General

Pakistani Christians on the run after blasphemy accusation

June 3, 2016 Pakistan Blasphemy, Gujrat, Islamic extremism, Mandi Bahauddin, Punjab, Sheikhupura

Jhonpari (hut), Sheikhupura.Sheikhu / Flickr / CC At least 10 Christian families have fled a village in eastern Pakistan after a man from a Christian community, who apparently converted to Islam ten years ago, was accused of sending a blasphemous message on Facebook Messenger. Tensions arose in Kot Amam . . . Read More

Bishop pleads for justice as attack on Copt grandmother ‘stripped naked’ stirs Egypt

June 3, 2016 Egypt Bishop Angaelos, Copts, Minya, Soad Thabet

Souad Thabet and Bishop Makarius of the Coptic Church have both stood for justice and reconcilliation.Courtesy of Wataninet, Diocese of Minya A Coptic bishop has urged full recourse to law to punish those behind an attack in Minya, Upper Egypt, which saw the 70-year-old mother of a man rumoured . . . Read More

Freedom of religion or belief ‘undermined’ in corrupt countries

June 2, 2016 Global News -- No Particular Country Afghanistan, Asia-Pacific, Central Asia, Colombia, Corruption, David Cameron, Eastern Europe, Europe, G20, Libya, London, Mexico, Middle East, Nigeria, North Africa, Religious freedom, Somalia, Sub-Saharan Africa, Sudan, Yemen

Corruption is increasingly seen as a factor behind the persecution of minority Christians around the world, and the world leaders who gathered at an Anti-Corruption Summit in London in May showed they are beginning to pay more attention to the effects of corruption on freedom of religion or belief. Evidence . . . Read More

Argentinian Baptist pastor continues to face intimidation, threats

May 31, 2016 Argentina Argentina, Córdoba, Marcelo Nieva, Río Tercero

Marcelo Nieva.World Watch Monitor Argentinian pastor Marcelo Nieva continues to face intimidation and threats, despite the 24/7 presence of the National Gendarmerie outside his church building. Eighteen months since he and his colleague, Daniel Carreño, were shot at as they were driving through the city of Córdoba, Nieva was . . . Read More

Khartoum re-arrests pastor, holds others ‘pending serious charges’

May 27, 2016 Sudan Abdulmonem Abdumawla, Bahri, Hassan Taour, Khartoum, Kuwa Shamal, NISS, Nuba Mountains, Sudanese Church of Christ, Telal Rata

Five months since his initial detention, Sudan’s intelligence agency has re-arrested a local pastor. Rev. Kuwa Shamal joins at least two more Christian leaders in prison, awaiting charges that could carry the death penalty. He was re-arrested on May 24 by members of the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) . . . Read More

‘Boko Haram is 100% a Muslim problem,’ says Sheikh

May 27, 2016 Nigeria Boko Haram, Islamic extremism, Sultan of Sokoto

An influential Muslim cleric in Nigeria says the responsibility for dealing with the threat of Boko Haram lies with the Muslim community. “We [Muslims] have to understand that these people [Boko Haram] are from among us and that the society was not doing enough to bring these elements out,” Sheikh . . . Read More

Freedom of religion among Myanmar’s ‘biggest challenges’

May 26, 2016 Myanmar Cardinal Bo, Chin, Kachin, Karen, Karenni, Ma Ba Tha, Myanmar, Naga, Religious freedom, Yangon

Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, Myanmar’s first Catholic Cardinal, at the UK Parliament in London, 25 May, 2016. World Watch Monitor Myanmar’s first ever Catholic Cardinal has said protecting freedom of religion or belief for all is among the “biggest challenges” facing his country as it adapts to life after . . . Read More

Pakistan: Christian woman refuses to leave home after blasphemy accusation

May 25, 2016 Pakistan Blasphemy, Gujrat, Mandi Bahauddin

A young Pakistani Christian woman accused of blasphemy chose not to flee from her home, so that her Christian neighbours wouldn’t be targeted in her absence. The accusations against Sonia Gill, 23, were eventually withdrawn, but not before she had refused to leave the “Christian Town” settlement near Gujrat. Dozens . . . Read More

Khartoum releases Christian minister, holds another ‘pending charges’

May 24, 2016 Sudan Hassan Taour, Khartoum, Telal Rata

After imposing nearly half a year in detention, Sudan has now released one Christian minister, while still keeping a second without legal access, pending possible charges of “undermining national security”. On Tuesday, 10 May, the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) released 36-year-old Telahoon (Telal) Nogosi Kassa Rata from Khartoum’s . . . Read More

Kazakhstan church raids a ‘backward step’

May 24, 2016 Kazakhstan Almaty, Astana, Nursultan Nazarbayev, Pentecostals, Protestants

A policeman is filmed during the Good Friday raid on New Life church in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Photo: Maxim Maximov / YouTube

Recent raids on Christians’ homes and churches in Kazakhstan are a “backward step”, following the positive strides made by the Kazakhstan President in recent years, according to a religious freedom expert in the country. Kevin White, research fellow and country director at the Almaty-based Religious Freedom and Business Foundation, says . . . Read More

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