News

India: 2 years after Supreme Court order, no investigation into ‘shocking’ number of Kandhamal acquittals

  September 11, 2018 India Catholics, Delhi, Hindu nationalism, India, Kandhamal, Odisha, Proselytism

The man spearheading the campaign for “justice” for the victims of the worst case of anti-Christian violence in India’s history has denounced the failure of the Odisha state government to follow up on a Supreme Court order to investigate why there have been so few criminal convictions despite nearly 6,500 . . . Read More

Turkey replaces prosecutor who indicted US pastor Brunson

  September 10, 2018 Turkey Andrew Brunson, Coup, Fethullah Gülen, Izmir, PKK, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey

At the outset last week of Turkey’s new judicial year, the Izmir prosecutor who prepared the controversial indictment accusing US pastor Andrew Brunson of terrorism and espionage was reassigned to another bureau. Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul dismissed the transfer simply as a “routine procedure” with no particular significance, referring to . . . Read More

Nigeria: Pastor and three sons burned alive among at least 20 killed in latest Plateau massacre

  September 7, 2018 Nigeria Christian Association of Nigeria, Church of Christ in Nigeria, Fulani herdsmen, Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria, Plateau

A spate of attacks, in which at least 20 were killed in Nigeria’s central Plateau State over the last week of August, has shattered peace efforts by religious and political leaders in its capital, Jos. Three months ago, heavily armed Fulani militants stormed 15 villages across the same Barkin Ladi . . . Read More

Life in 70-years-old North Korea ‘is like living in Orwell’s 1984’, says escapee

  September 7, 2018 North Korea Communism, Human rights, Kim Il-Sung, Kim Jong-Un, North Korea

As North Korea prepares to celebrate its 70th anniversary this weekend with a military parade and “Mass Games”, its population lives in perpetual war (the 1953 Korean War has never officially ended), under government surveillance and with a propaganda machine controlled by the national leader’s personality cult. The reality is . . . Read More

EU should ‘put people of the world’ first in quest for religious freedom – report

  September 6, 2018 Global News -- No Particular Country Anti-conversion law, Asia Bibi, Blasphemy, Europe, India, Jan Figel, Minorities, Pakistan, Religious freedom

Members of the European Parliament (EP) have called on the EU to “put the people of the world before our financial and political interests”, in a report about religious freedom. The Annual Report on Freedom of Religion or Belief 2017, presented by the EP Intergroup on Freedom of Religion or . . . Read More

Nicaragua: Christians attacked, detained and killed as ‘enemies of the regime’

  September 6, 2018 Catholics, Corruption, Daniel Ortega, Latin America, Managua, Nicaragua, UN

Nicaragua’s president ordered a UN commission to leave the country on 1 September after it criticised the government for alleged human rights abuses committed during its clampdown on anti-government protestors. In its report, the UN Commission on Human Rights “called on the government to stop the persecution of protestors and . . . Read More

Nigerians displaced by Boko Haram told to return to dangerous areas to vote

  September 5, 2018 Nigeria Adamawa, Boko Haram, Borno, Fulani herdsmen, IDPs, Nigeria, Yobe

In northeast Nigeria, thousands of people who have fled Boko Haram’s attacks have been told to return back home, despite security concerns. Boko Haram’s nine-year insurgency has led to an acute crisis, described by the United Nations as one of the most severe in the world today, with more than 20,000 people killed, . . . Read More

Parents seek global petitions to Nigerian President to ‘#BringBackOurLeah’

  September 3, 2018 Nigeria Boko Haram, Children, Dapchi, Leah Sharibu, Nigeria, Women, Yobe

The parents of the Nigerian Christian girl held by Boko Haram say they have renewed hope that she might safely return home after a short audio recording her kidnappers released last week. In the 35-second recording, Leah Sharibu is heard asking for help for her family and herself, calling on . . . Read More

Egypt: Mob attacks prevent Coptic church’s recognition for ‘security’ reasons

  August 31, 2018 Egypt Churches, Copts, Egypt, Islamic extremism, Minya

A Coptic community in Egypt’s Minya governorate, whose church was closed in July following protests by local Muslims, continues to be a target of mob attacks and hostility. The only Coptic church in Ezbet Sultan Pasha village, 250km south of Cairo, where about 20 per cent of the population is . . . Read More

As Sudan hosts CAR peace talks, Russia offers to get more involved

  August 31, 2018 Central African Republic Anti-balaka, Bangassou, Bangui, Central African Republic, Dieudonné Nzapalainga, Faustin-Archange Touadéra, Kaga Bandoro, Nicolas Guérékoyamé-Gbangou, Oumar Kobine Layama, Russia, Seleka, UPC

The three top faith leaders of the Central African Republic (CAR), who have won international recognition for efforts to end its conflict, have pledged to work with Russians to foster reconciliation in CAR. On 23 August, they attended a one-day meeting organised by Valery Zakharov, a Russian diplomat and security . . . Read More