Pastor granted asylum, but blocked from leaving Cuba
A Cuban pastor who was imprisoned and then granted asylum by the United States was denied permission to leave Cuba.
Month: July 2011
Egypt: Muslims attack Christians after installation of Church Bell
An exchange of words between a pregnant Christian and a Muslim man over a tricycle escalated into an assault upon the woman and her fellow Christian villagers, resulting in the arrest of one Copt.
Nigerian Christians Call for 21 Day Fast
Many churches throughout Nigeria have begun a 21-day fast to invoke divine intervention and protection from Boko Haram, an Islamic cult that has threatened to attack on the anniversary of the death of the sect’s founder.
Lao Authorities arrest Christians in separate incidents
It’s been a tough time to be a Christian in Laos.
In Luang Namtha Province, Pastor Seng Aroun of Kon church and three other Christians from Sounya village were arrested in July by provincial authorities and detained at Luang Namtha’s provincial prison. Although most were soon released, the authorities ordered all Christians in Sounya village to stop worshiping in private homes, according to Human Rights Watch for Lao Religious Freedom.
Children may lose Religious Rights in Tajikistan
The Tajikistan Parliament recently adopted two new laws that could ban children from participating in religious activities.
House Church Pastor In China Detained
Pastor Shi Enhao, deputy chairman of the Chinese House Church Alliance, has been sentenced to two years of “re-education through labor,” an extra-judicial punishment handed out by police that requires no trial or conviction of a crime, Worthy News has learned.
Posters declare ‘Sharia zone’ in east London
Islamists have put up posters proclaiming that visitors to their east London borough are entering a “shar’ia controlled zone”: smoking, alcohol and music are now unofficially “banned” in the borough of Tower Hamlets, as well as in the boroughs of Waltham Forest and Newham.
After years of “red tape,” Christians in Turkey finally open House Church
Protestants in the eastern Turkish province of Van have finally succeeded in opening a house church after seven years of struggling with local bureaucracies, yet they are still concerned by the hostile rhetoric coming from their local officials.
The “Christian” Terrorist Who Wasn’t Very Christian
Anders Behring Breivik’s 1,500-page manifesto shows that the Norwegian terrorist’s depiction as a “right-wing, Christian fundamentalist” by many in the mass media may be as inaccurate as that of their so-called “Christian” bomber, Oklahoma City terrorist Tim McVeigh.
17-Year-Old Cease-Fire in Burma Broken; Thousands Flee
Last month, in June, the Burmese (Myanmar) military ended a 17-year ceasefire causing more than 20,000 civilians to flee their homes in Kachin state, Worthy News has learned.
Saudi Arabia Releases House Church Christians
Two Indian Christians of a thriving Pentecostal house church in Saudi Arabia were back in their home country Sunday, July 24, after they were unexpectedly released by Saudi officials from an overcrowded prison, a church official confirmed to Worthy News.
Iran Releases Christian After Huge Bail Payment
An Iranian house church Christian was spending another day in brief freedom Thursday, July 21, after he was temporarily released from jail following the payment of a bail amount of some $101,000 in local currency, Iranian Christians said.
Pentecostal Pastors Accused of Forced Proselytism
Police arrested three pastors of the Gospel Messengers Team along with the couple who hosted them in Bighapur on false charges of forcibly converting people of other religions.
NM School Suspends Students for Sharing Bible Verses
Yet another case of academic alien-ation in Roswell, New Mexico?
A lawsuit by Liberty Counsel alleges that the Roswell Independent School District retaliated against a school Christian group by suspending its members after giving Krispy Kreme doughnuts with Bible verses to their teachers; one student was sent home and two others spent a Saturday morning alone in a classroom for four hours.
Saudi Arabia to deport Eritrean Christian
Facing a possible death sentence, Eyob Mussie, a Christian refugee living in Saudi Arabia, was instead informed that he will be returned to Eritrea, a nation where returnees often face imprisonment, torture and even death.
Christians join Jews to express support for Israel
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Pastor John Hagee and radio personality Glenn Beck all spoke to Israel’s Christian supporters during the sixth annual “Christians United for Israel” summit at the Convention Center in Washington, D.C..
Christian Clerks Face Same-Sex License Showdown
Although a memo circulated by the Alliance Defense Fund assured scrupulous New York State license clerks that they can delegate the issuance of same-sex marriage licenses to another clerk, Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice disagreed.
Nigeria Islamic Militants Target Evangelical Church After Deadly Violence
Christians prepared for a difficult weekend in Nigeria amid reports of a second bomb attack on a church close to the capital Abuja following deadly violence by suspected Muslim militants that already killed several Christians.
Missionaries Face Severe Opposition in India
Several Gospel for Asia missionaries are encountering intense opposition, but persecution is not uncommon in this part of the world: entire families have been forced to leave their homes and villages because of the cause of Christ.
Unofficial Translation of Pastor Youcef Nadakhani’s Verdict
An unofficial translation of the Iranian Supreme Court’s decision to execute Pastor Youcef Nadakhani was obtained by Worthy News on Monday, July 18.