General

Pakistan’s churches increase security after Peshawar blasts

December 6, 2013 Pakistan All Saints Church, Barelvi, Lahore, Pashtun, Peshawar, PTI, Youhanabad

Christians guard the Full Gospel Assemblies Church in Bahar Colony in Lahore.World Watch Monitor Security around churches in Pakistan has increased since the deadly suicide blasts in Peshawar in September and the death of a police guard outside a church last month. On September 22, two suicide bombers blew . . . Read More

UN endorses more military in Central African Republic

December 5, 2013 Central African Republic African Union, Bossangoa, Dieudonné Nzapalainga, Nicolas Guérékoyamé-Gbangou, Oumar Kobine Layama, Seleka, UN

The United Nations Security Council has authorised the expansion of an African military force inside the Central African Republic to counter a rising spiral of sectarian violence. Against a backdrop of fresh deadly violence in the CAR capital of Bangui, Thursday’s unanimous vote of the 15-member council provides a mandate to the . . . Read More

UK Parliament is told Christianity is ‘most persecuted religion’

December 4, 2013 Global News -- No Particular Country Baroness Warsi, China, Egypt, Eritrea, Human rights, Iraq, Kazakhstan, London, Maaloula, Malaysia, Morocco, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Sadad, Syria

The Bishop Moussa Coptic Church in Minya was destroyted by pro-Morsi supporters in Egypt, many of whom blamed Christians for his overthrow.David Degner, Getty Images The plight of Christians around the world was discussed in a three-hour debate at the Houses of Parliament in London yesterday. Members of the . . . Read More

Nigeria’s Boko Haram strikes again in Cameroon

December 4, 2013 Cameroon Ansaru, Boko Haram, Far North, Georges Vandenbeusch, Nigeria

In April last year, churches were targeted by suspected Boko Haram militants. Some victims had their throats cut, while others were beaten to death or burned alive. Here is one of the survivors, whose name is being withheld to protect his security.Cameroon Human Rights Monitoring A missionary has been . . . Read More

12 nuns ‘abducted’ as rebels recapture Maaloula

December 3, 2013 Syria Al-Nusra Front, Maaloula, Syria

Mar Takla, Maaloula.Richard / Flickr / Creative Commons The Vatican has reported that 12 nuns were abducted as opposition rebels captured Syria’s historically Christian town of Maaloula yesterday (December 2). The majority of the town’s Christian population is thought to have fled during clashes between government forces and rebels in . . . Read More

Chinese church protests against arrest of 23 members

December 3, 2013 China Beijing, Henan, Nanle, Three-Self Patriotic Movement, Zhang Shaojie

House church’ in Henan province, pictured in late 1980s/early 1990s.Open Doors International A church in eastern China has written a letter to the Chinese government, demanding permission to stage a protest against the detention of 23 members of its congregation. The Nanle County Church in Puyang, Henan province, which . . . Read More

Pressure mounts on UN to refer Syria ‘war crimes’ to ICC

December 2, 2013 Syria Free Syrian Army, International Criminal Court, Sadad, UN

The village of Sadad was the scene of one of the ‘most serious and biggest massacre of Christians in Syria in the past two-and-a-half years’, according to one Syrian Archbishop.Hovic / Flickr / Creative Commons A month on from the massacre in the Syrian village of Sadad, Human Rights . . . Read More

Vigilante group formed in Bangladesh to stop Christian activities

November 29, 2013 Bangladesh Awami League, Bangladesh, Churches, Converts, Elections, Islamic extremism, Minorities, Sunni, Tangail

A vigilante committee has been formed in central Bangladesh to stop Christian activities in the local community, two months after the construction of a local church was halted. The committee is made up of political leaders, Muslim elders and an elected local government official. In September, the government official ordered . . . Read More

Dozens killed in fresh attacks in central Nigeria

November 29, 2013 Nigeria Berom, Boko Haram, Christian Association of Nigeria, Church of Christ in Nigeria, ECWA, Fulani herdsmen, Plateau

Mass burials took place on Tuesday.World Watch Monitor About 40 people were killed in coordinated attacks on Monday night in four Christian-dominated villages in the central Nigerian State of Plateau. Local sources contacted by World Watch Monitor report that the assailants, believed to be members of the Fulani tribe, . . . Read More

Kenyan bishop hurt in clash with local tribe

November 27, 2013 Kenya Kenya, Meru

The bishop of a Pentecostal church in eastern Kenya was hurt on Saturday (Nov. 23) in a clash with elders from a local tribe after a member of his church was abducted. Three members of the bishop’s congregation were also injured during the clash in Meru, a region on the . . . Read More

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