China: Sichuan’s Stream of Life House Church Raided by Police
One of the earliest urban house churches in Sichuan was harassed and raided by police during a weekly Bible study, declaring the church illegal and detaining the leader.
Uganda: Series of Attacks on Christians Leaves Community in Fear
Two attacks on the Christian community of eastern Uganda have left local Christians in a state of fear. In October 2018, a church led by a Christian convert from Islam was torn down. Late last month, a Christian woman was beaten and hospitalized for holding Christian prayers in her home.
International: Key Trends Emerge in 2019 List of Countries Where it’s Most Difficult to Live as a Christian
In its 2019 World Watch List, Open Doors International reports that 11 countries score highly enough to fit into the ‘extreme’ category for the level of persecution of Christians. It was the same last year, but five years ago, only North Korea was in that category. Several trends also have emerged in the survey including an increase in state authoritarianism, ultra-nationalistic governments and the spread of Islam.
Iran: Leaders Attempt to Deflect from Their Own Persecution of Christians
Within the international arena, Iran continues to publically make efforts to show that they are working in support of Christians. The reality, however, could not be further from the truth.
India: Six Christians Assaulted in Tamil Nadu After False Conversion Accusation
Six Christians in India’s Tamil Nadu state were assaulted by three individuals who falsely accused the Christians of engaging in forced conversions. The assailants forcefully applied the Pattai, a Hindu religious symbol, to the foreheads of the Christians as they threatened them with physical harm.
Egypt: Authorities Close Four Churches
Four churches in different Upper Egypt villages have been attacked by hardline Islamist. In each of these villages, the churches were seeking official recognition and in all incidents, the police denied the rights of Christians to publicly worship and closed the churches, according to the demands of the mob.
International: From China to Sub-Saharan Africa, Christians Experience High Levels of Persecution in 73 countries
In its latest annual survey of 150 countries monitoring how difficult it is to live as a Christian, out today, the overall trend in the 2019 World Watch List is that almost half (73) showed extreme, very high or high levels of persecution. A year earlier, it was 58 countries.
China: Government Now Demands “Church-Free Zones” Near Schools
According to recent documents issued in China’s northern Shanxi province and central Henan province, China is now establishing ‘church-free zones’ near schools while asking local churches to share lists of youth members.
Uganda: Christian Mother, Pastor Fear for their Lives after Attacks
Muslims in eastern Uganda sent a Christian mother to the hospital with injuries from a beating in one village and tore down a church building in another, sources said.
Algeria: Faith Costs Christian His Family, Livelihood
A 32-year-old convert in Algeria has not seen much of his two young daughters since his wife divorced him and charged him with undermining Islam more than two years ago. In addition to losing his family, he lost his business and home and receives threats on an ongoing basis.
India: Four Christians Arrested Under False ‘Forced Conversion’ Claims
Four Christians were recently arrested in India’s Uttar Pradesh state after being falsely accused of forced conversions. Christian leaders in the area denounced the arrests and claimed the Christians were doing nothing illegal.
UK: Baroness Calls for Aid to Nigeria to be Cut to Stop Fulani Violence
Baroness Caroline Cox of the U.K. Parliament has called for foreign aid to Nigeria to be cut until the government takes action against Fulani militants. According to Baroness Cox, the U.K. is “turning a deaf ear” to genocide and must force the Nigerian government to take action.
Vietnam: Government Grabs Land Offered by Church, Demolished Houses
On Jan. 4, hundreds of police and officials destroyed farmers’ houses on five hectares of land in Tan Binh district in southern Vietnam, accusing them for illegally building houses on land needed for the building of schools and other public facilities, though the farmers have cultivated crops there for the past 65 years.
Uganda: Mother and Daughter Disowned for Converting to Christianity
Adijah is living with a Christian family in Kisinga, Western Uganda after she was threatened and disowned by her husband for becoming a Christian. One year ago, Adijah and her daughter Nuriah left Bwera, where they had lived for over 20 years, and headed to a new district with very little hope of ever returning home.
Pakistan: Christians Fear New Security Mandate May Lead to Church Closures
On January 2, the government of the Punjab province in Pakistan mandated that churches comply with set security standards by March 31 or faced forcible closure. Pakistani Christians fear this will lead to the closure of many churches across the country.