Major Crackdown on Christians in China Reported
Christian Freedom International (CFI), a leading human rights organization, expressed concern Monday, August 8, about “a major crackdown” on Christians in China.
Christian Persecution
Bangladesh Christian Aid Workers Murdered By “Islamic Extremists”
Two Christian men of a non-governmental organization in Bangladesh have been “hacked to death” and officials believe Islamic extremists were “likely” responsible for the murders, news reports said Thursday, August 4.
India Proposes Stiffer Law to Regulate Foreign Donations
The Indian government has proposed a law to more closely regulate foreign donations for “anti-national activities.” Christian leaders in India fear the new law would be misused to reduce foreign donations to churches in India.
Indonesian Sunday School Teachers Case Goes to High Court
Hostile spectators filled a courtroom in West Java, Indonesia on July 28 as the fifth hearing in a controversial trial against three Christian women began. The women were accused of attempting to convert Muslim children through a Christian education program.
Turkmenistan Authorities Threaten To Hang Handicapped Baptist
Baptists in Turkmenistan faced another difficult Sunday, July 31, after a private home where they gathered regularly was stormed by police who beat the handicapped host with her own Bible and threatened to hang her, human rights activists reported.
Ethiopia Missionaries In Life Danger Amid Violence and Famine, reports
A human rights group has expressed concern about the plight of native and other missionaries in Ethiopia amid reported anti-Christian violence and warnings Thursday, July 28, of famine in several areas.
Hindu Fundamentalists Allege “Forced Conversion” in India
The High Court of Orissa state has asked local officials to examine complaints of “forced conversions” and ordered strict enforcement of the state anti-conversion law.
India Floods Destroy Churches, Killing Hundreds
Flooding caused by India’s heaviest rain ever recorded has killed hundreds of people in the slums of the country’s commercial capital Mumbai and also destroyed a dozen churches and a bible college there, missionaries said Friday, July 29.
Muslim Extremists Threaten to Kill Christian Family in Nigeria
A band of Muslim militants, which had pronounced a death sentence on a Christian family because one of its young members allegedly sold pork, has assaulted her 57-year-old father, Emma Osagie.
Authorities Twice Raid Mennonite Center in Vietnam
While believers met for prayer in the District 2 Mennonite center Sunday evening — just five days after authorities demolished half of the building — officials forced their way in to disband the meeting.
Vietnam Government Razes Portion of Mennonite Church
On Tuesday morning, July 19, about 200 officials cordoned off the Vietnam Mennonite Church center in this city’s District 2 and sent in a large work force that tore down the rear 8.8 meters of the 4.5 meter-wide building — including the home of Pastor Nguyen Hong Quang and his family.
Wave of Arrests in China Submerges Hope in New Regulations
Wide-ranging persecution of Chinese Christians in recent months has dashed hopes of greater religious freedom from a new law on religion that took effect in March.
Sri Lanka Tsunami Children Saved By Missionaries amid Reports of Kidnappings
Sri Lanka’s government is allowing Christian native missionaries to save children who narrowly survived the recent Tsunami disaster, following news that some are being abducted into forced labor or child prostitution by people posing as aid workers, BosNewsLife established Monday, July 18.
Pakistan Christians Fear Violence and Taliban Style Government
Christians in Pakistan faced a new period of uncertainty Monday, July 18, amid news of increased violence against believers and the adoption of what human rights groups call “a move towards a Taliban-style government” in a key region.
Sri Lanka: The Politics of Conversion
Anti-conversion laws are once again on the agenda in Sri Lanka after a fall-out in parliament that left President Chandrika Kumaratunga desperately in need of Buddhist support.
Iraq Evangelical Churches Grow between Death and Destruction, report
Evangelical churches are experiencing an unprecedented revival between death and destruction in Iraq, a Christian news agency reported following an investigation in the area. Compass Direct, which was monitored by BosNewsLife Monday, July 11, said especially Iraqi Kurdistan is becoming increasingly a haven for Christian activity as the two rival Kurdish governments grow in their toleration of Muslims becoming Christians. In the south, the evangelical church is growing rapidly.
Turkish Court to Assess Injured Christian’s Recovery
A criminal court in northwestern Turkey will assess new medical reports next week on the condition of Turkish Christian Yakup Cindilli, still recovering from severe injuries inflicted by ultra-nationalists accusing him of “missionary propaganda.”
Missionary Tortured and Sentenced in Saudi Arabia amid Crack Down
A young Indian missionary has been sentenced to one year in prison and beaten hundreds of times in Saudi Arabia, where up to 100 foreign Christians have been detained in recent weeks, a mission organization said Thursday, June 30.
Uzbekistan Christians Detained and Tortured for Their Faith, reports
International concern was mounting Thursday, June 30, over the plight of Protestant Christians in Uzbekistan amid new reports of torture and apparent police reluctance to investigate the murder of an American Christian.
Motorcycle Crash Leaves Togo Missionary in “Critical Condition”
In “a blow” to Christian pioneer work in the troubled African nation of Togo, a native missionary was seriously injured when he was thrown from his motorbike, Christian Aid Mission (CAM) said Tuesday, June 28.