General

IS recaptures ‘symbol of interfaith coexistence’ Syrian town

October 6, 2017 Syria Islamic extremism, Islamic State, Jacques Mourad, Qaryatain, Syria

Islamic State (IS) jihadists have regained control of a town believed to be home to hundreds of Christian families. The group launched a surprise attack on the town of Al-Qaryatain, which was being guarded by government forces, early on Sunday. The town, in the central province of Homs, is known . . . Read More

Malaysia: Muslim-only laundrette and uproar over Christian book show ‘growing bias’ against minorities

October 6, 2017 Malaysia Islamic extremism, Johor, Malaysia, Najib Razak, Perlis, Selangor

With less than a year to go until Malaysia’s next general election, inter-religious tensions have resurfaced over a “Muslim-only” laundrette and a book written by a Christian parliamentarian. Fifteen Muslim non-governmental organisations (NGOs) filed a complaint with the police on 24 September against Selangor State Assembly speaker Hannah Yeoh for . . . Read More

EU ‘wilfully blind’ to risks of deporting Christian converts back to Afghanistan

October 6, 2017 Afghanistan Afghanistan, Apostasy, Asylum seekers, Converts, Islamic extremism, Kabul, Migrants, Refugees

European countries and the EU are “wilfully blind” to the risks facing Afghans who fail in their asylum claims and are sent home, according to a new report by Amnesty International. “All returnees face a real risk of serious human rights violations,” says Amnesty, but some, such as religious minorities . . . Read More

Coptic girl, 16, rescued 92 days after Islamists kidnapped her

October 5, 2017 Egypt Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Copts, Egypt, Islamic extremism, Kidnapping, Minya, Women

A 16-year-old Coptic Christian girl kidnapped on 28 June to be “converted to Islam, then married off or sold”, was released and returned to her family on 30 September after police found her and arrested her kidnappers in a city just outside Cairo. Marilyn was recovered from a city named . . . Read More

Sudan church leader interrogated after refusing to hand property to state

October 4, 2017 Sudan Khartoum, Omdurman, Sudan, Sudanese Church of Christ

Sudan's government continues with the gradual confiscation of properties belonging to, among others, the SCOC and SEPC in Bahri (Khartoum North) and Omdurman. In June, Sudanese church leaders risked going public with their concerns by sending an open letter to the government.

Sudanese police have detained and questioned eight church leaders in the last six weeks in what observers fear is an ongoing campaign by the government to seize control of the country’s churches. Local sources told World Watch Monitor that officials arrested Mahjoub Abotrin, a senior leader within the Sudan Church . . . Read More

India: Kerala Christians welcome home kidnapped priest Fr. Tom Uzhunnalil

October 2, 2017 India Catholics, India, Kerala, Kochi, Tom Uzhunnalil

Indian priest Father Tom Uzhunnalil, recently released from 18 months’ captivity in Yemen, received a rousing welcome as he arrived home to the southern state of Kerala, a Christian stronghold, yesterday morning (1 October). Over a dozen senior political leaders from a range of parties, and dozens of media personnel, . . . Read More

Latest attack on Copts in Egypt: newborn baby’s throat slit

October 2, 2017 Egypt Asyut, Copts, Egypt, Islamic State, Upper Egypt

Egyptian police have charged a Coptic mother with the murder of her newborn baby, though she says her baby was killed by intruders who entered her home and took her baby from her arms. Azza Gamal, 27, was home alone with her two-year-old twin girls Mariam and Martha, and baby . . . Read More

Turkish president admits US pastor is political hostage

September 29, 2017 Turkey Binali Yildirim, Coup, Donald Trump, Fethullah Gülen, Izmir, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey, USA

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has for the first time confirmed publicly that a US pastor jailed in Turkey for the past 12 months is being held by his government as a political hostage. In a speech at his presidential palace yesterday (28 September), Erdoğan openly called on the United . . . Read More

India: Fr. Tom Uzhunnalil welcomed home with flowers and tears

September 29, 2017 India Alphons Kannanthanam, Bangalore, Delhi, India, Kerala, Kochi, Narendra Modi, Tom Uzhunnalil

Indian priest Father Tom Uzhunnalil, who has been the focus of world media attention after his 12 September release from 18 months’ captivity in Yemen, was given a rousing welcome as he landed in New Delhi yesterday morning (28 September). Dozens of journalists jostled for photos and videos as he . . . Read More

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard confiscates Christian literature as ‘publicity stunt’

September 26, 2017 Iran Bibles, House churches, Iran, Pardis, Shia, Tehran

Photographs released by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard showing large quantities of confiscated Christian materials were a “publicity stunt” that reflected the Iranian regime’s fear of Christianity, says religious freedom advocate Mansour Borji. Borji, from advocacy group Article 18, told World Watch Monitor that the photographs, which were initially released in July, . . . Read More

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