Jailed Church Leader Facing India Trial
A jailed leader of more than 30 churches and congregations in northeastern India faces a trial on charges supporters link to his Christian activities, sources told Worthy News late Thursday.
Christian Persecution – Asia
Indonesian churches organize disaster relief after Java earthquake
A group of Indonesian Christian churches and organizations rushed to assist their countrymen in the wake of a powerful and deadly earthquake that hit Indonesia’s Java island last week, Christianity Today (CT) reports.
Pakistan: 200 Christian families homeless after government demolishes homes and church
Pakistan government officials bulldozed the homes and church building of 200 Christian families in Islamabad last month, with no warning or offer of substitute housing, the Christian Post reports.
India: Newly Christian man beaten unconscious left for dead after refusing to renounce faith
A former Hindu who gave his life to Christ just four months ago was beaten unconscious and left for dead after a mob of Hindus attacked a gathering of believers at a house church in India’s Odisha state earlier this month, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
Nine Christians hospitalized after Hindu extremist attack on church
A mob of radicalized Hindu nationalists beat up and hospitalized nine Christians during an attack on a church hall in India’s Chhattisgarh state earlier this month, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
Laos: Pastor murdered on his way to Christian event
A Christian pastor in Laos was tortured before being murdered last month in an attack police was likely on account of his faith, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.
Myanmar: Burmese army bombs Baptist seminary
Continuing its violent attacks on Christian civilians, the ‘Tatmadaw’ Burmese military junta bombed a Baptist seminary in Kachin state last week, injuring four men in their dormitory, Christian Headlines (CH) reports.
Indonesia: Two government officials sign Islamist petition to block church building, violation of Indonesian constitution
In an apparent violation of Indonesia’s constitutional protection of religious freedom, two local officials in Java Island joined forces with Islamist organizations to block the construction of a Christian church building, the Christian Post (CP) reports.
India: Off-duty police officer among Hindu mob attacking Christian prayer meeting
An off-duty police officer joined a mob of Hindu nationalists who attacked a gathering of 15 Christians gathered in a private home in India’s Chhattisgarh state last month, the Christian Post (CP) reports.
Sri Lanka: Authorities order churches to close
Local authorities in separate districts of Sri Lanka recently ordered two churches to close down, on the grounds that the congregations’ Christian activities are offensive to their communities, Voice of the Martyrs Canada (VOM) reports. Sri Lanka’s constitution gives preferential status to Buddhism, and demands by the authorities for churches to close are not uncommon.
Myanmar: Baptist pastor murdered in his home
An ethnic Pwo Karen Christian pastor was murdered at his home inside his church compound in Myanmar on the night of September 2, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
India government stalling on affirmative action for Dalit Christians
India’s federal government appears to be deliberately dragging its heels in an 18-year-old landmark case concerning the preservation of affirmative action for millions of Dalit Hindus who convert to Christianity, the Christian Post reports.
Afghanistan: Taliban behead Christian man on video
The International Christian Concern (ICC) nonprofit human rights organization reported Sunday it had just received a video of the Taliban beheading a Christian man in Afghanistan.
Alleged Abuser Of Pastor’s Child In Malaysia Jail (Update)
A driver of a school for refugee children in Malaysia is in jail after allegedly molesting a Pakistani pastor’s young daughter, a source told Worthy News Thursday.
Former Jailed Pakistan Christian In Thailand With Family (Worthy News Investigation)
Imran Ghafur Masih, the Pakistani Christian who spent some 11 years in a Pakistani jail for “blasphemy” against Islam, has arrived with family members in Thailand, a pastor involved in the rescue operation told Worthy News.
India: Christian man believed to have been killed by Hindu relatives
A formerly Hindu man who converted to Christianity in India’s West Bengal state is missing, and it is believed he has been murdered by his Hindu family on account of his faith, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.
Myanmar: Junta lays landmines around church
Myanmar’s military junta has laid internationally banned antipersonnel landmines around a Catholic church building it has desecrated and occupied in the ethnic minority Shan state, the Christian Post (CP) reports.
Pakistan: Christian jailed for blasphemy is denied bail
A 57-year-old Christian man in Pakistan who was imprisoned for blasphemy two years ago has just been denied his latest application for bail pending trial, Asia News reports.
Pakistan Christian Mother Of Five Hiding After Death Threats
A Christian woman and her five children are hiding in Pakistan after receiving death threats from extremists who demand that she converts to Islam, her supporters confirmed Thursday.
India: Supreme Court orders government to investigate and establish facts in reported attacks on Christians
In a move welcomed by Christian human rights advocates, India’s Supreme Court has ordered the Hindu nationalist government to investigate and establish the facts on the reported cases of Christians being attacked over 500 times last year, Christian Today (CT) reports.
