Christian Persecution – Asia

Bangladesh: 91 year-old Christian murdered in suspected revenge attack

A 91-year-old Christian villager was drugged and killed in southern Bangladesh last month, in what is believed to have been a revenge attack on his family for giving evidence in a rape case against a Muslim man, Asia News reports. The killing of Malkam D’Costa at his home in the village of Padrishibpur, Barisal triggered angry protests among local Bangladeshi Christians, who say they are persecuted as a minority faith group in their Islamic-majority country.

North Korea: Letter to advocacy group offers rare insight into life for Christians

Offering a rare glimpse into the life of Christians in secretive, isolated North Korea, advocacy group Open Doors UK recently shared a letter from an underground church leader who was exiled to do hard labor in a remote village without the possibility of returning home, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. North Korea is one of the most dangerous places in the world for Christians: Open Doors describes the level of persecution there as “extreme.”

India: Hindu radicals attack two pastors in Haryana state

A group of Hindu extremists violently attacked two pastors in northern India’s Haryana state last month, accusing them of receiving foreign funding to forcibly convert Hindus to Christianity, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. Persecution of Christians in India has increased dramatically since the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took power in 2014.

India: Christians pray and fast for unity as persecution intensifies

As persecution against Christians in India intensifies, many Indian believers spent Sunday 30 January, the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination in 1948, in prayer and fasting for peace and unity in their country, Christian Today (CT) reports.

Pakistan Pastor Shot And Killed; Christians Mourn

Christians in Pakistan have been plunged into mourning after a 75-year-old pastor was shot and killed in the northwestern city of Peshawar amid rising Islamic extremism in the country.

India: Pastor and family violently attacked in their home

Chanting “kill him, kill him,” a gang of suspected Hindu extremists brutally beat up a pastor and his family at their home in Chandauli, in India’s Uttar Pradesh state on January 14, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) reports. Christians have come under intensifying persecution from Hindu radicals since the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in 2014.

India: Christians under attack in Karnataka state

Christians in India’s Karnataka state came under a surge of violent attacks by Hindu extremists during the Christmas period last month, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. Joining other Indian states, Karnataka has passed a new anti-conversion law that has reportedly encouraged Hindu nationalists to attack believers they falsely accuse of forcing Hindus to convert to Christianity.

India: Nine Christians imprisoned on false charges of forced conversion

Nine Christians in India’s Madhya Pradesh state are in prison awaiting trial on false charges of forcing Hindus to convert to Christianity, International Christian Concern (ICC) reported on January 15. Persecution against Christians in India has steadily increased since the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party came to power in 2014.

Pastor:’Christian Ex-Prisoner Hiding In Pakistan’

A Christian man who spent some 11 years in a Pakistani prison for “blasphemy” against Islam is hiding with his family in Pakistan after his acquittal and release, a friend told Worthy News.

Pakistan Frees Christian Accused Of Blasphemy On Bail

A Christian man who spent four years in a Pakistani jail “without a fair trial” was freed on bail, raising hope for other inmates in a similar situation, activists told Worthy News Thursday.

Pakistan: Judge changes Christian man’s life sentence to death penalty for alleged blasphemous text messages

A Christian in Pakistan who was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment for allegedly sending blasphemous text messages had his prison term changed to the death penalty last week, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. Rawalpindi Additional Sessions Judge Sahibzada Naqeeb sentenced Christian Zafar Bhatti to death after his new lawyer contested his conviction instead of applying for post-conviction bail.

India Charges Five Over Attacks At Christian School

Indian authorities have charged five suspects over the vandalism near a Christian school in central India during protests against the alleged conversion of Hindus to Christianity, rights activists confirmed Friday.

Worthy Christian News