Uzbekistan “Bans” Bibles
Thousands of Christians in Uzbekistan were without anticipated Bibles and related Christian literature Sunday, July 13, as authorities have reportedly imposed a ban on Bible imports, a major Christian publishing group said.
Christian Persecution
Protestant Christian Faces 15 Years Prison In Uzbekistan
A Protestant Christian leader in Uzbekistan faces up to 15 years in prison on charges that include teaching religion without official approval and encouraging people to read "prohibited Christian literature," a major religious rights group said Monday, July 14.
Pakistan: Girls Kidnapped, Allegedly Forced to Convert
A Christian father in Pakistan is in a legal battle with kidnappers for the custody of his pre-teen daughters, who allegedly have been forced to convert to Islam.
Ex-Pakistan Minister Appeals For Christian Rights Amid Fresh Reports Of Kidnappings
A former federal minister and key human rights official has demanded more political influence for minority Christians in Pakistan’s parliament amid fresh reports of anti-Christian violence and kidnappings of believers.
Yemen: Arrests May Spark New Wave of Persecution
On 18 June Yemeni news source Al Sahwa reported that Yemeni political security forces in Hodiada province had arrested a "missionary cell" of seven people and charged them with promoting Christianity and distributing the Bible. One of those arrested, Hadni Dohni, stands accused of converting to Christianity.
Christian Community Again Attacked In India’s Orissa State
Christian orphans were without shelter Wednesday July 9, as Hindu militants attacked their orphanage, a Jesuit Residence and a nearby Christian village in the troubled state of Orissa, where believers are still recovering from recent anti-Christian violence, BosNewsLife established.
China Sentences Evangelical Leader To Two Years Forced Labor
An evangelical pastor who trained Christian missionaries and evangelized in northwest China and Tibet has been sentenced to two years forced because of his Christian activities, investigators said.
Iran: Ex-Muslims Detained for ‘Apostasy’
Iranian authorities have detained two converts to Christianity in the southern city of Shiraz for eight weeks on suspicion of "apostasy," or leaving Islam. In Iran, apostasy is a crime that can be punishable by death.
Evangelist Beaten Up by Hindu Radicals in India
A group of Hindu radicals attacked an evangelist and beat him up.
Indonesia: Church in West Java Bulldozed
Public Order officials on June 26 demolished a church building in Cimahi regency of Bandung district, West Java, to make way for a new shopping mall and bus terminal after church leaders failed to convince authorities that they owned the land on which it was built.
China Detains House Church Missionary And Co-workers
A key member and missionary of an unofficial ‘house church’ in China’s Heilongjiang Province faced difficulties Monday, July 7, to worship with fellow believers after Chinese security forces briefly detained him and two co-workers, representatives said.
Algeria: Christians Sentenced for Spreading Faith
A court in western Algeria convicted two Muslim converts to Christianity yesterday for illegally spreading their faith.
Iran: Authorities ‘Temporarily’ Release Badly Injured Christian
After four weeks in police custody, Iranian Christian Mohsen Namvar was released "temporarily" last week to return to his home in Tehran.
Colombia: Threats Drive Pastor from Ministry in Medellin
A series of death threats against a pastor in a working-class Medellín neighborhood prompted him to abandon his home and ministry last month and flee with his family to Colombia’s capital.
India: Victims of Orissa Violence Evicted from Homes
At least 36 Christian families whose houses were burned during Christmas season violence in Orissa’s Kandhamal district have been evicted from their damaged homes.
Chinese Security Forces Raid House Church At Coal Mine
Chinese security forces raided a house church at a coal mine in China’s Gansu Province and detained several Christians as part of a crackdown on unauthorized worship services in the Communist nation, a Christian rights group said Monday, June 30.
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.
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.