Russia (Mission Network News) — It’s been nearly two months since Russia’s Anti-Terrorism law took effect on July 20, 2016. Since then, various reports against Russian Christians have surfaced. Yet, there’s hope. The Slavic Gospel Association has heard many disturbing instances of Christians in Russia persecuted for sharing the Gospel. In fact, SGA has watched […]
XINYUAN COUNTY, Xinjiang (China Aid) — Two organizers of a Christian summer camp were detained in China’s northwestern Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, for 10 and 15 days, respectively, on Aug. 4 on the charge of indoctrinating minors with superstitious beliefs. Zhou Yanhua and Gao Ming, both members of Yining County Church, were preparing to drive […]
JUBA, South Sudan (Morning Star News) – Authorities in southeastern Sudan arrested the headmaster of a Christian school last week and took over its property, sources said. Armed police and officials from the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) on Sept. 5 arrested Samuel Suliman and 12 teachers at the school in Madani, capital of Al […]
A public notice posted at the Central Hospital in Zhejiang’s Wenzhou, a city that has been dubbed “China’s Jerusalem” because of its high concentration of christians, made patients and their visitors unequivocally aware of the new rules this week. “Religious activities are banned in this hospital,” the notice said. The Wenzhou Central Hospital was originally […]
(World Watch Monitor) — After an appeal, Algerian Christian Slimane Bouhafs has had his five-year jail sentence for committing blasphemy against Islam and its prophet on social media reduced to three years. A fine of 100,000 dinars (US$900) was also dropped. Bouhafs, 49, had appealed against the five-year sentence, which was the maximum possible punishment […]
(World Watch Monitor) — Finally, their journey is over. Three years since fleeing Uzbekistan—following four years in a labor camp, house arrest and death threats—Pastor Dmitry Shestakov has arrived in the United States, where he and his family have been granted asylum. It’s been almost 10 years since Shestakov was first detained, after a raid […]
JOS, Nigeria (Morning Star News) – As farmers lamented policies designating land for cattlemen in northern Nigeria, suspected Muslim Fulani herdsmen killed a pastor and four other Christians in Kaduna state on Aug. 19. Pastor Luka Ubangari of Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) at Angwan Anjo village, near Godogodo in the Jema’a Local Government […]
Cuba (Mission Network News) — Over the last few years, United States and Cuban relations have improved — to an extent. But it turns out what we see in the United States isn’t the whole picture. Patrick Klein of Vision Beyond Borders says while there’s an outside perception of growing freedom, there is actually growing religious […]
WENZHOU, Zhejiang (China Aid) — Five Christian detainees in China’s coastal Zhejiang were suddenly released on Aug. 28 after four months in prison. Local sources believe the release came because of a government order in preparation for the upcoming G20 summit meeting in Hangzhou. Ji Qingcao, Ji Qingcou, Ou Jinsi, Mei Xueshun, and He Lijing are […]
(Morning Star News) – Five members of an Iranian house church are missing after government agents arrested them on Friday (Aug. 26) without a warrant and took them to an undisclosed location, according to a leading advocacy group. No information is available on the whereabouts of Ramiel Bet Tamraz, Amin Nader Afshar, Hadi Askary, Mohamad […]