General

In Eritrea, ‘persecution greater than ever and getting worse’

May 30, 2013 Eritrea Asmara, Pentecostals

An Eritrean home.World Watch Monitor Religious persecution in Eritrea is at its “highest level ever and getting worse”, an Eritrean Christian leader, who cannot be named for security reasons, has told the Christian charity Open Doors International. Thirty-seven Christian students from the College of Arts and Social Sciences in . . . Read More

Unemployed and Christian in Egypt

May 28, 2013 Egypt Egypt, Hosni Mubarak, Islamic extremism, Muslim Brotherhood

It’s harder than ever to find a job in Egypt, where the unemployment rate has risen to a record 13 per cent. For young Egyptians, the jobless rate is much higher. For out-of-work Christians, finding a job can be especially tough. They are 10 to 12 per cent of a . . . Read More

Sabra now says he doesn’t know bishops’ whereabouts

May 24, 2013 Syria Bashar al-Assad, Boulos Yazigi, George Sabra, Greek Orthodox, Jordan, Lebanon, Middle East, Refugees, Syria, Turkey, Yohanna Ibrahim

The leader of the Syrian opposition coalition is backing away from previous reports that he is certain of the location and condition of two Syrian Orthodox bishops kidnapped April 22. George Sabra, president of the Syrian National Coalition, told World Watch Monitor on May 21 he is not informed of . . . Read More

Egypt is at a crossroads, says Coptic Bishop

May 23, 2013 Egypt Copts, Hosni Mubarak, Islamic extremism, Upper Egypt

Bishop Thomas of the El-Qussia and Mair Diocese in Upper Egypt.Stefanus Alliance International/Wegge A “big force” is pushing Egypt towards greater conservatism and religious extremism, according to Bishop Thomas of the El-Qussia and Mair Diocese in Upper Egypt. However, he said he still believes Egypt can enjoy transformation of . . . Read More

OIC letter from C. African Republic President sought support for Islamic republic

May 22, 2013 Central African Republic African Union, Alindao, Bambari, Bangassou, Bangui, Bossangoa, Catholics, Kaga Bandoro, Michel Djotodia, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Seleka

Michel Djotodia, CAR President.Crispin for World Watch Monitor The Catholic Church in the Central African Republic (CAR) has written a letter to the former rebel leader and new President, Michel Djotodia, raising concerns about his past and asking him to speak out against the suffering inflicted on civilians by . . . Read More

Bangladesh — Islamist protest leaders arrested in wake of Dhaka siege

May 21, 2013 Bangladesh Awami League, Dhaka, Hefazat-e-Islam, Jamaat-e-Islami, Sheikh Hasina

Cattle market in Dhaka, pictured in 2008.W Jackson for World Watch Monitor Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh on May 17 alleged that the opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), was responsible for a conspiracy to topple the government from power, using recent violent protests which have rocked . . . Read More

Iranian Christians face ‘systematic persecution and prosecution’

May 20, 2013 Iran Ahmed Shaheed, Armenians, Assyrians, Behnam Irani, Converts, Farshid Fathi, Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Youcef Nadarkhani

Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani greets his wife Fatemah after his release from prison in September 2012.Nadarkhani family for World Watch Monitor Iran’s treatment of its Christian minority has come under fresh scrutiny in recent months with some damning verdicts on the country’s human rights record. Reports from the UK’s Foreign . . . Read More

Boko Haram ‘on verge of seizing control of Borno State’ after pastor’s death

May 17, 2013 Nigeria Boko Haram, Borno, Goodluck Jonathan, Pentecostals

Rev. Faye Pama Musa, CAN Secretary for Borno, was killed in his home by suspected Boko Haram members.World Watch Monitor Borno State in Northern Nigeria has been teetering on the brink of a takeover by Islamist militant group Boko Haram, warned its Governor, Kassim Shettima, a few days before . . . Read More

VHP leads mob to destroy Indian church

May 14, 2013 India Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Churches, Hindu nationalism, Hyderabad, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, Raipur, Vishva Hindu Parishad

Members of Divya Jyoti Church were too late to stop a mob from knocking down their building.World Watch Monitor On March 12 in a southeast India village, the local newspaper published allegations that Divya Jyoti Church had been built on government land. The next day, a crowd equipped with . . . Read More

Nigeria – Taraba State violence over funeral procession leaves at least 39 dead

May 13, 2013 Nigeria Burial, Jukun, Nigeria, Taraba

Security forces have been enforcing a 24-hour curfew in Wukari, Taraba State in Central Nigeria to prevent the escalation of violence between Christians and Muslims on Friday 3 May that left at least 39 people dead and at least 30 injured. The bloody clash between the majority Christian Jukun community . . . Read More

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