Tag: Converts

Convert explains journey to Christianity, and why he left Iran

August 11, 2016 Iran Converts, Islamic extremism, Migrants

The Fatema Mæ’sume shrine in Qom, a religiously conservative city 150km south of Tehran.World Watch Monitor In Iran, converting from Islam to Christianity can land you in prison or even get you killed. However, many Iranians – considered “Muslims” regardless of personal beliefs – still “convert”. World Watch Monitor . . . Read More

More UK Muslim refugees convert to Christianity

July 25, 2016 Asylum seekers, Converts, Europe, Iran, UK

A church in the UK with a growing congregation of Muslim refugees seeking conversion to Christianity is a “microcosm of what is happening across churches in Europe” says . Muslim refugees across western Europe are “converting in ever greater numbers and for a complex array of reasons” – because of . . . Read More

Al-Azhar: to leave Islam is ‘treason’

June 22, 2016 Al-Azhar, Apostasy, Cairo, Converts, Egypt, Islamic extremism, Mohammed Hegazy, Ramadan, Sharia, Sunni

To convert away from Islam is “treason” that should carry the death penalty, according to Sunni Islam’s topmost religious authority. “The penalty for an open apostate, departing from the community, is well stipulated in Sharia,” Al-Azhar’s Grand Imam Ahmed el-Tayyib declared on Egypt television last week. “An apostate must be . . . Read More

Large number of Muslim refugees ‘turn to Christ’

June 6, 2016 Austria, Baptism, Berlin, Catholics, Converts, Denmark, Europe, Finland, Germany, Migrants, Netherlands, Refugees, UK

Several churches across Europe have reported an unprecedented number of Muslim refugees seeking Christian baptisms. This comes as Europe has seen mass migrations, easily surpassing the one-million-mark in 2015 alone. The new arrivals have raised fears and challenges across the continent. The congregation of a Berlin suburb has grown from . . . Read More

Another Christian killed in Bangladesh

June 6, 2016 Bangladesh Bangladesh, Catholics, Converts, Islamic State, Minorities

A Christian grocer has been killed in Bangladesh, the latest in a string of violent attacks against minorities that have left more than 40 dead in the last three years. IS claimed responsibility for the murder through its Amaq news agency, according to US-based SITE monitoring, saying it was “part . . . Read More

Nepal: amending conversion law ‘not enough’

May 17, 2016 Nepal Anti-conversion law, Converts, Hindu nationalism, Nepal

In Nepal, a campaign to reduce official penalties for religious conversion doesn’t go far enough, . Father Silas Bogati, vicar general of the Apostolic Vicariate of Nepal, criticised a campaign that last week delivered 40,000 letters from the public asking Parliament to reduce penalties for converting someone from another religion. . . . Read More

The UN is about to take a very close look at Sudan’s treatment of Christians

May 4, 2016 Bahri, Converts, Darfur, Hassan Taour, Human rights, International Criminal Court, Kuwa Shamal, Mariam Ibrahim, NISS, Omar al-Bashir, Religious freedom, Sharia, South Sudan, Sudan, Sunni, Telal Rata, UN

What is happening? The UN Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights is scheduled to hold a 3 1/2-hour hearing in Geneva on Wednesday, 4 May, at which UN member nations will examine the state of human rights in Sudan. It promises to be an interesting meeting. Sudan’s president, . . . Read More

Malaysian Muslim’s right to convert appealed

May 3, 2016 Malaysia Borneo, Constitution, Converts, Malaysia, Religious freedom, Sarawak, Sharia

An appeal has been lodged against a landmark ruling by the Malaysian High Court that a Sarawak Muslim can officially convert to Christianity. just ahead of the 24 April deadline. The reasons for the appeal need to be revealed within eight weeks. Rebit was born into a Christian family that . . . Read More

Calls for Christian asylum centres in Sweden

April 29, 2016 Assyrians, Asylum seekers, Converts, France, Germany, Iran, Islamic extremism, Middle East, Pakistan, Refugees, Sweden, Women

Increasing reports about Christians harassed by hardline Muslim fellow migrants are prompting calls for non-Muslim asylum centres to be set up in Sweden. According to the Swedish Evangelical Alliance, one Christian refugee in Kalmar in the southeast of the country was threatened with having his throat slit by a man . . . Read More

Turkey backs down on closing Bursa’s only church

February 24, 2016 Turkey Bursa, Churches, Converts, Greek Orthodox, Protestants, Sunni, Turkey

The local government of the northwestern Turkish city of Bursa ordered that its only church, which serves four congregations, be vacated by Friday (26 Feb.) before rescinding the order on Tuesday. Ismail Kulakcioglu, the pastor of the Protestant congregation, said they were given less than a week to vacate the . . . Read More

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