India: Hindu nationalist burn down Christian home
Hindu nationalists in Central India last month burned down the home of a Christian family that had been persecuted for years because of their faith, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
Christian Persecution
Kazakhstan Limits Worship Possibilities
Devoted Christians face a difficult Christmas season in Kazakhstan after legislators approved one of Europe’s harshest religious laws limiting worship or other faith-based events.
Militants Threaten To Attack Nigerian Churches
Suspected Islamic militants threaten to attack churches in Nigeria’s northern state of Zamfara unless they stop worship services and close their facilities, Christians said Thursday.
Algeria: Appeals court upholds heavy fine against Christian
An Algerian court of appeals on December 1 upheld a hefty fine given to a Christian convert from Islam who had been charged with accepting donations without a license for the purpose of proselytization, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.
India Hindu Militants Seek More Attacks Against Church
Hindu militants threatened more attacks against a Christian congregation in India’s southern state of Karnataka if it continues services ahead of expected “anti-conversion” legislation.
Freed Nigerian Christian Boy Praised For Bravery In Hostage Crisis
The head boy of a Christian school in northern Nigeria, who was freed by suspected Islamic gunmen for health reasons, was praised for showing bravery and leadership during more than 150 days of captivity in the bush.
Nigeria Gunmen Release Scores Of Christian Hostages Amid Clashes (Worthy News In-Depth)
Suspected Islamic gunmen in Nigeria freed 70 hostages, including 61 members of the Emanuel Baptist Church, in the country’s Kaduna State, but deadly clashes overshadowed their release, Christians confirmed Tuesday.
Myanmar: Burmese Army burns down Pentecostal church attended by country’s former Vice-President
The Burmese Army (Tatmadaw) has burned down a Pentecostal church once attended by Myanmar’s ousted Vice President Henry Van Thio and his wife, Dr. Sui Hluan in the country’s Christian-majority Chin state, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
Three more abducted missionaries released by Haiti gang
Three more Christian Aid Ministries hostages in Haiti were released Sunday by the Haitian 400 Mawozo gang, which had abducted 17 of the US organization’s missionaries (16 Americans and one Canadian) on October 16, the Washington Times reports. Few details on the new releases have been given for security reasons; two of the missionaries were previously freed on November 21.
Sri Lankan Christian Businessman Lynched To Death In Pakistan (Worthy News In-depth)
Pakistani police say they have detained seven “prime actors” in the horrific killing of a Sri Lankan businessman lynched and burned by an angry Muslim mob over alleged “blasphemy” against Islam.
Algeria: head of Algerian Protestant Church summoned to court; “please pray”
The Christian president of the Protestant Church of Algeria (EPA) was summoned to appear before a court on December 5, to face charges of “practicing non-Muslim rites without permission” and organizing an illegal assembly, Voice of the Martyrs Canada (VOMC) reports.
Pakistan: Two Christian sanitation workers die after rescuing fellow Christian from a sewer
Two Christian sanitation workers in Sargodha, Pakistan died on October 3 after being ordered to enter a sewer without personal protective clothing to rescue another Christian worker, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. A Muslim emergency service team refused to assist in the incident because they believed touching a Christian makes them unclean.
Myanmar: Burmese Army continues violent campaign against churches
The Burmese Army (Tatmadaw) is continuing to attack and loot churches in Myanmar’s Christian-majority Chin state as part of a violent campaign to impose Buddhism in the country, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
Algeria Prosecutes Protestants Over ‘Non-Muslim Rites’
The senior pastor of Algeria’s largest Protestant church is among those facing a court on charges such as “practicing non-Muslim rites without permission,” sources said Thursday.
Nepal Jails Pastor For Evangelism
An evangelical pastor in Nepal received a two-year prison sentence for evangelism activities that violated the former Hindu kingdom’s anti-conversion laws, trial observers said Thursday.
Central India Churches Forced To End Sunday Service
Authorities in central India have reportedly forced churches to cancel Sunday services amid a Hindu crackdown on Christian conversations.
Myanmar Military Burns Church After Killing Pastor
Christian aid workers said Wednesday that the church was burned down amid further shelling by Myanmar’s military in the west of the troubled Asian nation.
Chinese government continues harassment of Christians; “please pray”
China’s ruling Communist Party is continuing its harassment of Christians by raiding house churches and detaining congregants: last month several believers from Shanghai and Sichuan were taken to police stations for questioning, and one woman was charged and detained, International Christian Concern (ICC reports).
Nigeria: Christians in Zamfara state warned to close churches or be attacked
An unnamed group has contacted Christians in Nigeria’s Zamfara state, telling them to close their churches or risk being subjected to “ferocious attacks,” International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. As Islamic militants continue to slaughter and terrorize thousands of Nigeria’s Christians, the country has been ranked number one in the world for believers murdered on account of their faith.
Nepal: Pastor imprisoned for two years for proselytizing
A court in Nepal has sentenced Christian pastor Keshav Acharya to two years imprisonment for violating a harsh law against proselytizing, International Christian Concern reports.