Canada Not Releasing Jailed Pastor Who Opposes COVID Restrictions
A Canadian Protestant pastor who became a symbol of the fight for religious freedom during the coronavirus pandemic remains in prison more than a month after being detained.
religious freedom
Nigeria: Fulani murder Christian returning from Lutheran Church convention, cut off his fingers
The slaughter of Christians by Islamic extremists in Nigeria continues unabated and, on March 5, suspected Fulani herdsmen murdered a 25-year-old man on his way home from a Lutheran Church convention in Adamawa state, and cut off his fingers, Sahara Reporters said.
Indonesia: Christian faces 10 years’ imprisonment for video criticizing Islam
Christian convert who has been in prison in Bali, Indonesia since August last year is facing a possible 10-year jail term for uploading a YouTube video that allegedly insults the Islamic faith, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
Nigeria: Three more Christians murdered in Chibok
Three more Christians have been killed by suspected Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) terrorists in the Chibok area of north-east Nigeria’s Borno state, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. Nigeria ranked first in the world last year for the number of Christians murdered on account of their faith.
Egypt: Coptic Christians charged with terrorism
Nine Coptic Christians in Egypt are in prison, charged with committing an act of terrorism after participating in a peaceful protest requesting permission to rebuild their destroyed church in the Minya Governorate, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
Algeria: Christian man imprisoned for preaching the Gospel
Protestant Christian Mohammed Derrab has been sentenced to 18 months imprisonment in Algeria, after being arrested for preaching the Gospel and giving out a Bible in front of his church building in January, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
Nigeria: More Christians murdered by Islamic terrorists in Chibok, “the government has abandoned Chibok”
Three more Christians have been killed by suspected Islamic State West Africa Province terrorists in northeast Nigeria’s Chibok region, Morning Star News (MSN) report. Nigeria ranked number one in the world last year for the number of Christians murdered on account of their faith.
Russia Keeps Punishing Evangelicals in Crimea
Since Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in 2014—one of the central points of conflict in the current clash between the two countries—Protestant Christians in the territory have faced greater government penalties for practicing their faith.
US religious freedom chair demands Finland to stop Christian prosecution
The United States’ commission in defense of religious freedoms has condemned Finnish efforts to prosecute Christians for intolerant speech against homosexuality.
SCOTUS to hear case on religious freedom, LGBTQ rights
The US Supreme Court will hear the case of a Christian graphic designer who argues that her constitutional right to free speech and expression is violated by a Colordao anti-discrimination law that could force her to create websites for same-sex weddings against her religious convictions, Yahoo News reports.
Christian nurse fired for refusal to send women for abortion awarded $374,000 in legal fees
A Christian nurse in Illinois was awarded $374,000 in attorneys’ fees last week, after a trial court found that Winnebago County violated her religious freedoms by ordering her to refer women for abortion, the Christian Post (CP) reports.
Nigeria number one in the world for jihadist murders of Christians
Nigeria ranked number one in the world last year for the number of Christians murdered by Islamic jihadists: 3,462 Nigerian Christians were slaughtered in what rights groups have described as a “killing field” for Christians. In its 2021 annual report, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) warned of a “Christian genocide” if the Nigerian government does not protect its Christian communities.
Hungarians Protest Trial Of Christian Finnish Leaders
Hungarians will rally at Finland’s embassy in Budapest against the trial of two Finnish Christian leaders who may face jail for sharing Biblical views on homosexuality, organizers say.
55 federal agencies tracking religious objection requests amid concern from conservatives
As many as 55 federal departments and agencies have created 57 rule changes to keep track of employees or applicants who have sought exemptions of various kinds, including exemptions to COVID-19 vaccine mandates, a Christian conservative lobbying group reports.
Uganda: Evangelist beaten and left to die by Islamic extremists
Ugandan evangelist Charles Kamya was beaten unconscious and left for dead in Kampala, Uganda last week by Islamic extremists enraged at his preaching the Gospel, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. Although Muslims are a small minority in Uganda, Christians have come under increasing attack by Islamic extremists there.
Iran To Review Jail Sentences Of Christians
Iranian Christians say they “are thankful” that Christian convert Naser Navard Goltapeh’s jail the sentence “will be reviewed” by Iran’s Supreme Court after years of prayers and campaigns, Worthy News learned Monday.
Open Doors Calls For Boycott China Olympics
A leading advocacy group supporting persecuted Christians has urged Americans to boycott the upcoming 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China.
Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments in Christian Flag Case, Is Set to Rule on Line Between Private, Government Speech
The Supreme Court is set to rule on a case that could result in wide-ranging implications on the issues of free speech and religious freedom.
Uganda: Radical Islamists severely beat up wife and daughter of evangelist they murdered last year
Radical Islamists who murdered Christian evangelist Simon Olinga in eastern Uganda last year have now beaten up his widow and daughter so harshly the girl remains unable to walk, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. Believers in Uganda have come under increasing attack from Islamic extremists although Muslims are a small minority and Christianity is legal.
Mexican Christians released from jail after representations from human rights group
Three Christians in Mexico were released Thursday after being jailed three days for refusing to help fund a patron saint festival that involves a mix of indigenous and Catholic religious traditions, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. The believers were freed following representations by the Defense of Human Rights of the Peoples of Oaxaca (DDHPO) organization.