Iran Court Releases Christian Convert “On Bail”
An Iranian court has temporarily released an Iranian man who Christians say may be executed for converting from Islam to Christianity, reports said Monday, September 4.
Christian Persecution
India State Releases Pastors And Bible School Students
Two pastors and five Bible school students were reportedly free Saturday, September 2, after a court in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir granted them bail following their detention on charges of “concealing identity” and “forced conversion.”
Uzbekistan Church Leaders in Hiding amid Beatings and Deportations
Fearing beatings, detentions and deportations “many” Uzbek Protestant church leaders and their families were in hiding Friday, September 1, as Uzbekistan celebrated its 15th anniversary of independence, Christians said.
German Evangelicals Protest Planned Deportation of Vietnamese Christian
For over 200 days an evangelical congregation in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia has been providing “church asylum” to a Vietnamese Christian amid fears he may be deported by local German authorities, news reports said Sunday, September 3.
Malaysia Prime Minister “Prohibits” Evangelizing Among Muslims
There was international concern Wednesday, August 30, that a reported decision by Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to further restrict evangelizing among Muslims would lead to oppression of evangelical Christians and other minorities in the Asian nation.
Vietnam Pastor and ‘Cyber Dissident’ Released From Jail
Leading Christian and secular human rights groups welcomed Thursday, August 31 the release of a church leader and a well-known Internet activist as part of Vietnam’s National Day of amnesty of thousands of prisoners.
Extremist Attacks Against Christian Mount
Multiple attacks and arrests in recent weeks demonstrate ongoing hostility towards Christians in India. Police have cooperated with Hindu extremists, in some cases claiming “tremendous pressure” to charge Christian ministers with forced conversion.
China Sentences Missionary To Labor Camp And Blind Activist To Prison
Chinese authorities sent a female Mongolian missionary to a labor camp and dissidents, including a blind activist, to prison amid a crackdown on evangelical churches and political dissent, investigators said Monday, August 28.
Malaysian Convert Receives Death Threats, Goes into Hiding
Lina Joy, a Malaysian convert to Christianity, has gone into hiding after extremists issued death threats against her and the lawyers supporting her cause.
Leading Cuban Christian Dissident Antunez Beaten In Prison
Prison authorities have “brutally beaten” Jorge Luis GarcÃa Perez (Antunez), an influential Christian dissident serving an 18-year prison sentence in Cuba on charges of “spreading propaganda”, he and fellow activists confirmed Friday, August 25.
Pastor among three charged with Quran sacrilege
A Muslim cleric has accused three Christians including a pastor of the village, 55/2 L, some 2 Kms from the city, of blaspheming the Quran, the Muslims holy book.
Two Christians arrested in Savannakhet province in southern Laos
Two Protestant Christians have been arrested in southern Laos to stop them from pursuing their evangelization work, according to the Lao Human Rights Movement (LHRM), which is critical of Vientiane’s Communist regime.
Indonesia Christians Receive “Indefinite” Stay of Execution
There was uncertainty Saturday, August 26, about the fate of three Catholics sentenced to death for their alleged role in massacring Muslims after reports that they received an “indefinite” stay of execution from Indonesian authorities.
Town in India Plans Ban on Preaching Non-Hindu Faiths
The Congress Party-led government of the southern state of Andhra Pradesh has decided to enact a law banning preaching of any religion other than Hinduism in Tirupati, a “temple town” in large measure under the administration of its shrines.
India Army “Attacks” Church, One Killed, Five Injured
Tensions remained high Thursday in India’s northeastern state of Manipur after a pastor was killed and five others injured when Indian security forces reportedly opened at a Baptist church.
China State Destroys Church Building, Detains Christians
Christians in China’s Zhejiang province faced another tense day Wednesday, August 23, amid reports that authorities destroyed another church building and arrested six house church leaders.
Four Christians Attacked Arrested After Service
Hindu extremists on Sunday (August 20) beat four Christians, including a pastor, who were later arrested on charges of ‘forced conversion’ in Madhya Pradesh state.
Catholic Villagers Attack, Vandalize Baptists
Maronite Catholics attacked a newly-built, independent Baptist church near Beirut this month, mauling churchgoers preparing to host war refugees from southern Lebanon.
Egypt Muslim Kills Christian Cobbler amid Rising Religious Tensions
A Muslim ex-convict reportedly stabbed and killed a Christian cobbler northeast of Cairo saying he had planned to murder him because he was an ‘infidel’ who made a comment that offended him, BosNewsLife monitored Sunday, August 20.
Vietnam Releases Internet Users After BosNewsLife Story, Ending Nine Months Detention
Three computer users jailed for comments they made on an Internet forum and website dedicated to religious freedom in Vietnam have been released by Vietnamese authorities after a story by Christian news agency BosNewsLife sparked international protests, fellow activists confirmed, Friday, August 18.