Life Sentence for Two Christians in Blasphemy Case Upheld
A High Court has upheld the decision of a lower court to sentence two Pakistani Christians to life imprisonment for allegedly burning a Qur’an.
Christian Persecution
Bali Bombing Brings Unity to Indonesian Churches
Following last October’s bombing of a Bali nightclub, Christians and churches have made an effort to unite in their response to the tragedy.
Is Haiti Facing a Voodoo-Christian Showdown?
In late April, Haiti’s President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, a former Catholic priest, declared voodoo an officially recognized religion. The decision means, among other things, that marriage ceremonies conducted by voodoo priests now have equal standing with Catholic ones.
Chinese Officials Continue Campaign Against Underground Christians
The spread of the SARS virus has not distracted Chinese officials from their campaign against unregistered churches. At least 52 key house church leaders have been arrested in recent months. Police also arrested and fined hundreds of “ordinary” Christians in the first four months of 2003.
Christians Jailed for Aiding North Korean Refugees in China
Two South Korean pastors and two laymen, imprisoned in China because of their pastoral and humanitarian work among North Korean refugees, await court decisions on their fate.
Iraq’s Revival: Christians Risk Their Lives for Church
BAGHDAD, IRAQ (ANS) — Iraqi Christians who have become targets of attacks by Muslim extremists and bandits are risking their lives to attend church services, ASSIST News Service (ANS) has established.
Vietnamese Officials Hold Informal Talks with House Church Leaders
HO CHI MINH CITY, March 19 (Compass) — In what may be a small breakthrough for religious liberty, Vietnam’s religion authorities invited five leaders of Protestant house church organizations and non-denominational missions to Hanoi for “informal talks†in early March.
Palestinian Diplomat in Morocco on the War in Iraq, Zionism, and Israel
MEMRI) — On April 26, 2003, the Islamic website Islam Online (1) hosted Wasef Mansour, a diplomat with the Palestinian mission in Morocco, in an online discussion titled “What Israel Gains From the Occupation of Iraq.” (2) During the discussion, Mansour held Israel responsible for the looting of museums and banks in Baghdad, called for Jihad against ‘the occupiers’ of Iraq, Palestine, and three cities under Spanish rule regarded by him as Moroccan, denied Israel’s right to exist, and compared President George W. Bush to Hitler and other tyrannical leaders. The following are excerpts from Mansour’s discussion with visitors to the website:
Israel Honors Her Fallen; PM Pledges to Seek an End to War
Jerusalem (ICEJ) — Israelis stood for two minutes of silence on Tuesday as sirens wailed throughout the nation in memory of more than 21,000 soldiers and civilians who have given their lives for their country over the last 55 years of statehood even as security services braced themselves for further terror attacks.
Spiritual Warfare Archive Jan 2003 – Aug 2003
Spiritual Warfare Archive – Jan 2003 – Aug 2003
Bangladesh: Systematic Persecution of Religious Minorities
AUSTRALIA (ANS) — On 1 October 2001, as U.S. and coalition forces were assembling in Pakistan in preparation for the bombing campaign in Afghanistan, Bangladeshis were heading off to vote in their national elections.
Indian Government Denies Constitutional Rights to Dalit Christians
NEW DELHI, December 30 (Compass) — The government of India has rejected a demand that social benefits be extended to Dalit Christians and Muslims, compounding the problems faced by the most downtrodden social class in India.
At least 11 Killed in Iraq Church Explosions Blamed on Al Qaeda
BAGHDAD, IRAQ (ANS) — At least 11 people have died and dozens were rushed to hospitals following the largest ever terrorist attacks against Iraq’s minority Christians since the insurgency began, 15 months ago, reports said early Monday, August 2.
Bali Bombing Brings Unity to Indonesian Churches
LONDON (Compass) — Following last October’s bombing of a Bali nightclub, Christians and churches have made an effort to unite in their response to the tragedy.
Indonesia: Missionaries Help Tsunami Survivors in Worst-Hit Country
January 7, 2004 (Christian Aid) — Following the disaster of December 26, native missionaries of Indonesia have been helping survivors on the northern tip of Sumatra Island, the single region with the most casualties.
Missionaries to the Gond People
November 24, 2003 (Gospel for Asia) — Deep in the forests of India, there lives an illiterate, isolated people group called the Gond. They consult witch doctors and worship the gods of nature. They have never heard of Jesus.
Bush: ‘Dismantle Terror Before Fence’
Jerusalem, Israel (ICEJ) — It was all smiles at the White House Tuesday as US President George W. Bush toned down expected criticism of Israel’s seam-line security fence and repeated his call for the Palestinian Authority to “dismantle†the terrorist infrastructure, angering the PA leadership and Islamic terror groups.
Gospel for Asia Responds to Deadly Tsunami
CARROLLTON, Texas, Dec. 27, 2004 (Gospel for Asia) — Gospel for Asia workers are rushing food, clothing, medical supplies-and the love of God-to millions of Asians still in deep shock from a disaster spawned by the most powerful earthquake in 40 years.
Missionaries Arrested in Northeast India
Police arrested a missionary and four church leaders after Christian groups in the state of Nagaland were accused of forcing people of other faiths to convert to Christianity.
Saudi Arabia Deports Eritrean Christian
After 20 weeks in a Saudi jail for participating in prohibited Christian activities, Eritrean Christian Girmaye Ambaye was deported from Jeddah by plane back to his home country on Saturday, August 9.