News

UPDATE: 1 year on, new video of kidnapped Swiss missionary in Mali

  January 11, 2017 Mali Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, Bamako, Beatrice Stockly, Kidal, Timbuktu, Tuareg

World Watch Monitor UPDATE (11 Jan. 2017): A video released by Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) on Tuesday (10 Jan) shows a new proof of life of the Swiss missionary Beatrice Stockly, held captive in Mali. The 2’17” video shows a woman – her head covered by a black . . . Read More

Nationalism in Asia, Islamic extremism in Africa – the 2017 World Watch List

  January 11, 2017 Global News -- No Particular Country Afghanistan, Africa, Asia, Bhutan, BJP, Ethiopia, Hindu nationalism, India, Iran, Iraq, Islamic extremism, Kenya, Libya, Narendra Modi, Nepal, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Yemen

One of the greatest increases in animosity towards Christians last year took place in India as a result of religiously motivated nationalism, according to the latest annual survey of the 50 countries in which it is most difficult to live as a Christian. Since the rise to power of Narendra . . . Read More

Silence: Scorsese’s movie is a masterpiece on persecuted Christianity

  January 10, 2017 Japan

Speak to anyone involved in advocating on behalf of persecuted Christians around the world and they’ll tell you it’s often difficult to get a hearing. Many inside the Church are actively engaged with the issues – eagerly praying, signing petitions and donating to anti-persecution charities. Yet it can sometimes seem . . . Read More

Criticised for not securing release of kidnapped priest in Yemen, Indian government says it ‘told him not to go’

  January 9, 2017 Yemen Aden, Catholics, Tom Uzhunnalil, Yemen

Fr Tom UzhunnalilArchdiocese of Bombay India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has come under fire from his political opponents for his failure to secure the release of an Indian Catholic priest kidnapped 10 months ago in Yemen by Islamic extremists. Now Modi’s Deputy Foreign Minister, M. J. Akbar, has said the . . . Read More

1,000 days: 24th Chibok girl to be freed leaves 195 of 276 still missing

  January 6, 2017 Nigeria Boko Haram, Borno, Chibok girls, EYN

Almost 1,000 days since she was kidnapped with 275 other schoolgirls from school dormitories in Chibok, northeast Nigeria, the 24th girl to be released from captivity has been found. Rakiya Abubakar Gali was discovered on 5 Jan. by the Army, who were questioning captured Boko Haram militants. She has a . . . Read More

UPDATE: Compensation for family of Indian Christian couple shot dead in anti-Maoist crossfire

  January 6, 2017 India Hindu nationalism, Hyderabad, Kandhamal, Maoists, Odisha, Police

Update 6 Jan. 2017: The Human Rights Commission of the eastern Indian state of Odisha has ordered the state government to pay one million rupees (US$14,720) in compensation to the six children of a Baptist couple shot dead allegedly by a federal paramilitary force in July 2015. Dhubaleswar Nayak, 50, and . . . Read More

Pakistani Christian accused of blasphemy after ripped Qur’an found outside home

  January 6, 2017 Pakistan Asia Bibi, Blasphemy, Imran Khan, Islamic extremism, Lahore, Mumtaz Qadri, Salmaan Taseer, Shaan Taseer, Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan

A Pakistani Christian could face 10 years in jail or even the death sentence after torn pages from a copy of the Qur’an were found outside his home, with his name written on them. Babu Shahbaz Masih, 40, from the Kamahan district of Lahore, was arrested on 30 December after . . . Read More

UPDATE: Army recovers 24th Chibok kidnap victim

  January 5, 2017 Nigeria Boko Haram, Borno, Chibok girls, Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria, Trauma

The released 21 Chibok girls met President Buhari – seen here with Vice President Osinbajo – at his villa in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, 19 Oct.The Office of the President   Update 5 Jan. 2017: The Nigerian Army says it has discovered another woman who kidnapped nearly three years ago from . . . Read More

How women of the Central African Republic overcome trauma by trading

  January 5, 2017 Central African Republic Bangui, Seleka, Trauma, Women

Women meeting at a self-help group, Bangui 2016.Open Doors   The slogan painted on the rear bumper of a yellow taxi in Bangui caught our eye: “Le Saint-Esprit me conduit” (the Holy Spirit drives me). For a trip to this French-speaking part of Africa, it was an admirable sentiment that . . . Read More

Nigerian Human Rights Commission calls on President to stop ‘callous’ Kaduna killings

  January 5, 2017 Nigeria Boko Haram, Fulani herdsmen, Kaduna, Kafanchan, Muhammadu Buhari

The Nigerian National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to put an end to the ongoing deadly attacks committed by suspected Fulani herdsmen in southern Kaduna.