China Court Sentences Christians To Long Prison Sentences
Details emerged Monday, January 15, of long prison sentences given to eight Chinese Christians on charges that included inciting “violent resistance” against the destruction of a church.
Christian Persecution
Sudan: Police Deny New Year’s Church Attack
Sudanese police have denied attacking 800 Christians at a New Year’s Eve service at Khartoum’s Anglican cathedral and injuring six members of the congregation, the church priest said.
India Militants Attack Pastors, Burn Churches
Pastors and other believers were recovering from injuries or struggling to rebuild burnt down churches in several areas of India Wednesday, January 10, after militants reportedly attacked them.
Indonesia: Service Cancelled in Otherwise Quiet Christmas
A 200-strong mob prevented a church here from holding a Christmas Eve service in what was an otherwise peaceful holiday season in Indonesia. Some Muslim groups even provided protection for churches alongside police and army personnel.
India: Hindu Extremists Beat Four Pastors
Seven youths beat Pastor Robert Kennedy of Bangalore in Karnataka state on Sunday (January 7), after asking him to “pray for a sick friend.†The pastor required 16 stitches to his head and back after the assault.
Russia Missionaries Fear Soviet-Era Persecution Under New Law
Missionaries and church leaders warned Thursday, August 11, that Russia’s new law on non-governmental organizations (NGOs) could lead to persecution of devoted Christians “reminiscent of the Soviet era.”
Vietnam “Poisons” Leading Rights Lawyer; Church Destroyed
A leading Vietnamese human rights lawyer and pro-democracy activist has been forcefully injected with unknown drugs in a mental hospital where she has been confined since last year, fellow dissidents said Tuesday, January 9.
Vietnam Security Forces Attack Massive Prayer Meetings in Central Highlands; Dozens Injured
Vietnamese security forces raided several prayer meetings of Montagnard Christians in the Central Highlands injuring dozens of believers, and at least one Montagnard Christian was fighting for his life Friday, January 5, following torture in prison, representatives said.
India: Anti-Christian Attacks Mark New Year
After launching several anti-Christian attacks during the last week of 2006, Hindu extremists went on to beat more Christians, vandalize vehicles and organize a protest rally against a church, dampening New Year celebrations.
Pakistan “Enslaves” Nearly Million Christians, Report Says
There was concern Wednesday, January 3, about reports that at least nearly a million impoverished men, women and children, most of them Christians, have been “illegally enslaved” on the outskirts of Pakistan’s major cities and towns.
Iraq Now World’s “Second-Worst Persecutor” of Christians
Iraq was named Wednesday, January 3, as the world’s “second-worst persecutor of Christians” after North Korea in an influential report expected to underscore concern about sectarian violence in the war-torn county.
Iran Church Leader Remains Detained; Others Released On Bail
One of eight Iranian house church leaders arrested last month for “evangelization” and threatening security remained detained Thursday, January 4, on new charges that he must pay “an outstanding debt,” Iranian Christians reportedly said.
India State Introduces “Anti-Christian” Law
Devoted Christians in India’s northern state of Himachal Pradesh, including missionary workers and church leaders, ushered in the New Year Monday, January 1, amid fears of persecution after law makers introduced legislation banning “forced” religious conversions.
Vietnam Security Forces Detain Christian Montagnards, Rape Girl, group says
Traumatized Christian Degar Montagnards in Vietnam’s Central Highlands were preparing for a difficult New Year on Thursday, December 28, after security forces arrested believers in several villages and raped at least one 11-year old girl in the region, local Christians said.
India Hindu Militants Attack Christians For Singing Christmas Carols; Church Burnt Down
Evangelical Christians in central and eastern India were recovering from injuries Wednesday, December 27, after Hindu militants attacked them for singing Christmas carols while elsewhere a church was completely destroyed, Christian leaders said.
China Detains House Church Leader, “Raids” Christmas Service
Chinese security forces have raided a house church in Beijing to prevent it from holding Christmas season worship services while re-arresting an influential house church leader, a religious rights group said Thursday, December 28.
Cuba: Pastor Acquitted, But Convicted on New Charge
A court in Havana has found the Rev. Carlos Lamelas not guilty of “trafficking in human beings†but convicted him on previously unannounced charges of falsification of documents.
China Jails House Church Christians; Suspends Prison Sentence Christian Lawyer
Most, if not all, eight prominent house church Christians in China’s eastern Zhejiang province prepared to spend Christmas behind bars Saturday, December 23, after they were sentenced to prison sentences of up to 3.5 years, fellow believers said.
India: Hindu Extremists in India Beat Christian Couple, Pastor
Hindu extremists launched two known attacks against Christians this week, beating a couple in the northern state of Haryana yesterday and assaulting pastor in the central state of Chhattisgarh on Sunday (December 17).
China Security Forces Raid Home of House Church Missionary; Church Leaders Kidnapped
Chinese police and an angry mob raided the home of a key house church missionary in Beijing and detained about a dozen believers after beating them and destroying furniture, family and investigators said Thursday, December 21.