NIAMEY, Niger — Muslims throughout the West African country of Niger torched at least seven churches and destroyed a number of businesses in riots showing their opposition to the French newspaper Charlie Hebdo, which had been attacked by Muslims this month for publishing cartoons mocking the Islamic prophet Mohammad. “They offended our prophet Muhammad. That’s […]
Beijing (China Aid) — Police in Beijing dispersed more than 25 people at a house church gathering on Sunday and took more than 20 of those worshipers in for interrogations. Shunyi District’s Guoshulin Church, home to dozens of Christians who travel to and from Beijing for work or other matters, was holding a Bible study at […]
MALINDI, Kenya (Morning Star News) – Police in Kenya’s coastal area are searching for a gunman who shot a Christian dead at the gate leading to a church worship site on Sunday (Jan. 11) in Mombasa. One of two men following 25-year-old George Muriki as he arrived with two church members at the gate leading […]
Mumbai (AsiaNews) — Arvind D’Souza was stopped by the police “for reasons of public order,” even though he had committed no crime. The incident occurred on Jan. 2 in the district of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh. D’Souza, who is still in prison under preventive detention, the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) told AsiaNews, ran […]
SANTA ANA, Calif. — A watchdog organization that releases a report each year on the global persecution of Christians states that 2014 marked the highest level of hostility against Christians ever recorded, but believes matters will only get worse. “While the year 2014 will go down in history for having the highest level of global […]
(The Times Live) — South African aid worker Werner Groenewald tried in vain to protect his two children moments before they were shot dead by the Taliban in Afghanistan at the weekend. “They shot Werner in his office in the leg and then he ran upstairs to go try and protect his children [Rode and […]
Kenya (MNN) — Would you take a moment to pray for Kenya’s believers? Amie Cotton with Christian Aid Mission says al-Shabaab sympathizers are trying to drive Christians out of northern Kenya. Earlier this month, “36 quarry workers, who were known as Christians, were paraded out and killed. And one of our ministry leader’s friends— it […]
ISTANBUL, Turkey (Morning Star News) – Turkish authorities are searching for a suspected arsonist in connection with a fire that destroyed thousands of New Testaments and other Christian books. The fire started at approximately 7 p.m. on Dec. 7 at the offices of the Bible Correspondence Course in Turkey (BCC-Turkey), located in a multistory building that […]
TEHRAN, Iran — Three Iranian pastors who were sentenced to six years in prison for committing “action against national security” and “creating a network to overthrow the system”—charges believed to be used as a catchall against anyone deemed a threat to the government —have now been acquitted of their crimes. As previously reported, Behnam Irani, […]
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The Supreme Court of Pakistan has ordered the arrest of two Muslim clerics for inciting a mob who killed a couple last month after being falsely accused of desecrating the Koran. Five police officials who failed to protect the couple have also been required to face disciplinary action. As previously reported, Shama Bibi, 28, and Shahzad […]