Authorities Close India Church Over Hindu Protests
Christians in eastern India are questioning the sealing of their church building after authorities ordered the believers to stop gathering for worship, a rights group said Thursday.
Christian Persecution
Prayers For Jailed Chinese Church Elders
Christians say they “appreciate prayers” for two jailed elders of an independent church in China’s southwestern province of Sichuan as one of them met a lawyer six months after his arrest.
State Department report highlights constitutional violations of religious freedom in Nigeria
The Nigerian government has actively persecuted religion, contrary to the provision of religious freedom in Nigeria’s constitution, the US State Department found in its Annual Report on International Religious Freedom (IRF) published on June 2.
Pakistan Bails Mentally Challenged Christian After 3 Years In Jail
A mentally challenged Christian man has been released on bail after spending three years in a Pakistani jail on trumped-up charges of blasphemy against Islam, his lawyer told Worthy News late Tuesday.
Iran Pastor 10 Years In Jail After Losing Appeal
An Iranian pastor has lost his appeal against a ten-year jail term for running a “house church” at his home in Iran’s capital, Tehran, trial observers confirmed Tuesday.
Myanmar: Military junta continues systematic destruction of Christian homes
As Myanmar’s Tatmadaw military junta continues its deadly rampage against opponents and non-Buddhists, Christians in the country’s central regions are being terrorized as the army systematically destroys hundreds of their homes, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
India States Detain Pastors Over ‘Forced Conversions,’ Death
A pastor and his wife are among the first Christians to face prosecution under controversial anti-conversion legislation that has been introduced in India’s southwestern state of Karnataka, while another couple faces similar charges elsewhere in India. Pastor V. Kuriyachan, 62, and his wife Selenamma, 57, were detained for two weeks shortly after Karnataka’s governor signed the legislation on May 17, for allegedly converting Hindus to Christianity, police and Christians said.
50 Killed In Nigeria Church Attack
Nigeria’s Cardinal John Onaiyekan has condemned the shooting by suspected Muslim herdsmen at a church in his nation which killed over 50 people, including children.
India: Christians suffer arrest and imprisonment in Uttar Pradesh, ”Our lives are in danger”
At least 30 Christians were imprisoned on false charges in India’s Uttar Pradesh state last month, as Hindu nationalists continue to abuse the state’s harsh anti-conversion laws and accuse believers of forcing Hindus to convert to Christianity, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
Uganda: Youth pastor killed in Islamic terror attack on church
A 32-year old youth pastor in Uganda has succumbed to his wounds after being axed in the head during an Islamic terror attack on his church in Kiboga District last month, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. Ugandan Christians are coming under increasing attack from Islamic terrorists, although Christianity is legal in Uganda, and Muslims are a minority population there.
Christian humanitarian tells of captivity in Iraq
A French Christian has published a book recounting his abduction and tortuous captivity by Islamic terrorists while on a humanitarian trip in Iraq, the Christian Post reports. The author of the new book ‘Kidnapped in Iraq: A Christian Humanitarian Tells His Story,’ Alexandre Goodarzy recently spoke of his work and captivity with the Christian Post (CP).
Christians Marry Despite China Crackdown
A Christian couple that was forced to postpone their wedding after Chinese authorities prevented ceremonies were eventually able to marry in southwestern China, Christians confirmed.
Pakistan Christian Teenage Girl Rescued After Kidnapping
A Christian teenage girl who was kidnapped and forced to convert to Islam and marry a Muslim man in Pakistan has returned home, Worthy News learned Saturday.
Middle East Council of Churches meets in Egypt
The General Assembly of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) has been able to hold a meeting in Egypt for the first time, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. That this Christian organization was allowed to meet in Egypt is notable, given that the country ranks 20 on the US Open Doors World Watch List of top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted.
Nigeria: 31 people die in stampede for free food at church event
Thirty-one people, including numerous children, were killed Saturday during a stampede at a church’s free food event in Nigeria’s River state, the Associated Press reports.
Christians Pray After Islamic Militants Execute 20 Christians In Nigeria
Christians have urged prayers for the surviving loved ones of 20 Nigerian Christian men executed by militants affiliated with the self-proclaimed Islamic State terror group in northeast Nigeria’s Borno State. In May, an Islamic States’ Amaq News Agency video showed the execution of the 20 Christians forced to kneel by knife-wielding militants.
Head of Nigerian Methodist Church kidnapped, released next day
The head of the Nigerian Methodist Church was abducted from Abia in south-east Nigeria on Sunday, before being released the next day, Christian Today (CT) reports.
Police Burns Church Building In Central India
Nearly four months after their thatched-roof church building was torched, Christian villagers in central India have expressed concern that the suspect has not been charged.
China Prevents Christian Wedding
A Christian couple in southwest China was forced to cancel their wedding after Chinese authorities learned it would include a celebration
attended by members and leaders of their church who were later detained, Christians confirmed to Worthy News.
India: Christian pastors ordered to cease all ministry
Christian pastors in India’s Uttar Pradesh state were summoned to a police station earlier this month and ordered to cease all house church gatherings and religious activities unless they had a permit from the District Magistrate, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.