Iran: Christian converts convicted of house-church membership
Four Christian converts in Iran have been convicted of criminality due to their membership of house churches, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
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Iran: Pastor and two Christian women jailed for leading house churches
A pastor and two Christian women in Iran have been sentenced to jail terms ranging from 6 to 10 years because they are leaders of house churches, Article 18 reports. Iran’s Islamic regime considers Christianity a threat to its power, and has had Christian leaders imprisoned on false charges of violating national security and of disseminating anti-government propaganda.
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.
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.
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.
India: Christians wait for authorities to investigate policeman who burned down church building
Christians in India’s Chhattisgarh state are waiting expectantly for authorities to take action against a Hindu police officer who they believe burned down their church building earlier this year because he did not like their worship services, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. As persecution against Christians by Hindu extremists continues to intensify, believers report that obtaining justice is difficult because police officers are being radicalized by Hinduist hardliners.
Iran Jails Pastor 10 Years For House Church
An Iranian pastor has been sentenced to ten years in prison for running an “illegal” house church in Tehran, the capital, Worthy News learned Thursday.
Iran: Another Christian woman imprisoned for involvement in house church
A second Christian woman has begun a two-year prison sentence in Iran because of her involvement with a local house church, Article 18 reports.
China Bans Popular Christian Website In Crackdown
One of China’s most popular Christian websites has been closed down by the ruling Chinese Communist Party as part of its ongoing crackdown on Christianity, well-informed Christians confirmed Thursday.
US Commission: ‘Afghan Christians Face Death’
The U.S. Commission for International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) says Afghanistan should be designated as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) due to the persecution of Christians and other minorities.
Iran: Christian convert taken into custody for house church involvement
Iran’s intelligence authorities have taken a Christian convert into custody, accusing him of “propaganda against the [Iranian Islamic] regime through involvement in house church activities.”
Iran Christians Concerned About Jailed Convert
Iranian Christians have urged prayers for a house church leader who they say remains detained after being arrested at his home in Anzali on April 18.
China: Authorities trace and harass baptismal party
Authorities in China used technology to trace and harass members of the Shenzhen Trinity Gospel Harvest Church after they carried out Easter baptisms in the sea by Shenzhen city earlier this month, the Christian Post reports.
Iran Christian Convert Starts Prison Term
Iranian Christian convert Fariba Dalir has begun serving a two-year prison sentence for “acting against national security by establishing and leading an Evangelical Christian church,” an advocacy group confirmed.
Detained Iran Pastor Briefly Home For Easter
A detained pastor of Iran’s largest evangelical network of house churches spent Easter Sunday with his family but was due to return to prison Monday, Worthy News learned.
China: Pastor risks imprisonment to preach the Gospel
The pastor of a house church in China has said he will continue to preach the Gospel despite the risk that he could be imprisoned by the authorities for doing so, Christian Headlines (CH) reports.
China releases Christians jailed for attending Gospel event
Chinese authorities have finally released two Christians who were imprisoned for six months for traveling to attend a Gospel conference in Malaysia, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
China: New law suppresses Christian activity online
China has now put into effect a new law that bars people of faith such as evangelical Christians from conducting online activities without a government-issued license, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
China: Christian publishes prayer letter for church and imprisoned husband, “please pray for God’s justice”
A Christian woman in China has published a letter asking believers to pray for her husband, who has been imprisoned for leading the Panshi house church in China’s Shizuishan, and for the church itself, China Aid reports. China ranks 17 on the US Open Doors Watch List of top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted.
China: Female pastor sentenced to 8 years for refusing to join state-run church
A female Christian pastor in China has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment because she refused to join Three-Self Church, a Chinese Communist Party state-controlled body that regulates Protestant churches, UCA News reports.