General

Algerian church attacked again

November 26, 2013 Algeria Protestant Church of Algeria

The pastor of a church in southern Algeria has reported the details of a fresh attack on his church – the third of its kind – which he says proves that some Algerians are against the presence of churches in their country. The pastor, who wishes to remain nameless, said . . . Read More

Rash of blasphemy accusations after Pakistan church bombings

November 26, 2013 Pakistan Al-Qaeda, All Saints Church, Blasphemy, Gujranwala, Jamaat-ud-Dawa, Karachi, Lahore, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Pashtun, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Sunni Tehreek, Taliban, Youhanabad

The remains of a Munawar Masih’s belongings in Michael Town, Karachi, after they were taken from his home and set on fire.World Watch Monitor Two months ago, on September 22, two suicide bombers blew themselves up outside All Saints Church in Peshawar when congregants were leaving the church after . . . Read More

UN consensus builds to send force to Central African Republic

November 26, 2013 Central African Republic African Union, Seleka, UN

Consensus is emerging to begin “contingency planning” to send a UN peacekeeping force to the lawless Central African Republic, the UN’s No. 2 official said on Monday. Until a UN force, estimated at 6,000 soldiers and 1,700 police, can be deployed, Deputy Secretary-General Jan Liasson urged the UN Security Council . . . Read More

Jihadists could end Christianity in Syria if given power, says nun

November 22, 2013 Syria Bashar al-Assad, Islamic extremism

An outspoken Catholic nun living in Syria has denied suggestions that she believes the toppling of President Bashar al-Assad would bring an end to Christianity in Syria. Instead, Mother Agnes-Mariam says that could be the consequence if religious extremists were to seize on a power vacuum left by his deposition. . . . Read More

‘White Widow’ key suspect in Kenyan pastors’ murders

November 21, 2013 Kenya Al-Shabaab, East Africa, Kenya, Mombasa, Nairobi, Pentecostals, Westgate

Fort Jesus, Mombasa.Ricky Thakrar / Flickr / Creative Commons The widow of one of the bombers on the London Tube in July 2005, 29-year-old Samantha Lewthwaite, has been named in connection with the murders of two Kenyan pastors. Lewthwaite is wanted for seven murders in Kenya altogether, including the . . . Read More

Ban Ki-moon warns Central African Republic ‘spiralling into anarchy’

November 20, 2013 Central African Republic African Union, Michel Djotodia, Seleka, UN

Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General of the United Nations, pictured in 2012.Africa Renewal / Flickr / Creative Commons The UN Secretary General Ban-Ki moon said on Monday (Nov. 18) that anarchy in the Central African Republic risks spiralling further out of control, and could need up to 9,000 peacekeepers. In a . . . Read More

Book review: ‘The Global War on Christians’

November 19, 2013 Global News -- No Particular Country Africa, Asia, Buddhist nationalism, Burundi, Colombia, Eastern Europe, Eritrea, Hindu nationalism, Islamic extremism, Kenya, Latin America, Middle East, Organised crime, Philippines

It has been an astonishing last 12 months for books on the persecution of Christians when there has been such silence on the issue for so long. First came ‘Christianophobia: A Faith Under Attack’ in late 2012; then the more simply titled, ‘Persecuted: the Global Assault on Christians’ in March . . . Read More

French priest ‘kidnapped’ by Nigeria’s Boko Haram in Cameroon

November 19, 2013 Cameroon Ansaru, Boko Haram, Georges Vandenbeusch, Katsina, Kidnapping, Nguetchewe, Nigeria, Sahel

A French priest abducted in northern Cameroon is said to be in the hands of Boko Haram. “I can confirm that the French priest is in the hands of Mujahideen [fighters] from Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad [Boko Haram’s Arabic name], who carried out the operation that was co-ordinated with Ansaru,” an . . . Read More

Turkish pastor arrested on human trafficking accusations

November 15, 2013 Turkey Orhan Picaklar, Protestants, Refugees

Pastor Orhan Picaklar was arrested on Monday.Samsun Agape Church A Turkish Protestant pastor arrested by police in the Black Sea province of Samsun this week is accused of involvement in prostitution and the human trafficking of refugees. Pastor Orhan Picaklar of the Samsun Agape Church was summoned to local . . . Read More

Christians face extinction in Middle East, warns UK Minister

November 15, 2013 Baroness Warsi, David Cameron, Human rights, Middle East, Pakistan, UK

Baroness Warsi on a visit to Pakistan in 2010.DFID / Flickr / Creative Commons A UK Foreign Office Minister has warned that Christians in some parts of the world face extinction because of violence against them. Ahead of a speech on Friday, Nov. 15 at Georgetown University in Washington, . . . Read More

Catching Our Eye