Tag: Churches

Sudanese church destroyed with 24 hours’ notice

July 2, 2014 Sudan Churches, Khartoum, Sudan

Government officials have destroyed the Sudanese Church of Christ in North Khartoum. With only a 24-hour notice 70 government officials turned up on July 1 to demolish the church, which hosted a congregation of more than 600 people. They said it was because the government wants to use the land . . . Read More

Churches plan peace-building on Korean Peninsula

June 20, 2014 Churches, North Korea, South Korea, Switzerland

The World Council of Churches sponsored a meeting of international group of church leaders from 34 countries, including North and South Korea, in Switzerland to advance reconciliation and peace on the Korean peninsula. It was the meeting of its type since 2009. According to the official statement released at the . . . Read More

40 detained in relation to Sanjiang Church

May 28, 2014 China China, Churches, Sanjiang, Wenzhou

More than 40 people from China’s Wenzhou area have been summoned by police or detained in connection with the efforts to protect Sanjiang Church. The church, among many others, was demolished on April 28 in a state campaign claiming to eradicate illegal buildings. A complete list of detentions and summons . . . Read More

Church standoff a study in China’s complexity

April 25, 2014 China Churches, Sanjiang, Three-Self Patriotic Movement

Crowds on the steps of Sanjiang Church. Government demolition equipment was poised nearby.Photo anonymously provided to World Watch Monitor It had all the appearances of a brutal government crackdown. Bulldozers were stationed at the perimeter of the Sanjiang Church in Wenzhou, China. Hundreds of church members formed a protective . . . Read More

Malatya murder trial postponed again

April 11, 2014 Turkey Churches, Malatya, Protestants, Turkey

Seven years after three Christians were tortured and killed in southeast Turkey, the Malatya trial’s 93rd hearing has been postponed for another 10 weeks, until June 23. Under judicial changes enacted last month, the murder trial set to resume on April 10 has been transferred to Malatya’s First High Criminal . . . Read More

Saudi Arabia church plan ‘mooted’

February 25, 2014 Saudi Arabia Churches, Migrants, Saudi Arabia, Sunni, Wahhabism

Saudi Arabia has licensed the construction of a church for the very first time, according to MidEast Christian News. MCN reports that a Coptic Church is to be built in the country, after successful negotiations between Egypt’s Coptic leader Pope Tawadros II and the Saudi ambassador in Cairo. However, the . . . Read More

Christian deaths double in 2014 World Watch List

January 8, 2014 Global News -- No Particular Country Africa, Angola, Central African Republic, Churches, Egypt, India, Kidnapping, Niger, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Rape, Religious freedom, Syria

Nearly twice as many Christians died for their faith in the past year than in 2012, according to Open Doors International’s 2014 World Watch List. Open Doors International, a charity that supports Christians under pressure for their faith, said 2,123 Christians were reported to have been killed during the 12 . . . Read More

Farsi speakers banned from church

January 3, 2014 Iran Armenians, Assemblies of God, Assyrians, Churches, Iran, Tehran

A church in Tehran has become the latest to close its doors to Farsi speakers. St. Peter’s Evangelical Church in the Iranian capital is preventing speakers of the country’s official language from attending following pressure from government officials, reports Mohabat News. Armenians and Assyrians will be permitted to attend the . . . Read More

Peace efforts in Tanzania ‘useless’

December 4, 2013 Tanzania Churches, Tanga, Tanzania

Christian leaders in Tanzania have said peace efforts between Christians and Muslims in the country have proved useless after the recent burning of two churches. The torching of a Lutheran church in Korogwe and Evangelical Assemblies of God church in Kalalani have caused the union of church denominations in the . . . Read More

Vigilante group formed in Bangladesh to stop Christian activities

November 29, 2013 Bangladesh Awami League, Bangladesh, Churches, Converts, Elections, Islamic extremism, Minorities, Sunni, Tangail

A vigilante committee has been formed in central Bangladesh to stop Christian activities in the local community, two months after the construction of a local church was halted. The committee is made up of political leaders, Muslim elders and an elected local government official. In September, the government official ordered . . . Read More

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