General

Marbles in the midst of ashes: Iraqi boy returns home ‘post ISIS’

March 23, 2017 Iraq Erbil, Iraq, Islamic State, Mosul, Nineveh Plains, Refugees

In the midst of ashes Noeh finds his marbles.

While the Iraqi military forces are pushing fighters of self-proclaimed Islamic State out of Mosul, their last stronghold, Foreign Ministers from 68 countries met yesterday in Washington to discuss next steps in defeating the militant group. They also discussed ‘post ISIS’ scenarios such as how to rebuild Mosul, as refugees start . . . Read More

Nepal’s Christians have to trek into mountains to bury their dead

March 23, 2017 Nepal Burial, Hindu nationalism, Kathmandu, Nepal

One way in which the freedom of religion or belief in a country can be measured is whether minorities are permitted to carry out their own rituals during key ‘rites of passage’ such as birth, marriage and death. One of the world’s fastest-growing Christian communities is that in Nepal. Between the censuses . . . Read More

Nigeria: Benue death toll 60 over past 10 days, admits police chief

March 22, 2017 Nigeria Agatu, Benue, Boko Haram, Fulani herdsmen, Nigeria, West Africa

”It all started on Friday when the herdsmen forcefully entered our village to graze on farmland, but were resisted by our youths. They left – only to mobilise and storm our village in their numbers, shooting sporadically and chasing everyone from their houses.” A survivor of a recent Fulani herdsmen’s . . . Read More

Uncertain future for Indian Christians after BJP’s election victories

March 22, 2017 India Anti-conversion law, BJP, Catholics, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Hindu nationalism, India, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand

India’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seems to have consolidated its political position across India after the party won several state elections. These were held in February and March; after results were counted in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and Manipur, it had secured a comfortable majority in India’s most populous . . . Read More

Concerns about tolerant Indonesia: 3 more churches closed

March 22, 2017 Indonesia Ahok, Bandung, Bekasi, Bogor, Churches, GKI Yasmin, Indonesia, Islamic extremism, JAD, Java, Joko Widodo, Santa Clara, Saudi Arabia

Church members of the Indonesian Christian Church (GKI) of Yasmin Bogor and the Batak Christian Church (HKBP) of Filadelfia Bekasi, along with inter-faith human rights activists and students of the Jakarta Art Institute, held the 100th open-air Sunday Service in front of State Palace in September 2015 after their church buildings were sealed in 2010. (Photo: World Watch Monitor)

Indonesian authorities in Bogor, West Java, have banned three churches from holding religious activities. According to UCANews the Methodist Church Indonesia, Huria Batak Protestant Church and a house used by Catholics for catechism classes were ordered to close their doors. Local authorities said they could not guarantee the safety of the . . . Read More

Pressure on Laos Christians continues with arson attack

March 22, 2017 Laos Buddhist nationalism, Luang Namtha, Luang Prabang

An arson attack on a family’s home in Laos is the latest incident reported by the country’s minority Christian community. In January, the home of Yeng*, a church leader, was burned to the ground. He and his family were away when the attack happened at 1am. It wasn’t possible for neighbours to put out the fire before . . . Read More

‘If Bin Laden’s disciples are seen as terrorists, why should we wonder about the ADF in DRC?’

March 20, 2017 Democratic Republic of the Congo ADF, Beni, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Islamic extremism, UN

World Watch Monitor speaks to Nicaise Kibel’Bel Oka, editor of “Les Coulisses” (Behind the Scenes) magazine in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Mr. Oka recently published a book (in French): “The advent of jihad in DR Congo – the unknown Islamist terrorism of the ADF” (Allied Democratic Forces). WWM: Is . . . Read More

Pakistan government to Facebook, Twitter: Remove insults to Islam

March 17, 2017 Pakistan Blasphemy, Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, Nabeel Masih, Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan, Pakistan Muslim League

A Pakistani government minister has asked Facebook and Twitter to remove content considered insulting to Islam or Muhammad. “We will go to any extent even if we have to go to the extent of permanently blocking all such social media websites, if they refuse to cooperate,” Interior Minister Nisar . . . Read More

Mexico drug cartels charging churches ‘taxes’ now ‘very common’

March 17, 2017 Mexico Coahuila, Latin America, Organised crime, USA

Mexico is infamous for its high crime rates. (Photo: Otay Detention Centre in California, next to Mexican border / BBC World Service / CC)

A Mexican church leader has provided fresh insight into the ways in which Christians in Latin America come under pressure in areas controlled by drug cartels. The pastor, who wished to remain anonymous, told World Watch Monitor about the “tax” churches can be charged to be allowed to remain open. . . . Read More

Mexican Christian starts new life away from village where he was beaten, imprisoned and eventually forced to leave

March 17, 2017 Exile, Lauro Pérez Núñez, Mexico City, Oaxaca

After facing beatings, imprisonment and eventually exile from his home village, Lauro Pérez Núñez and his family are starting a brand new life. He and his wife Amalia, converts to evangelical Christianity, were first ordered to leave La Chachalaca, in Oaxaca, southern Mexico, in 2015, together with their four children. . . . Read More

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