Mob Forces Church to Close in West Java, Indonesia
A mob of some 200 Muslim vigilantes forced Christians in Bogor, West Java, to abandon their church service on Sunday, The Jakarta Post reported today.
Christian Persecution
Algeria: Severe New Penalties for Proselytising
A presidential order that establishes new conditions for the exercise of non-Muslim religious practice was passed in the Algerian Ummah council (Senate) on Monday 13 March, and in the Algerian National Assembly (Parliament) on 15 March. As a presidential order, the text would not have even been open to debate.
RSS Plans to Reconvert 10,000 Christians in India
A Hindu extremist group planning centenary celebrations in April hopes to “reconvert” as many as 10,000 tribal Christians to Hinduism during the event.
More Christians Arrested in Wake of ‘Apostasy’
An avalanche of media coverage of an Afghan man facing the death penalty for converting to Christianity has apparently sparked the arrest and deepening harassment of other Afghan Christians in the ultra-conservative Muslim country.
West Java, Indonesia Churches Told Not to Meet in Homes
A local council in West Java has warned several congregations in the Rancaekek Kencana housing complex in Bandung to abandon their “nomadic” cell group system, which allows limited numbers of Christians to meet together in private homes.
China: House Churches Raided
China Aid Association learned one House Church pastor was detained on March 20, 2006 at Hubei Province. Pastor Lian Changnian is now detained at the Detention Center of Xiantao City, Hubei Province. Pastor Lian who is from Xi’an City, Shannxi Province was leading a Bible study of over 100 believers at a House Church at Xiantao City when the raid occurred.
European Evanglistic Outreach Kicks Off from Munich
One of the biggest evangelistic outreach programs on the European continent has kicked off from Munich, Germany. ProChrist meetings are aired daily via satellite to 1,250 venues in 21 European countries, March 19 through 26.
Thousands of Karens Flee Burma Offensive
Over 3,000 terrified predominantly Christian Karen villagers were in hiding Monday, March 20, after new attacks by the Burmese Army in Western and Northern Karen State, a human rights group said.
Afghanistan Man Faces Execution For Refusing To Give Up Christ, Judge Says
An Afghan man faced an uncertain future behind bars Monday, March 20, after a judge told him he may be executed for converting from Islam to Christianity.
Kidnapped Pastor Released Unharmed in Northeast India
The Rev. Tongkhojang Lunkim was released at 1 p.m. on Saturday (March 18) after being held captive for two months by the Kuki Liberation Army (KLA) in Manipur state, Northeast India.
India Police Detains Hopegivers Leader Samuel Thomas, Militants Threaten Orphans
The president of Hopegivers International (HI), one of the largest Evangelical mission groups active in India, was detained Thursday, March 16, by security forces after being on the run to avoid arrest for his alleged involvement in inciting hatred.
Kidnapped Christian Leader Still Missing in India
The Rev. Tongkhojang Lunkim is still missing two months after a rebel army in Northeast India kidnapped the administrative secretary of the Kuki Christian Church (KCC) on January 17, and relatives fear for his safety.
24 House Church Leaders Missing After Police Raid in Henan Province, China
China Aid Association learned 24 House Church Leaders are still missing following a police raid on a house church leaders’ meeting in Henan Province. CAA released the Defense Statement today in the case of a controversial religious group leader, Xu Shuangfu, by his defense Lawyers.
Media Bias Fans Anti-Christian Sentiment in Turkey
In a country where media often portray the tiny Protestant community negatively, some news organizations here took notice when Muslims threatened Christians at a book fair last week.
India State Releases Jailed Pastor and Church Members
After nearly a month in jail in the tense Indian state of Rajasthan a Gospel for Asia (GFA) missionary and several other Christians have been released after allegedly being falsely charged with the murder of a child, BosNewsLife learned Thursday, March 16.
India Militants Plan Assassination Christian Leaders, Threaten Orphans
Hindu militants have threatened to assassinate the leaders of one of India’s largest evangelical mission groups and plan to take over its orphanages, churches and mission schools in the Indian state of Rajahstan, officials said Wednesday, March 15.
Christian Families Evicted in Laos
A human rights group expressed concern Wednesday, March 15, over a possible new government crackdown on Christian villagers in Laos.
Vietnam “Tortures” Christian Montagnards For Refusing to Worship Ho Chi Minh
Representatives of Vietnam’s embattled Degar Montagnard Christians remained concerned Wednesday, March 15, over the whereabouts of fellow believers who they said were tortured and detained by security forces for refusing “to abandon Christianity” by joining a government church “which worships [Communist leader] Ho Chi Minh.”
Belarus: Religious Repression; Presidential Election March 19
Belarus is ruled by Soviet-style totalitarian dictator, Aleksandr Lukashenko. Popularly elected in 1994, he has since then maintained his grip on power through propaganda, repression, fraud and violence. In late 2002 Belarus adopted the most repressive Religion Law in all Europe. Unregistered religious groups are illegal, and registration is severely restrictive.
Malaysia: Debate Over Conversion Rights Heat Up
Two significant legal developments have left Malaysians hotly debating religious rights and Islamic law (sharia).