Myanmar May Pass Law Against Mixed Marriages
Nearly 100 multi-ethnic groups in Myanmar have rejected a proposal by Buddhist extremists to restrict interfaith marriage and other religious rights and freedoms, according to AsiaNews.
Christian Persecution
North Korea Blames Missionaries for Trafficking, Terrorism
North Korea has tried to deflect international criticism away from itself by accusing Christian missionaries of human trafficking and even terrorism in the DPRK, according to the Christian Post.
Pakistan: Charges of blaphemy filed against 68 lawyers
Sixty-eight lawyers in Punjab have all been charged with blasphemy after participating in a series of protests against a senior Pakistani police official, according to International Christian Concern.
Kazakhstan: Christian Jailed For Not Paying Fine After Raid
A Christian father of three has been jailed in Kazakhstan for refusing to pay a fine for leading a worship service in his own home, according to Barnabas Aid.
Pregnant Sudanese Christian Sentenced to Hang
A Sudanese judge Thursday sentenced a pregnant Christian to hang for apostasy despite appeals by Western embassies for compassion, according to The Times of Israel.
Hospital Employee Ordered to Remove “God Bless America” from Email Signature
A hospital that stirred nationwide outrage for ordering a military veteran not to say “God Bless America” in his e-mails has now implemented further restrictions.
U.S. Congressman Franks Decries Sentence of Sudanese Woman Refusing to Recant Christian Faith
On Mother’s Day, Meriam Yehya Ibrahim, a Christian Sudanese woman who is eight months pregnant with her second child, was convicted of “apostasy” and “adultery” for marrying a non-Muslim and converting to Christianity. Meriam was given three days by the court to recant her Christian faith and, if she refuses, faces a possible death penalty as well as 100 lashes. Meriam’s sentencing is scheduled to take place Thursday. She is married to an American citizen.
Sudan: Pregnant Christian Convicted of Apostasy, Adultery
As the U.S. Celebrated Mother’s Day, a Christian carrying her second child to term has been convicted of adultery and apostasy, penalties that are punishable in Sudan by 100 lashes and death, respectively, according to International Christian Concern.
Syria: Maaloula’s Christian Sites Sacked By Rebels
An official report by the Directorate General of Antiquities has documented the destruction inflicted on Maaloula and its historical sites by Islamist rebel fighters after pro-Assad forces had regained the Syrian city, according to International Christian Concern.
Sri Lanka: Christian Criticize Creation of Religious Police
The government of Sri Lanka has created a religious police unit to settle disputes arising from an increasing intolerance against minorities by Buddhist groups, according to AsiaNews.
Eygpt: Exiled Christian Teacher Awaits ‘Blasphemy’ Appeal
One year after Islamists in upper Egypt accused her of committing blasphemy in front of a class of Muslim students, a Coptic Christian teacher fled to France where she remains in exile, according to Morning Star News.
Christians Can’t Bury Dead in Uzbek State Cemeteries
Christians in Uzbekistan are being blocked from burying their dead in state-owned cemeteries as secular officials bend to pressures from Islamic religious leaders, according to Barnabas Aid.
Private Christians across China to face public persecution
Thousands of Christians who worship in private “underground” churches across China are now facing public persecution, according to International Christian Concern.
Nepalese minorities must ‘reconsider their faith’
The Nepali government just announced that though all its citizens will be provided with national identity cards, members of religious minorities must submit to greater scrutiny to get their IDs, according to AsiaNews.
Eritrea even persecutes ‘official’ Christians
Eritrea even persecutes its own officially recognized religions.
Just last week, five Christians about to be ordained in Eritrea’s state sanctioned Evangelical Lutheran Church were arrested instead, according to Morning Star News.
Kyrgyzstan: Church Appeals Building Confiscation
A church in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, is appealing a decision allowing local authorities to confiscate its building, according to Barnabas Aid.
Sudan: Christian Accused of Apostasy Because Dad was Muslim
A woman with child in Khartoum, Sudan, faces death for leaving Islam, according to Morning Star News.
Malaysian Hotels to Ban Bibles, Non-Islamic Books
A decision to ban hotels from carrying books on non-Islamic religions is further proof of the erosion of the rights of non-Muslims in Malaysia, according to the Malaysia Chronicle.
Iranian Pastor Injured by Prison Guards
An imprisoned Iranian pastor was injured in an attack by his own guards last week, according to Barnabas Aid.
Christians in India Outraged by Candidate’s Remarks
Christian leaders condemned the claim made by a Hindu nationalist party candidate when he denied any knowledge of the many attacks on members of their communities and its churches in India, according to International Christian Concern.