Year: 2018

Turkey replaces prosecutor who indicted US pastor Brunson

September 10, 2018 Turkey Andrew Brunson, Coup, Fethullah Gülen, Izmir, PKK, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey

At the outset last week of Turkey’s new judicial year, the Izmir prosecutor who prepared the controversial indictment accusing US pastor Andrew Brunson of terrorism and espionage was reassigned to another bureau. Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul dismissed the transfer simply as a “routine procedure” with no particular significance, referring to . . . Read More

Nigeria: Pastor and three sons burned alive among at least 20 killed in latest Plateau massacre

September 7, 2018 Nigeria Christian Association of Nigeria, Church of Christ in Nigeria, Fulani herdsmen, Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria, Plateau

A spate of attacks, in which at least 20 were killed in Nigeria’s central Plateau State over the last week of August, has shattered peace efforts by religious and political leaders in its capital, Jos. Three months ago, heavily armed Fulani militants stormed 15 villages across the same Barkin Ladi . . . Read More

Life in 70-years-old North Korea ‘is like living in Orwell’s 1984’, says escapee

September 7, 2018 North Korea Communism, Human rights, Kim Il-Sung, Kim Jong-Un, North Korea

North Korea is preparing to celebrate its 70th anniversary while the majority of its population faces multiple challenges every day, including food shortages and human rights violations. (Photo: ED JONES/AFP/Getty Images)

As North Korea prepares to celebrate its 70th anniversary this weekend with a military parade and “Mass Games”, its population lives in perpetual war (the 1953 Korean War has never officially ended), under government surveillance and with a propaganda machine controlled by the national leader’s personality cult. The reality is . . . Read More

EU should ‘put people of the world’ first in quest for religious freedom – report

September 6, 2018 Global News -- No Particular Country Anti-conversion law, Asia Bibi, Blasphemy, Europe, India, Jan Figel, Minorities, Pakistan, Religious freedom

Members of the European Parliament (EP) have called on the EU to “put the people of the world before our financial and political interests”, in a report about religious freedom. The Annual Report on Freedom of Religion or Belief 2017, presented by the EP Intergroup on Freedom of Religion or . . . Read More

Nicaragua: Christians attacked, detained and killed as ‘enemies of the regime’

September 6, 2018 Catholics, Corruption, Daniel Ortega, Latin America, Managua, Nicaragua, UN

More violence erupted during another anti-government protest in the capital Managua on Sunday (2 September) in which at least three people were injured. (Photo: INTI OCON/AFP/Getty Images)

Nicaragua’s president ordered a UN commission to leave the country on 1 September after it criticised the government for alleged human rights abuses committed during its clampdown on anti-government protestors. In its report, the UN Commission on Human Rights “called on the government to stop the persecution of protestors and . . . Read More

Nigerians displaced by Boko Haram told to return to dangerous areas to vote

September 5, 2018 Nigeria Adamawa, Boko Haram, Borno, Fulani herdsmen, IDPs, Nigeria, Yobe

In northeast Nigeria, thousands of people who have fled Boko Haram’s attacks have been told to return back home, despite security concerns. Boko Haram’s nine-year insurgency has led to an acute crisis, described by the United Nations as one of the most severe in the world today, with more than 20,000 people killed, . . . Read More

Parents seek global petitions to Nigerian President to ‘#BringBackOurLeah’

September 3, 2018 Nigeria Boko Haram, Children, Dapchi, Leah Sharibu, Nigeria, Women, Yobe

Leah Sharibu, 14, was abducted by Boko Haram on 19 February 2018. (Photo from family)

The parents of the Nigerian Christian girl held by Boko Haram say they have renewed hope that she might safely return home after a short audio recording her kidnappers released last week. In the 35-second recording, Leah Sharibu is heard asking for help for her family and herself, calling on . . . Read More

Egypt: Mob attacks prevent Coptic church’s recognition for ‘security’ reasons

August 31, 2018 Egypt Churches, Copts, Egypt, Islamic extremism, Minya

Following demonstrations and several attacks on their church, Copts in Ezbet Sultan Pasha village, are back worshipping in the small house where they used to meet. (Photo: World Watch Monitor)

A Coptic community in Egypt’s Minya governorate, whose church was closed in July following protests by local Muslims, continues to be a target of mob attacks and hostility. The only Coptic church in Ezbet Sultan Pasha village, 250km south of Cairo, where about 20 per cent of the population is . . . Read More

As Sudan hosts CAR peace talks, Russia offers to get more involved

August 31, 2018 Central African Republic Anti-balaka, Bangassou, Bangui, Central African Republic, Dieudonné Nzapalainga, Faustin-Archange Touadéra, Kaga Bandoro, Nicolas Guérékoyamé-Gbangou, Oumar Kobine Layama, Russia, Seleka, UPC

The three top faith leaders of the Central African Republic (CAR), who have won international recognition for efforts to end its conflict, have pledged to work with Russians to foster reconciliation in CAR. On 23 August, they attended a one-day meeting organised by Valery Zakharov, a Russian diplomat and security . . . Read More

‘Iraq without Christians is like a garden without a rose’

August 31, 2018 Iraq Chaldeans, Churches, Iraq, Islamic State, Qaraqosh, Syriacs

Four years ago this month, the northern Iraqi city of Qaraqosh, or Baghdeda in the Syriac language, was invaded by the Islamic State group, forcing most of its population to flee for their lives. Prior to IS’s invasion, 50,000 Christians resided in Qaraqosh, 97 per cent of the population. October . . . Read More

Catching Our Eye