General

Christian deaths double in 2014 World Watch List

January 8, 2014 Global News -- No Particular Country Africa, Angola, Central African Republic, Churches, Egypt, India, Kidnapping, Niger, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Rape, Religious freedom, Syria

Nearly twice as many Christians died for their faith in the past year than in 2012, according to Open Doors International’s 2014 World Watch List. Open Doors International, a charity that supports Christians under pressure for their faith, said 2,123 Christians were reported to have been killed during the 12 . . . Read More

Lebanese library torched after blasphemy accusation

January 7, 2014 Lebanon Al-Saeh Library, Blasphemy, Greek Orthodox, Lebanon, Tripoli

Around two-thirds of the library’s estimated 80,000 books are thought to have been damaged.MTV Lebanon News / YouTube A huge library of books collected by a 72-year-old Greek Orthodox priest, but used by the whole community, was torched in Lebanon on Friday (January 3) after he was accused of insulting . . . Read More

Shot Copt dies on New Year’s Eve after hospital ‘negligence’

January 4, 2014 Egypt Cairo, Copts, Maspero, Muslim Brotherhood

A Coptic Christian man died on New Year’s Eve from a gunshot wound to the head after three hospitals in Cairo are reported to have turned him away. Ihab Ghattas, 23, was shot outside Mar Girgis (St George’s) Church in the Ain Shams area of Cairo after celebrating mass. The . . . Read More

Islamic authorities’ raid on Malaysian Bible Society questioned by state government

January 4, 2014 Malaysia 'Allah', Bibles, Constitution, JAIS, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, The Herald, UMNO

Christians in Sarawak attend Mass at St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Kuching. The service is held in the Malay language, which uses the word ‘Allah’ for God.The Malaysian Insider The ruling that the use of the word ‘Allah’ for God is banned for non-Muslims in Malaysia hit global headlines in . . . Read More

Media ‘wrong’ to ignore Christians’ plight in Central African Republic

January 3, 2014 Central African Republic Anti-balaka, Chad, Islamic extremism, Michel Djotodia, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Seleka, Sharia, Sudan

Unicef says that violence has ‘sunk to a vicious new low’ after reported beheadings of children.World Watch Monitor The vulnerability of Christians in the Central African Republic (CAR) is being overlooked, even as international media wrongly focus on the ‘interfaith’ element of the conflict, says Open Doors International. The charity . . . Read More

Baghdad Christmas bombings kill 37

December 30, 2013 Iraq Christmas

Central African Republic Christians petition for President’s removal

December 24, 2013 Central African Republic African Union, Anti-balaka, Bangui, Michel Djotodia, Seleka

Michel Djotodia, President of the Central African Republic.Crispin for World Watch Monitor One person has been killed and around 40 wounded after African Union (AU) troops reportedly fired at a group of Christian protestors in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic (CAR). The Christians had gathered near the . . . Read More

Christmas excitement marred by insecurity for Pakistani Christians after deadly year of attacks

December 23, 2013 Pakistan All Saints Church, Blasphemy, Joseph Colony, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Taliban

Memorials for the victims of the bomb attacks at All Saints Church in Peshawar.Kamran Chaudhry for World Watch Monitor The decorations have been put up, carol services have begun and small celebrations are being planned, but the festive spirit is marred by anxiousness and insecurity among Pakistan’s small Christian . . . Read More

Chinese Christians’ lawyers attacked in presence of foreign TV crew

December 20, 2013 China Henan, Nanle, Three-Self Patriotic Movement, Zhang Shaojie

Lawyers took shelter in a nearby office, using furniture to barricade the door from the mob outside.China Aid Association An attack on lawyers hired to defend 17 detained Christians in central China, shown around the world on Sky TV, has drawn attention to a case which may not be . . . Read More

Prince Charles criticises ‘organised persecution’ of Middle East Christians

December 18, 2013 Copts, Egypt, Islamic extremism, London, Middle East, Prince Charles, Sadad, Syria

Left to Right: Prince Charles, Abba Seraphim and Bishop Angaelos at the Coptic Orthodox Church Centre.Coptic Orthodox Church UK The Prince of Wales, heir to the British throne, has added his voice to those calling for an end to the persecution of Christians in the Middle East. After a . . . Read More

Catching Our Eye