Uzbek Math: 2 Bibles = 5 years
In Uzbekistan, having more than one Bible can make you a missionary, and being a missionary in Uzbekistan can get you five years in jail.
Sunni
Kuwaitis Pass Death Penalty for Blasphemy
Kuwait’s parliament recently passed a bill authorizing the death penalty for Muslims who curse God, the Qu’ran and its prophets, including the wives of the Prophet Mohammed.
Kuwait’s Parliament Passes Death Penalty for Blasphemy
Kuwait’s parliament provisionally passed amendments to its penal code Thursday requiring the death penalty for anyone who curses Allah, the Prophet Mohammad, or his many wives.
‘Ethnic Cleansing of Christians’ in Syria; 50,000 Flee
Islamic militants with ties to terror group al-Qaida have launched the “ethnic cleansing of minority Christians” in Syria, forcing tens of thousands of people to flee the embattled Syrian city of Homs and other areas, aid workers confirmed Tuesday, March 27.
Syria’s Christians caught between Iraq and a hard dictator
Although President Bashar al-Assad’s counter-insurgency has already claimed the lives of at least 7,000 of his own people, his state represented a diverse society in which minorities and women enjoyed freedoms alien to other Arab nations.
Jailed Iranian Pastor’s Health Deteriorating
The health of a jailed pastor of one of Iran’s largest evangelical house church movements is deteriorating and there were fears Monday he may die, a well-informed representative told Worthy News.
Iran Detains House Church Christians
Iranian security forces have raided a house church and detained 10 members who gathered for a prayer service as part of a winder crackdown, Iranian Christians told Worthy News.
Kazakhstan Lawmakers Adopt “Repressive” Religion Law
Lawmakers in Kazakhstan have voted for controversial legislation that Christians and rights activists say will further limit religious freedom in the mainly Muslim Central Asian state.
Uzbek Christians Suffer as Regime Tightens Noose
At least four incidents of Christian persecution were reported from the former Soviet country of Uzbekistan this week. According to an analysis and report researched and written by Fernando Perez for the World Evangelical Alliance – Religious Liberty Commission, a Christian woman was beaten into concussion, another woman was fined $1,465 by a court for giving the New Testament to a child, a Christian man was threatened with axe attack by a police official and another man was assaulted by police.
Iran Official Claims House Churches receive annual donations of $50K
The general director of comparative religious studies in Iran claimed the enemies of Islam donate approximately $50,000 a year to Iranian house churches that often have memberships of only 15-20 members.
NEWS ALERT: Christians Anxious As 30 Die In Iraq Election Violence
Minority Christians in Iraq anxiously awaited the outcome of a parliamentary vote testing the country’s still fragile democracy Sunday, March 7, as suspected Islamic militants killed up to 30 people in the capital Baghdad and other areas of the troubled nation.
10,000 Iraqi Christians Flee Mosul As Killings Continue
Aid workers rushed Friday, October 17, to assist at least 10,000 Christians who so far fled Mosul amid fresh reports that Islamic extremists are trying to eradicate the Christian population in this northern Iraqi town.
Iraq: Church Leaders Plead for Help in Mosul
Amid escalating violence against Christians, Iraqi church leaders have appealed directly to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki for increased efforts to curb the continuing attacks In Mosul.
US Kills Key Al Qaeda Leader As “Terrorists” Murder Christians
The United States military said Wednesday, October 15, it had killed a key leader of the ‘Al Qaeda in Iraq’ terrorist network in the main northern Iraqi city of Mosul where suspected armed militants linked to the group have been roaming the streets and reportedly killed up to 40 Christians in recent days.
Iraq Police To Protect Christians In Mosul; Thousands Flee Violence
Some 1,000 police began deploying in Christian areas of Iraq’s northern city of Mosul Monday, October 13, after thousands of Christians fled the worst violence against them in five years, BosNewsLife learned.
Christian Businessman Killed In Mosul
A Christian music store owner was shot and killed in Mosul, Iraqi police said Monday, October 13, the latest in a series of killings that has caused thousands of Christians to flee the northern city in recent days, BosNewsLife monitored.
Eritrea: Christians Languish in Eritrean Prisons
An evangelist imprisoned since 2006 for his Christian activities is receiving especially harsh treatment because of his ministry to inmates.
Iraq: Serial Attacks on Churches Continue
A car-bomb exploded outside a Chaldean church in northern Iraq yesterday, injuring two people, a Baghdad bishop said. The blast is the 10th reported attack on Iraqi churches in two weeks.
Iraq: Coordinated Blasts Rock Churches
Four Iraqi churches and three convents were damaged in coordinated bomb blasts yesterday morning, the day many Iraqi Christians celebrate either Epiphany or Christmas Eve according to some Eastern liturgical calendars. At least six people were injured, one seriously.
Iraq: Baghdad Christians Flee Forced Conversion
Iraqi Christians fled their homes over the weekend after armed Sunni extremists threatened to kill them if they did not convert to Islam within 24 hours, Christian sources said.