Christians Attacked in Borno, Nigeria
A Christian-Muslim conflict in Damboa in northeastern Nigeria’s Borno state resulted in the deaths of 15 Christians, and four churches were burned.
Christian Persecution
Nigeria Releases Casualty Figures from Kaduna Riots
Nigerian police authorities reported that 123 churches were burned and 55 mosques razed during the Kaduna religious riots in late February that involved violent clashes between Christians and Muslims over the implementation of sharia (Islamic legal system) in northern Nigeria.
Chinese evangelist suffering as authorities decide his fate
18 April 2000 (Newsroom) — Chinese evangelist Li Dexian has been kept in chains since his arrest April 11 in Guangdong province and is suffering physical pain, according to a Christian monitoring group. The house church leader, who has been arrested 13 times since October for his unauthorized church activities, is in the middle of a 15-day sentence.
Chinese evangelist suffering as authorities decide his fate
Chinese evangelist Li Dexian has been kept in chains since his arrest April 11 in Guangdong province and is suffering physical pain, according to a Christian monitoring group. The house church leader, who has been arrested 13 times since October for his unauthorized church activities, is in the middle of a 15-day sentence.
Indonesian Jihad fighters press on despite disarmament by police
17 April 2000 (Newsroom) — Jakarta police have disarmed and disbanded Muslims vowing to fight a holy war in the Molucca Islands where sectarian clashes in the past year have taken an estimated 3,000 lives.
Six More Chinese House Church Leaders Arrested and Sentenced
Five house church leaders from the “Born Again” movement of Xu Yongze were arrested at their homes in China’s southern Henan province on December 27, 1999. Each was sentenced in February to two years hard labor, according to reliable sources inside the province. Another full-time evangelist — not with the same movement — was arrested in Guiyang and also given two years hard labor. Relatives asked that the names of those sentenced be withheld.
Chinese evangelist handed 15-day sentence
13 April 2000 (Newsroom) — Chinese evangelist Li Dexian has been sentenced to 15 days in prison following his arrest on Tuesday for holding an unauthorized religious meeting, according to the Christian advocacy organization Voice of the Marytrs Australia.
Churches in Nigeria lead relief effort for victims of religious riots
Churches throughout Nigeria continue to send relief supplies to help more than 50,000 people displaced by religious riots in the city of Kaduna in February. Many churches in the state of Kaduna have turned their compounds into rehabilitation centers as well and are assisting orphans and others left homeless by the fighting.
Chinese evangelist handed 15-day sentence
Chinese evangelist Li Dexian has been sentenced to 15 days in prison following his arrest on Tuesday for holding an unauthorized religious meeting, according to the Christian advocacy organization Voice of the Marytrs Australia.
Maoist rebels kill two Christians in India
A communist rebel group in India’s Bihar state beat to death two tribal Christians and severely injured four others on April 4, according to the Times of India.
Mongolia gives local Christian 13-year Prision Sentence
A Mongolian citizen of ethnic Kazakh descent has been sentenced to 13 years in a prison labor camp in western Mongolia on charges of propagating the Christian faith.
Turkey releases jailed Christian after 30 days
Two Turkish Christians imprisoned near Izmir for a month on concocted charges of insulting Islam were ordered released March 30, after prosecution witnesses admitted that local gendarmarie officials pressured them to sign prepared complaints.
New Government Statistics on China’s Christians
Totals for the number of Christians in China leaked from two Chinese government bodies reveal far larger estimates of the number of Protestants than official church leaders have previously admitted.
Nigeria’s Muslim states approve dialogue on Sharia
NIGERIA, 4 April 2000 (Newsroom) — Northern state governors in Nigeria have approved the formation of a committee of Muslims and Christians to dialogue on aspects of the controversial Sharia, or Islamic law, which was implemented by several states earlier this year.
Baptists bury dead, look to future after seminary attack in Nigeria
Baptists in Nigeria are sifting through the ashes and counting the cost after the Baptist seminary in Kaduna was attacked during riots in late February.
Vietnam Christian Leader, Paul Tran-Dinh-Ai, Issues “Wake-up Call” to American Churches
AMPTON, VA (March 29, 2000)(ASSIST) – Vietnamese Christian leader, the Rev. Paul Tran-Dinh-Ai, who was deported from Vietnam last Christmas with his wife Ruth and five children, has issued a “wake up call” to the American Church.
More churches burned in Nigeria
Four churches were burned by Muslim youths on Monday in Demboa in the state of Borno in northeast Nigeria, police there confirm. Eight houses and shops owned by Christians and a police station were destroyed during the riot, which authorities said was started by Muslim youths who want to force the relocation of churches from the center of town to the outskirts.
Spice Islands clashes continue
27 March 2000 (Newsroom) — At least 40 people were killed last week in continuing sectarian violence in Indonesia’s Moluccas, also known as the Spice Islands. According to news reports, the fatalities resulted from clashes between Muslims and Christians in the town of Galela on the island of Halmahera in North Malaku province.
Fate of Kidnapped Missionaries Still Unsolved
Resolution as to the fate of three American missionaries kidnapped in Panama in 1993 by Colombian guerrillas continues to evade family and friends.
Spice Islands clashes continue
At least 40 people were killed last week in continuing sectarian violence in Indonesia’s Moluccas, also known as the Spice Islands. According to news reports, the fatalities resulted from clashes between Muslims and Christians in the town of Galela on the island of Halmahera in North Malaku province.