An Australian Christian missionary was arrested this past Sunday by North Korean authorities for distributing Gospel literature. John Short, 75, who has lived in Hong Kong for 50 years, was arrested in his Pyongyang hotel, a day after arriving in the North Korean capital. “[John] was carrying Korean literature on his person and that could be the reason, but I don’t […]
WASHINGTON — Christians are the most persecuted group in the world, but most in the West don’t identify with the persecuted Church, a Congressional hearing before the House Foreign Affairs Committee contended this week. Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ) opened the hearing by outlining various reports of Christian persecution in Syria, Egypt, Iraq and Nigeria. He […]
WASHINGTON — The U.S. State Department is announcing its disappointment after North Korean officials again rescinded an invitation to discuss the release of an American missionary sentenced to fifteen years hard labor in the country. “We are deeply disappointed by the DPRK [North Korean] decision–for a second time–to rescind its invitation for ambassador [Robert] King […]
WASHINGTON — Barack Obama called for the release of an American pastor imprisoned in Iran and a U.S. missionary serving hard labor in North Korea during the annual National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday. Obama centered on religious freedom during his speech, seeking tolerance for all religions around the world. “History shows that nations that uphold […]
There may be a ‘glimmer of hope’ for the release of an American pastor imprisoned in Iran, according to a Christian legal organization that has been fighting on behalf of the Christian minister. The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) notes that Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was recently asked about the plight of […]
An American pastor imprisoned in Iran has been moved to a political prisoner ward and out of the murderer ward of the dangerous prison where he has been incarcerated since November of this year. As previously reported, Pastor Saeed Abedini of Idaho, a former Muslim turned Christian, left Iran in 2005 and moved to the […]
PYONGYANG, North Korea — Speaking to reporters at a press conference in Pyongyang on Monday, an American missionary sentenced to 15 years hard labor in North Korea pleaded for U.S. intervention to secure his release. “I would like to plead with the U.S. government, press and my family to stop worsening my situation by making […]
DUNDEE, Scotland — An American evangelist was arrested for the second time in the UK while open air preaching this week. Evangelist Tony Miano, a retired police officer from California, was arrested for breach of peace in Dundee, Scotland this Wednesday following a complaint that he had preached against homosexuality. Miano had been preaching about […]
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The number of Christians killed for their faith doubled in 2013, according to a newly-released report on the international persecution of Christians. Each year, Open Doors USA releases its World Watch List (WWL), in which it outlines the top 50 most dangerous places to live as a Christian. In this year’s report, […]
NIGERIA – In a video released on Saturday, the leader of an Islamic terrorist group vowed to attack Christians and threatened to mutilate and decapitate victims. Abubakar Shekau is the leader of Nigeria’s Boko Haram, a group that seeks to force Sharia law upon Nigerians. For several years, Boko Haram jihadists have wreaked havoc in […]