Chinese Church Elder Facing 10 Years Jail Without Bible
Christians say the health of a Chinese church elder, jailed in China since November 2021, has improved, but he may face ten years imprisonment on ‘fraud’ charges.
Christian Persecution
China Frees Jailed Preacher To Care For Father
A Chinese Christian evangelist jailed for more than half a year on charges linked to his work has returned home to care for his father, who suffers from COVID-19, supporters told Worthy News.
Nepal Releases Jailed Pastor On Bail
A pastor who served a one-year jail sentence in Nepal on charges linked to evangelizing has been released on bail, Worthy News established Monday.
Myanmar: Christian persecution has increased “exponentially” since military coup
The Free Burma Rangers Christian aid organization is warning that the persecution of Christians in Myanmar has “grown exponentially” since the military coup of February 2021 ended the troubled country’s fragile democracy, the WNG.org news outlet reports.
Ukraine: Russian troops target Evangelical buildings in hundreds of attacks on religious sites
The Kyiv-based Institute for Religious Freedom (IRF) has reported that Russian forces have caused “immense destruction” in attacking hundreds of religious buildings in Ukraine, with a grossly disproportionate emphasis on properties belonging to Ukrainian evangelical Christians, Christianity Today (CT) reports.
UK: Pro-life activist arrested for silent prayer inside buffer zone is left in legal limbo
A UK pro-life activist who was arrested for allegedly praying silently within an abortion clinic buffer zone has been left in a state of “significant uncertainty” after Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service dropped its charge against her but said the indictment may yet be reinstated, Christian Today (CT) reports.
Cash-Strapped Russia Fines Evangelical Christians
Evangelical Christians in Russia were forced to pay a “tax on faithfulness” in 2022, which will likely increase this year as part of a government crackdown on non-Orthodox faiths, rights investigators tell Worthy News.
European Parliament event highlights Christian persecution worldwide
The ongoing crisis of Christian persecution worldwide was highlighted at the European Parliament last week, at a special presentation of the Open Doors 2023 World Watch List (WWL) of the top 50 countries where believers are most persecuted, European Times reports. Open Doors is an international NGO that monitors persecution levels and helps persecuted Christians around the world.
Nigeria: Christian orphanage director finally acquitted of abduction/forgery charges
The Christian founder of an orphanage in Nigeria’s Kano state has finally been acquitted of abduction and forgery after spending two years in jail pending trial, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
Nigeria: Beloved pastor slaughtered by suspected Islamic State terrorists in Adamawa, “he fought a good fight”
Christian communities in Nigeria’s Adamawa state are deeply mourning the loss of Pastor Jerry Hinjari of Christ Nation International, who was murdered by suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists on Thursday, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. The slaughter of tens of thousands of Christians in Nigeria at the hands of Islamic terrorists has gone unchecked by the Nigerian government and the international community for many years now.
Sudan: Christian ministry team murdered by suspected Islamic extremist
A church pastor was among a ministry team of four Christians who were murdered by suspected Islamic extremists in Sudan last week, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. Rights groups have reported worsening conditions for Sudanese believers since the 2021 military coup, which overthrew the transitional government installed after brutal dictator Omar al-Bashir was ousted in 2019.
Iran: Christians under increased persecution, but church is growing
Christians in Iran have faced even more intense persecution since the Iranian regime began its violent crackdown on nationwide anti-government protests that took off last year – but the Iranian church continues to grow, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
Thousands of Christians worldwide were murdered for their faith last year, new report shows
At least 5,621 Christians around the world were murdered for their faith last year, a new report by the Open Doors persecution watchdog reveals. Ninety percent of the Christians murdered last were in Nigeria, Open Doors said in its report.
Eritrea: 44 Christians arrested, imprisoned for unknown reasons
A group of forty-four Christians, most of whom are women, have been imprisoned in Eritrea since their arrest for unknown reasons at the beginning of the year, Voice of the Martyrs Canada reports.
Hindus Attack Catholic Church In India; Several Injured
A tense calm has returned to the Narayanpur district of India’s landlocked state of Chhattisgarh where more than 1,000 villagers, including suspected Hindu extremists, attacked a Catholic church injuring several people, Worthy News learned.
Nigeria: 17 more Christians murdered amid ongoing slaughter; “violations are carried out with impunity”
As rights advocates raise questions about the silence of world powers in the face of the ongoing years-long devastating slaughter of Christians in Nigeria, 17 more Christians were murdered by suspected Fulani militants in Nigeria’s Bauchi and Benue states between Friday and Sunday, Morning Star News reports.
UK: Christian teacher may be banned from teaching for his views on transgenderism and same-sex marriage
A Christian teacher in England may be permanently prohibited from teaching in the UK after referring to a female transgender student as a “girl” and telling another student he is opposed to same-sex marriage, the Christian Post (CP) reports.
Malta: Formerly gay Christian man faces jail accused of promoting ‘conversion therapy’
In the first criminal case of its kind, a formerly gay Christian man in Malta is facing trial and a possible prison sentence for allegedly promoting ‘conversion therapy’ that helps people dealing with unwanted same-sex attraction, the Christian Post (CP) reports. Malta banned all such counseling and therapy in 2016, becoming the first country in the European Union to institute such a prohibition.
Pakistan: National Assembly votes to make controversial blasphemy laws even harsher
Bypassing public debate on the matter, Pakistan’s National Assembly on January 17 voted to make the country’s highly controversial blasphemy laws even harsher than they already are, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) reports. Pakistan ranks seven on the US Open Doors World Watch List 2023 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted.
Christian persecution sweeping across Africa may result in “vast humanitarian catastrophe,” report says
A new report by the international aid organization Open Doors shows that persecution against Christians in sub-Saharan Africa is now so intense that the continent is in danger of suffering a “vast humanitarian catastrophe,” the Washington Times reports.