Sri Lanka Buddhist Militants Attack Churches And Pastors, Investigators Say
Buddhist militants in Sri Lanka are stepping up attacks on Christian pastors and churches across Sri Lanka, rights investigators said Friday, June 27.
Christian Persecution
American And Other Christians Facing “Torture” In Yemen Prison
Seven arrested Christian missionaries, including an unknown number of Americans, apparently remained detained in Yemen Sunday, June 29, and there was international concern they may face torture for spreading Christianity, several sources said.
Tajikistan Protestant Church Threatened With Destruction Amid Crackdown Across Former Soviet Union
In several former Soviet republics Christians were detained or facing their last worship service in their church building Sunday, June 29, as authorities stepped up a crackdown on mainly Protestant Christians, including believers involved in evangelism or unauthorized gatherings.
Evangelist Due in Algeria Court for “Shaking Muslim Faith”
A Christian evangelist was due to appear in an Algerian court Wednesday, June 25, on charges related to "attempting to shake the Muslim faith," after allegedly receiving death threats.
Iran Police Tortures And Detains Couple For Converting To Christianity
Iranian security police in Tehran have detained and tortured a married couple who recently converted from Islam to Christianity and threatened to put their 4-year-old daughter in an institution, a Christian news agency reported late Wednesday, June 25.
Indonesia: Islamists try to Destroy Church Buildings
Local authorities accompanied by an Islamist mob attempted to demolish two buildings in a church compound used by three congregations in Jatimulya village, West Java province on June 14.
Government Forces Attack Pastor In Sri Lanka, Christians Say
An evangelical pastor in eastern Sri Lankia was receiving treatment in hospital Tuesday, June 24, a day after he was attacked by militant government forces because of his Christian activities, local believers and investigators said.
Taliban Kidnaps 16 Christians
The Washington-DC based human rights group, International Christian Concern (ICC) www.persecution.org has just learned that 16 Christians were kidnapped at gunpoint in Peshawar, Pakistan on June 21, 2008, and have since been released.
China Cancels Court Hearing Of Frail House Church Leader
A frail prominent Chinese house church leader and Christian bookstore owner already detained for three months remained in a Chinese prison Sunday, June 22, after a court hearing was unexpectedly cancelled, Chinese Christians said.
Muslims Fight to Keep Church Out of Village
Muslim fundamentalists in a village 192 kilometers (119 miles) north of the capital have threatened to kill a pastor as part of an effort to keep his church from constructing a church building, according to the head of the Isha-e-Jamat Bangladesh (Jesus’ Church) denomination.
Sri Lanka: Large Anti-Christian Rally Planned
Buddhist extremists have invited residents of Middeniya, a town in Hambanthota district, southern Sri Lanka, to attend a huge anti-Christian rally this Sunday (June 22), where they have promised to "expose the great [Christian] conspiracy."
China Detains Church Leader Due To Meet EU Official
The president of the Chinese House Church Alliance, a major umbrella group of underground churches, has been detained along with his interpreter while on his way to meet a senior European Union official, fellow Christian workers said.
China: Bookstore Owner Due to Appear in Court
Christian bookstore owner Shi Weihan, detained in a Chinese prison without his medication for diabetes, is due in court Thursday (June 19) to face as yet unspecified charges.
Turkish Pastor Facing Jail On “False” Charges
An evangelical pastor in Turkey faced a possible jail term Wednesday, June 18, just days after a prosecutor began investigating him on charges that included to blasphemy against Islam, Christian rights investigators said.
Algeria: Christian Charged with Evangelism — Again
Convicted of blasphemy and evangelism in two separate cases this year, an Algerian Christian goes on trial in west Algeria for a third time tomorrow, again for evangelism.
Turkey Church Facing Closure
A Protestant church in the Turkish capital Ankara faced an uncertain future Monday, June 16, after authorities ordered it to close down, rights investigators familiar with the situation said.
Third Christian School Opened In Iraq
Amid reported death threats and violence against Iraq’s Christian minority, a mission group has managed to open a third Christian school in Iraq as part of government-backed reconciliation efforts, BosNewsLife monitored Saturday, June 14.
“Fall” Lebanon “Horrendous” Implications For Christians And Middle East
A key official of the World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission (WEA-RLC) has warned that Iran-sponsored Hezbollah’s veto over government decisions means "the fall of Lebanon" with "horrendous implications" for religious liberty and security in the Middle East.
India: Christians in Orissa Still Targeted After Attacks
Still struggling to rebuild their homes and lives after suffering large-scale attacks last Christmas season, Christians in Orissa state’s Kandhamal district continue to face ostracism and threats from Hindu nationalists.
Iran: Christian Arrested Without Charges
Iran continued a wave of arrests against Christians in recent weeks, detaining a Tehran house church leader who was previously held and tortured for religious activity.