General

Warning against euphoria over reforms, as military targets minorities

March 11, 2013 Myanmar Aung San Suu Kyi, Kachin, Mandalay, Minorities, Myanmar, Rakhine, Yangon

Christians around the world who’ve been praying for Myanmar have been warned against ‘euphoria’ over reform, while Christian and Muslim minorities remain under attack by the military. Sunday March 10 marked the 16th anniversary of the Global Day of Prayer for Burma, which celebrated some progress towards reform, but warned . . . Read More

Pakistan condemns attacks on Lahore Christians

March 11, 2013 Pakistan Badami Bagh, Blasphemy, Islamic extremism, Joseph Colony, Karachi, Lahore, Pakistan, Punjab, Sweepers

Pakistan’s national assembly joined a chorus of condemnation Monday following Saturday’s rioting in Lahore by Muslims that prompted Christians to flee before scores of their houses were burned. “We fled for our lives, do not ask us where we are,” a Christian teacher sobbed to World Watch Monitor before her . . . Read More

Widest church grouping raises funds for Boko Haram’s almost 800 victims during 2012

March 8, 2013 Nigeria Abuja, Bauchi, Boko Haram, Borno, Christian Association of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, Jos, Kaduna, Kano, Maiduguri, Nigeria, Pentecostals, Sharia, West Africa, Yobe

The most dangerous country for a Christian to live during 2012 was, arguably, Nigeria. That’s what research for the 2013 edition of the World Watch List shows up: it’s produced by the global Christian organisation Open Doors, whose researchers monitor the persecution of Christians worldwide. “Between November 2011 and October . . . Read More

Two steps back?

March 2, 2013 Vietnam Catholics, Central Highlands, Communism, Dien Bien, Hanoi, Hmong, Hoa Binh, Minorities, Nguyen Van Dai, Protestants, Religion Law, Religious freedom, Vietnam

On Jan. 1, Vietnam updated its rules for enforcing its highest law regarding religion. Known as the Decree on Religion 92/2012 ND-CP, or simply ND-92, the new decree is meant to clarify rules written in 2005. On close inspection, ND-92 does appear to clarify one thing: Vietnam’s intent to control . . . Read More

Burned church is latest in string of Tanzanian attacks

February 25, 2013 Tanzania Butchers, Dar es Salaam, East Africa, Seventh-day Adventists, Zanzibar

Arsonists burned a Tanzania church Feb. 19 in the semi-autonomous region of Zanzibar, two days after gunmen killed a Catholic priest there. The Evangelical Church of Siloam was set afire early Feb. 19 by an as-yet-unidentified group of people, police spokesman Mohamed Mhina said. No one was hurt and the . . . Read More

Pakistani judge throws out blasphemy charge

February 20, 2013 Pakistan Blasphemy, Minorities, Pakistan, Punjab, Rimsha Masih

A Pakistan court last month surprised all involved when it dismissed charges of blasphemy against a Christian man accused of insulting Islam. The 28 January ruling by a trial court in Punjab province surprised defendant Barkat Masih, his attorney and religious-rights advocates. It came two months after a different judge . . . Read More

No prison, but a bigger fine, for Algerian Christian

February 18, 2013 Algeria

A court in Algeria has thrown out a prison sentence, but has increased a fine, on a man convicted of trying to convert a Muslim to Christianity. Ibouène Mohamed was sentenced in July 2012 to one year in prison and a fine of 50,000 Algerian dinars after he was accused . . . Read More

For a church leader in Mali, relief and anxiety

February 12, 2013 Mali Burkina Faso, Islamic extremism, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Timbuktu, Tuareg

The liberation of the main cities of Northern Mali has created a great sense of relief and joy in the country, but the task of reconstruction and reconciliation is huge. A month after the French offensive, the Malian and African troops have regained control of the main cities in the . . . Read More

2 attacks prompt Christians to stop meeting at Indian church

January 31, 2013 India Hindu nationalism, India, Maharashtra, Mumbai

An uneasy calm prevails 20 miles east of India’s largest city, in a rural village where Hindus recently have twice attacked Christians, who in turn have agreed to stop holding meetings in a prayer hall. The first attack came Dec. 30, when Adivasi tribal Christians living in the village of . . . Read More

Wife worries she won’t hear husband’s voice for 8 years

January 29, 2013 Iran Evin Prison, House churches, Iran, Saeed Abedini, Tehran, USA

The wife of an American citizen sentenced to an Iranian prison for eight years expects she won’t hear from her husband until 2021, unless U.S. pressure is able to pry him free. Naghmeh Shariat Panahi told World Watch Monitor that the last time she heard Saeed Abedini’s voice was Jan. . . . Read More

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