General

Islamic extremists behead another convert

February 8, 2012 Somalia Al-Shabaab, Converts, Islamic extremism, Mogadishu, Somalia

Islamic extremists from the rebel al Shabaab militia in Somalia beheaded a Christian on the outskirts of Mogadishu last month, sources said. The militants fighting the transitional government in Mogadishu murdered Zakaria Hussein Omar, 26, on Jan. 2 in Cee-carfiid village, about 15 kilometers (nine miles) outside of the Somali . . . Read More

Missionary couple killed, peace pact in Puebla

February 3, 2012 Mexico Baptists, Catholics, Coahuila, Mexico, Mexico City, Missionaries, Organised crime, Protestants, Puebla

A married couple who had served for 28 years as Baptist missionaries in Mexico were murdered on Tuesday (Jan. 31) at their home near Monterrey in El Cercado, Santiago, Nuevo Leon. John Casias, 76, and Wanda Casias, 67, were strangled with electrical cords when intruders broke into their house and . . . Read More

India Briefs: Recent Incidents of Persecution

February 1, 2012 India Andhra Pradesh, Bajrang Dal, Bangalore, Hindu nationalism, India, Karnataka, Odisha, RSS

A Hindu extremist in Adigar, Phulbani, Kandhamal district on Jan. 25 attacked a pastor’s hut and harassed his family, according to the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC). Jaleshwar Pradhan threw stones at the home of Pastor Patiba Mohan Kota while he was away, verbally abused his wife and pushed . . . Read More

Christian charged with ‘blasphemy’ denied bail

January 30, 2012 Pakistan Blasphemy, Pakistan

A judge has denied bail to a young Christian man charged with desecrating the Quran under Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy laws despite the lack of evidence against him, sources said. Police in Shahdara, near Lahore, had arrested 23-year-old Khuram Masih on Dec. 5 and charged him with desecrating the Quran after . . . Read More

Former Muslim extremist in Uganda flees wrath of ex-colleagues

January 27, 2012 Uganda Acid attacks, Islamic extremism, Kampala, Kenya, Uganda

A former member of a Muslim extremist group in Uganda who converted to Christianity is in hiding in Kenya, his movements severely restricted following threats to kill him. Hassan Sharif Lubenga, 54, was a sheikh and member of the Buk Haram, a violent group of Islamists whose name suggests the . . . Read More

Two Catholic priests kidnapped in Sudan

January 25, 2012 Sudan Darfur, Khartoum, Kosti, Omar al-Bashir, Sharia, South Sudan, Sudan

Sudanese militia loyal to Sudan’s Islamic government have kidnapped two Catholic priests in Rabak, Christian sources said. A large truck smashed through the gates of the St. Josephine Bakhita’s Catholic Church compound in Rabak, 260 kilometers (162 miles) south of Khartoum, on Jan. 15 at 10 p.m., and the assailants broke . . . Read More

Seven Christians killed in Bauchi, Nigeria

January 24, 2012 Nigeria Bauchi, Boko Haram, Nigeria

Early morning attacks in Tafawa Balewa, Bauchi state on Sunday (Jan. 22) left at least seven Christians dead and a church building destroyed. The attack on the Evangelical Church Winning All Church 2, residents of Tafawa Balewa said, was carried out by area Islamic extremists alongside members of the Boko . . . Read More

Convert from Islam in Uganda survives societal hostilities

January 23, 2012 Uganda Converts, Islamic extremism, Mbale, Uganda

Hassan Muwanguzi, a convert from Islam in Uganda who lost his family and job because of his Christian faith, is thankful after fighting off the latest attack – an attempt by Muslims to imprison him and shut down the school he started. Following his conversion in his early 20s in . . . Read More

Police beat, arrest evangelist in Sudan

January 20, 2012 Sudan Khartoum, Sharia, South Sudan, Sudan, Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church

Police this week beat and arrested a church leader in Khartoum, sources told World Watch Monitor. James Kat of the Evangelical Church of Sudan was arrested on Tuesday morning (Jan. 17), with officers beating him as they took him to a North Division police station, the sources said. He was . . . Read More

Tensions rise in Kashmir after ‘guilty verdict,’ fatwa

January 20, 2012 India Baptism, Converts, India, Jammu and Kashmir, Sharia

Christian workers are fleeing India’s Kashmir Valley after a sharia (Islamic law) court issued a “guilty verdict” against three Christian leaders, issued a fatwa against Christian schools and allegedly launched a door-to-door campaign to bring converts back to Islam. The court, which has no legal authority, found the Rev. Chander . . . Read More

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