Christian Father Of Three Killed In Pakistan For Faith
A Christian father of three was murdered in Pakistan’s Punjab province by Muslims over the Christmas holiday because of his faith in Christ, confirmed sources told Worthy News on Friday.
Christian Persecution
Bethlehem Marks Christmas After Ceasefire As Jenin Church Arson Raises Concern
Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, marked its first Christmas celebrations since a ceasefire was announced between Israel and Hamas, though concern lingered among Christians following an arson attack near a church elsewhere in the West Bank.
Arson Attack Damages Church Property in Jenin Ahead of Christmas
Minority Christians in Palestinian territories faced a tense Christmas after church officials confirmed that “an arson attack” damaged a Christmas tree and a Nativity grotto at the Holy Redeemer Church in Jenin.
Millions Of Christians Forced To Mark Christmas In Secret Amid Global Persecution
Millions of Christians around the world are marking Christmas in secret amid persecution, violence, and discrimination, according to investigators.
Nigerian School Abduction Ends as 130 More Children Freed Ahead of Christmas
The remaining 130 schoolchildren and staff abducted by gunmen from a Catholic school in Nigeria last month — one of the largest mass kidnappings in the country’s history — have been freed, officials confirmed.
Christian Family Flees Brick Kiln Slavery in Pakistan as Fears Grow for Abducted Girlss
With Christmas approaching, a Christian worker and his family have fled a brick kiln in Pakistan where they were effectively held in modern-day slavery by their Muslim employer, amid continuing concerns over the safety of Christian girls in the mainly Islamic nation, investigators told Worthy News.
Iran: Five Christians Receive Lengthy Prison Sentences
Five Iranian Christians have been sentenced to a combined 55 years in prison amid a broader crackdown on devout Christian believers in Iran, a strict Islamic nation, sources told Worthy News Thursday.
Egyptian Christians Seek Refuge as Attacks, Discrimination Persist
Egyptian Christians facing religious-based violence and discrimination are increasingly relying on underground safe houses as authorities continue to fall short on protecting minority rights, Christian advocates say.
Tourists Barred From Bringing Bibles Into Nicaragua Amid Widening Crackdown on Christians
Nicaraguan authorities have begun barring tourists from bringing Bibles into the country, a move that signals an intensifying crackdown on religious freedom and independent expression.
Syrian Christians Fear Dark Future Under Al-Sharaa Despite Christmas Celebrations And Washington Breakthrough (Worthy News In-Depth)
Despite Christmas approaching, many Christians in Syria aren’t in a celebratory mood one year after the toppling of longtime autocratic President Bashar al-Assad, investigations reveal.
100 Nigerian Students Rescued, 165 Still Missing After Islamic Attack On Catholic School (Worthy News In-Depth)
Some 100 students have been rescued, and about 50 others escaped following Nigeria’s largest Christian school kidnappings in recent years, several sources confirmed Wednesday.
Pakistani Police Investigate Killing of Pastor
Pakistani police have released security camera footage allegedly showing the main suspect in Friday’s assassination of Pastor Kamran Salamat, also known as Kamran Naaz, whose death at age 45 has shocked Pakistan’s embattled Christian community.
Catholic Priest Abducted in Northern Nigeria as Christian Kidnappings Surge
A Catholic priest remained missing in northern Nigeria Thursday after being abducted from his residence in Kaduna State, Worthy News learned.
Prominent Pakistani Pastor Shot Dead After Surviving Earlier Assassination Attempt
A funeral was underway in Pakistan on Saturday for a prominent Gospel preacher who was shot and killed in a Friday attack, less than three months after he survived another assassination attempt by suspected Islamic extremists, friends told Worthy News.
Sudan’s Oldest Churches Attacked Amid Ongoing War
Sudanese Christians faced new challenges Tuesday after two of Sudan’s oldest churches were reportedly attacked by suspected Islamic vandals in the Sunni Muslim–majority nation.
Christian Farmer Flees Abuja As Priest Is Killed And Mass Kidnappings Surge In Nigeria (Worthy News In-Depth)
A Christian farmer and evangelist in Nigeria said Monday he had fled to Lagos with his family after an Anglican priest kidnapped in the northwest last month was killed in captivity.
Pastor Zhang Shaojie Freed After 12 Years In Chinese Prison (Worthy News In-Depth)
Chinese authorities have released Pastor Zhang Shaojie after he completed a 12-year prison sentence on what his supporters viewed as false charges related to his faith in Christ and his growing church.
Pakistan Christian Woman’s Alleged Forced Conversion Highlights Growing Fears, Rights Groups Warn (Worthy News Focus)
A young Christian woman who was allegedly abducted and forced to marry and convert to Islam appeared before a Pakistani court after her parents raised urgent concerns, Christians told Worthy News on Sunday.
Pakistan Urged To Protect Christian Sanitary Workers After Abuse Case
Concern remained Sunday over the mistreatment of impoverished Christian laborers in Pakistan, with at least one sanitary worker suffering head injuries after being beaten in recent days by his Muslim supervisors.
Four Christian Workers Abducted In Pakistan After Seeking Lawful Wages
Four Christian brick-kiln workers have been abducted in Pakistan’s Punjab province after demanding the payment of their lawful wages from their Muslim employer, investigators told Worthy News Wednesday.