Iran uses criminal law to persecute Christians
Iran is persecuting Christians in the country by wielding against them a new law that severely punishes “any deviant education that contradicts sacred Islamic shari’a,” Christian Today reports.
Christian
Report: Vietnam Christians suffer imprisonment, land confiscation by government
The California-based rights group Vietnam Human Rights Network (VHRN) has published its 2020-2021 report, asserting that Vietnamese Christians are suffering persecution, including imprisonment and land confiscation at the hands of the country’s communist government, ICC reports.
82% of Americans say religious freedom is key to ‘healthy American society’: poll
More than four-fifths of surveyed Americans believe that freedom of religion is an important aspect of a “healthy American society,” according to a poll by Rasmussen Reports and Summit Ministries.
Chief Rabbi: ‘Exhume body of Christian missionary buried in Jewish cemetery’
Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel David Lau said Wednesday that the body of a Christian missionary who posed as a Jew for years should be reburied in a non-Jewish cemetery.
Bomb Destroys Brazil Bible Memorial; More Attacks Expected
A bomb attack seriously damaged the Memorial to the Bible in northeastern Brazil amid mounting anti-Christian sentiments in the South American nation, Christians say.
Bangladesh: Christians protest imposition of Islam as state religion
Christians are among other persecuted religious minorities in Bangladesh who continue to actively protest the 1988 constitutional amendment that established Islam as the country’s state religion, the Christian Post reports.
Myanmar: Five civilians killed during increasing attacks on churches
As violent conflicts between the Burmese army and local forces in Myanmar continue unabated, five civilians sheltering in churches were recently killed as an increasing number of church buildings in Kayah and Shan states have been attacked in the fighting, International Christian Concern reports. Kayah state has one of the largest communities of Christians in Myanmar.
Argentina “blacklist” of “anti-democratic” organization includes Christian organizations
Evangelicals in Argentina have expressed alarm at a “blacklist” that appeared temporarily online of some 400 Argentinian individuals, churches and Christian organizations deemed “reactionary right” and “anti-democratic.”
Uganda persecution: Radical Islamist confesses to slaughtering 70-year-old Pastor
A radical Islamist has confessed to the June 11 murder in Uganda’s Mpingire Sub-County of 70-year-old Bishop Francis Obo, senior pastor of Mpingire Pentecostal Revival Church Ministries International, Morning Star News reports. A resident of Odapako village, Mpingire Sub-County, the bishop oversaw 17 churches and is survived by his wife, Christine Obo, and 13 children.
Increased number of people turned to US Christian media during pandemic
US Christian radio and television stations that broadcast the Gospel message saw a remarkable increase in listeners and viewers during the 16 months of COVID-19 lockdown, the Washington Times reports. The US has over 4,000 Christian media outlets.
Thousands Displaced As Myanmar Army Attacks Christian Areas
Thousands have been displayed, and many face starvation after Myanmar’s army attacked internally displaced people (IDP) camps in the country’s Christian-majority Chin State, aid workers confirmed.
Nigeria Gunmen Kidnap 80 School Students, Officer Killed
Gunmen kidnapped more than 80 students and killed a policeman in a raid on a school in Nigeria’s northwestern state of Kebbi, residents said.
Hungary’s Premier Defends Anti-LGTB Law As EU Pressure Mounts
Hungary’s embattled prime minister condemns mounting European Union criticism over a new homosexual and transgender law that he says protects children against pedophilia.
Southern Baptist Convention passes resolution against Equality Act: bill would be “devastating” for religious liberty
The Southern Baptist Convention passed a resolution Tuesday asserting that the Democrat-sponsored Equality Act would have a “devastating” effect on religious liberty, Christian Headlines reports. The SBC resolution against the Act was passed by an “overwhelming” majority at the Annual Meeting in Nashville, Tennessee, Christian Headlines reports.
IRS denies Christian political activism group tax-exempt status, says its Bible teachings are affiliated with Republican party
The Internal Revenue Service has denied tax-exempt status to the non-profit political activism group Christians Engaged, asserting that the group’s Bible teachings typically align with Republican party policies, and that it engages in “prohibited political campaign intervention.” The Texas-based organization is appealing the decision, asserting that the IRS denied tax exemption because Christians Engaged “teaches biblical values.”
Hungary Says Anti-LGBT Law Protects Children
Hungary’s conservative government says a new law prohibiting sharing with minors any content portraying homosexuality or sex reassignment is linked to its fight against pedophilia.
Pakistan: Islamic extremists call for beheading of Christian couple acquitted in blasphemy case
Islamic extremists in Pakistan are publicly calling for the beheading of a Christian couple and their attorney after the Lahore High Court quashed the couple’s 2014 conviction for alleged blasphemy and ordered their release from prison, Morning Star News.
Vietnam government authorities accuse Christians of spreading COVID-19
Recent accusations by Vietnamese government authorities that Christians are responsible for spreading COVID-19 in the country may have caused long-lasting damage to Vietnam’s Evangelical community, Morning Star News.
Virginia school board appealing against reinstatement of teacher suspended for objecting to transgender policy
Virginia’s Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) board has said it is appealing against a Circuit Court order that reinstated Christian teacher Tanner Cross, who had been suspended for refusing to address children by a gender pronoun of the opposite sex, CBN News reports. LCPS said it “respectfully disagrees with the Circuit Court’s decision to order the reinstatement of Cross to his position at Leesburg Elementary school.
Nigeria: Boko Haram release abducted Pastor
Boko Haram Islamic terrorists in Nigeria’s Plateau State have released a Christian pastor they abducted last year, Our Nigeria reports. The release of Reverend Polycarp Zango is a flicker of light in a country that was recently described by US officials as a “killing field for Christians.”