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Concerns about tolerant Indonesia: 3 more churches closed

March 22, 2017 Indonesia Ahok, Bandung, Bekasi, Bogor, Churches, GKI Yasmin, Indonesia, Islamic extremism, JAD, Java, Joko Widodo, Santa Clara, Saudi Arabia

Church members of the Indonesian Christian Church (GKI) of Yasmin Bogor and the Batak Christian Church (HKBP) of Filadelfia Bekasi, along with inter-faith human rights activists and students of the Jakarta Art Institute, held the 100th open-air Sunday Service in front of State Palace in September 2015 after their church buildings were sealed in 2010. (Photo: World Watch Monitor)

Indonesian authorities in Bogor, West Java, have banned three churches from holding religious activities. According to UCANews the Methodist Church Indonesia, Huria Batak Protestant Church and a house used by Catholics for catechism classes were ordered to close their doors. Local authorities said they could not guarantee the safety of the . . . Read More

Pressure on Laos Christians continues with arson attack

March 22, 2017 Laos Buddhist nationalism, Luang Namtha, Luang Prabang

An arson attack on a family’s home in Laos is the latest incident reported by the country’s minority Christian community. In January, the home of Yeng*, a church leader, was burned to the ground. He and his family were away when the attack happened at 1am. It wasn’t possible for neighbours to put out the fire before . . . Read More

‘If Bin Laden’s disciples are seen as terrorists, why should we wonder about the ADF in DRC?’

March 20, 2017 Democratic Republic of the Congo ADF, Beni, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Islamic extremism, UN

World Watch Monitor speaks to Nicaise Kibel’Bel Oka, editor of “Les Coulisses” (Behind the Scenes) magazine in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Mr. Oka recently published a book (in French): “The advent of jihad in DR Congo – the unknown Islamist terrorism of the ADF” (Allied Democratic Forces). WWM: Is . . . Read More

Pakistan government to Facebook, Twitter: Remove insults to Islam

March 17, 2017 Pakistan Blasphemy, Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, Nabeel Masih, Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan, Pakistan Muslim League

A Pakistani government minister has asked Facebook and Twitter to remove content considered insulting to Islam or Muhammad. “We will go to any extent even if we have to go to the extent of permanently blocking all such social media websites, if they refuse to cooperate,” Interior Minister Nisar . . . Read More

Mexico drug cartels charging churches ‘taxes’ now ‘very common’

March 17, 2017 Mexico Coahuila, Latin America, Organised crime, USA

Mexico is infamous for its high crime rates. (Photo: Otay Detention Centre in California, next to Mexican border / BBC World Service / CC)

A Mexican church leader has provided fresh insight into the ways in which Christians in Latin America come under pressure in areas controlled by drug cartels. The pastor, who wished to remain anonymous, told World Watch Monitor about the “tax” churches can be charged to be allowed to remain open. . . . Read More

Mexican Christian starts new life away from village where he was beaten, imprisoned and eventually forced to leave

March 17, 2017 Exile, Lauro Pérez Núñez, Mexico City, Oaxaca

After facing beatings, imprisonment and eventually exile from his home village, Lauro Pérez Núñez and his family are starting a brand new life. He and his wife Amalia, converts to evangelical Christianity, were first ordered to leave La Chachalaca, in Oaxaca, southern Mexico, in 2015, together with their four children. . . . Read More

India: Chhattisgarh church remains shut, 6 weeks after Hindu mob forced closure

March 17, 2017 India BJP, Chhattisgarh, Hindu nationalism, Kerala, Narendra Modi

An Indian church remains shut, six weeks after a mob of angry Hindus halted a Sunday service and forced the pastor to close the church. He says the local government has sided with the mob. The church is in Dalli Rajhara, a mining city in the central state of Chhattisgarh, . . . Read More

Accounts surface of persecution of Christians in Dunkirk migrants’ camp

March 15, 2017 Afghanistan, Calais, Converts, Dunkirk, France, Grande-Synthe, Iran, Iraq, La Linière, Migrants, Refugees, Shiraz, Syria, Vietnam

Outside the windswept port of Dunkirk, in northern France, sits a migrants’ camp called La Linière. Home to around 1,400 people, it lies 25 miles from Calais and the now-demolished camp that became known as the “Jungle”. La Linière opened a year ago, with the collaboration of Médicins sans Frontières . . . Read More

Inside a migrant camp in northern France

March 15, 2017 Calais, France, Grande-Synthe, Iran, Iraq, Kurds, La Linière, Migrants, Refugees

Armed police amass outside as the day draws to a close at La Linière migrant camp in Grande-Synthe, northern France, which has just celebrated its one-year anniversary. There was an incident last night and there’s every chance another could follow tonight. This camp may boast a new, prettier face, but . . . Read More

Iran’s hidden Christians are becoming visible in the migrant camps of Europe

March 15, 2017 Calais, Converts, Dunkirk, Grande-Synthe, Iran, La Linière, Migrants, Refugees, Shiraz, Zoroastrians

A pastor in northern France has described her church’s ministry to Middle Eastern migrants in a nearby camp as “the mission field coming to you”. The church’s leader, Pastor Lydie Granger, said that among the estimated 1,400 migrants living in the camp outside Dunkirk were around 40 Iranians who had . . . Read More

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