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Philippines: Islamist separatists endorse fatwa denouncing extremist violence

July 6, 2017 Philippines Bangsamoro, Islamic extremism, Islamic State, Manila, Marawi, Maute, Mindanao, Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Quran

The Philippines’ largest Muslim rebel group has backed a fatwa against violent extremism issued by a senior Islamic religious leader in the troubled southern region of Mindanao. Sheikh Abehuraira Abdulrahman Udasan, mufti of the influential Bangsamoro House of Opinion in Mindanao, issued the Islamic legal ruling “against the entry and . . . Read More

Trial ‘imminent’ for Tajikistan pastor, on unspecified charges

July 4, 2017 Tajikistan Bakhrom Kholmatov, Baptists, Central Asia, Dushanbe, Khujand, Tajikistan

The trial of Tajik protestant pastor Bakhrom Kholmatov, whose charges have not been revealed by the authorities, “is expected to begin imminently”, according to regional news agency Forum 18. Kholmatov was arrested during a raid on the Good News of Grace Protestant church in the northern city of Khujand on . . . Read More

Sudan defends human rights record, saying it ‘enjoys religious freedom and unprecedented openness’

July 4, 2017 Sudan Khartoum, Religious freedom, Sanctions

In response to concerns raised over its human rights record by the US embassy in Khartoum, Sudan has insisted that the country “enjoys religious freedom” and “unprecedented openness”, reports press agency AFP. The US embassy’s comments came ahead of talks next week about the potential lifting of 20 years of . . . Read More

Sudan’s rights record in spotlight ahead of US talks on easing sanctions

July 3, 2017 Sudan Human rights, Mariam Ibrahim, Nuba Mountains, Sanctions, USA

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.

The US Embassy in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, says it is still “very concerned” about Sudan’s human rights record, including restrictions of religious freedom, ahead of talks next week about the potential lifting of economic sanctions. In a statement on its Facebook page on 30 June, the Embassy said it . . . Read More

Vietnam issues harsh sentence to another Catholic blogger

July 3, 2017 Vietnam Catholics, Communism, Hanoi, Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh, Women

Vietnam has again been criticised over its treatment of a Catholic blogger. Mary Magdalene Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh, 37, was sentenced to 10 years in prison after a one-day trial on 29 June for posting what police described as anti-state reports, including one about civilians dying in police custody, reports . . . Read More

Syriac Christians in front line in battle against IS in Raqqa

June 30, 2017 Syria Islamic State, Raqqa, Syria

While the battle for Raqqa is raging on, Syriac Christians are among those on the frontline. They say they are fighting to liberate all Syrians but also “because Islamic State militants destroyed churches and forced Christians to convert to Islam”, reports Al-Monitor. Abboud Seryan and his colleague Aleksan Chmou are . . . Read More

Thousands of Nigerian refugees forced back home to looming famine

June 30, 2017 Nigeria Adamawa, Boko Haram, Borno, Cameroon, Chad, IDPs, Niger, Refugees, UN, Yobe

Thousands of Nigerians who fled Boko Haram’s insurgency, and sought refuge in neighbouring Cameroon, have been forced back home, the UN said on 29 June, as Reuters reports. According to the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), some 887 Nigerians, most of them children, were repatriated against their will on 27 June alone. The . . . Read More

Jailed Chinese pastor ‘close to death following torture’

June 30, 2017 China Henan, Nanle, Zhang Shaojie

A popular Chinese pastor serving a 12-year jail sentence has been tortured in prison and is reportedly close to death. Pastor Zhang Shaojie of Nanle County Church in Henan Province is “barely alive”, according to his daughter, Esther Zhang Huixin. She told the US-based rights charity China Aid he is . . . Read More

Eritrean Christian women detained in ‘notoriously harsh prison’

June 30, 2017 Eritrea Asmara, Catholics, Eritrean Orthodox Church, Protestants, Sunni

Thirty-three Eritrean women, detained during a series of raids on churches by the military, are being held in a “notoriously harsh prison”, according to Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW). The women are among a growing number of Eritrean Christians arrested since the beginning of May. CSW says at least 170 have . . . Read More

Lawyer ordered to apologise or be barred from work after highlighting Sri Lanka’s intolerance

June 29, 2017 Sri Lanka Colombo, Lakshan Dias, Maithripala Sirisena, Protestants

The Sri Lankan government is facing criticism from human rights groups after ordering a lawyer to apologise and offer a retraction for comments he made in a TV interview, when he highlighted growing religious intolerance in the country. During the interview on 14 June, Lakshan Dias referenced a recent report . . . Read More

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Catching Our Eye

Catching Our Eye

Philippines: Islamist separatists endorse fatwa denouncing extremist violence

Trial ‘imminent’ for Tajikistan pastor, on unspecified charges

Sudan defends human rights record, saying it ‘enjoys religious freedom and unprecedented openness’

Sudan’s rights record in spotlight ahead of US talks on easing sanctions

Vietnam issues harsh sentence to another Catholic blogger

Syriac Christians in front line in battle against IS in Raqqa

Thousands of Nigerian refugees forced back home to looming famine

Jailed Chinese pastor ‘close to death following torture’

Eritrean Christian women detained in ‘notoriously harsh prison’

Lawyer ordered to apologise or be barred from work after highlighting Sri Lanka’s intolerance

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