General

Kidnap in Niger of US missionary a ‘terrible tragedy’

October 20, 2016 Niger Abalak, Ansar Dine, Jeff Woodke, MUJAO, Niamey, Tuareg

Jeff Woodke is known in Abalak for his devotion to Niger and its nomadic populations.Jeff Woodke / Facebook The kidnap of a pioneering American missionary in Niger is a “terrible tragedy” for the communities he served for 24 years, according to the local mayor. It has also raised security . . . Read More

As retake of Mosul looms, Muslim extremism has already emptied Iraq of Christians

October 19, 2016 Iraq Dohuk, Islamic extremism, Islamic State, Mosul

A young girl lights a candle in an artificial cave at Mar Elia church, Ankawa (Irbil), where many displaced Christians have taken refuge.World Watch Monitor On Monday (17 October) Iraq’s Army finally announced the beginning of its offensive to retake the northern city of Mosul from the “Islamic State” . . . Read More

‘Accelerated targeting’ of ‘disproportionately suffering’ Middle East Christians

October 18, 2016 Iraq Iraq, Middle East, Syria

The Middle East, the historic cradle of Christianity, is today witnessing an accelerated “targeting” of its remaining Christians, according to a report aiming to rally world attention to threats facing ancient communities in Syria and Iraq. “Civil war in Syria and Iraq has unleashed a tidal wave of violent persecution. . . . Read More

Iran: 2 Christians released on bail but 3 detained

October 18, 2016 Iran Amin Afshar Naderi, Amir Saman Dashti, Hadi Asgari, Maryam Naghash Zargaran, Mohammad Dehnavi, Ramil Bet-Tamraz, Victor Bet-Tamraz

UPDATE (18 Oct.): Two of the five Iranian Christians arrested during a trip to the Alborz Mountains north-east of Tehran in August have been released on bail, though three are still being detained. Ramil Bet-Tamraz and Mohammad Dehnavi were released after posting bail of around US$33,000 each, according to Middle East . . . Read More

Life for some Christians in German refugee shelters ‘still unbearable’

October 17, 2016 Afghanistan, Angela Merkel, Chechnya, Eritrea, Europe, Germany, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Migrants, Refugees, Syria

Mahan, 2, an Iranian Christian refugee who along with his parents is seeking asylum in Germany, peeks from behind a glass partition in the dining room at the Spreehotel refugee centre in January 2015 in Bautzen, Germany. About 200 refugees, many from Syria and Tunisia, but also from Chechnya, the . . . Read More

Cairo bishop urges Church to be ready for martyrdom

October 14, 2016 Egypt Berbers, Cairo, Copts, North Africa, Refugees, Tunisia

Archbishop Mouneer Anis. Michael Adel, Bridges Cultural Center A senior Anglican archbishop from the Global South called for the Church to be “ready to sacrifice their lives for the sake of Christ” in the face of persecution, restrictions, terrorism, and violence carried out in the name of religion. Archbishop . . . Read More

Monk living near Mosul: ‘Persecution is a pride for us’

October 13, 2016 Iraq Islamic State, Mosul, Qaraqosh, Tel Skuf

St. Matthew’s monastery falls halfway between Mosul and Iraq’s Kurdistan.World Watch Monitor As anti-Islamic State (IS) forces prepare for a major push to dislodge the jihadists from Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city, thoughts are turning to what could happen to those still living in the region. Displacement camps are . . . Read More

UPDATE: At least 23 killed in fresh attack in north of C. African Republic

October 13, 2016 Central African Republic Anti-balaka, Bangui, Catherine Samba-Panza, Central African Republic, Kaga Bandoro, PK5, Seleka

UPDATE (13 Oct.): Fighters from Central African Republic’s largely Muslim Séléka militia attacked refugees in Kaga Bandoro, in the country’s remote north on Wednesday (12 Oct.), reports Reuters. Thirteen people were stabbed or hacked to death, before U.N. peacekeepers repelled the attackers, killing at least 10 of them, officials said. Several . . . Read More

Asia Bibi’s appeal delayed; 150 Islamic leaders call for her to hang, whatever the outcome

October 13, 2016 Pakistan Asia Bibi, Blasphemy, Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, Mumtaz Qadri, Salmaan Taseer, Sunni Tehreek

After more than seven years in prison, the first Pakistani Christian woman to be sentenced to death for blasphemy has had her Supreme Court appeal delayed, amidst renewed Islamist calls for her to die. Aasiya Noreen, commonly known as Asia Bibi, in prison since the summer of 2009, was arrested . . . Read More

Slashed by machetes and left for dead in the DRC

October 12, 2016 Democratic Republic of the Congo ADF, Beni, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Islamic extremism, North Kivu

In the volatile province of North Kivu in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a father of three has described how Islamist militants carrying guns and machetes almost killed him. Jean*, who’s recovering in hospital from his injuries, was attacked while walking home from work, when he ran into rebels. . . . Read More

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