Anglican Church Leadership “Killed” in Iraq
The entire lay leadership of Iraq’s main Anglican Church was presumed dead Thursday, September 29, amid reports they were attacked while returning from a conference in neighboring Jordan.
Month: September 2005
New House Church Restrictions Go Into Effect in Cuba
Government regulations aimed at curbing the growth of Christian house churches in Cuba took force on September 22, sparking fears that evangelical Protestants on the island could face a period of heightened persecution.
Malaysian Court Says No to Change of Religious Status
Judges in Malaysia’s Court of Appeal announced on September 19 that Lina Joy, a former Muslim who converted to Christianity in the late 1980s, must apply to a sharia court for permission to legally renounce Islam.
Assaulted Christians Pressured in Maharashtra, India
Radical Hindus of Jamanya village, in Maharashtra state’s Jalgaon district, remain hostile to Christian families who were attacked on May 16 – threatening to beat them if they refuse to renounce their faith, detaining and beating a Christian visitor, and attacking the house of another believer.
Christians Beaten in Madhya Pradesh, India, in Incident with Idol
Hindu extremists on September 22 attacked and threatened several Christians in the Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh state, accusing them of desecrating a Hindu idol.
Zhang Yi-nan released from Chinese labor camp
Chinese Christian Zhang Yi-nan was released from the Ping Ding Shan City Bailou Labor Camp in Henan Province, China on Sunday morning. Zhang’s wife, Ding Guizhen, and their son, Zhang Kairi, were waiting for him at the steel gate of the prison camp, but were not immediately allowed to welcome him home.
Pakistan Christian Woman “Raped” And Threatened with Death by Muslims, report
A Pakistani woman has charged three men with raping her earlier this month and threatening to kill her if she did not convert from Christianity to Islam, a Christian news agency reported Tuesday, September 27.
Messianic Jews Fight Public Slurs in Israel
The Israeli High Court on September 12 heard a petition by ultra-orthodox Jews to hold a 700-person demonstration in front of the house of a family of Messianic Jews. In the past, the group’s smaller protests consisted of shouting obscenities and slurs at the Christians.
Teachers Appeal Christianization Conviction in Indonesia
Three women accused of “Christianization” have appealed the conviction handed down by an Indonesian court on September 1.
Vietnamese Pastor Freed from Mental Hospital
Committed to a Vietnamese mental hospital for nearly a year after being diagnosed as “delusional” for believing in God, the Rev. Than Van Truong was released to his family on Saturday, September 17.
Ethiopia Evangelist Killed For “Refusing To Deny Christ”
A human rights group has expressed concern about reports of wide spread persecution of Christians in rural Ethiopia where at least one evangelist has been killed “for refusing” to abandon his Christian faith, BosNewsLife monitored Thursday, September 22.
Thousands of Congo Christians Mourn Murdered Italian Missionary
A period of mourning was expected to continue Saturday, September 17, among Christians in his native Italy and the African Republic of the Congo, where thousands attended the funeral of Italian Franciscan missionary Angelo Redaelli, 40, who was lynched earlier in the week, missionary and church sources said.
Vietnamese Authorities Burn Down Christians Homes
Authorities in the Son Ha District of Quang Ngai Province incited a mob to burn down the home of evangelist Dinh Van Hoang on August 21 because he would not sign a paper denying his Christian faith.
India Missionaries Homeless After Major Floods
Impoverished native missionaries in Mumbai, the capital of India’s Maharashtra state, were reportedly still homeless Friday, September 16, more than a month after their possessions were swept away in record flooding there, which killed over 1000 people.
From Muslim Leader to Evangelist for Christ in Nigeria
His father sent him to Saudi Arabia from Nigeria when he was 3 years old to be trained as an Islamic cleric, but God had other plans for Ahmed Abdullahi.
Messianic Jews Harassed in Israel
Messianic Jews have called for international protests against violations of religious freedom in Israel. Orthodox Jews have harassed a congregation in the desert town of Arad in Southern Israel for more than 18 months.
Muslim Mob Attacks Christian Homes in Pakistan
A mob of 200 Muslim protestors ransacked at least 16 homes of Christians in Lahore on Saturday, September 10, after a drug addict disrupted an Islamic service. Younis Masih, 35, was accused of insulting the Muslim prophet Mohammed.
Vietnam Security Forces “Burn Down” Christian Villages
Vietnamese government forces reportedly burned down homes of Christian villagers for refusing to denounce their faith in Christ amid new concern about human rights violations in the Communist nation, BosNewsLife monitored Monday, September 12.
US “Denies” Asylum for Persecuted Chinese Christian, Rights Group Says
A Christian advocacy group expressed concern Monday, September 12 over “an unprecedented” decision by the United States to “deny asylum to a “house-church” Christian from Communist China.”
Anti-Conversion Bill Expected in Rajasthan State, India
The state government of Rajasthan, ruled by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), plans to present an anti-conversion bill to the state assembly during its next session, beginning on September 26.