Tag: Ramadan

UPDATE: Nigeria: suspects in blasphemy case released

November 4, 2016 Blasphemy, Boko Haram, Hisbah, Imo, Jama'atu Nasril Islam, Kano, Muhammadu Buhari, Niger, Nigeria, Ramadan, Sabon Gari, Sharia, Sultan of Sokoto

Christian Center in Abuja, Nigeria, Feb. 2016 (World Watch Monitor) A court in Nigeria’s northern city of Kano has freed five people detained in relation with the killing of a pastor’s wife who had been accused of blasphemy. Bridget Agbahime, 74, wife of Mike Agbahime, pastor of Deeper Life Bible . . . Read More

In violence-racked Baghdad, the few Christians still there struggle to cope

September 6, 2016 Iraq Baghdad, Iraq, Islamic State, Ramadan

At the height of its scorching summer, Iraq saw its worst attack since the Allied Forces ousted Saddam in 2003. Some 324 people lost their lives when a van exploded in the bustling al-Karada neighbourhood of Baghdad – during Islam’s holy month of Ramadan. The 3 July destruction claimed by . . . 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

Pakistan bans TV shows for discussing blasphemy

June 20, 2016 Pakistan Blasphemy, Islamic extremism, Pakistan, Prophet Muhammad, Ramadan, Sufi, Terrorism

Two TV shows in Pakistan were taken off air on Friday for discussing blasphemy laws, . The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) said in a statement “an immediate ban has been imposed on TV One’s programme Ishq-e-Ramazan, and Aaj News’ programme Ramazan Hamara Iman”. PEMRA said both channels had . . . Read More

Egypt suspends charges against ‘proselytisers’

February 25, 2016 Egypt Alexandria, Egypt, Proselytism, Ramadan

Charges related to “evangelising” – an act often considered a “defamation of Islam” – have been suspended against three young Christian men in Alexandria. a zealous Muslim bystander, as he handed out dates and Christian words of encouragement to Muslims at the break of their Ramadan fast. Osama and two . . . Read More

5 years on: what has the Arab Spring meant for Christians?

December 17, 2015 Arab Spring, Copts, Egypt, Hosni Mubarak, Iraq, Islamic State, Libya, Middle East, Muammar Gaddafi, Muslim Brotherhood, North Africa, Ramadan, Syria, Tunisia

The Arab Spring, which began five years ago today (17th December) started with a wave of protests in Tunisia followed by other Arab countries. It was positively acclaimed as a social movement demanding an end to human rights violations, government corruption and poverty. Yet, so far, the outcome is largely contrary to . . . Read More

Indonesia: Religious riot in Papua prompts church attacks elsewhere

August 10, 2015 Indonesia Evangelical Church of Indonesia, Islamic extremism, Java, Papua, Ramadan, Tolikara, Yogyakarta

Indonesia is the most populous Muslim nation in the world, but the island of Papua is mainly Christian.Courtesy Open Doors International Tensions have flared between Muslims and Christians in Indonesia – the most populous Islamic nation in the world – after a riot broke out last month on the . . . Read More

Coptic boy’s Ramadan gesture ends in detention

July 20, 2015 Egypt Alexandria, Blasphemy, Copts, Islamic extremism, Ramadan

At sundown each day during Ramadan, which ended on 17 July with the Eid-al-Fitr celebrations, observant Muslims customarily broke their fast at their evening iftar meal by eating dates. A week prior, on the evening of 10 July, 16-year-old Fawzi Osama was on the street in the northern Egyptian city . . . Read More

IS turns ancient Mosul church into mosque

July 14, 2015 Hasakah, Iraq, Islamic State, Mosul, Ramadan, Syria

Islamic State has turned an ancient Chaldean church in Mosul, Iraq into a mosque, according to Fides. St Joseph church, which is considered to be one the oldest churches of the Chaldean denomination and overlooks the Tigris river, has been turned into the Abi Abd El-Rahman Elbilawi mosque, named after a . . . Read More

Growing signs of ISIS activity in Jerusalem

July 1, 2015 Israel Islamic extremism, Islamic State, Israel, Jerusalem, Palestinian Territories, Ramadan

A new Islamist threat to Christians has emerged in Jerusalem, according to Middle East Concern. On 25 June leaflets were distributed in East Jerusalem by a group calling itself Islamic State in Palestine. The leaflets bore the black flag of ISIS and carried a message warning Christians to leave Jerusalem . . . Read More

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