08.17.2024

USCIRF Delegation Travels to South Korea to Investigate Religious Freedom in North Korea

A delegation of Commissioners and staff from the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) recently traveled to Seoul, Republic of Korea (South Korea) to hold meetings about religious freedom conditions in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea).

Bangladesh: “Our days of terror are not over yet”

Student protestors seek justice while Bangladesh’s interim government struggles to maintain order.

Afghanistan: The Church Is In a “Precarious” Position on Third Anniversary of Taliban Takeover

The Islamic extremist Taliban have been in power in Afghanistan for three years (since the US withdrawal in August 2021), and the Afghan church is in a “precarious” position, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.

Iran Denies Jailed Christian Woman Psychological Care

A young woman who has been jailed in Iran after abandoning Islam and turning to faith in Christ has been denied requested psychological care despite suffering mental difficulties linked to her treatment in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison, Christians say.

Nigeria Government Continues to Tolerate Extreme Human Rights Abuses by Islamic Militants, USCIRF Report

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) states in its 2024 Annual Report that the government of Nigeria continues to tolerate terror attacks by nonstate Islamic extremists who want to impose their form of Sharia law upon Nigerians, especially Christians, Morning Star News reports.

Opposition Emerges to Easing Worship Permits in Indonesia

VP warns against efforts to end role of Muslim-dominated body.

UZBEKISTAN: Why can't places of worship reopen?

In mid-July, a State Security Service (SSS) officer and an official of the
local Administration's Religious Affairs Department came to Abu Zar Mosque
in Yangiyul District of Tashkent Region. 

Israelis prepping bomb shelters in light of Iranian threats

The United States Pentagon press secretary says an Iranian attack on Israel is possible this week.

Bangladesh unrest halts Bible translation work

Violence against religious minorities in Bangladesh continues unabated.

Christian Ministries Report Revival in the Islamic World, ‘One Million Iranians Have Turned to Christ’

US Christian ministry leaders believe a revival is taking place in the Islamic Middle East, with more than one million leaving Islam for Christianity in Iran alone, CBN News reports.

Burma Releases Jailed Church Leader

A prominent church leader in military-ruled Burma, also known as Myanmar, has been released by local authorities while serving a lengthy prison sentence for allegedly violating the Asian nation’s controversial anti-terrorism legislation, Worthy News established Wednesday.

Concerns About Detained Ukraine Priest After Kyiv Bans Pro-Moscow Church

There was fresh concern Wednesday about a Ukrainian Orthodox priest sentenced to 14 years in a Russian labor camp after Kyiv effectively banned the branch of the Orthodox church with links to Moscow.

Nicaragua: 7 Catholic Priests Arrested

Amid intensifying persecution against Christians in Nicaragua by the ruling post-communist dictatorial regime, seven Nicaraguan Catholic priests were arrested and sent to Rome, Italy in exile earlier this month, CBN News reports.

Vietnam: 11 Christian prisoners missing

Mystery surrounds the whereabouts of 11 Christian men in Vietnam.

Christ-centered resources to reach believers in Malawi

Christians in Malawi continue to face the pinch of drought as well as unrest and danger from Islamic extremist groups in neighboring countries.

US Churches Face Soaring Insurance Costs

Churches across the western United States are facing soaring insurance premiums, and even potential closure, as high building costs and extreme weather, including hurricanes, wildfires, severe thunderstorms, and flooding buffet their regions, Religion News Service (RSN) reports.

Nigeria Church Destroyed By Arsonists

The governor of Nigeria’s north-central Niger state has asked residents to remain calm and cautioned against reprisal attacks after arsonists destroyed a major evangelical church building over the weekend.

Laos Pastor Killed Amid Mounting Anti-Christian Sentiments

Christian investigators say they are concerned about a series of attacks against Christians in Laos, including the recent killing of a pastor and the earlier murder of another church leader.

Muslims Burn Down Church Building in Central Nigeria

 Muslims burned down a church building in the early hours of Saturday (Aug. 10) in central Nigeria’s Niger state, sources said.

Nigeria: 2 Christians Injured in Militant Fulani Attack

Islamic Fulani militants shot two Christian men during the evening of Aug. 4 in Bokkos local government area of Plateau state.

USCIRF Condemns Taliban Rule in Afghanistan in New Report

In a report published Wednesday, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) called religious freedom conditions in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan dire, documenting how the regime has continually worked to “repress and significantly stifle any action or behavior that does not conform with their strict interpretation of Islam.”

Protests in Bangladesh Lead to Violence Against Hindus, Christians

The violence and destruction that has fueled weeks-long protests in Bangladesh and forced Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign earlier this week and flee to India is now reaching religious minorities, including Christians.

USCIRF News Digest - August 13, 2024

UZBEKISTAN: Who instigated Church demolition?

On 25 April, Judge Nurlubay Akimniyazov of Urgench Inter-District Civil
Court in north-western Khorazm Region ordered the destruction of two
buildings under construction belonging to local Council of Churches
Baptists. 

Nigeria Continues to Tolerate Terrorism, USCIRF States

Commission calls on government to uphold religious liberty.

Examining the Intergenerational Trauma of Persecution

Intergenerational trauma resulting from Christian persecution refers to the psychological and emotional wounds passed down through successive generations within Christian communities affected by persecution. 

Encountering ‘Keyboard Jihadis’ in an Interconnected World

Hostile face-to-face encounters naturally pose more of an immediate threat than online encounters.

Anti-Proselytizing Laws: Christians Persecuted Under the Guise of Religious Freedom

Many nations claim to uphold religious tolerance, yet they imprison Christians who proclaim their faith to non-believers. 

India: 120 Christians Forced to Reconvert to Hinduism

Around 120 tribal Christians belonging to two villages in the Koraput district of India’s eastern state of Odisha were forcefully reconverted to Hinduism on Sunday during a ceremony known as “ghar wapsi” or “homecoming.”

ICC Files Human Rights Sanctions Request Against Azerbaijan

 International Christian Concern (ICC) recently sent U.S. government officials a formal sanctions request against Azerbaijan and prisons where Armenian prisoners of war and Christians were allegedly tortured.

Christian Family in Pakistan Pressured to Drop Murder Charges

Daughter kidnapped and sold into sexual slavery before death.

Muslim fundamentalists target Christians in Bangladesh

Restoring law and order is a priority for Bangladesh’s new caretaker government following last week’s ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Authorities Try to Thwart Christian, Minority Protests in Pakistan

Police block National Council of Churches in Pakistan.

Another Discriminatory Anti-Conversion Law Proposed in India

In an affidavit filed earlier this month before India’s Supreme Court, the northwestern state of Rajasthan indicated that it planned to introduce curbs on so-called forced conversions. 

Chinese Officials Propose Harsher Restrictions for Christians

In late June, Chinese authorities discussed placing major new restrictions on Christians and religion in general.

Christian Father, 29, Gunned Down by Muslims in Pakistan

Catholic was sole provider for family with four children.

Hindu Extremist Attack Shuts Down Church’s Services in India

Police inaction contributes to closure.