Päivi Räsänen, Finland’s interior minister from 2011 to 2015. | Courtesy of ADF International.
27
April
Finnish MP wins on all charges in major free speech trial
All charges against Finnish , MP Päivi Räsänen and Bishop Pohjola are unanimously dismissed following high-profile free speech trial. The former Finnish Minister of the Interior, faced three criminal charges for sharing her faith.
12
April
Iraqi Christian Murdered after Sharing Her Faith on TikTok
An Iraqi woman who recently converted from Islam to Christianity was found murdered on March 7 after she posted a TikTok video about her new faith, according to a religious liberty watchdog.
11
April
ADF General Counsel Kristen Waggoner Harassed at Yale Law School Event
Campuses are becoming places of repression rather than education. Even the supposedly ‘top’ of schools are no longer able to guarantee basics such as freedom of speech.
05
April
Evangelical pastor murdered, doubts shroud attribution to Maoists
Indian officials respond to death of Christian pastor who had been threatened by Hindutva groups, “Must be the Maoists….’
02
April
Family Sprayed with Acid for Leaving Islam
Every person should have the right to believe, to change their belief and to live out their beliefs but it’s not that simple when some believe that they have the right to kill those of other faiths
28
January
Pakistani Christian man imprisoned 4 years on false blasphemy charges is granted bail
Even being given bail in Pakistan does not mean the ordeal is over for those charged with blasphemy. In fact, sometimes it means more danger.
21
December
America's Indifference to the Plight of Nigerian Christians
Biden administration removes Nigeria as nation of concern just before Secretary Blinken’s visit. Move made even as the situation deteriorates.
15
December
Municipality in Pakistan Bans Use of Derogatory Term for Christians and Sanitation Workers
This may be a start but leaves a long way to go
16
September
Upcoming Online Events
There are a number of upcoming global events talking about China and the upcoming Olympics, Christian persecution as well as leadership and human rights around the world that you can virtually attend.
14
August
A Christian woman from Pakistan reveals how God transformed an ‘ordinary Christian’ on death row
The case of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman sentenced to death for blasphemy in 2010 and acquitted by the Supreme Court in 2018, shone a global spotlight on the use and abuse of blasphemy laws in Pakistan.
14
August
An American Univeristy crosses the line on religious freedom of students
University of Iowa found guilty of religious discrimination. The crime: forcing student groups to accept University appointed leaders for their group. Groups argued that UI targeted them for requiring student leaders to sign a statement of faith.
10
August
Genocide in Nigeria
Nigerian Christians find it increasingly difficult as the number of those martyred continue to rise
02
August
Chinese Pastors Ordered to Preach on President's Speech
President Xi Jinping continues his attempts to hijack the faith of Chinese Christians and pastors
02
August
Setting Christian churches on fire in Canada condemned by leaders
Isn’t the most basic right the freedom to believe and to celebrate your beliefs. Why are these hate motivated acts of terrorism being taken seriously by leaders across Canada? Hugh double standard on the issues of religious freedom
06
July
Christian organisations in Europe blacklisted as anti-gender religious extremists by MPs
Bizarre rhetoric around prolife issues expose the paranoid misrepresentations of EU prochoice MPs. I guess the notion is if you call someone something that means they must be that very thing. Extremely dangerous when those who do it are in power.
06
July
Controversial “anti-rights black list” in Argentina includes pastors, churches and evangelicals
Incredibly dangerous moves by Planned Parenthood to try to isolate and violate the rights of many groups in Argentina.
27
June
China shuts down Bible App and Christian WeChat
The Chinese government continues harassment of Christians by further interfering with their ability to access Christian material and websites, even as state sponsored churches crank up their indoctrination using President Xi’ promotional propaganda
27
June
For freedom: Protect those of faith in Egypt
Coptic Christians are still targeted in Egypt
23
June
Key Findings Regarding Christian Persecution in China for 2020
China’s ongoing persecution of Christians is not new news. But organizations such as ChinaAid keep us all up to date on the latest happenings. This is a summary of most recent China Aid report.
28
April
Campaign Launched to Discredit Christian Groups in Nepal
In a ploy to revoke registration of Christian organizations and shrink their influence, Hindu extremists in Nepal have forged a document as if from Christian groups portraying them as seeking ethnic divisions to gain converts, sources said.
24
January
USCIRF Condemns Harsh Sentence for Christian Bookseller in China
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) condemns the harsh and disproportionate sentence handed down to Chinese Christian bookseller Chen Yu.
24
January
Attacks on Christian churches at Christmas in Nigeria results in death and destruction
We need to keep reminding the world of the impact of hatred – Boko Haram continues its campaign of viciousness
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.