News

Lao police arrest pastor for proselytism

  June 11, 2012 Laos Converts, Laos, Luang Namtha, Luang Prabang, Proselytism, Savannakhet

A 53-year-old Lao pastor remains behind bars today after Lao police arrested him on Wednesday (June 6) for encouraging others to convert to Christianity, a spokesman from the group Human Rights Watch for Lao Religious Freedom (HRWLRF) confirmed to World Watch Monitor this morning. The arrest of Asa, identified by . . . Read More

Suicide bombing hits another church in Jos, Nigeria

  June 10, 2012 Nigeria ECWA, Jos, Nigeria, Pentecostals, Plateau

An Islamic extremist ran a car full of explosives at a Pentecostal church in this Plateau state city this morning, killing at least two Christians and injuring more than 40 others, military and police officials said. In Borno state also today, gunmen reportedly killed at least two Christians during church . . . Read More

Iranian authorities shut church in Tehran

  June 8, 2012 Iran Ahwaz, Armenians, Assyrians, Behnam Irani, Churches, Farshid Fathi, Iran, Isfahan, Kermanshah, Shiraz, Tehran

Authorities in Iran this week ordered the closure of a church in the capital, Tehran, amid a government campaign to crack down on the few recognized churches offering Farsi-speaking services, according to a human rights group. The order came from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard’s Intelligence branch on Tuesday (June 5). The . . . Read More

Injuries severe after Bauchi, Nigeria suicide bomb attack

  June 7, 2012 Nigeria Bauchi, Nigeria

Amid allegations that soldiers were responsible for at least eight of 21 deaths after the suicide bombing of two churches here on Sunday (June 3), sources told World Watch Monitor that most of those injured from the blast and alleged military shooting were in critical condition. A statement reportedly from . . . Read More

Christians in Pakistan allege seizure of graveyard

  June 6, 2012 Pakistan Pakistan, Pakistan Muslim League, Punjab

Christians in a village in Punjab Province are fighting to save their decades-old graveyard from being converted into farmland by a retired army colonel, sources said. Because of the military man’s influence, police have refused to address the complaint by Christians of Bhondary Wala village in Narang Mandi in spite . . . Read More

Uptick in church closures, attacks in Indonesia

  June 5, 2012 Indonesia Aceh, Banten, Bekasi, Churches, Indonesia, Jakarta, Java, Pentecostals, Southeast Asia, Sumatra, Tangerang

The number of violations of Christians’ religious rights in Indonesia reached 40 in the first five months of the year, nearly two-thirds the amount of anti-Christian actions in all of last year, according to the Jakarta Christian Communication Forum. The Christian minority in Indonesia faced 64 cases of violations of . . . Read More

Blast wreaks bloodshed on two churches in Bauchi, Nigeria

  June 2, 2012 Nigeria Abuja, Bauchi, Boko Haram, Churches, Islamic extremism, Nigeria, Sharia

A suicide bomber crashed the gate of a church compound in this northern Nigerian city this morning, killing himself and at least 10 others and leaving more than 30 injured, according to eyewitnesses and officials. The Islamic extremist Boko Haram group was suspected of detonating the bomb at the gate . . . Read More

Victims of explosion in Israel lament plea agreement

  May 31, 2012 Israel Ariel, Israel, Jerusalem, Messianic Jews, Orthodox Jews, Palestinian Territories, USA, West Bank

A Messianic Jewish congregation leader whose son was almost killed by a bomb planted by an ultra-right wing Jew said he feels like the Israeli criminal justice system has abandoned him. On Monday (May 28), the Jerusalem District Court approved a plea agreement for the man accused of bombing pastor . . . Read More

India Briefs: Recent Incidents of Persecution

  May 31, 2012 India Andhra Pradesh, Bangalore, BJP, Converts, Hindu nationalism, India, Karnataka, RSS

On April 30 in Banglawmedu, state police cancelled a Bible study after Hindu extremists from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) disrupted the meeting, roughed up those present and ordered them to cease alleged forceful conversion. The Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) reported that pastor V. Neethirajan of The Church . . . Read More

Court rulings mirror fears, hopes in Egyptian vote

  May 30, 2012 Egypt Copts, Egypt, Elections, Minya, Mohamed Morsi, Muslim Brotherhood, Sharia

In the lead-up to the country’s first democratic presidential election, a court ruling confirmed fears that justice will continue to elude the Christian minority in post-revolutionary Egypt, while another verdict offered some hope. On May 21 a judge sentenced 12 Coptic Christians to life in prison for their alleged part . . . Read More