‘We Could Have Faced the Death Penalty’: Man Who Escaped North Korea Tells of Having to Keep Church ‘Secret’
A North Korean man who escaped the country after being arrested, and was granted asylum in the United States, is telling his story of how he had to keep a church he founded underground and secret, else he possibly be
Concerns Expressed After Jharkhand, India Passes Anti-Conversion Law
India (Mission Network News) — In India, religious minorities are seeing their freedoms slowly erode. The northeastern state of Jharkhand recently became the ninth state to pass anti-conversion laws, which are often used to suppress any religion other than Hinduism. “I think
Nepali Christians Freed Nine Months After Conviction for ‘Witchcraft’ of Praying for Mentally-Ill Woman
(World Watch Monitor) — Four Nepali Christians sentenced last year to five years in prison for “violence and witchcraft,” after praying for a mentally ill woman, have been released after their sentences were overturned. In a statement, the Federation of
Chinese Christians Meet Illegally, Left Without Church After Forced Government Closure
ZHUMADIAN, Henan (China Aid) — Elderly Christians, incapable of traveling the long distance to a state-run church, were forced to meet illegally in their homes after officials banned their gathering place in China’s central Henan province. Last May, authorities falsely
Chinese Pastor Detained for Traveling to Christian Conference
CHENGDU, Sichuan (China Aid) — Chinese authorities barred a pastor from traveling to Hong Kong to attend a Christian training conference today, echoing a growing trend that keeps church leaders from participating in overseas religious meetings. At 6:00 a.m. on
China Tightens Regulation of Religion to ‘Block Extremism’
Photo Credit: Bibles for ChinaBEIJING (Reuters) — China’s cabinet on Thursday passed new rules to regulate religion to bolster national security, fight extremism and restrict faith practiced outside organizations approved by the state. The document passed by Premier Li Keqiang
Bangladeshi Pastor Attacked Following Confrontation Over Destruction of Property
Bangladesh (Mission Network News) – Just over a week ago in Bangladesh, men from an electric company arrived at FMI supported Pastor Rajib’s home, claiming they were there to make improvements to his power, only to purposefully destroy Rajib’s property.
Annual U.S. Religious Freedom Report Outlines Ongoing Persecution in Iran, China, Sudan
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor released its annual International Religious Freedom Report on Tuesday, detailing the status of 199 countries and outlining particularly egregious examples of persecution. “Almost 80 percent of the global population live with
Judge in Pakistan Urges Parliament to Prosecute Blasphemy Cases Under Terrorism Laws
LAHORE, Pakistan (Morning Star News) – In an expanded order to remove “blasphemous” content from social media in Pakistan, a high court judge included a recommendation that Parliament include terrorism charges against those accused of blasphemy. Last Saturday’s (Aug. 12) recommendation by
Hubei Christians Attacked With Fireworks, Mud
EZHOU, Hubei (China Aid) — After a raid chased a house church from its building out into the open on Jan. 10, authorities in China’s central Hubei province have been weekly attacking church services, firing fireworks at the Christians and