News

Christian areas of Jos, Nigeria bombed, killing one

  December 15, 2011 Nigeria Church of Christ in Nigeria, Jos, Nigeria, Plateau

Joshua Dabo, like other young Christians in this city in central Nigeria, had dreams for his life. He had graduated from a Christian high school, Mt. Olives Secondary School, and at 31 was finally looking forward to attending university. Apart from commitment to his fellowship at Nasara Baptist Church at . . . Read More

Christians in Kashmir, India increasingly fearful, report says

  December 14, 2011 India India, Jammu and Kashmir

A fact-finding mission to India’s Kashmir Valley found that Muslim leaders’ increasingly shrill opposition to conversions has instilled fear among the Christian minority, which has been threatened as Christmas nears. Christians in Srinagar, the summer capital of India’s northern-most state of Jammu and Kashmir, are “really scared,” said Dr. John . . . Read More

Somali Muslims in Kenya attack another Christian

  December 13, 2011 Kenya East Africa, Islamic extremism, Kenya, Somalia

Young Muslim men of Somali descent beat a 23-year-old Somali Christian unconscious last week in Kenya, less than six weeks after a related gang attacked his older brother. Ibrahim, 23, whose surname is withheld for security reasons, was beaten by seven Somalis born in Kenya who stopped him near his . . . Read More

Pakistani mother condemned for ‘blasphemy’ allegedly beaten

  October 20, 2011 Pakistan Asia Bibi, Blasphemy, Islamabad, Minorities, Mumtaz Qadri, Pakistan, Prisons, Salmaan Taseer, Sheikhupura

A female prison officer assigned to provide security for a Christian mother of five who was sentenced to death on “blasphemy” charges beat her earlier this month, sources said. Sources in Pakistan’s Sheikhupura District Jail said Asia Noreen, also known as Asia Bibi, was beaten on Oct. 5 by a . . . Read More

Suspected Islamists kill Pakistan’s Christian cabinet member

  March 2, 2011 Pakistan Al-Qaeda, Asia Bibi, Blasphemy, Islamabad, Islamic extremism, Minorities, Pakistan, Salmaan Taseer, Shahbaz Bhatti, Taliban

Unidentified gunmen in Islamabad today shot dead Federal Minister for Minority Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti, Pakistan’s only cabinet-level Christian and an outspoken critic of the country’s widely condemned “blasphemy” laws. Suspected Islamic extremists from Pakistan’s Taliban and al Qaeda reportedly left a letter at the scene saying those who try to . . . Read More

Jailed Pakistani mother living in constant fear, husband says

  January 19, 2011 Pakistan Asia Bibi, Blasphemy, Islamic extremism, Minorities, Pakistan, Salmaan Taseer, Sheikhupura

A mother of five sentenced to death on “blasphemy” charges has lived in constant fear since the killing of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, her husband told Compass as he came out of Sheikhupura District Jail after meeting with her last week. Ashiq Masih said his wife, Asia Noreen (alternatively spelled . . . Read More

Murder of governor in Pakistan darkens Asia Bibi’s ‘blasphemy’ case

  January 5, 2011 Pakistan Asia Bibi, Blasphemy, Islamabad, Islamic extremism, Minorities, Pakistan, Salmaan Taseer

The case of Asia Noreen, the first Christian woman sentenced to death in Pakistan on blasphemy charges, suffered a major setback when her most vocal supporter, the governor of Punjab Province, was gunned down by one of his police bodyguards yesterday (Jan. 4) in Islamabad. The lives of Noreen and . . . Read More

Pakistani woman appeals death sentence for ‘blasphemy’

  November 13, 2010 Pakistan Asia Bibi, Blasphemy, Lahore, Minorities, Pakistan, Punjab

Attorneys for a Christian mother of five sentenced to death by hanging for allegedly speaking ill of Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, have filed an appeal of the verdict, they said. Bowing to pressure from Muslim extremists in Pakistan, according to the Christian woman’s husband and rights groups, a district . . . Read More