Laos Detains Christians Over Worship Service
Lao authorities have detained five Christians who attended a Christian worship service Sunday, March 25, in southern Laos amid a crackdown on Christianity in the region, representatives told Worthy News.
Christian Persecution
Nigeria Captures Militants After Attacks Kill Pastor, Villagers
Two fighters of the Islamic militant Boko Haram group were in custody of Nigeria’s military Saturday, March 24, following attacks on three villages in which 10 people died including a pastor, Christians said.
Sudan Forces Its Christians Out
Thousands of Christians stripped of their citizenship are now being forced out of Sudan in the wake of the South’s secession back in January 2011.
Iran Detains Dozen Christians In Major City
At least a dozen devoted Christians from Iran’s third largest city remained in jail Saturday, March 17, as part of an attempt by authorities to discourage Muslims and Christian converts to attend church services, Iranian Christians said.
Saudi Grand Mufti calls for the destruction of all churches
Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah, the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, recently declared that it is “necessary to destroy all the churches of the region.”
Baptist Church in Bethlehem Declared Illegitimate By Palestinian Authority
Only a week after Prime Minister Salam Fayyad told a conference of evangelical Protestants that his government respected the rights of Christian minorities, his fellow Palestinian officials told Pastor Naim Khoury that his church could no longer operate as a religious institution under the Palestinian Authority.
Cuba Pentecostal Pastor Injured in Violent Attack, Christians Say
A Pentecostal pastor in Cuba was recovering of brain damage Tuesday, March 13, after he was assaulted while trying to challenge the confiscation of a church truck by Communist authorities, Christians said.
Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan Crackdown On Evangelical Churches
Authorities in Azerbaijan continued preparations Tuesday, March 13, to close down an evangelical church in the first such reported incident since the former Soviet republic introduced harsh religious legislation in 2009, rights activists said.
India Militants Attack Prayer Meeting, Pastors
Suspected Hindu militants broke up a Christian prayer meeting and forced two women leading the gathering to stop evangelizing in India’s southwestern state of Karnataka, as part of several attacks against devoted believers across the country, Christians told Worthy News.
Report: Laos Christian Facing Ultimatum To Recant Faith
The only known Christian in a rural district of northern Laos was under pressure to abandon his faith in Christ or face expulsion from his village, his supporters told Worthy News.
Egypt: Priest sentenced to six months for his church’s “excess height”
A court in Edfu sentenced the pastor of St. George’s Church to six months in prison and a fine of 300 pounds for violations pertaining to the height of his church.
Syria: Relief reaches Homs
Barnabas Aid is sending emergency relief to Christians trapped in Homs after the withdrawal of anti-government forces from the Baba Amr district.
Another Christian Convert arrested in Esfahan
Yet another convert and member of a house church was arrested along with many other Christians in Esfahan, according to the Iranian Christian news agency, Mohabat News.
Suicide Attack Rocks Nigeria Church; Several Killed
A suicide car bomber detonated his explosives during a worship service of a large evangelical church in Nigeria’s restive city of Jos early Sunday, February 26, killing himself and a father and child, government and church officials said.
House Church in Xilinhot Raided: Officials Destroy Property, Detain Pastor
In Xilinhot, officials from the Religious Affairs Bureau, the Public Security’s Domestic Security Protection Squad, the United Front Work Department as well as local police raided a house church, confiscating its property and arresting the pastor and several of his congregation.
Protesters at Saudi Embassy Demand End to Christian Persecution
Dozens demonstrated at the Saudi Arabia Embassy in Washington demanding that Ethiopian Christians imprisoned for their beliefs be released.
Qur’ans burned in Afghanistan “used to facilitate extremist communications”
The qu’rans burned at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan were removed from the library of a detainee center “because of extremist inscriptions,” a military official said Tuesday.
Kuwaiti legislators call for ban on church construction
A Kuwaiti parliamentarian will soon draft legislation banning the construction of churches and other non-Islamic places of worship in the tiny emirate.
BREAKING: Iran Again ‘Orders Execution’ Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani (Worthy News In-Depth)
Iran again ordered the death penalty for jailed Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani for refusing to recant his faith in Christ and return to Islam raising fears his execution is imminent, a well-informed church official told Worthy News and its news partner BosNewsLife Tuesday, February 21.
Jailed Iranian Pastor’s Health Deteriorating
The health of a jailed pastor of one of Iran’s largest evangelical house church movements is deteriorating and there were fears Monday he may die, a well-informed representative told Worthy News.