Tag: Communism

Animation highlights N. Korea religious violations

August 31, 2016 North Korea Communism, North Korea, South Korea

Claims reported today in by South Korea that North Korea has executed a top official from its own cabinet highlight the risks of falling foul of the communist dictatorship – also faced by groups such as Christians. Their fate is usefully explained in a from the International Coalition to Stop . . . Read More

UN urges Vietnam to stop ‘torture’ of Christian

June 6, 2016 Vietnam Communism, Human rights, Nguyen Cong Chinh, Torture, Vietnam, Women

The UN has criticised Vietnam’s “repeated arrest and torture” of a female Christian activist whose husband, a pastor, is in jail “for peaceful religious activities”. Tran Thi Hong was targeted for “informing the international community of human rights violations against her husband”, says a statement from the UN High Commissioner . . . Read More

Vietnam’s Religion Law ‘created to repress, control’

April 27, 2016 Vietnam Communism, Religion Law

Vietnam’s new “Law on Belief and Religion,” scheduled to come into effect this year, will add another layer of governmental repression and control to an already pressurised Church, says Vo Tran Nhat, Executive Secretary of the Vietnam Committee on Human Rights. “They’re going to adopt a new law, a law . . . Read More

Vietnam: appeal for lawyers’ release

January 12, 2016 Vietnam Communism, Hanoi, Human rights, Nguyen Van Dai, Vietnam

Human rights groups have called for the release of Vietnamese Christian lawyer Nguyen Van Dai and his colleague, Le Thu Ha. The lawyers were arrested in Hanoi on 16 December and accused of propaganda against the state, punishable by up to 20 years in jail. “We appeal to the Vietnamese . . . Read More

China accused of ’emasculating’ Christianity

December 2, 2015 China China, Communism, Sinicisation

The Chinese government is attempting to “co-opt and emasculate” Christianity, which many believe has more adherents than the 87-million member Communist party, . “I don’t believe the government will close the Church but I do believe they want to manage it”, one underground pastor said anonymously ahead of a secretive . . . Read More

Vietnam releases Christian activists

August 17, 2015 Vietnam Communism, Human rights, Nguyen Van Oai, Protestants, Religious freedom, Vietnam

Vietnamese authorities have released Catholic blogger Paulus Le Van Son and Protestant activist Nguyen Van Oai, says Asia News. Both served four-year prison terms for ‘trying to overthrow the legitimate government’. The final entries in Van Son’s blog were about prayer vigils, but Reporters Without Borders said at the time . . . Read More

Vietnam’s Religion Law

May 8, 2015 Vietnam Catholics, Central Highlands, Churches, Communism, Human rights, Minorities, Religion Law, Religious freedom, UN, Vietnam

The Socialist Republic of Vietnam is drafting a “Law on Belief and Religion,” for passage in the National Assembly in 2016, and possibly this year. It is almost inevitable the new law will disappoint proponents of universal human rights.1 Diverse religions and religious practices flourish in communist Vietnam. Religious believers far . . . Read More

Among the FARC, a growing Christian presence

February 26, 2015 Colombia Arauca, Communism, FARC, Juan Manuel Santos, Latin America, Missionaries, Russ Stendal

FARC Commander Ivan Marquez gives a press conference, on Nov. 19, 2014 in Havana to commemorate the second anniversary of the beginning of the peace talks with the Colombian government.ADALBERTO ROQUE/AFP/Getty Images After a half-century of continuous civil war in Colombia, a new story is beginning to emerge: Guerrillas in . . . Read More

China’s oldest priest dies at 105

January 22, 2015 China China, Communism, Guangzhou

China’s oldest priest died Jan. 20 at the age of 105. “Father Ye Yaomin withstood persecution and banishment to help build up the Church in China,” UCA News said, adding that　his “epic life spanned the fall of emperors, wars and a Communist Party intolerant of his devout faith.” Yaomin of . . . Read More

2014: A year of rising hostility toward Christians

January 7, 2015 Global News -- No Particular Country Africa, Al-Qaeda, Al-Shabaab, Asia, Boko Haram, Buddhist nationalism, Central African Republic, China, Communism, Converts, East Africa, Fulani herdsmen, Hindu nationalism, India, Iraq, Islamic extremism, Islamic State, Latin America, Malaysia, Mexico, Middle Belt, Middle East, Narendra Modi, Nigeria, North Korea, Religious freedom, Sri Lanka, Sub-Saharan Africa, Syria

While the world’s eyes were riveted to Syria and Iraq in 2014, life for Christians worsened even more profoundly in Africa, according to an annual report on religious freedom. The situation deteriorated most rapidly in Sub-Saharan Africa, in countries where Islamic extremism is the main source of pressure upon Christians, . . . Read More

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