General

‘We must distinguish between Islam and terrorism’

November 28, 2016 Global News -- No Particular Country Amman, Boko Haram, Europe, Fulani herdsmen, Hungary, IDPs, Iraq, Islamic extremism, Islamic State, Jacques Hamel, Jan Figel, Middle East, Nigeria, Nineveh Plains, Qaraqosh, Refugees, Religious freedom

Keeping the distinction between Islam and terrorism clear could prevent an ultimate ‘Clash of Civilisations’, an EU diplomat says. “All this hatred and bloodshed is a misuse of religion,” said Ján Figeľ, the European Commission’s first Special Envoy for the promotion of Freedom of Religion or Belief outside the EU. . . . Read More

Failure to bring IS to justice shows UN genocide conventions ‘obsolete’

November 28, 2016 Canada, Europe, Genocide, International Criminal Court, Iraq, Islamic State, Middle East, Qaraqosh, Rwanda, Syria, UK, UN

The UN has broken the pledges it made in the aftermath of World War II to prevent genocide from recurring, said Ewelina Ochab.World Watch Monitor The UN must urgently put in place measures to hold to account jihadists who have committed atrocities against minorities in Iraq and Syria, because . . . Read More

Sheikh blames Saudi Arabia for global rise of Islamist terrorism

November 25, 2016 Saudi Arabia Islamic extremism, Salafism, Wahhabism

Shaykh Umar Al-Qadri in front of the Houses of Parliament on Wednesday, lit up in red for Red Wednesday in support of Christians under pressure for their faith.Twitter / @DrUmarAlQadri A leading Islamic scholar has described attacks on Christians by violent Islamic extremists as “heart-breaking” and condemned Islamic extremism as . . . Read More

Victims of Boko Haram, Fulani violence to receive trauma counselling

November 25, 2016 Nigeria Adamawa, Boko Haram, Chibok girls, Fulani herdsmen, IDPs, Plateau, Refugees, Trauma, Yola

A trauma care centre is being constructed in Nigeria to support Christians who have suffered religiously motivated violence or abuse at the hands of Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen. The centre is being built by Open Doors International, a charity which supports Christians under pressure for their faith. In April, . . . Read More

Survey of schools for Pakistan’s Christian minority: 50% have no playground, 15% no notebooks

November 25, 2016 Pakistan Education, Islamabad, Karachi, Punjab, Sweepers

Anser Javed’s father was a sanitary worker in Karachi; his mother was a sweeper. When his father then died in a work accident, the Pakistani Christian boy was sent to an orphanage as his mother was too poor to care for him. Nevertheless, with support and personal determination, he eventually . . . Read More

Anser’s story

November 25, 2016 Pakistan Education, Gujranwala, Karachi, Sweepers

Death sentence for killers of Christian couple burned alive in Pakistan

November 24, 2016 Pakistan Blasphemy, Bonded labourers, Lahore, Punjab, Shahzad Masih, Shama Bibi

Pakistani Christians mourn the death of the couple burnt alive on 4 November 2014 for setting fire to some pages from the Qur’an. An Anti-Terrorism Court in Lahore, Pakistan yesterday (23 Nov.) sentenced five men to death for the murder of a Christian couple who were burned alive in November . . . Read More

Celebration for thousands of displaced Iraqis ahead of bittersweet homecoming

November 24, 2016 Iraq Erbil, IDPs, Islamic State, Jordan, Mosul, Peshmerga, Refugees, Trauma

The event opened with around 100 young people forming the shape of a cross.Babylon Ministries Thousands of displaced Iraqi Christians celebrated a “Return Festival” as the military advance against Islamic State (IS) in and around the city of Mosul raised their hopes of returning home after two years in . . . Read More

London landmarks go red for religious freedom

November 23, 2016 Bishop Angaelos, London, Religious freedom, UK

Westminster Abbey is one of several London landmarks to have been lit up in red for Red Wednesday.World Watch Monitor Iconic London landmarks have been floodlit in red this evening (23 Nov.) to raise awareness of people who suffer injustice because of their religion. The Palace of Westminster, Westminster . . . Read More

Uzbekistan releases jailed Christian convert after six years

November 23, 2016 Uzbekistan Baptists, Central Asia, Converts, Gulistan, Islamic extremism, Protestants, Soviet Union, Tohar Haydarov, Uzbekistan

Tohar Haydarov.International Council of Churches of Evangelical Christians and Baptists Uzbek authorities have released a Christian convert six years into his 10-year jail sentence. Tohar Haydarov, 33, was released on parole on 8 November after serving six years and 10 months of his prison term. A judge had ruled he . . . Read More

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