09.07.2024

USCIRF Releases Report Analyzing State Department CPC Designations

Revisiting the CPC Designation: Improving Accountability and Engaging Productively to Advance Religious Freedom Abroad 

USCIRF Releases New Report on Religious Freedom Conditions in Cuba

This report provides an update on the poor religious freedom conditions in Cuba. 

China: Christian Mother in Police Detention for Developing “Song of Songs” Gospel App

A young Christian mother in China has been in police detention for a month after being arrested for helping to develop a Christian app called “Song of Songs,” China Aid reports.

Indonesia Pastor Worships Outdoors After Church Removal

An evangelical pastor in Indonesia says he is resuming worship services despite being removed from a store where his congregation had been meeting in a show of defiance toward authorities of the world’s largest Muslim nation.

Sudanese Christians Vulnerable to Atrocities in Ongoing Civil War

Sudan’s tiny Christian community has been subject to targeted extreme violence as well as to the general horror inflicted by the ongoing latest war to be unleashed on civilians, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.

Christian Woman, Others Charged with Blasphemy in Pakistan

Evangelistic team obtains rare bail.

KYRGYZSTAN: Public discussion of latest repressive draft Religion Law

On 29 August, the government's draft legislation website posted the Kyrgyz
and Russian texts of two proposed new laws which would continue to restrict
freedom of religion or belief.

Indonesia: Officials Drag Pastor Out of Worship Center, Seal Church Shut

A pastor in Jombang Regency, Indonesia was last month dragged out of a shop his church had been meeting in by around 50 government officials who then sealed the shop shut, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.

Attacked Christians In Pakistan Still Await Relief, Justice

Over a year after thousands of furious Muslims attacked a Christian area in the city of Jaranwala in Pakistan’s Punjab province, many survivors living there still await promised “relief and justice,” well-informed Christian aid workers told Worthy News.

Persecution continues amid calls for change in Afghanistan

A growing number of religious scholars in Afghanistan are openly challenging the Taliban’s restrictions on female education.

UK-Based Humanitarian Aid Ministry is Helping Christian Refugees in Lebanon

Amid an ongoing exceedingly volatile and dangerous situation in the Middle East, the UK-based Christian aid ministry Help The Persecution (HTP) has been working in Lebanon to assist Christian refugees and others fleeing persecution and conflict from surrounding countries, Christian Today (CT) reports.

Nigeria: Fulani Terrorists Murder 38 Christians in Agatu County, Benue State

Fulani jihadist herdsmen in north-central Nigeria murdered 38 Christians in Agatu County, Benue State during August and July, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.

13 Mountain Gateway-Affiliated Personnel Released after Nearly 9 Months in Prison

After months of diplomatic negotiations between the United States and Nicaraguan governments, 13 Nicaraguan pastors and attorneys affiliated with Mountain Gateway, a Texas-based ministry, were released from prison today. 

Christians Continue to Suffer Amid Ongoing Civil War in Sudan

The ongoing war in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has killed thousands and displaced many million more.

Tamil Christian Asylum Seeker Burns Himself and Dies in Australia

Mano Yogalingam, a 23-year-old asylum seeker died on Wednesday, Aug. 28 after setting himself on fire.

Malaysian Multi-Faith Council Warns Against Jakim’s Influence in Government

The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Taoism (MCCBCHST) has expressed concern over plans to station Islamic Development Department (Jakim) officers in every government department. MCCBCHST argues that this move could be unconstitutional and may infringe upon the fundamental rights guaranteed to all Malaysians.

Burkina Faso: Octogenarian Missionary Held Captive for 7 years by Al-Qaeda Terrorists Says God helped him

An elderly Christian missionary doctor who was abducted and held captive by Al Qaeda-affiliated terrorists in Burkina Faso for seven years has said God alone helped him to survive the ordeal, Christian Today reports. 

China Denies Released Pastor Passport To Travel To Wife In US

Nearly half a year after his release from prison, Chinese Pastor John Cao has still not received identity documents and a passport that would enable him to live normally in China or visit his wife in the United States, Worthy News learned Monday.

Report: ‘16,000 Christians Killed In Nigeria’ In Four Years

Over 16,000 Christians have been killed in Nigeria in the last four years, more than any other religious group, according to new data obtained by Worthy News.

Rebuilding Lives After Religious Violence in Kenya

On the night of July 12, 2023, in the majority-Christian village of Juhudi in Kenya’s Lamu County, Maina Kariuki Githiga and his neighbors fell victim to a violent assault on their village.

Church Sealed, Pastor Dragged and Threatened in Indonesia

Shop-house worship site among other businesses ‘secured’ by authorities.

Pope’s Asia Trip Closely Watched By Persecuted Christians (Worthy News In-Depth)

Pope Francis will begin Monday one of the longest papal trips ever, both in terms of days on the road and distances traveled, in a region where many devoted Christians face persecution for their faith.

Fulani Herdsmen Kill Six Christians in Central Nigeria

Another 31 Christians in the same area were slain in August and July.

Technology Can Help Persecuted Christians

Technology, just like money, is a tool that can be used for good or evil. We know that technology has increased persecution.

DRC: 7 Killed, Several Missing After Latest ADF Attack

The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) killed seven, severely injured one, and left several people missing after attacking the Christian villages of Kawame and Mapili in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Madani Government Pushes for Centralized Islam in Malaysia

Anwar Ibrahim’s Madani government is steadily working to centralize Islam in Malaysia.

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.