General

The rise of political Islam in Europe

July 9, 2014 Egypt, Europe, Hizb ut-Tahrir, Iraq, Islamic extremism, Syria, UK

Analysis: Why jihad is not as big a threat as creeping ‘participation’ There are increasing fears that European-born young men who go to Syria will get caught up in the fight of radical Islamic extremists to establish an Islamic Sharia-based state across Syria and Iraq, and then return to their . . . Read More

Ramadan adds extra pressure for N. African Christians

July 2, 2014 Algeria Algeria, Algiers, Berbers, Hijab, Kabylie, Morocco, Ramadan, Sharia

In the name of all beliefs’ – a flyer for rallies this week in Algeria.World Watch Monitor In about 50 countries across the world, some 1.6 billion Muslims have begun fasting from sunrise to sunset for the 30 days of Ramadan. It occurs every year during the ninth month . . . Read More

50 killed in Nigerian church attacks

July 2, 2014 Nigeria Boko Haram, Borno, Chibok girls, ECWA, Nigeria

Some of the parents of Chibok’s kidnapped girls. Chibok, Nigeria May 11, 2014World Watch Monitor Scores killed and five churches burnt down as militants raided Christian villages near Chibok, where nearly 300 school girls were kidnapped by Boko Haram in April. On June 29, assailants on motorbikes and in . . . Read More

Priest pioneers peace process amid CAR’s chaos

June 29, 2014 Central African Republic Anti-balaka, Bozoum, Central African Republic, Seleka

Despite the Central Africa Republic (CAR)’s increasing level of chaos, a glimmer of hope has been developing in its northern city Bozoum – which is peaceful and prosperous – thanks to mediation efforts. This city of about 26,000 inhabitants enjoys a relative calm which ensures the functioning of vital services . . . Read More

First time in 1600 years no Mass said in Mosul, Iraq, says Chaldean Archbishop

June 27, 2014 Iraq Ankawa, Bashar Warda, Chaldeans, Dohuk, Erbil, Iraq, Islamic State, Jizya, Mosul, Peshmerga, Qaraqosh

The Chaldean Catholic Church’s Archbishop Bashar Warda of Erbil, in Kurdish-governed Northern Iraq, is reported as saying that for the first time in 1600 years there was no Mass said in Mosul on Sunday June 15th. This is the city taken over days before by ISIS forces. Reports say the . . . Read More

Sudan’s death row mother freed again

June 27, 2014 Sudan Mariam Ibrahim, Omar al-Bashir

Mariam Ibrahim, the Sudanese mother imprisoned for six months and released from death-row charges for apostasy, was released for the second time on Thursday night. She had been re-arrested less than 24hrs after being freed by the court, after being driven to the airport in a US Embassy car with . . . Read More

Egyptian convert appeals 5-year sentence for misdemeanor

June 26, 2014 Egypt Converts, Luxor, Mohammed Hegazy

Mohamed Hegazy, left, with his lawyer, Karam Ghobrial.World Watch Monitor An Egyptian man who captured video of clashes between Muslims and Christians has been sentenced to five years in prison. Mohamed Hegazy was convicted June 18 for failing to obtain permission to film demonstrations in the Egypt’s Minya governate, . . . Read More

Malaysia refuses Church right to appeal ban on use of ‘Allah’

June 25, 2014 Malaysia 'Allah', Hudud, Islamic extremism, Kelantan, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Najib Razak, PAS, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, Sharia, The Herald

Almost eight years after the Malaysian Catholic newspaper the Herald first sought to overthrow a government ban on it using the word ‘Allah’ for ‘God’ in its publication the judicial appeal process appears to have ended in failure. A federal court in Kuala Lumpur ruled on June 23 that it . . . Read More

Turkish Assassination Plot Suspects on Trial

June 23, 2014 Turkey Diyarbakir, Izmit, Protestants, Quran

Pastor Emre Karaali of the Izmit Protestant Church outside the courthouse after the first trial hearing.The sign behind him says, ‘Justice is the foundation of the state.’ Izmit, Turkey; April 1, 2014 World Watch Monitor Testimonial evidence at a court hearing concerning a plot to assassinate a Turkish Christian . . . Read More

The lessons of Kim Jong-Wook

June 20, 2014 North Korea Kenneth Bae, Kim Jong Wook, Missionaries, Refugees

North Korea seen through barbed wire at the China border.Open Doors International Last week, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea rejected a request from South Korea to hold discussions about the fate of Kim Jong-Wook. The DPRK in late May sentenced Kim to spend the rest of his life . . . Read More

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