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All eyes on Sri Lanka as Commonwealth summit begins

November 15, 2013 Sri Lanka Anti-conversion law, Bodu Bala Sena, Buddhist nationalism, Colombo, Commonwealth, Human rights

Sri Lanka’s human rights record has been questioned as a Commonwealth summit takes place in Colombo. Several Commonwealth leaders have boycotted the event, while British Prime Minister David Cameron has pledged to ask “tough questions” of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa. One of his lines of questioning may focus on . . . Read More

Church welcomes US designation of Boko Haram as Foreign Terrorist Organisation

November 15, 2013 Nigeria Adamawa, Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, Ansaru, Boko Haram, Borno, Christian Association of Nigeria, Terrorism, Yobe

One of the major organisations representing Christians in Nigeria has welcomed the US State Department’s announcement on Nov 13 that it has designated Boko Haram a Foreign Terrorist group (FTO). The Department also classified its splinter group Ansaru as an FTO. Boko Haram is believed to have links to Al-Qaeda . . . Read More

Number of Christian martyrs continues to cause debate

November 13, 2013 Global News -- No Particular Country Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Peshawar, Sudan, Syria

Ninety-six Christians died in the twin attacks on All Saints Church in Peshawar.World Watch Monitor The debate over the precise number of Christians martyred each year continues. In May, a Vatican spokesman told the United Nations Human Rights Council that as many as 100,000 Christians are martyred each year. . . . Read More

China asks Church for help with social care

November 11, 2013 China Beijing, Corruption, Shanghai, Sichuan

China is facing a social care crisis, particularly in caring for an increasingly elderly population.Richard Asia / Flickr / Creative Commons The Chinese government has welcomed the role of the Church in providing social care in the country. China’s leaders have been holding a meeting this week in Beijing . . . Read More

Iran’s nuclear programme ‘distracting’ world from rights abuses

November 8, 2013 Iran Barack Obama, Hassan Rouhani, Human rights, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Mostafa Bordbar, Saeed Abedini, UN

Former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on a tour of an Iranian nuclear facility.Pere Ubu / Flickr / Creative Commons An Iranian Nobel Prize-winner has warned EU and US officials that Iran’s nuclear programme is distracting them from addressing the country’s human rights abuses. Shirin Ebadi, now living in the UK, . . . Read More

Radical Islamists ‘control much of northern Syria’

November 7, 2013 Syria Bashar al-Assad, Islamic extremism, Islamic State, Maaloula, Raqqa, Sadad

CNN claims ISIS has taken control of key entry points into the city of Aleppo.David Holt / Flickr / Creative Commons A new survey of Syrian towns by CNN suggests that much of northern Syria has come under the control of radical Islamist groups. CNN claims that Islamist militants, . . . Read More

Iranian Christian jailed for 10 years freed

November 5, 2013 Iran Evin Prison, Hassan Rouhani, Maryam Jalili, Mitra Rahmati, Mostafa Bordbar, Saeed Abedini, Tehran

An Iranian Christian sentenced to 10 years in prison has been released after three months. Mostafa Bordbar, 27, was released Nov. 3 from Tehran’s Evin Prison after charges of participating in an “anti-security organisation” and “gathering with intent to commit crimes against Iranian national security” were overturned. Bordbar was arrested . . . Read More

Disputed area of Abyei votes to join South Sudan

November 4, 2013 Sudan Abyei, African Union, Blue Nile, Darfur, Dinka, Kadugli, Khartoum, South Kordofan, South Sudan

Agok town in the disputed Abyei area.ENOUGH Project / Flickr / Creative Commons Sudan, already facing regional insurgencies and austerity riots, is on the brink of more violence along its border with South Sudan. Human rights groups say that the fate of Abyei, an area half the size of . . . Read More

Vietnamese Catholics jailed despite protests

November 1, 2013 Vietnam Catholics, Hanoi

Two Vietnamese Catholics whose arrest led to protests last month have been handed jail terms. Nguyen Van Hai, 43, and Ngo Van Khoi, 53, were ordered on Oct. 23 to serve six and seven months, respectively, for “disturbing public order”. The charges relate to an incident on May 22, when . . . Read More

Christian woman dies in Eritrean jail, as prisoner of conscience

November 1, 2013 Eritrea Adi Quala, Asylum seekers, UN

Shipping containers, such as these photographed in South Sudan, are used as makeshift prison cells in neighbouring Eritrea. Wehazit Berhane Debesai died during the week of Oct. 14 in an Eritrea prison, though it was not reported if she was being held in a shipping containter.Courtesy Open Doors International . . . Read More

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