Jordan: Authorities Expel Foreign Christians
Jordan has increased pressure on foreign Christians living in the kingdom, expelling many long-time residents over the past 13 months in what local churches see as an attack on their legitimacy.
religious freedom
Egypt: Tempers Flare into Melee at Convert’s Hearing
An Egyptian judge is scheduled to rule next week on the case of a Muslim-born convert to Christianity whose court hearing threatened to turn into a brawl earlier this month, the convert’s lawyer said.
China Releases More House Church Leaders From Labor Camp
China on Wednesday, January 23, released three female house church leaders "unconditionally" from their labor camp in Hubei province, in what their supporters described as "another legal stunning victory."
China Expels Children From Christian Orphanage
Children and their caretakers spent another Sunday, January 13, in uncertainty after they were expelled from their Christian-run orphanage in China’s Hubei Province, as part of a crackdown on Christian activities by local authorities, an official said.
China Detains Prominent House Church Leaders In Gansu Province
At least two prominent church leaders of a main house church in China’s Gansu Province remained detained Wednesday, January 9, after Chinese security forces raided a worship service, fellow Christians said.
Turkey Releases Teenager Planning “Massacre” In Church
A Turkish teenager who vowed to kill the pastor of a Protestant church and "massacre" Christians in the Black Sea coastal city of Samsun has been released by a local court because he is "to young" Turkish media reported Tuesday, January 8.
New Year’s Day Attacks On Christians In India
There were new reports of attacks by suspected Hindu militants against Christians in India on New Year’s Day, shortly after Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh promised to protect the country’s minority Christians in a letter to the widow of an Australian missionary killed nine years ago.
China “Tortures” House Church Official As Part Of Christmas Crackdown, Group Says
Chinese police detained and tortured a key official of an umbrella group representing the rapidly growing underground house churches in China, as part of a Christmas season crackdown on devoted Christians, an advocacy group with close knowledge about the situation said Wednesday, December 19.
China Detains Hundreds Of House Church Pastors In Massive Operation
At least 150 house church pastors were believed to be behind bars Tuesday, December 11, after Chinese security forces broke up a Christian meeting in China’s Shandong Province, fellow believers said.
China Launches Crackdown On House Churches, Secret Document Shows
China’s Communist government has ordered a crackdown on mushrooming underground house churches in a key province as part of a nationwide plan against devoted Christians across the country, according to a secret document leaked Tuesday, November 13, and obtained by BosNewsLife.
China Closes Australian Company For Promoting Christianity
Chinese authorities have shut down a multi million dollar branch of Australia-based Enoch Group because it allegedly promoted Christianity and hired Christian workers, investigators close to the case told BosNewsLife Thursday, November 1.
Azerbaijan Baptist Pastor Facing Two Years Labor Camp
A Baptist pastor in Azerbaijan is facing a two-year prison sentence in a forced labor camp, after an appeals court refused to overturn the conviction, a rights group monitoring the case confirmed to BosNewsLife Tuesday, October 23.
Eritrean Christians tell BBC Correspondent of torture by government officials
During the past five years, a brutal campaign has been waged in Eritrea against Christian minorities, focusing mainly on the evangelical and Pentecostal movements.
China Releases Detained Americans And Interpreter Amid International Pressure
Chinese authorities have released four American Christian workers and their interpreter from detention amid international pressure, but at least six other Chinese pastors arrested with them remained behind bars Thursday, May 3, BosNewsLife monitored.
China Detains Americans And House Church Leaders After Worship Service
Four Americans and nearly two dozen Chinese house church leaders were believed to be in detention Wednesday, April 25, after they were reportedly arrested last week following a Christian worship service in China’s Xinjiang province.
Vietnam Christian Politician In Hiding Amid Police Crackdown
An influential Christian politician was in hiding in Vietnam Tuesday, April 24, after being harassed by Vietnamese security forces who also attacked other dissidents planning to meet US officials, a leading human rights activist confirmed to BosNewsLife.
Mexico: Pact Spares Evangelicals in Chipas from Expulsion
Local political bosses who had voted to expel 65 Christians from a small town near here grudgingly signed an agreement yesterday to let the evangelicals stay in their homes.
Nigeria Christians On Edge As Muslim Wins Presidential Ballot
Christians in Nigeria were on high alert Monday, April 23, as election officials confirmed that the outgoing Christian president of Nigeria will be succeeded by a controversial Muslim candidate following Saturday’s election.
Mexico: Pact Sets New Course for Threatened Christians
On Monday (April 23), small town political bosses near this city in Chiapas state are set to meet with representatives of 65 Christians they have threatened to expel in a showdown that could influence religious rights throughout the region.
Vietnam: Christian Lawyers Could Get Harsh Sentences
Following the March 29 sentencing of Father Nguyen Van Ly to eight years in prison for distributing “material harmful to the state,†two Protestant lawyers charged with the same “crime†are expected to face equally harsh sentences in what Human Rights Watch has called the harshest crackdown in 20 years.