Thousands “Flee” Burma Army Attacks (UPDATE)
Over 2000 ethnic Karen villagers were seeking shelter Tuesday, January 26, after being forced to flee their homes in the past week following deadly attacks by the Burmese army, investigators said.
Christian Persecution
Pakistan Christian Receives Life Imprisonment For “Blasphemy”
A young Christian man was behind bars Saturday, January 23, after being sentenced tolife imprisonment for having “insulted and desecrated” the Koran, seen as a holy book by Muslims.
Hindu Militants Attack Prayer Service; 11 Injured
Indian police have released on bail Hindu militants who allegedly attacked a Christian prayermeeting in Western India, seriously injuring at least 11 Christians, a rights group said Friday, January 22.
2009 “Worst Year” For Pakistan Christians
Last year was the worst period of persecution against Christians in Pakistan in thelast decade, with attacks, arrests and detentions that reportedly killed some 130 Christians across the Islamic country, an advocacy group said Thursday, January 21.
NEWS ALERT: Over 40 Killed After Attack On Nigeria Church
Over 40 people have been killed in the Nigerian city of Jos in the country’s Plateau State, after around 200 Muslim youths attacked Christians near a Catholic Church sparking retaliatory violence, Christian rights investigators said Monday, January 18.
China Detains North Korean Defector For Helping American Missionary
A North Korean defector has been detained in China for helping an American missionary cross into North Korea, Korean media said Sunday, January 17, citing Free North Korea Radio.
China Confirms Christian Rights Lawyer “Missing”
Concerns remained Saturday, January 16, over the whereabouts of Chinese Christian human rights lawyer, Gao Zhisheng, after Chinese authorities for the first time admitted he went missing amid reports that he was tortured to death, Christian rights activists said.
BREAKING NEWS: Survivors Of India’s Communal Violence Ordered To Evacuate By Government
About 100 survivors of anti-Christian violence in India’s Orissa state have been ordered by the local government to leave a local market complex where they stayed since the closure of relief camps.
Massive New Year and Christmas Attacks In Arab World, Africa, Asia
Rights investigators said Wednesday, January 13, there has been “a surge ofattacks” against Christians since December, with deaths, detentions and destruction reported in the Arab world, Africa and Asia.
NEWS ALERT: Malaysia Police Identify Suspect In Spreading Church Attacks
Malaysian police said Tuesday, January 12, they have identified their first suspect in attacks on some 10 churches and Christian buildings amid a dispute over the use of the word “Allah” by non-Muslims.
Islamists Burn, Loot Algerian Church
Islamists burned and looted a Protestant church in northern Algeria in an attack that was fueled by violence against Christians elsewhere in the Muslim and Arab world, church officials said Monday, January 11.
Malaysia Pentecostal Church Forgives Arsonists
Worshipers of a Pentecostal church that was burned by suspected Islamic arsonists in a suburb of the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur have forgiven those who destroyed their building, a senior pastor said Sunday.
Arsonists Attack Fourth Church in Malaysia
Arsonists in Malaysia attacked a fourth church in the capital Kuala Lumpur after a High Court decision to end a government ban on the use of the word “Allah” by non-Muslims, church officials said.
BREAKING NEWS: Suspects Copt Killings Surrender To Police; 7 Killed
Three suspects in a drive-by shooting in front of a church that killed six Coptic Christians and a Muslim policeman in southern Egypt surrendered to police, but Christian organizations urged authorities to do more to end “inter-faith tensions.”
Iran Places Christian Mother Under House Arrest
An Iranian court forced a Christian convert with a Muslim background to sign a confession that she is “mentally unstable” and placed her under three months of house arrest in the city of Mashhad, 850 kilometers (530 miles) east of the capital Tehran, trial observers said.
North Korea, Iran World’s “Top Persecutors” Of Christians, Report Says
One of the world’s largest mission agencies, Open Doors, named North Korea and Iran Wednesday, November 6, as “the worst persecutors of Christians”.
Dozens of Pakistani Christians Injured in Muslim Violence
At least dozens of Pakistani Christians were recovering of injuries Wednesday, January 6, following attacks by Muslim extremists in and outside the capital Islamabad, Christians and rights investigators said.
Iran Jails Christian Mother For Contacting Christian Broadcasters
A Christian mother jailed in Iran was apparently still prevented from meeting her family Tuesday, January 5, nearly three weeks after she was detained by police for allegedly contacting foreign Christian broadcasters.
Tajikistan Churches Face Closures, Uncertain Future
Devoted Christians in several areas of Tajikistan faced uncertainty Tuesday, January 5, over the future of their churches after the former Soviet republic introduced a new religion law that the United States has criticized as highly restrictive.
Algeria Mob Prevents Protestant Church Services
Tensions remained high in a northern Algerian city Monday, January 3, after a Muslim mob reportedly prevented Christian converts from holding a Christmas service and threatened to kill their church pastor.