Tag: Churches

Unauthorised Christian activity banned in Xinjiang

February 28, 2017 China China, Churches, Terrorism, Xinjiang

Chinese authorities in the north-western region of Xinjiang have banned all Christian activities not linked to state-approved churches, apparently in an “anti-terror” move. Zhu Xiaohu, a house-church member from the city of Wusu, was one of six Christians recently fined 1,000 yuan ($145). Their Bibles were also confiscated. “They want . . . Read More

Demolition plans for 21 Sudan church buildings

February 2, 2017 Sudan Churches, Gadaref, Khartoum, Lutheran Church of Sudan, Omdurman, Sudan

A lawyer representing four churches threatened in Oct 2016 with demolition in Sudan has uncovered plans for a further 21 places of worship to be knocked down. Middle East Concern reports that in a recent court ruling the lawyer was granted the right to see the official order for demolition. . . . Read More

ISIS used Iraqi church ‘as shooting range’

January 24, 2017 Iraq Churches, Iraq, Islamic State, Qaraqosh

Iraqi Christians returning to their homes in Qaraqosh have found their houses burnt and churches desecrated. One woman, Manal Matti, told the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need that “jihadists [had] used the church as a shooting range”. She added that mannequins taken from her clothes shop, close to . . . Read More

Sudan government demolishes Bahri church building

January 13, 2017 Sudan Abdulmonem Abdumawla, Bahri, Churches, Hassan Taour, Khartoum, Petr Jašek, Sudan

A house belonging to a Sudanese church has been demolished by government officials, reports Christian advocacy group Middle East Concern. The Bahri Evangelical Church, on the outskirts of the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, has seen a number of its buildings damaged or demolished since 2013, when a committee imposed by the . . . Read More

USCIRF says Myanmar must ‘control’ its military

December 21, 2016 Myanmar Aung San Suu Kyi, Buddhist nationalism, Chin, Churches, Kachin, Ma Ba Tha, Myanmar, Naga, Rape, Torture

A new, critical report on religious freedoms in Myanmar by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom says the major challenge facing Aung San Suu Kyi’s government is “bringing the military under civilian control”. The report says the Burmese Army, which, due to constitutional provisions, is beyond civilian control, has . . . Read More

Azerbaijani Christians face fines for ‘illegal’ prayer meeting

December 12, 2016 Azerbaijan Aliabad, Churches, Hamid Shabanov

Thirty people were arrested when a dozen policemen interrupted the prayer meeting on the morning of 27 November at the house of Gamid and Ginayat Shabanov in Aliabad, a village in the south of Azerbaijan.

World Watch Monitor

Twenty-four Azerbaijani Christians have been told they will be fined at least 1,500 Azerbaijani Manats ($850) each for participating in an “illegal” prayer meeting at a church leader’s home. All 30 attendees were initially arrested when a dozen policemen interrupted the meeting on the morning of 27 November at the . . . Read More

‘We have a right to build churches’ says Copt after latest attack

December 12, 2016 Egypt Cairo, Churches, Copts, Islamic extremism, Sohag

A dozen Coptic-owned houses were vandalised and three others were looted, as were four Coptic-owned shops, during the 25 Nov. attack in Al-Naghameesh village. World Watch Monitor Two weeks after a Coptic community was attacked over rumours it planned to open a church in the village, one of the Copts . . . Read More

Fresh criticism for Egypt church construction law

November 18, 2016 Egypt Churches, Copts, Egypt, Middle East, Muslim Brotherhood

After the ratification of a law on the building of churches in Egypt in September, Copts and rights organisations have voiced concerns that this will not aid in turning the tide on discrimination against Egypt’s Orthodox Christian minority. For decades the construction and renovation of churches has been obstructed by . . . Read More

‘Worship in the woods’ a year after Islamic extremists destroy Aceh churches

November 10, 2016 Indonesia Aceh, Churches, Indonesia, Islamic extremism, Sharia

Churches destroyed a year ago by Islamic extremists and police in Aceh Singkil – a rural ‘regency’ in Indonesia’s only Sharia-ruled province – have still not been rebuilt because of discrimination against Christians by local authorities, say church leaders. However, despite the troubles, church membership is climbing. Hardliners started destroying . . . 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

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