollah ‘threat,’ U.S. blacklists 7 Lebanese nationals
The United States on Tuesday called on governments worldwide to take action against Lebanon’s Iranian-backed militant group Hezbozllah, as the Treasury Department sanctioned seven Lebanese nationals it said were connected to the group and its financial firm, Al-Qard al-Hassan (AQAH).
Somali Christian Couple Facing Death For Faith; Prayers Urged
Christians have urged prayers for a couple who could face the death penalty in Somalia on Tuesday for abandoning Islam and “spreading Christianity” after in the Sunni Muslim nation.
Russia says it’s ready to promote direct Israeli-Palestinian contacts
Russia is ready to promote direct contacts between Israel and the Palestinian leadership and working toward a high-level meeting of the Middle East Quartet mediating the Israel-Palestinian peace process, the Russian foreign minister said Wednesday.
US Secretary of State meets with head of Israel’s Mossad spy agency
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has met with Yossi Cohen, the head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, for talks that centered on Iran, the Associated Press reports.
Report: ‘Growing Persecution of Christians in North America, Europe’
Devoted Christians in Europe and North America are increasingly among those being persecuted for their faith in Christ, a rights report shows.
Saudi Christian Convert Facing Jail For Helping Sister Escape Islamic Nation
A former Muslim who became Christian in Saudi Arabia faced a court and possible jail Thursday for helping his sister, a fellow believer, to escape the Islamic nation, Worthy News learned.
Iran, Egypt, Iraq and Saudi Arabia top 2020 global executioners list
Apart from China and despite a worldwide drop in death sentences, countries in the Middle East remained among the world’s leading executioners last year, Amnesty International said Wednesday.
ISIS execute Coptic Christian in Egypt
Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has published a video showing their execution of 62-year-old Coptic Christian Nabil Habshi, who was abducted by the terror group in Egypt in November last year, International Christian Concern reports. The video was published on April 17, and the family believes the killing took place in March or early this month.
In strategic talks with Israel, US vows to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran
The Biden administration stressed its commitment to preventing a nuclear-armed Iran during a strategic meeting with Israeli officials on Tuesday, as Middle East tensions rose and Iran announced it was stepping up uranium enrichment to unprecedented levels.
Netanyahu to visiting US defense secretary: We won’t let Iran obtain nukes
Hosting US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin at his office in Jerusalem, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that Israel and the US agree on never allowing Iran to obtain nuclear weapons.
Somaliland Christians Face Jail After Leaving Islam
Authorities in Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland seek long prison terms for at least six people who converted from Islam to Christianity, Worthy News established Thursday.
Strained Saudi-US ties will likely bring Gulf kingdom closer to Israel
American-Saudi ties have been growing increasingly strained in recent months—a development that will likely see the Sunni power draw even closer to Jerusalem, Israeli observers have told JNS.