06
January
A region in Sudan is allowing the construction of church buildings
The Governor of Sudan’s Gezira state, Abdalla Ali Ahmed Idriss, has authorized the construction of four church buildings and has granted land for the construction, in what is a unique historic development.
05
January
Treasure Hunters Damage Chapel in Turkey
Turkey now has a dubious reputation for limiting rights of religious and cultural minorities. Rhetoric used by political figures appears to validate social perceptions about Christians that lead to treasure hunting and other types of challenges.
Bodnarius family
05
January
Court dismisses legal challenge against Norway's removal of children from Christian parents
A five year old battle over parental rights in Norway fails to come to a solid resolution.
Government officials in Shanxi’s Taiyuan city destroyed a temple’s religious books and threw them to the trash.
15
December
The Chinese government has turned up the pressure on Christians withing China
After banning anyone under 18 from even entering a church building they are now going after printed material. Books that were previously published are now being used as evidence to sentence printers and authors to long term prison sentence.
14
December
Christmas in China’s prison cells
Here is a tribute to so many in China who were paying a price this Christmas for their courage.
The Snezhkov family at a protest in Gomel on September 27
03
October
Old Believers denounce illegal detention of peaceful family in Belarus
Children taken by Belarus officials after parent express personal beliefs by protesting
Members of the mob damage a home in one of the villages. Credit: CSW
29
September
Christian families from tribal communities in five villages attacked by mob
Christian families belonging to the Scheduled Tribe community located in five villages in Kondagaon District, Chhattisgarh had their homes ransacked and farmland and property destroyed by a large mob in attacks which took place over two days.
20
September
Nigeria's Government ignoring growing violence
The increasing conflict in Nigeria is directly related to the present National government’s lack of interest in extending equal protection to all of its citizens.
Bishop Oliver Dashe Doeme of Maiduguri, Nigeria, inspects a burned church in his diocese in 2015, which has been a target of Boko Haram. COURTESY | AID TO THE CHURCH IN NEED
16
September
Christian persecution at all-time high, say experts at Alexandria conference
The Saints Peter and Paul Conference in Alexandria heard from speakers from all around the world,including India, China and Nigeria. They all had one thing in common, they spoke for the persecuted Christians suffering within their homelands.
12
September
Tech Company Accused of 'Religious Discrimination, Censorship'.
A major tech company called MobileCause is now in the spotlight, accused of censoring conservatives by abruptly terminating a contract with the Christian organization the Family Research Council (FRC).
Representative Image (social media)
12
September
If Dalits can be Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists, why can’t they be Christians and Muslims?
Christian and Muslim Dalits have been denied benefits available to SC groups among Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists. A petition challenging the discrimination has been pending in Supreme Court for years
Asif Pervaiz (right) with attorney Saiful Malook (center) at prison. (Morning Star News)
08
September
Another Christian Sentenced to Death in Pakistan on Weak Blasphemy Charges
A court in Lahore, Pakistan has sentenced a Christian to death over charges that he allegedly sent “blasphemous” text messages to a Muslim colleague seven years ago, his lawyer said.
Representational image | Photo Credit: S. RAMBABU
06
September
India's Government suspends FCRA clearance of 4 Christian groups
Of the six NGOs whose license under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) was suspended by the Union Home Ministry this year, four are Christian associations.
03
September
USCIRF Encourages Religious Freedom Progress on Vietnam National Day
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) congratulated the government of Vietnam on its National Day, and encouraged the government to take steps to improve religious freedom conditions in the country.
17
August
The Ongoing and Intensifying Persecution of Christians in India
According to a new report by the group Persecution Relief, “Hate crimes against Christians in India [rose] by an alarming 40.87 percent” in the first half of 2020, “even despite the nationwide [coronavirus] lockdown in place since March 25."
15
August
Why SC status for Dalit Christians, Muslims should not be linked to religion
They are denied the Scheduled Caste status because of what is written in the Constitution, and the problem should be addressed with consideration for human rights and based on reality
A petition challenging the Presidential (Scheduled Castes) Order, issued on August 10, 1950, is now pending in the Supreme Court. (Representative image of the Supreme Court in New Delhi)
10
August
70-year wait for Dalit Christians, Muslims on SC verdict over caste status
Five days before India celebrates her 73rd anniversary of Independence, Dalit Christians and Muslims will mark a grimmer anniversary of the date when the Presidential (Scheduled Castes) Order was issued on August 10, 1950.
17
July
Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Targets Catholic Officials in Hong Kong with Phishing Campaign
A phishing campaign that targeted the leaders of the Hong Kong Catholic Church in May was recently traced to hackers employed by the Chinese government.
Pastor Munshi Devu Tado with wife Jaini, and one of their children in Gadchiroli District, Maharashtra, India. (Image credit: Morning Star News)
14
July
Pastor in India Murdered by Maoists
Maoists in the Maharashtra state of India killed a Christian church pastor, becoming the fourth Christian to die for their faith in the South Asian country in the last two months.
President Erdogan declared the building a mosque and said the first prayers would be held there within two weeks [Murad Sezer/Reuters]
14
July
Turkey to cover Hagia Sophia's Christian icons during prayers
Governing party's statement comes days after Ankara turned the iconic monument from a museum into a mosque.
08
July
The Truro Review
United Kingdom Bishop of Truro’s Independent Review for the Foreign Secretary of Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (FCO) Support for Persecuted Christians
30
June
New Law in Iran Threatens More Arrests of Christians, Rights Advocates Say
Legislation passed by parliament in Iran could make it easier to arrest and imprison Christians and other religious minorities, rights advocates said.
19
June
Hopes Wilt for Teaching Christianity in Schools in Sudan
Hopes that the transitional government in Sudan would bring back Christianity as a school subject alongside Islam wilted when officials omitted it from an academic schedule released last week.
Rahim Akhundov, 2016 c. Rahim Akhundov [CC BY-NC-ND 4.0]
18
June
AZERBAIJAN: Will fired parliamentary staffer be reinstated?
Former parliamentary staff member Rahim Akhundov, who says he was dismissed from his jobin December 2018 on the orders of the secret police because of his Christian faith, will take his suit for reinstatement to Azerbaijan's Supreme Court.
17
June
YouTube censors John Piper's audiobook, 'Coronavirus and Christ'
YouTube has censored the audiobook version of Reformed theologian John Piper's new book, Coronavirus and Christ, claiming it violated "community standards."
