News

Iraqi Christian: ‘IS made me spit on a Cross and convert to Islam’

  January 18, 2017 Iraq Islamic extremism, Islamic State, Karamles, Mosul, Nineveh Plains, Qaraqosh

One of the major themes explored in Martin Scorsese’s film, Silence, is the question of how to respond when faced with a choice between denying one’s faith or facing death. Christians in 17th century Japan were given this choice, and it’s the same for Christians in many parts of the . . . Read More

Fourth Coptic Christian murdered in 10 days

  January 18, 2017 Egypt Asyut, Copts, Upper Egypt

Dr. Bassam Safwat Atta, 35, was found dead in his flat on 13 Jan.World Watch Monitor   A Coptic surgeon was found murdered in his flat on Friday (13 Jan) in Upper Egypt, making him the fourth Coptic Christian murder victim in 10 days. Married father-of-two Bassam Safwat Atta, 35, . . . Read More

Expelled Mexican Christians forced to live in wine cellar

  January 17, 2017 Mexico Coahuila, Colotlán, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Latin America, Organised crime, Tuxpan de Bolaños

Following their eviction on 26 January 2016, the seven families have been surviving in various temporary shelters provided for them by the state government.World Watch Monitor   A year after seven Christian families were forced from their homes in a village in the western Mexican state of Jalisco, the 30 . . . Read More

Iranian and Afghan Christian converts face deportation from Germany after ‘clueless’ questioning

  January 16, 2017 Afghanistan, Apostasy, Asylum seekers, Baptism, Berlin, Converts, Denmark, Germany, Iran, Islamic extremism, Pakistan, Protestants, Refugees, UK

An Iranian convert to Christianity attends a course in Berlin preparing him for baptism. Germany’s Ministry for Immigration and Refugees (BAMF) is rejecting many applications for asylum from Iranian and Afghan converts from Islam to Christianity, following “kangaroo court”-style hearings, according to a Berlin pastor. Rev. Gottfried Martens, who has . . . Read More

Sri Lankan church lives on, despite destroyed building and death threats from Buddhist monk

  January 16, 2017 Sri Lanka Buddhist nationalism, Converts

The leader of a Sri Lankan church destroyed by a mob earlier this month has vowed that the church will continue to meet. Kamal Wasantha, leader of the Kithu Sevana prayer centre, told Asia News, “No attack can stop us. We shall continue to meet and pray under a tree”. . . . Read More

UN report highlights Islamists’ role in DRC violence

  January 13, 2017 Democratic Republic of the Congo ADF, Beni, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eringeti, Islamic extremism, North Kivu, Sharia, UN

Over the Christmas weekend, more than 40 people were killed in the city of Beni and neighbouring communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Now a new report by the UN Panel of Experts on the DRC sheds new light on the presence of Islamist militants, which has caused . . . Read More

A year in prison for Algerian Christian for Facebook post

  January 12, 2017 Algeria Algeria, Berbers, Blasphemy, Setif, Slimane Bouhafs

An Algerian Christian has been sentenced to a year in prison for a post he made on Facebook. On 8 January, the court in Bouira (100 km east of Algiers) found Samir Chamek, 34, guilty of insulting Islam and its prophet over items he posted on his Facebook page. Samir says . . . Read More

Religious persecution ‘central’ to refugee crisis

  January 12, 2017 Afghanistan, Europe, India, Iraq, Libya, London, Nigeria, Pakistan, Refugees, Somalia, Syria

Religious persecution is playing a “central role” in the global displacement crisis, the charity Open Doors UK and Ireland has said. Refugees eating donated food outside a derelict warehouse in Belgrade, Serbia. According to Open Doors, more than half of the world’s 65.3m refugee population come from Somalia, Afghanistan and . . . Read More

Police rapes, acquittals and false accusations highlight Christians’ vulnerability in India

  January 12, 2017 India Chhattisgarh, Dalits, Hindu nationalism, India, Raipur, Rape, Women

The acquittal of two suspects in the gang rape of a Catholic nun, and a series of rapes by security forces in remote areas of the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh have highlighted the vulnerability of women from marginalised communities. “If you are a woman tribal or from a minority, . . . Read More

Egypt couple’s murder marks second attack on Christians during Copt Christmas

  January 11, 2017 Egypt Alexandria, Copts, Egypt, Tala

Two Egyptian Coptic Christians found dead in their bed on 6 January – the traditional Christmas celebration for Copts – were murdered because of their faith, according to the brother of the dead woman. Police said robbery was the motivation for the deaths of Gamal Sami, 60 and his wife, Nadia, 48, . . . Read More