News

The Cross, deemed illegal by IS, returns to Iraq’s Nineveh Plain

  November 1, 2016 Iraq Karamles, Nineveh Plains, Qaraqosh

There were tears, soldiers praying, priests singing. This was the moment thousands of Iraqi Christians had been waiting for: the Cross, symbol of Christ’s victory over evil, deemed illegal by IS, had returned to the Christian villages in Iraq’s Nineveh Plain. This came as news continues to emerge of more . . . Read More

Christian children ‘singled out for bullying’ in Egyptian classrooms

  November 1, 2016 Egypt Copts, Hijab, Islamic extremism, Samalut, Sharqia

A girl shows ‘unacceptable’ (left) vs. ‘acceptable’ school dress code.Watani   When 12-year-old Rahma Salem refused to wear a hijab to school in the Delta in northern Egypt, teachers ordered her to leave lesson after lesson and would not let her take part in any activity. “I was made to . . . Read More

Pakistani church leader and family hospitalised over house dispute

  October 28, 2016 Pakistan Farooqabad, Lahore, Seventh-day Adventists, Sheikhupura

A Seventh-day Adventist church leader and his family were attacked over a dispute about the ownership of their property. Pictured is the church leader’s father, Robert Hussain, in hospital.World Watch Monitor   A Pakistani church leader has described how his family were hospitalised by a mob of more than 50 . . . Read More

UK Foreign Office hosts global summit on freedom of religion or belief

  October 27, 2016 Global News -- No Particular Country Bangladesh, China, Eritrea, Iran, Islamic extremism, Islamic State, Kazakhstan, London, Lord Alton, Myanmar, North Korea, Religious freedom, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates

“Religious freedom can counter violent extremism” was the key message at a two-day global conference held at the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) last week. The conference explored ways to build resilience against extremism and identified opportunities for collaboration. More than 50 expert speakers and over 170 participants from . . . Read More

Aleppo: ‘Monsters devour one another in city of death and destruction’

  October 26, 2016 Syria Aleppo, Migrants, Refugees

An Aleppo nun has described the psychological damage of living in the city as “a pain greater than physical pain”. “Aleppo is a city broken by death, destruction and violence,” said Sister Annie Demerjian, during a visit to the UK to raise awareness of the desperate conditions for many living . . . Read More

Christianity once considered a ‘disease’, but now ‘tolerated’ in Cuba

  October 26, 2016 Cuba Censorship, Churches, Communism, Fidel Castro, Havana, Raúl Castro

The ruins of a church in the town of Trinidad, in the central Cuban province of Sancti Spíritus.Cristian Viarisio / Flickr / CC   Christians in Cuba used to face constant pressure from the authorities for being thought “anti-revolutionaries”. It was said that being Christian was a “disease”. They were . . . Read More

The potential impact of US elections on the Church in Cuba

  October 26, 2016 Cuba Barack Obama, Donald Trump, Elections, Havana, Hilary Clinton, Latin America, Raúl Castro

It’s been a year since the US embassy in Havana was opened, followed by the historic visit by President Barack Obama. Since then, collaboration between the two countries has increased. “Direct flights are due to begin this month, travel restrictions have been eased for US citizens and bilateral cooperation increased . . . Read More

Why the Cuban Church is still under pressure

  October 26, 2016 Cuba Communism, Fidel Castro, Raúl Castro

  Cuba is one of the few remaining communist governments in the world. Ten years ago, the country’s ageing leader, Fidel Castro, was replaced by his brother, Raúl, but the government stayed essentially the same and desired changes did not take place, although there have been relaxed controls over some . . . Read More

Nigerian Middle Belt state: 800+ Christians killed, 800+ injured, 100+ churches destroyed

  October 26, 2016 Nigeria Benue, Fulani herdsmen, Kaduna, Middle Belt, Nasarawa, Taraba

Nigeria’s Middle Belt is the scene of ever-continuing attacks on Christian farmers by mainly Muslim Hausa-Fulani herdsmen, including this past week where attacks have occurred in both Kaduna and Benue states. Now a recent report about another state in the Middle Belt, Nasarawa, shows that it too has been the scene . . . Read More

Iraqi Christian girls, hiding under bed from IS, text priest: ‘Please come for us’

  October 25, 2016 Iraq Erbil, Islamic State, Kirkuk, Mosul

“It’s a miracle. A true miracle. We prayed a lot and God answered.” The words of Iraqi Syriac-Catholic priest Ammar in the wake of last weekend’s remarkable story of seven Christian female students in Kirkuk, who hid under their beds for seven hours while soldiers from the self-proclaimed Islamic State . . . Read More