News

Khartoum re-arrests pastor, holds others ‘pending serious charges’

  May 27, 2016 Sudan Abdulmonem Abdumawla, Bahri, Hassan Taour, Khartoum, Kuwa Shamal, NISS, Nuba Mountains, Sudanese Church of Christ, Telal Rata

Five months since his initial detention, Sudan’s intelligence agency has re-arrested a local pastor. Rev. Kuwa Shamal joins at least two more Christian leaders in prison, awaiting charges that could carry the death penalty. He was re-arrested on May 24 by members of the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) . . . Read More

‘Boko Haram is 100% a Muslim problem,’ says Sheikh

  May 27, 2016 Nigeria Boko Haram, Islamic extremism, Sultan of Sokoto

An influential Muslim cleric in Nigeria says the responsibility for dealing with the threat of Boko Haram lies with the Muslim community. “We [Muslims] have to understand that these people [Boko Haram] are from among us and that the society was not doing enough to bring these elements out,” Sheikh . . . Read More

Freedom of religion among Myanmar’s ‘biggest challenges’

  May 26, 2016 Myanmar Cardinal Bo, Chin, Kachin, Karen, Karenni, Ma Ba Tha, Myanmar, Naga, Religious freedom, Yangon

Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, Myanmar’s first Catholic Cardinal, at the UK Parliament in London, 25 May, 2016. World Watch Monitor   Myanmar’s first ever Catholic Cardinal has said protecting freedom of religion or belief for all is among the “biggest challenges” facing his country as it adapts to life after . . . Read More

Pakistan: Christian woman refuses to leave home after blasphemy accusation

  May 25, 2016 Pakistan Blasphemy, Gujrat, Mandi Bahauddin

A young Pakistani Christian woman accused of blasphemy chose not to flee from her home, so that her Christian neighbours wouldn’t be targeted in her absence. The accusations against Sonia Gill, 23, were eventually withdrawn, but not before she had refused to leave the “Christian Town” settlement near Gujrat. Dozens . . . Read More

Khartoum releases Christian minister, holds another ‘pending charges’

  May 24, 2016 Sudan Hassan Taour, Khartoum, Telal Rata

After imposing nearly half a year in detention, Sudan has now released one Christian minister, while still keeping a second without legal access, pending possible charges of “undermining national security”. On Tuesday, 10 May, the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) released 36-year-old Telahoon (Telal) Nogosi Kassa Rata from Khartoum’s . . . Read More

Kazakhstan church raids a ‘backward step’

  May 24, 2016 Kazakhstan Almaty, Astana, Nursultan Nazarbayev, Pentecostals, Protestants

Recent raids on Christians’ homes and churches in Kazakhstan are a “backward step”, following the positive strides made by the Kazakhstan President in recent years, according to a religious freedom expert in the country. Kevin White, research fellow and country director at the Almaty-based Religious Freedom and Business Foundation, says . . . Read More

‘Can Christians be butchers?’ Tanzania’s Islamist tensions continue

  May 23, 2016 Tanzania Butchers, Islamic extremism, Mwanza, Zanzibar

The recent attack on a mosque in Mwanza, northern Tanzania, has highlighted the area as one under growing pressure from political Islam. More than three years have passed since the murder of a Tanzanian pastor, killed when rioting Muslims protested against Christians working as butchers. Tanzania is believed to have . . . Read More

Second Chibok girl rescued, says Nigerian army

  May 20, 2016 Nigeria Boko Haram, Borno, Chibok girls, Rape

Nigeria’s army says that it has rescued a second Chibok schoolgirl, two days after rescuing Amina Ali Nkeki, 19, the first of the 219 kidnapped girls to be found alive. “We are glad to state that among those rescued is a girl believed to be one of the Chibok Government . . . Read More

Egypt Parliament to discuss easing restrictions on church-building

  May 20, 2016 Egypt Churches, Copts

On May 12, the makeshift church of Esmaelia al-Bahreia, Minya, was burned down by ‘extremists’ as the proper church has since 2009 been awaiting government permit to function.Courtesy of www.wataninet.com   Once again the Egyptian Parliament is considering a proposal on the construction of churches that Christians hope will narrow . . . Read More

NGOs appeal to Congo’s President to stop ‘massacre’

  May 19, 2016 Democratic Republic of the Congo ADF, Beni, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Islamic extremism, Joseph Kabila, North Kivu, Trauma

Local civil society organisations have written to Congolese President Joseph Kabila to denounce the ongoing killings of people in eastern DR Congo, particularly in Beni and Lubero (North Kivu Province). They say the violence has so far claimed 1,116 lives between October 2014 and May 2016. That’s an average of . . . Read More