Pakistan Sentences Pastor To Death For Blasphemy
Pakistan’s longest jailed pastor accused of blasphemy against Islam has been sentenced to death, Christians involved in the case told Worthy News.
Christian Persecution
Nigeria: Fulani burn believer to death, wound four others; “the silence is deafening”
Warning this would be the “first attack of the New Year,” Fulani militants in Nigeria’s Plateau state burned a Christian to death and wounded four others in a brutal assault on New Year’s Eve, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. Fulani terrorists have murdered many thousands of Christians with apparent impunity; the government has consistently downplayed what local and international rights groups have described as an impending genocide.
Turkey: Churches vandalized as life becomes more difficult for Christians
As life for Christians in Turkey becomes increasingly difficult under the rule of Islamic nationalist President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, three churches in Istanbul’s Kadıköy district were vandalized on New Year’s Day, International Chrisitan Concern (ICC) reports.
Iran Frees Nine Christian Converts
Iran released nine Christian converts from prison, including a pastor, after the Islamic nation’s Supreme Court said their involvement in house churches doesn’t threaten national security, well-informed Christians told Worthy News Tuesday.
Kenya: Six Christians killed in Islamic terror attack; “please pray”
Six Christians were murdered in Kenya during a terrorist attack by al-Shabaab Islamic militants in the early hours of January 3, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. Affiliated with Al Qaeda, the Somali-based al-Shabaab group has now carried out four new-year terror attacks in Kenya since 2016.
China arrests Christian citizens for attending Gospel event in Malaysia
In its ongoing bid to suppress Christianity in China, the Chinese communist regime last year arrested a number of believers for traveling to Malaysia to attend a conference held by well-known Chinese evangelist Tang Chongrong in 2020, Bitter Winter reported Monday.
Iran Grants New Year’s Leave To Jailed Convert And Other Christian Prisoners
Iranian authorities have temporarily released another jailed Christian convert after an order to free Christian prisoners for Christmas and the New Year, Worthy News learned Wednesday.
Myanmar: Burmese Army continues to burn churches and homes in Christian state
Myanmar’s Burmese Army (Tatmadaw) is continuing to burn down homes and churches in Thantlang in the Christian majority state of Chin, even though the military has already killed or driven out the town’s Christian residents, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
Afghan Christian refugees speak of their fear and anxiety
A family of Christian refugees who escaped Afghanistan after the Taliban took over last August has been speaking about their fear of being murdered before they could flee, and of anxiety about their uncertain future, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. The family’s full name cannot be given for security reasons.
Uganda: New Christians driven from their homes by Islamic extremists
Brand new Christians in eastern Uganda came under severe attack last month, as Muslim neighbors destroyed their crops and drove them from homes upon hearing of their conversion from Islam to Christ, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. Christians in Uganda have come under increasing attack from Islamic extremists, even though Muslims make up only 12% of the population.
Nigeria: US and international community do nothing as slaughter of Christians continues
The international community remains almost completely silent as Christians in Nigeria continue to be slaughtered by Islamic jihadists intent on crushing Christianity and imposing Sharia law on the country.
Pakistan: Court returns Christian girl to parents after her abduction and forced marriage to Muslim man
A High Court in Pakistan has finally returned a 14-year-old Christian girl to the custody of her family after she was abducted and forced to marry a Muslim man in 2020, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
Iran Frees Christian House Church Pastor
Iran released a pastor from prison Thursday after the Iranian Supreme Court ruled that involvement in house churches “should not be considered a crime against national security,” Worthy News learned.
Iranian judiciary grants Christian prisoners 10 days’ holiday
Christian prisoners in Iran were treated to a rare act of mercy by the state as the country’s judiciary granted them 10 days’ leave to be with their families during the Christmas holidays, Radio Free Europe (RFE) reports.
China announces draconian restrictions to online Christian activity
China’s Communist regime has announced harsh new restrictions to online religious activities, effectively banning online church services for Chinese believers that are not part of the state-approved Three-Self church movement, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. The move follows China’s prior banning of in-person religious gatherings, supposedly due to the pandemic.
India persecution: Spate of Hindu attacks against Christianity over Christmas period
The intensifying persecution of believers by Hindu nationalists in India has now even caught the attention of mainstream international media, with the Guardian UK joining Christian organizations in reporting on a spate of attacks against Christianity in the country over the Christmas period.
Britain: Prosecution withdraws case against UK pastor fined for carrying on ministry to homeless
A British pastor who was fined over £16,000 for running her ministry to the homeless during a UK lockdown was told this month that the prosecution has withdrawn the case against her, Christian Legal Centre reports. Pastor Chizumie Dyer, who runs her ‘Church on the Streets’ ministry in Nottingham, England, was issued fines by police in February 2021.
Texas pastor forgives church vandal; Christmas services continued despite damage
The pastor of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Austin, Texas has extended forgiveness to a vandal who caused between $100,000 – $300,000 damage to the church building on Christmas Eve, CBN reports. Pastor Eric Borchers said the attack would not stop his congregation from enjoying Christmas services as parishioners rallied to clean up the damage.
Kenya: Somali-born Christian survives murder attempt by Islamists
A Somali-born Christian convert in northeastern Kenya is recovering after four ethnic Somali Muslims attempted to murder him for leaving Islam to follow Christ, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. The population of Kenya is 80% Christian but converts from Islam remain vulnerable to attacks from radicalized Muslims.
Myanmar: Save the Children aid group says two members missing since Christmas Eve massacre
The international Save the Children aid organization reported Saturday that two of its members were missing in Myanmar after the Burmese Army (Tatmadaw) murdered 35 civilians on Friday and burned the bodies beyond recognition, the Washington Times reports. The slaughter on Christmas Eve was the latest atrocity committed by the Tatmadaw in seeking to control Myanmar and impose Buddhism as the national religion.